Updated 3/13/2008

Flowmeter Comparison:
Procedure
Use the attached illustration of the Flowmeter Demonstration
Rig to aid in your set-up.

Figure 1: Flowmeter Demonstration Rig Diagram

,,mmmmvvm cvmvFigure 1: Flowmeter Demonstration Rig Diagram

Materials
Hydraulics Bench, Flowmeter Demonstration Rig, bicycle pump, purge
tube, stopwatch

Setup and Priming the System

1. Locate the Hydraulics Bench on the 2B level of the ITL near the
door of the Machining Studio and place the Flowmeter
Demonstration Rig from the 2B60 module storage bay on top of
it.
2. Secure the quick release connector on the inlet pipe to the quick
release connector in the top of section of the hydraulics bench by
pushing down on the ring, inserting the hose, and releasing the
ring. Be sure the connection has locked and the ball bearings are

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Updated 3/13/2008
not visible (it may take some force to ensure the connection is
secure).
3. Place the outlet tube from the rig in the volumetric tank of the
Hydraulics Bench and secure it so as to ensure water doesnt
spray everywhere during the experiment. This can be easily done
by pinning the tube to the wall of the tank using the black ramp.
4. Turn the flow control valve of BOTH the Hydraulics Bench and the
Flowmeter Demonstration Rig completely off (clockwise rotation).
Be careful not to apply too much pressure or the pipe fittings
could be damaged.
5. With the motor switch in the OFF position, make sure that the air
bleed screw located at the top of the manometer board is fully
closed.
6. Check that the Hydraulics Bench is plugged in and turn the motor
switch ON. Confirm pump operation by listening to the motor.
7. Slowly open the flow valve on the Hydraulics Bench about one
and a half turns. The rig should begin filling with water.
8. Open the flow control on the rig until the top of the rig on both
sides of the orifice plate are completely full of water. If this does
not happen, try opening the flow control on the Hydraulics Bench
a little more (counter-clockwise).
9. Purge the air out of the system. It is imperative that all bubbles
be removed from the manometers for accurate readings.
a. Place one end of the purge hose (found on the hook on the
back of the apparatus) over the air connector (just below
the air bleed screw) and point the other end into the
benchs tank.
b. With one hand holding the tube around the air connector,
slowly open the air bleed screw on the Flowmeter
Demonstration Rig. Water should drain through the tube
and push all the air out of the manometer board.
10.
Once the system is purged of air, completely close the air
bleed screw and the flow control valve on the rig. The flow
control valve on the Hydraulics Bench should remain open for the
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Updated 3/13/2008
rest of the experiment. Remove the hose from the air connector
and return it to its hook.
11.
Change the static pressure of the system using the hand
pump and air bleed screw. This will enable readings of the
manometers during high flow rates not to drift off the board as
some readings will increase while others will decrease.
a. Attach the bicycle hand pump on the air connector. To do
this, the locking flap on the bicycle pump should be parallel
to the pump hose when pushing the pump onto the air
connector. Flip the flap down (away from the pump hose)
to lock the bicycle pump into place.
b. Slowly open the air bleed screw and then give about two
pumps of air into the system. The goal is to get the eight
manometer readings set at approximately 220 to 240 mm
H2O.
c. Once the static pressure reading has been reached, close
the air bleed screw.
12.
Disconnect the hand pump and remount it behind the
Flowmeter Demonstration Rig. The system is now primed.

Experiment
13.
To aid in data acquisition, construct a table similar to that
shown below:
Manometer Readings (mm
H2O)

Variable
Area

#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7
#8

Meter
(L/min)

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Volume

Time

(L)

(min)

Flow
Rate
Q (L/min)

Updated 3/13/2008
14.
With the system primed, slowly open the flow control valve
on the rig. Set the flow rate to a value near 20 L/min as read off
the top of the float in the variable area meter.
15.
When the system stabilizes, record the eight different
manometer readings in your table as well as the variable area
meter reading taken from the top of the float. The units of the
manometer board are in mm H20 relative to your datum line.
16.

Measure the flow rate by timing the volume collection.

a.

Close the dump valve via the dump valve handle on the
Hydraulics Bench. The fluid will start to rise in the volume
measuring tank.

b. Using the sight tube scale (near the pump ON/OFF switch)
and a stopwatch, measure the volume change as a
function of time (at least 30 seconds to obtain an accurate
flow rate measurement). You will want to use the upper
scale. To do this, wait for the water level to reach zero on
the upper scale before starting your measurement.
c. Once you have obtained your timed volume collection
reopen the dump valve.
17.
Lower the flow rate via the flow control valve on the rig.
Repeat step 15 &16 to get measurements of each flowmeter for
a total of 3 different flow rates (i.e. 20, 12, 5 L/min).

Man. 1 - Man. 2
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L
oss inO
rifice Plate

O
rifice Plate R
eading

Loss inV
ariable A
reaM
eter

Venturi reading:

L
oss inV
enturi

19.
Using your recorded
measurements from the
manometer, obtain the following at
each flow rate:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

V
enturi R
eading

18.
For at least one of the flow
rates you experimented with in step
17
above,
repeat
your
measurements to get an estimate
of random uncertainty in your
experiment.

Updated 3/13/2008

Loss in Venturi:

Man. 1 - Man. 3

Loss in variable area meter:

Man. 4 - Man. 5

Orifice plate reading:

Man. 6 - Man. 7

Loss in orifice plate:

Man. 6 - Man. 8
Figure 2:
Manometer Setup

*** Remember that units are in mm H2O. Units should be properly

converted prior to using any equations.

Clean-up
20.
At the end of your experiment, completely close both the
flow control valve on the rig and on the bench and turn the pump
motor OFF.
21.
If the Flowmeter Demonstration Rig is being returned to
the module storage bay, drain all water possible from the rig first
by opening both the flow control valve and the air bleed screw
and disconnecting the inlet tube from the Hydraulics Bench. Tilt
the rig from side to side to help drain as much water as possible
before retuning it to the module storage bay.
22.
If any water was spilled on the floor, please clean it up
using a mop and bucket. Thanks!

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