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Rotameter Working Principle Animation

A rotameter is a device that measures the flow rate of liquids and gases through a tapered tube. It works by using the drag force created by the moving fluid to push a float up the tube to an elevation that balances the drag force with the force of gravity on the float. The position of the float indicates the flow rate, with higher rates pushing the float higher up the tube. Rotameters provide a simple, inexpensive, and self-powered means of measuring flow rates, but require vertical orientation and calibration for different fluids.

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873 views3 pages

Rotameter Working Principle Animation

A rotameter is a device that measures the flow rate of liquids and gases through a tapered tube. It works by using the drag force created by the moving fluid to push a float up the tube to an elevation that balances the drag force with the force of gravity on the float. The position of the float indicates the flow rate, with higher rates pushing the float higher up the tube. Rotameters provide a simple, inexpensive, and self-powered means of measuring flow rates, but require vertical orientation and calibration for different fluids.

Uploaded by

zhangyili
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Rotameter Working Principle Animation

A rotameter is a device that measures the flow rate of liquid or gas in a closed tube.

Rotameter
It belongs to a class of meters called variable area meters, which measure flow rate by
allowing the cross-sectional area the fluid travels through, to vary, causing a
measurable effect.

A rotameter consists of a tapered tube, typically made of glass with a ‘float’, made
either of anodized aluminum or a ceramic, actually a shaped weight, inside that is
pushed up by the drag force of the flow and pulled down by gravity.

The drag force for a given fluid and float cross section is a function of flow speed
squared only.

A higher volumetric flow rate  through a given area increases flow speed and drag
force, so the float will be pushed upwards.
However, as the inside of the rotameter is cone shaped (widens), the area around the
float through which the medium flows increases, the flow speed and drag force
decrease until there is mechanical equilibrium with the float’s weight.

Floats are made in many different shapes, with spheres and ellipsoids being the most
common. The float may be diagonally grooved and partially colored so that it rotates
axially as the fluid passes.

This shows if the float is stuck since it will only rotate if it is free. Readings are usually
taken at the top of the widest part of the float; the center for an ellipsoid, or the top for
a cylinder. Some manufacturers use a different standard.

The “float” must not float in the fluid: it has to have a higher density than the fluid,
otherwise it will float to the top even if there is no

flow.

The mechanical nature of the measuring principle provides a flow measurement device


that does not require any electrical power. If the tube is made of metal, the float
position is transferred to an external indicator via a magnetic coupling.

This capability has considerably expanded the range of applications for the variable
area flow meter, since the measurement can observed remotely from the process or
used for automatic control.

Advantages:
A rotameter requires no external power or fuel, it uses only the inherent
properties of the fluid, along with gravity, to measure flow rate.
A rotameter is also a relatively simple device that can be mass manufactured out
of cheap materials, allowing for its widespread use.
Since the area of the flow passage increases as the float moves up the tube, the
scale is approximately linear.
Clear glass is used which is highly resistant to thermal shock and chemical
action.

Disadvantages:
Due to its use of gravity, a rotameter must always be vertically oriented and
right way up, with the fluid flowing upward.
Due to its reliance on the ability of the fluid or gas to displace the float,
graduations on a given rotameter will only be accurate for a given substance at
a given temperature. The main property of importance is the density of the fluid;
however, viscosity may also be significant. Floats are ideally designed to be
insensitive to viscosity; however, this is seldom verifiable from manufacturers’
specifications. Either separate rotameters for different densities and viscosities
may be used, or multiple scales on the same rotameter can be used.
Due to the direct flow indication the resolution is relatively poor compared to
other measurement principles. Readout uncertainty gets worse near the bottom
of the scale.Oscillations of the float and parallax may further increase the
uncertainty of the measurement.
Since the float must be read through the flowing medium, some fluids may
obscure the reading. A transducer may be required for electronically measuring
the position of the float.
Rotameters are not easily adapted for reading by machine; although magnetic
floats that drive a follower outside the tube are available.
Rotameters are not generally manufactured in sizes greater than 6
inches/150 mm, but bypass designs are sometimes used on very large pipes.

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