Optimization of the bluff body in vortex flowmeter

In order to improve the intensity of the vortices at low flow velocity, a series of simulations have been performed for vortex flowmeters to optimize the trapezoid bluff body in terms of its geometrical parameters through FLUENT software. Comparative tests of the flow field characteristic are carried out between the bluff bodies with different rear body angles and parallel part lengths respectively and the results demonstrate that the strongest vortex signals are generated by the bluff body with its rear angle of 45deg and parallel part length of 4 mm. Then liquid flow calibrations have been conducted on the optimized vortex sensors and the results agree approximately with those simulations. The optimized vortex sensor has a lower limit of 0.25 m/s.