ACADs (08-006) Covered 1.1.2.1 5.4.1.

Keywords

Flow rate, total flow, differential pressure, percent flow, cotameter, Bernouli.
Description

Supporting Material

Measuring Flow

Terminal Objective: Given the appropriate equipment and procedures the I&C Technician will calibrate and maintain flow instrumentation. Mastery will be demonstrated by successful completion of a Lab Performance Exercises and written Exam.

 Differentiate between Flow Rate and Total Flow Describe the relationship between differential pressure and flow Given a percent range of DP sensed by an orifice plate, calculate the percent flow Describe the theory of operation of a given flow measurement device Describe the considerations for removing/restoring a rotameter from/to service

Flow Rate vs. Total Flow

Flow Rate is the amount of fluid, either in mass or volume that passes a point in a given time. Examples: Pounds mass per hour, gallons per minute
We measure flow rate using ultrasonics, venturi, orifice plates, etc.

Total Flow is the flow rate multiplied by an amount of time. It is the accumulated or totalized flow. Result will be in either mass or volume.
Gas pumps and water meters measure total flow

Daniel Bernouli
Discovered the square root relationship between DP and flow Bernoulli's Principle states that as the speed of the fluid increases the pressure in the fluid decreases Therefore, across a restriction in flow, as the fluid velocity increases, pressure decreases http://home.earthlink.net/~mmc191 9/venturi.html

%Flow %Differrential pressure

-or-

%Flow %Differential Pressur

2

Flow Instruments

Flow

Example 1
Pressure drop range: 0-100 in H2O Flow: 0 to 100 GPM Currently reading 25 in H2O What is the flow?

Example 2
Pressure drop range: 0-100 in H2O Flow: 0 to 1000 GPM Currently flow is 80 GPM What is the differential pressure?

What devices may be used for the square root function?

Discovered two centuries ago by Italian scientist Giovanni Battista Venturi (1746 - 1822).

Venturi Tube

Flow Nozzle

Elbow
Tap

Henri de Pitot (1695-1771)

Annubar

Rotameter

When flow exists, there is a constant differential pressure across the float

Replacing a Rotameter

Isolate the instrument

Drain Verify correct replacement part Install Verify pressure tight Un-isolate slowly to prevent slamming the float In service leak check

Flow Instruments: DP Cell

Ultrasonic Flow Measurement Devices Examples: Controlotron, UFM

Coriolis
Offer direct mass flow, volume flow, density, and temperature measurement of liquids, gases, and slurries No moving parts Mass flow rate causes the vibrating tubes to twist

The twist of the tubes is proportional to mass flow

Watch the Coriolis Flow video-10 min

Electromagnetic Flow Measurement

Faradays Law

Flowmeter Orifice Venturi tube Flow nozzle Pitot tube Elbow meter Positive Displacement Turbine Vortex Electromagnetic Ultrasonic (Doppler) Ultrasonic (Time of Travel) Mass (Coriolis)

Pressure Loss Medium Low Medium Very low Very low High High Medium None None None Low

Typical Accuracy 2 to 4 1 of full scale 1 to 2 3 to 5 5 to 10 0.5 of rate 0.25 of rate 1 of rate 0.5 of rate 5 of full scale 1 to 5 0.4 of rate

Required upstream pipe diameters 10 to 30 5 to 20 10 to 30 20 to 30 30 None 5 to 10 10 to 20 5 5 to 30 5 to 30 None

Relative cost Low Medium Medium Low Low Medium High High High High High High

Other methods of measuring flow

Rotary Vane Positive Displacement-turbine Nutating Disk or piston Hot wire method, temperature method Pelton Wheel Vortex shedding Calorimetric method Open Channels Weirs Target meter

Read OE18368 at end of Flow section in handout. Discuss: What happened? Could it happen here? What can we do to mitigate it? Discuss control of test leads.

On to Measuring Temperature