SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Technologies currently used for measuring steam mass flow rates have deficiencies that result in performance limitations and measurement errors.These limitations include the need for improved accuracy, inaccurate (or lack of) steam dryness assessment, and reliable operation over a limited range of flow turndown rates.Internally mounted meters alter the flow dynamics and are subject to corrosion, degradation and failure from the extreme operating conditions within the pipe.DHPCs approach for an improved steam mass flow rate meter is based on the optical techniques of laser velocimetry and laser attenuation.The concept, known as FLOWS (Frequency using Laser Observations of Wet Steam), consists of 4 subsystems, namely the laser velocimeter, the laser attenuation, the temperature measurement, and the data collection subsystems.The subsystems are integrated onto a measurement section consisting of a precisely defined section of pipe with optical and temperature access ports.Modeling, analysis, and error tolerancing will predict the performance of the improved meter technology. DHPC will construct and test prototypes of key technologies and subsystems to optimize the prototype design.An end-user BCA and ROI analysis will highlight the cost benefits resulting from the improved steam metering capability using this innovative laser-based metering technology.
