Virtual Prototyping Experience of the Coriolis Flow Meter

The subject of the study is the selection of the parameters of the model for finite element analysis (FEA) of the Coriolis flow meter. Based on the comparison of the results of calculations with previous experiments, it is shown that the built model can be used as a virtual prototype of the Coriolis flow meter when working with a single-phase liquid. Particular attention is paid to the detected danger of multiple overestimations of the dissipative properties of the model of the coupled nonlinear oscillatory system “elastic tube—liquid flowing through it”, built using the Two-Way Fluid–Structure Interaction (FSI) technology. It is shown that the overestimation of the dissipative characteristics leads to a distortion of the shape of the resonance oscillations, which makes such a model unacceptable for estimating the phase relations for both force and kinematic excitation. The settings of the design model allowing to obtain an idealized design case of the Coriolis flow meter without energy losses are given, and thus, they help to isolate the component of the sensor output signal (phase shift), which is caused solely by the flow of liquid.