Stress Analysis of High-Pressure Natural Gas Pipe with Flowmeter Clamping Apparatus Made of Steel Material

Natural gas is one of the major sources of energy supply, where the measurement of natural gas is very crucial. The flowmeter fastening apparatus typically used tightened screw nuts for clamping. This study designed a clamping device for a DN300 specification gas pipe, which directly clamped the flowmeter with the flange by external force. This clamping method is more efficient compared to previous methods. Based on the fabricated flowmeter clamping experimental device, a simplified numerical model was established. A detailed analysis was conducted on several key components, including the screw nuts, flange, flowmeter, and pipe. The results indicate that the designed clamping devices can operate safely and reliably. The stress distribution is reasonable in the entire clamping device. The average stress in the flowmeter flange is significantly greater than the pressure of gas within the pipe. The stress distribution on the screw nuts generally shows a pattern of higher stress in the central area and lower stress in the surroundings. The maximum stress of the flowmeter clamping device is located on the flowmeter flange, reaching 146 MPa. The maximum stress value of the nut is the smallest, which is 117 MPa.