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Flow Rate Sensor (TL)

Measure mass, energy, and volumetric flow rates in thermal liquid networks

Since R2023a

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  • Flow Rate Sensor (TL) block

Libraries:
Simscape / Foundation Library / Thermal Liquid / Sensors

Description

The Flow Rate Sensor (TL) block represents an ideal sensor that measures mass flow rate, energy flow rate, and volumetric flow rate in a thermal liquid network. There is no change in pressure or temperature across the sensor.

Because the flow rates are Through variables, the block must connect in series with the component being measured.

The relative orientation of ports A and B establishes the measurement sign. The sign is positive if flow occurs from port A to port B. Switching port connections reverses the measurement sign.

Three physical signal ports are available to output the measurement data:

  • Port M outputs the mass flow rate.

  • Port V outputs the volumetric flow rate.

  • Port φ outputs the energy flow rate.

These ports have conditional port visibility on the block icon. Use the block parameters to expose only the ports that you need for measurements in a particular model.

Connect the measurement ports to PS-Simulink Converter blocks to transform the output physical signals into Simulink® signals, for example, for plotting or additional data processing.

Examples

Water Hammer Effect

Water Hammer Effect

Model shows how the Thermal Liquid foundation library can be used to model water hammer in a long pipe. After slowly establishing a steady flow within the pipe by opening a valve accordingly, the same valve is shut within a few milliseconds. This triggers a water hammer effect. The valve is modeled using a Variable Local Restriction (TL) block and the pipe is divided into four segments using the Pipe (TL) block. Breaking the pipe into more segments increases fidelity at the expense of simulation performance.

Ports

Output

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Physical signal output port for mass flow rate measurement.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Mass flow rate check box.

Physical signal output port for the volumetric flow rate measurement.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Volumetric flow rate check box.

Physical signal output port for energy flow rate measurement.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Energy flow rate check box.

Conserving

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Thermal liquid conserving port. Flow rates are positive if fluid flows from port A to port B.

Thermal liquid conserving port. Flow rates are positive if fluid flows from port A to port B.

Parameters

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Selecting this check box exposes the output port M, which lets you measure mass flow rate.

Selecting this check box exposes the output port V, which lets you measure volumetric flow rate.

Selecting this check box exposes the output port φ, which lets you measure energy flow rate.

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

Version History

Introduced in R2023a

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See Also

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