ME LAB 1 – FME18L- M

Submitted by:

Group 2

Aquino, Joker

Caranto, Derwin

Dulaca, Lance

Pontivedra, Angelo

Ugale, Yeshua Ken

Submitted to:

Engr. Kenneth Obrero

Flow Measurement
What is Flow Measurement?
Flow measurement is an action to measure the flow of liquids, gases and vapors using
a flow measurement instrument or device, which measures the rate of flow or the
quantity of flow. We measure flow in industrial processes, utility pipelines, HVAC
systems, municipal water, and wastewater, automotive and etc. Flow measurements
indicate flow rate, flow total, flow velocity, the absence of flow, presence of flow, too
much flow, too little flow, and flow direction.
TYPES OF FLOW MEASUREMENT
• HEAD METERS
Head flow meters operate on the principle of placing a restriction in the line to
cause a differential pressure head. The differential pressure, which is caused by the
head, is measured and converted to a flow measurement.

• VOLUMETRIC METERS
A type of measurement that measures volumetric flow rate which is also called
as actual flow rate that flows through the instrument per unit time.

Examples:
1. Positive Displacement Meter
2. Turbine Flow Meter
3. Magnetic Flow Meter

• MASS METERS
A type of measurement that measures mass flow rate which is the amount of
mass moving through the instrument per unit time.

Examples:
1. Coriolis Flow Meters
2. Thermal Mass Flow Meters

3. Ultrasonic Flow Meters

Orifice Plates
WHAT IS ORIFICE PLATES?
• Orifice plates is a metal plate with a hole in the middle for fluid to flow
through. Orifice plates are typically sandwiched between two flanges of a
pipe joint, allowing for easy installation and removal

Example of Orifice Plates:

TYPES OF ORIFICE PLATES

1. CONCENTRIC SHARP EDGE

A concentric sharp edged orifice plate is the simplest and least expensive of the head
meters. It is usually made of stainless steel. Other materials like nickel, Monel, etc. used
when it is needed a good corrosive resistant property. The accuracy of these type orifice
is very high.

2. CONICAL
installed backwards so that the flow enters the beveled side, where normally the flow
enters the non-beveled side.
 3. QUADRANT EDGE
The quadrant edge bore is an orifice with the inlet edge rounded. The upstream side of
the bore is shaped like a flow nozzle while the downstream side acts as a sharp edge
orifice plate. This design is recommended to measure the flow of high viscosity fluids
such as heavy crudes, syrups and slurries. The quadrant bore produces a relatively
constant coefficient when the Reynolds Number is below 10,000.

4. ECCENTRIC
It is similar to the concentric orifice plate except for the offset hole which is bored
tangential to a circle. Location of the bore prevents accumulation of solid materials or
foreign particles and makes it useful for measuring fluids containing suspended solid
particles. The eccentric orifice is less accurate and has a high number of uncertainty
when to compare to the concentric orifice plate. It is used when liquid consists of a large
amount of gas dissolved in it.
Working Principle:

 When a fluid, whose rate of flow is we are going to measure, is moved in the
Orifice Meter, there is a pressure loss amid the inward segment and outward
Segment of Orifice plate.
 We can measure this change in pressure by any pressure measurement
instrument such as an anemometer.
 Meanwhile, this difference in pressure is indirectly proportionate to the rate of
flow according to  Bernoulli’s Equation henceforth the pressure difference
measurement instrument can be organized to show rate of flow instead of
displaying differential pressure.
 The operational standard of the Orifice Meter is similar, like that of the Venturi
meter.
WHAT IS METER RUN OR STRAIGHT RUN REQUIREMENT?
 An orifice meter is a fluid flow measuring device that produces a differential
pressure in pressurized line fluid flowing through a narrow (generally concentric)
constriction in the process piping. This differential pressure is then related
inferentially to the rate of flow of the line fluid though the area of the constriction.
The orifice meter consists of three distinct elements:
a. A thin concentric orifice plate.
b. An orifice plate holder consisting of a set of orifice flanges equipped
with the appropriate differential pressure sensing taps.
c. The meter tube consisting of the appropriate adjacent piping sections,
with or without flow conditioners and temperature well.

Variable Area Flow Meter

 The variable area flow meter is an industrial flowmeter used to measure the
flowrate of liquids and gases. The variable area flow meter consists of a tube and
float. The float response to flowrate changes is linear, and a 10-to-1 flow range or
turndown is standard. In the case of OMEGA™ laboratory variable area flow
meters, far greater flexability is possible through the use of correlation equations.
The variable area flow meter is popular because it has a linear scale, a relatively
long measurement range, and low pressure drop. It is simple to install and
maintain.
WORKING PRINCIPLE
The variable area flow meter's operation is based on the variable area principle:
fluid flow raises a float in a tapered tube, increasing the area for passage of the fluid.
The greater the flow, the higher the float is raised. The height of the float is directly
proportional to the flowrate. With liquids, the float is raised by a combination of the
buoyancy of the liquid and the velocity head of the fluid. With gases, buoyancy is
negligible, and the float responds to the velocity head alone. The float moves up or
down in the tube in proportion to the fluid flowrate and the annular area between the
float and the tube wall. The float reaches a stable position in the tube when the upward
force exerted by the flowing fluid equals the downward gravitational force exerted by the
weight of the float. A change in flowrate upsets this balance of forces. The float then
moves up or down, changing the annular area until it again reaches a position where
the forces are in equilibrium. To satisfy the force equation, the variable area flow meter
float assumes a distinct position for every constant flowrate. However, it is important to
note that because the float position is gravity dependent, variable area flow meters must
be vertically oriented and mounted.

APPLICATIONS
 Measuring water and gas flow in plants or labs

 Monitoring chemical lines

 Monitoring filtration loading

 Monitoring flow in material-blending applications (i.e., lines that use a valved

meter)

 Monitoring hydraulic oils (although this may require special calibration)

 Monitor makeup water for food & beverage plants

Magnetic Flow Meter

A magnetic flow meter is a mass or volumetric flow meter that uses electrodes
connected to the liquid flow to measure the velocity of liquids in a tube or pipe. The
unique design of magnetic flow meters allows them to take their readings without the
need for any moving parts. This particular feature gives them the ability to measure high
pressure applications without any fear of seepage or leakage.

Fluids measured by magnetic flow meters have a conductivity of three micro siemens or
greater. They use Faraday’s law to measure voltage and velocity of fluids, which
requires that fluids maintain a certain level of conductivity to generate the necessary
voltage. The required conductivity varies between manufactures but is always between
3 to 10 micro Siemens with some manufacturers having higher requirements.

The three common types of electromagnetic flow meters are insertion, in-line, and
low flow. The determination of which one to choose depends on the needs of the
application and the required data.

Insertion Magnetic Flow Meters

Insertion magnetic flow meters can be installed through a ball valve or by drilling a hole
in the pipe where hot tap or insertion installation is desired. They can be installed in
pipelines with an internal diameter of two to 360 inches through a small tapping. As with
other magnetic flow meters, insertion magnetic flow meters have an electromagnetic
sensor and flow converter. A major benefit of insertion flow meters is that they can be
installed where there is limited space.
To activate the flow meter it is attached to the pipe by being screwed into the joint.
When it is being inserted, it is important that the indicators are parallel to the pipe and
the flow of the fluid. The probe must be inserted such that the sensor is in the center of
the pipe and conforms with the meter‘s installation depth chart.

In-Line Flow Meters

In-line flow meters are attached to the pipe by cutting out a section and inserting the
flow meter. This requires that the diameter of the flow meter sensor be the same as the
pipe or be attached using an adapter. Flanges are placed on the pipe with gaskets to
screw on the flow meter. In-line magnetic flow meters come in a wide variety of sizes
from ones that are handheld to ones that require a lift mechanism to install them.

It is important that the meter be installed with the flow direction matching the arrow on
the side of the meter if there is one. Due to their sensitivity to sound, in-line flow
electromagnetic flow meters must be installed away from motors, transformers, and
electromagnetic fields.

Low Flow Magnetic Flow Meters

One of the difficulties, when measuring liquid flow, is fluids that move very slowly and
are difficult to meter, such as chemical injections. For those conditions, low flow
magnetic flow meters are used for applications with pulsating metering pumps. These
uniquely designed meters are capable of measuring the flow of substances with
particulate matter without clogging or jamming the flow pipe. Their design allows them
to monitor fluids with widely varying viscosities and densities.