Theory of Fluid Flow meters

The measurement of fluid flow is very important in industrial applications.

Optimum performance of some equipment and operations require specific flow
rates. The cost of many liquids and gases are based on the measured flow
through a pipeline making it necessary to accurately measure and control the
rate of flow for accounting purposes.
A Flow meter is a device used to measure the rate of fluid movement at a given
point in the pipe or tube. The flow meter is usually secured to a break in the pipe
and the fluid is allowed to move through it.

Types of Fluid Flow meters:

Several methods are employed to classify flow meters. One method is to divide
flow meters into the following categories:
(a) Differential Pressure Flow meters
(b) Mechanical Flow meters
(c) Electronic Flow meters
(d) Mass Flow meters
The different types of fluid flow meters are used in many industrial applications to
measure the flow of fluids. The flow of a fluid can be measured in many ways.
Commonly used methods are a simple volumetric measurement or a rate
measurement.
A volumetric flow measurement can be as simple as filling and emptying a
container whose volume is known and counting the number of times it is done or
a rate measurement which is performed by keeping track of the time period.
Flow instruments measure flow using various measurement metrics. Two of the
most popular measurement metrics are:
(a) Volumetric flow rate - in cubic feet, gallons, or liters per unit of time (this is an
inferred measurement)
(b) Mass flow rate - pounds, tons, grams, or kilograms per unit of time.
Volumetric flow can be determined by using:
Volume Flow = Area x Velocity
If we define Volume flow = Q
Area = A, and
Velocity = V,
Then volumetric flow can be put simply as:
Q = VA
Mass flow rate can be determined from volumetric flow as follows:
We know that, M = Volume x Density of fluid
Therefore, Mass flow = Volume flow x Density of fluid

Types of Flow
Laminar Flow
Laminar flow occurs when the average velocity is comparatively low. In laminar
flow, the fluid moves smoothly in orderly layers, with little or no mixing of the
fluid across the flow stream. Changes in velocity can still exist as the friction of
the wall slows the layers closest to the wall, while the flow in the centre of the
pipe moves at a faster pace. This velocity change produces a parabolic
streamlined flow profile as shown below:

Turbulent Flow
Turbulent flow occurs when the flow velocity is high and the fluid particles no
longer flow smoothly in layers. In this type of flow, the laminar flow breaks down
to produce intermixing between the layers. Turbulent flow is quite random, as
smaller currents flow (known as eddies) in all directions. This type of flow has a
flatter flow profile, such that the velocity of forward flow in the centre of the pipe
is nearly the same as that near the walls of the pipe as shown below:

References
Flow Measurement: Practical Guides for Measurement and Control
Flow Measurement Handbook: Industrial Designs, Operating Principles,
Performance, and Applications
ISA Handbook of Measurement Equations and Tables
Instrument Engineers' Handbook, Vol. 1: Process Measurement and Analysis
Flow Measurement Practice

Conclusion
As a conclusion, the experiment that have been carried out were successful, even
though the data collected are a little bit difference compared to the theoretical
value. The difference between the theoretical value and the actual value may
mainly due to human and servicing factors such as parallax error. This error occur
during observer captured the value of the water level. Besides that, error may
occur during adjusting the level gauge to point at the white line on the side of the
weight pan. Other than that, it also maybe because of the water valve. This error
may occur because the water valve was not completely close during collecting
the water. This may affect the time taken for the water to be collected. There are
a lot of possibilities for the experiment will having an error. Therefore, the
recommendation to overcome the error is ensure that the position of the
observers eye must be 90 perpendicular to the reading or the position. Then,
ensure that the apparatus functioning perfectly in order to get an accurate result.
REFERENCE:
1.http://www.cee.mtu.edu/~dwatkins/ce3600_labs/impact_of_jet.pdf
2. http://www.eng.ucy.ac.cy/EFM/Manual/HM%2015008/HM15008E-ln.pdf
3.http://staff.fit.ac.cy/eng.fm/classes/amee202/Fluids%20Lab%20Impact%20of
%20a%20Jet.pdf

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Lauga,E;Brenner, M.P.;Stone, H.A.; Microfluidics No-Slip Boundary Condition to appear in Handbook of
Experimental Fluid Dynamics, (Springer, New York, 2005)
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