Abstract
Incompressible flow theory is used in the investigation of the effects of fluid inertia on unsteady flow through valves and flow meters. Two types of oscillatory disturbance are considered, one being due to valve oscillation at constant pressure drop and the other to pressure pulsation at constant orifice area. With the former type of disturbance it is shown that the mean flow rate decreases with frequency of oscillation. When the pressure drop pulsates the mean flow rate increases with frequency. These phenomena are shown to be of importance in hydraulic servomechanisms and in dynamic flow measurement.
Compressibility effects are considered and it is shown that cavitation can occur at the valve during oscillation.
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