Brijesh B Menon

C&I Department

Date: 23-11-2013

Flow Measurement Techniques

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Content
Introduction
Flow Measurement Terms
Flow Measurement Requirements
Flow Measuring Techniques
Flowmeters
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Introduction











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Flow meters selection are part of the basic art of the instrument engineer.
There are at least 23 distinct type of technologies available for the
measurement of flow in closed conduit, and while only handful of these
technologies contribute to the majority of installations.







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Confidential Slide
Flow Measurement Terms
Flow
is measured as a quantity (either volume or mass) per unit time
DENSITY
A Measure Of Mass Per Unit Of Volume (lb/ft
3
or kg/M
3
).
SPECIFIC GRAVITY
The Ratio Of The Density Of A Material To The Density Of Water Or Air
Depending On Whether It Is A Liquid Or A Gas.
COMPRESSIBLE FLUID
Fluids (Such As Gasses) Where The Volume Changes With Respect To
Changes In The Pressure. These Fluids Experience Large Changes In
Density Due To Changes In Pressure.
NON-COMPRESSIBLE FLUID
Fluids (Generally Liquids) Which Resist Changes In Volume As The
Pressure Changes. These Fluids Experience Little Change In Density
Due To Pressure Changes.

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Confidential Slide
Flow Measurement Terms
Beta Ratio (d/D)
Ratio of a differential pressure flow device bore (d) divided by internal
diameter of pipe (D).
A higher Beta ratio means a larger orifice size. A larger orifice plate bore
size means greater flow capacity and a lower permanent pressure loss.
Pressure Head
The Pressure At A Given Point In A Liquid Measured In Terms Of The
Vertical Height Of A Column Of The Liquid Needed To Produce The
Same Pressure.

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Flow Measurement Terms
Laminar Flow
Is Characterized By Concentric Layers Of Fluid Moving In Parallel Down The Length Of A
Pipe. The Highest Velocity (Vmax) Is Found In The Center Of The Pipe. The Lowest Velocity
(V=0) Is Found Along The Pipe Wall.
Laminar Flow occurs at low Reynolds numbers, where viscous forces are dominant, and is
characterized by smooth, constant fluid motion



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SIDE VIEW END VIEW
V
MAX
CONCENTRIC FLUID LAYERS PARABOLIC FLOW PROFILE
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Flow Measurement Terms
Turbulent Flow
Is Characterized By A Fluid Motion That Has Local Velocities And Pressures That Fluctuate
Randomly. This Causes The Velocity Of The Fluid In The Pipe To Be More Uniform Across
A Cross Section.
Turbulent Flow occurs at high Reynolds numbers and is dominated by inertial forces,
producing random eddies, vortices and other flow fluctuations.



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SIDE VIEW
V
MAX
~ V
AVG
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Flow Measurement Terms
The Reynolds number
is the ratio of inertial forces (velocity and density that keep the fluid in
motion) to viscous forces (frictional forces that slow the fluid down) and
is used for determining the dynamic properties of the fluid to allow an
equal comparison between different fluids and flows.
The Reynolds number is the most important value used in fluid
dynamics as it provides a criterion for determining similarity between
different fluids, flowrates and piping configurations.

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0 2000 4000
LAMINAR TRANSITION TURBULENT
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Flow Measurement Terms
The Reynolds number
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Re=
Dv
r
m
D
v
r
m
DIAMETER (FT)
VELOCITY (FT/SEC)
DENSITY (LB/FT
3
)
VISCOSITY (cp)
=
=
=
=
C
C CONSTANT (6.72X10
-4
LB/FT SEC cp) =
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Flow Measurement Terms
volume flow rate
is the volume of fluid that flows past a given cross sectional area per
second. Therefore,
V = A
V = Volume Flow Rate A = Cross Section Area = Velocity of Fluid
mass flow rate
is the number of kilograms of mass flow that flows past a given
cross sectional area per second. Therefore,
m = V = A
m = Mass Flow Rate = Specific Density V = Volume Flow Rate
A = Cross Section Area = Velocity of Fluid

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Flow Measurement Requirements
Ability to Calibrate
Ability to Integrate Flow Fluctuation
Easy Integration with Piping System
High Accuracy
High Turn-Down Ratio
Low Cost
Low Sensitivity to Dirt Particles
Low Pressure Loss
No Moving Parts
Resistant to Corrosion and Erosion

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Flow Measuring Techniques







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Volumetric Flow
1. Correlation Method
2. Elbow Tap Elbow Meter
3. Electro-Magnetic
4. Flow Nozzles
5. Flow Tube
6. Nutating Disk
7. Orifices
8. Oval Gear
9. Pitot Tube
10. Positive Mass
11. Reciprocating Piston
12. Rotary Vane
13. Swirl
14. Target
15. Turbine
16. Ultrasonic Doppler
17. Ultrasonic Transit Time
18. Variable Area
19. Venturi Tube
20. Vortex
21. Weir & Flume

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Flow Measuring Techniques







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Mass Flow
1. Corriolis
2. Thermal Dispersion

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Types of Flowmeters
Volumetric Flowmeters
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Thank you .