CFD-Based Analysis of Flow Distortion Induced by Transducers in Ultrasonic Flowmeters: Error Mechanisms and Corrective Models

CFD-Based Analysis of Flow Distortion Induced by Transducers in Ultrasonic Flowmeters: Error Mechanisms and Corrective Models | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article CFD-Based Analysis of Flow Distortion Induced by Transducers in Ultrasonic Flowmeters: Error Mechanisms and Corrective Models Wenlin Chen, Ming Qin, Cunxin Yao, Duoyong Wang, Jun Mu This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8698458/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 03 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 12 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study investigates the flow field distribution near the transducer and quantifies the distortion of the velocity profile along ultrasonic paths. It elucidates the physical mechanisms through which flow separation—induced by the mainstream flow around the transducer—affects ultrasonic flowmeter measurements. Experimental analyses examine the influence of localized flow field distortion under various pressures and flow rates, leading to the development of an error correction model consistent with empirical data. Numerical simulations are performed for three transducer installation modes: fully projecting, fully recessed, and tangent, revealing the distinct physical mechanisms associated with each configuration. Measurement errors are consistently negative due to the effects of backflow and lateral flow. Error ranges are − 1.86% to -1.15% for fully projecting, -4.09% to -2.26% for tangent, and − 10.57% to -9.66% for fully recessed installations, indicating that the fully recessed mode introduces the most significant flow disturbance. Flow velocity correction models are proposed for each installation type. After modification, errors are largely confined within ± 1.0% for both fully projecting and fully recessed transducers. The effect of local flow distortion on tangent-type ultrasonic flowmeters is further examined through experiments under varying pressures and flow velocities. By applying a secondary correction model based on Reynolds number, measurement accuracy can achieve the ± 0.5% standard. Physical sciences/Engineering Physical sciences/Mathematics and computing Physical sciences/Physics ultrasonic flowmeter transducer installation effect flow separation local flow field distortion error correction model Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 03 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 22 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 19 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 18 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 08 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 08 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 06 Feb, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 06 Feb, 2026 Editor invited by journal 30 Jan, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 28 Jan, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 28 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 26 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8698458","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":588412799,"identity":"f33ecc80-754b-4e1b-8c51-5b618a0c9451","order_by":0,"name":"Wenlin Chen","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAxElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDACCQglw8bAfICBsSGBeC08bAxsCSRqASID4rTwz24+9pin4g4Pn3TPx083d6Qx8Ld349cncedYujHPmWc8bDJnN0vnnslhkDhzdgNeLQYSOWbSuW2Hedgkcrcx57ZVAEVyCWnJ/yad+w+kJecZsVpy2KRzG8Ba2IBacghrkbiRZib95xhIS5ox0IVpPAT9wj8j+ZnkjJrDcvIzkh9+zm1LluNv78WvBQPwkKZ8FIyCUTAKRgFWAACuqEDbCahA2AAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"China Merchants Xinjiang institute of Measurement and Testing Technology co., Ltd","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Wenlin","middleName":"","lastName":"Chen","suffix":""},{"id":588412800,"identity":"cb5dfb93-7a94-44d7-b5fe-81e797f5f8ad","order_by":1,"name":"Ming Qin","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Xinjiang Gas Group Co., Ltd","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ming","middleName":"","lastName":"Qin","suffix":""},{"id":588412801,"identity":"b706f796-5049-4fe8-84a6-e38476bcbd19","order_by":2,"name":"Cunxin Yao","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Xinjiang Gas Group Co., Ltd","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Cunxin","middleName":"","lastName":"Yao","suffix":""},{"id":588412802,"identity":"11fa640b-c450-44a2-b162-43afa5630da5","order_by":3,"name":"Duoyong Wang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Xinjiang Gas Group Co., Ltd","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Duoyong","middleName":"","lastName":"Wang","suffix":""},{"id":588412803,"identity":"c27c431c-da63-4600-9382-0a0d82480495","order_by":4,"name":"Jun Mu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"China Merchants Xinjiang institute of Measurement and Testing Technology co., Ltd","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jun","middleName":"","lastName":"Mu","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-01-26 09:08:12","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8698458/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8698458/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-46908-w","type":"published","date":"2026-04-03T15:59:11+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":106344712,"identity":"054b8252-f18e-4104-9804-ff4d7d585e0a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-07 16:16:19","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":943220,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscriptScientificReports.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8698458/v1_covered_508ad501-4bc7-430c-b32e-cccc99e9af2a.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"CFD-Based Analysis of Flow Distortion Induced by Transducers in Ultrasonic Flowmeters: Error Mechanisms and Corrective Models","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"ultrasonic flowmeter, transducer installation effect, flow separation, local flow field distortion, error correction model","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8698458/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8698458/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study investigates the flow field distribution near the transducer and quantifies the distortion of the velocity profile along ultrasonic paths. It elucidates the physical mechanisms through which flow separation\u0026mdash;induced by the mainstream flow around the transducer\u0026mdash;affects ultrasonic flowmeter measurements. Experimental analyses examine the influence of localized flow field distortion under various pressures and flow rates, leading to the development of an error correction model consistent with empirical data. Numerical simulations are performed for three transducer installation modes: fully projecting, fully recessed, and tangent, revealing the distinct physical mechanisms associated with each configuration. Measurement errors are consistently negative due to the effects of backflow and lateral flow. Error ranges are \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1.86% to -1.15% for fully projecting, -4.09% to -2.26% for tangent, and \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;10.57% to -9.66% for fully recessed installations, indicating that the fully recessed mode introduces the most significant flow disturbance. Flow velocity correction models are proposed for each installation type. After modification, errors are largely confined within \u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.0% for both fully projecting and fully recessed transducers. The effect of local flow distortion on tangent-type ultrasonic flowmeters is further examined through experiments under varying pressures and flow velocities. By applying a secondary correction model based on Reynolds number, measurement accuracy can achieve the \u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.5% standard.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"CFD-Based Analysis of Flow Distortion Induced by Transducers in Ultrasonic Flowmeters: Error Mechanisms and Corrective Models","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-02-11 15:01:47","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8698458/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-02-23T03:07:20+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-19T15:48:04+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-18T13:20:20+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"233203612001768157886691029859992374205","date":"2026-02-09T07:52:13+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"256708794343399153731999151038958491015","date":"2026-02-08T19:11:47+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"173092986157987702707401798888700597868","date":"2026-02-08T16:56:15+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"197030561003667003209484156245317883544","date":"2026-02-06T15:14:22+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-02-06T14:56:53+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2026-01-30T12:19:11+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-01-28T09:49:25+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-01-28T09:44:04+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Scientific Reports","date":"2026-01-26T08:50:02+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"938e7a4f-d8ec-4011-91ba-7079261aaacf","owner":[],"postedDate":"February 11th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[{"id":62601004,"name":"Physical sciences/Engineering"},{"id":62601005,"name":"Physical sciences/Mathematics and computing"},{"id":62601006,"name":"Physical sciences/Physics"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-07T16:11:56+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-8698458","link":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-46908-w","journal":{"identity":"scientific-reports","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Scientific Reports"},"publishedOn":"2026-04-03 15:59:11","publishedOnDateReadable":"April 3rd, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2026-02-11 15:01:47","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1038/s41598-026-46908-w","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-46908-w","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8698458","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8698458","identity":"rs-8698458","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}