Performance study of Coriolis mass flowmeter for hydrogen two-phase flow measurement

Abstract

To enhance the performance of Coriolis mass flowmeters (CMFs) in liquid hydrogen-gas hydrogen (LH₂-GH₂) two-phase flow, we developed a theoretical framework that integrates models of decoupling, finite sound speed, Castiglione's second law, and forced vibration response. This framework was implemented numerically in MATLAB to analyze key parameters, including tube vibration amplitude, measurement error, system quality factor, and the energy dissipation ratio due to tube oscillation and two-phase flow. We first validated the effectiveness of the calculation framework in predicting structural frequencies and displacements using ANSYS. The validated framework was then employed to solve and compare the performance of CMFs under LH₂-GH₂ and water-air conditions across a range of temperatures, emphasizing the challenges posed by the low viscosity, low density, and high compressibility of LH₂. Finally, we investigated the effects of driving force amplitude, tube wall thickness, and tube diameter, proposing strategies to optimize CMF functionality under LH₂-GH₂ conditions. This research addresses gaps in understanding the impact of LH₂-GH₂ on CMF performance and introduces a damping model applicable to tubes of arbitrary shape under two-phase flow. Our findings highlight the unique characteristics of CMF operation in LH₂-GH₂ and lay the groundwork for future technical advancements in this area.