FLOW measurements

INTRODUCTION & DEFINATIONS

• The measurement of flow is important in many
industrial processes where the flow rate of liquids
or gases is required.
• The unit for flow rate is cubic meters per second
(m3/s) for liquids and kilograms per second (Kg/s)
for gaseous fluids. The unit for total flow quantity
is m3.
• m3 = 1000 liter
• liter = 1000 cm3
DIRECT WEIGHTING OR VOLUMATIC TECHNIQUE

• The time necessary to collect a quantity of

liquid in a tank is measured. Accurate
measure is then made for the collected
mass or volume. The flow rate may be
determined by using Eqs. 6.1., and 6.2.
Q’ = Q/∆t Eq. 6.1
m’ = m/∆t Eq. 6.2
Where Q, and m are the collected volume
(quantity), and mass respectively.
Δt is the time elapsed in collecting the
specified quantity.

This technique is employed only in

calibration of flow meters and may be
taken as a standard calibration technique.
 POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT
METERS (MECHANICAL METERS)

• In mechanical meters, the sensing

element, which is situated in the pipeline
or channel, is displaced by the fluid
flowing past it.
 DEFLECTION VANE FLOW METER

• The deflecting-vane flow meter is normally used

for measuring liquid flow rate in open channels
or for measuring the velocity of air in ventilating
ducts.
• The meter consists of a pivoted plate or vane
suspended in the liquid flow stream as shown in
Fig.6.1 In the position shown, the vane is in
equilibrium with the flow stream, i.e.
Fig. 6.1 Deflection van flow meter
• The force exerted on the vane by the flowing
liquid is being resisted either by the mass of the
vane itself or by a suitable spring located on the
pivot.
• The position of the vane is a measure of the rate of
flow.
• The movement of the vane is indicated on a scale,
which may be calibrated in units of flow rate, e.g.
cubic meters per second (m3/s).
• The main disadvantages with this device are:-
• a)It restricts the flow rate.
• B)It needs to recalibrated for fluids of differing
 ROTATING VANE FLOW METER

• The problem of restriction to flow caused by the

deflecting vane may be overcome by making the
vane rotate.
• In the five-blade rotating vane shown in Fig.6.2.,
the density of fluid is of no importance.
• The rotating spindle may be connected to a
mechanical or electrical speed-measuring device,
known as tachometer, which is calibrated in units
of volume per unit time, i.e. m3/s.
Fig. 6.2. Rotary vane flow meter
• If the spindle is connected to a
counter instead of a tachometer, then
the total flow in m3 is determined.

• The rotating vane illustrated is used in

small bores, typically up to 50 mm
diameter
 HELICAL TURBINE METER

• The helical-turbine meter takes

the form of a propeller or turbine
in which the liquid is made to flow
past the turbine blades as shown
in Fig. 6.3.
Fig. 6.3 Helical turbine meter
• The rotor is connected via a worm gear
and wheel to a mechanical or electrical
counter or a tachometer or both, i.e. the
meter may be used to measure flow rate
and total flow. This type of meter is
generally used in larger systems and
requires periodic inspection and cleaning
of the working parts
 DRAG EFFECT TECHNIQUE
ROTAMETER (VARIABLE AREA METER)
• The fluid enters to the bottom of the tapered vertical
tube, and causes the float to move upward. As the float
moves upward the annular area between the float, and
the tube, increases. This results in decreasing the flow
velocity and the drag force. The float will rise to a point
such that the weight of the float is just balanced by flow
(drag), and the buoyancy forces. If the flow is increased,
the float will rise to a new equilibrium position, and if the
velocity is reduced the float will fall. The position of the
float being a measure of the rate of flow of the fluid. The
tube, which may be manufactured from glass or plastics, is
graduated in units of flow rate.
 •
• This meter is simple and cheap, and
its maintenance is very simple. One of
the advantages of this meter is that it
can measure very low flow rates. Its
main disadvantage is that the tube
needs to be recalibrated for fluids of
differing densities.
Fig.6.4 Rotameter
 FLOW OBSTRACTION METHOD
(DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE METHOD

• An obstruction to the fluid flow is

introduced, and the resulting head-loss
(Differential pressure) is taken as an
indication of the flow rate.

• Consider the one dimensional flow system

shown in Fig. 6.5, The continuity equation
for this situation is
Q  A1v1  A2 v2 Eq.6.3
Fig. 6.5 General one dimensional system
 •
• Where the v1, and v2 are the fluid velocity at the
inlet and the outlet section respectively. The A1,
and A2 are the cross section areas of the duct
inlet and outlet respectively.
• Applying Bernoulli equation
P v 2
P v
Eq. 6.4
2

  
1 1 2 2

g 2g g 2g
v22   A2  
2
P1  P2
 1    
Eq. 6.5
g 2g 
  1  
A


P1  P2
g
 h Eq. 6. 6
A2
Q  A2 v2  2 g h
 A2 
1  
2
Eq. 6.7
 A1 
• Where Δh is the differential head
• Velocity approach factor = E =
1
E 
 A 
2 Eq. 6.8
1  2

 A1 

• Substitute in equation 6.7 by eq.6.8

Q  A2 E 2 g h Eq. 6.9
• Friction losses are not considered in Eq.
6.9. Equation 6.10 relates the actual flow
rate to the ideal one (friction=0)
 •
• Friction losses are not considered in Eq.
6.9. Equation 6.10 relates the actual flow
rate to the ideal one (friction=0)
Q
Q
act
 C d Eq. 6.10
ideal

• Where Cd is the discharge coefficient

• Substitute in Eq. 6.9 by Eq. 6.10
.
Q  Cd A2 E 2 gh Eq. 6.11
 VENTURI FLOW METER

• Venture meter comprises a

cylindrical inlet section followed by
a convergent entrance into a
cylindrical throat and a divergent
outlet section, Fig. 6.6.
Fig. 6.6 Venture flow meter
• Fluid passes through the convergent
entrance, increasing velocity as it does so,
resulting in a differential pressure between
the inlet and the throat. Upstream
pressure tapping is located in the
cylindrical entrance section. Down stream
pressure tapping is located in the throat.
Flow rate can be calculated using Eq. 6.11
 ORIFICE FLOW METER

• A thin plate with circular orifice

located in the flow duct, Fig.6.7. The
differential pressure head (Δh) is
measured on either sides of the orifice
plate. Equation 6.11 is used to
determine the flow rate.
 FLOW VELOCITY MEASUREMENT.
THE PITOT TUBE

• The pitot tube consists of a small-

bore tube which is bent into the
shape shown in Fig. 6.8.
Fig. 6.8. Pitot tube
• It is inserted through a pressure-tight gland
into the pipe-line, with its orifice, or open
end, facing upstream against the direction of
the flow. The fluid impacting on the tube
open end will be brought to rest and its
kinetic energy will be converted to pressure
energy. The pressure build up in the tube will
be greater than that in the free stream by an
amount termed the impact pressure.
The pressure in the pitot tube is greater than •
the static pressure measured at the wall of
the pipe line and the
• difference between the two pressure (Δh) is a
measure of the fluid velocity.
2 2
vf v pit
h  
2g 2g
Eq. 6.12
vf  2 gh
• Where vf is the fluid velocity, and the vpit is equal
to the fluid velocity in the pitot tube which is
equal to zero.

• The advantages of the pitot tube are that it

produces only a small pressure loss in the tube, it
is cheap and easy to install, and it does not
interrupt the flow. The disadvantages are that,
due to the small pressure differential, it is
suitable only for high-velocity fluids or gases.
Also, it can measure the flow rate only at a
particular position in the cross-section of the pipe
and it easily becomes blocked if used with a fluid