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    Rotameters - Design Aspects

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    vijay kumar honnali
    Rotameters measure fluid flow using a float inside a tapered glass tube. As fluid enters the bottom of the tube, the float is lifted upwards until buoyant forces equal the float's weight, indicating the flow rate on the tube's scale. There are several types of rotameters that can measure various fluids including gases and liquids. They work by having the float reach equilibrium where upward forces from the fluid equal the downward force of gravity, positioning the float at a point on the graduated scale corresponding to flow rate. Rotameters are widely used due to their simple design and ability to provide an visual indication of flow.

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    Rotameters - Design Aspects

    Uploaded by

    vijay kumar honnali
    55 views13 pages
    Rotameters measure fluid flow using a float inside a tapered glass tube. As fluid enters the bottom of the tube, the float is lifted upwards until buoyant forces equal the float's weight, indicating the flow rate on the tube's scale. There are several types of rotameters that can measure various fluids including gases and liquids. They work by having the float reach equilibrium where upward forces from the fluid equal the downward force of gravity, positioning the float at a point on the graduated scale corresponding to flow rate. Rotameters are widely used due to their simple design and ability to provide an visual indication of flow.

    Original Description:

    Design Aspects of a Rotameter

    Original Title

    Rotameters- Design Aspects

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    Rotameters measure fluid flow using a float inside a tapered glass tube. As fluid enters the bottom of the tube, the float is lifted upwards until buoyant forces equal the float's weight, indicating the flow rate on the tube's scale. There are several types of rotameters that can measure various fluids including gases and liquids. They work by having the float reach equilibrium where upward forces from the fluid equal the downward force of gravity, positioning the float at a point on the graduated scale corresponding to flow rate. Rotameters are widely used due to their simple design and ability to provide an visual indication of flow.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    55 views13 pages

    Rotameters - Design Aspects

    Uploaded by

    vijay kumar honnali
    Rotameters measure fluid flow using a float inside a tapered glass tube. As fluid enters the bottom of the tube, the float is lifted upwards until buoyant forces equal the float's weight, indicating the flow rate on the tube's scale. There are several types of rotameters that can measure various fluids including gases and liquids. They work by having the float reach equilibrium where upward forces from the fluid equal the downward force of gravity, positioning the float at a point on the graduated scale corresponding to flow rate. Rotameters are widely used due to their simple design and ability to provide an visual indication of flow.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 13

    Rotameters

    Introduction
    This article will take an in-depth look at rotameters.

    The article will bring more detail on topics such as:

     Principle of Rotameters
     Types of Rotameters
     Applications and Benefits of Rotameters
     And Much More…
    Chapter 1: Principle of Rotameters
    This chapter will discuss what rotameters are, their construction, and how they function.

    What Is A Rotameter?
    A rotameter is a device that measures the flow of fluid volume per unit time in a closed
    tube. There are diverse rotameters applications, including chemical injection/dosing and
    tank blanketing. A rotameter can be said to be a gauge for measuring fluid flow using its
    graduated glass tube, which contains a free float.
    There are purge applications of a rotameter whereby it is used to keep process lines
    clear. In simple flow measurement, an alarm or an electrical output makes it possible to
    continuously check flow conditions and control them.

    Construction of Rotameters
    A rotameter contains a transparent tube which is tapered and is placed vertically in a
    way that it has a small diameter at the bottom. This tube changes its cross-sectional
    area in order to affect the float by giving it a constant drop. In order to create minimum
    hindrance to the flow a proper perfect shape of the float is placed into consideration.
    On the outer margin of the glass tube a linear scale is marked. The conical tube can be
    made up of plastic, metal and glass with all of them having different types of uses.
    Opaque liquids are contained and used in metal tubes whereas gas and liquids are
    used in the glass tube. Metals of different densities can be used in the construction and
    these include lead and aluminum where stainless steel floats are mostly used.

    How Rotameters Work


    Fluid enters the tube from the bottom and moves towards the top escaping through.
    This fluid is the one whose flow is to be measured. The float will rest at the bottom of
    the tube when there is no flow in the instrument. In such a situation the total diameter of
    the float is nearly equal to the inside diameter of the glass tube.
    The flow area of the annular opening increases when the fluid enters the tube thus also
    making the float move upwards. It is moved upwards until the lifting strength produced
    from the difference in pressure across its upper and lower surface begins to equal to the
    float weight. The lifting force and the pressure difference will temporarily increase due to
    the increase of the flow rate in the rotameter. Afterward the float travels to the top and
    increases the area on the annular opening. Due to this, the lifting force which had been
    increased will now decrease and the force of the fluid will become the same as the float
    weight. The difference in pressure remains the same by changing the area of the
    annular opening in relation to the flow rate. The flow rate indication is provided by the
    scale marked on the glass tube.

    When using rotameters, calibration must be undertaken for a given gas or fluid at a
    given set of conditions. Normally the conditions are written on the sides of the flow
    meter along with its range of flow and the units of measurement. In the use of
    rotameters, one is always advised to correct the flow tube readings according to any
    changes which come from flow conditions. Usually manufacturers detail the required
    corrections for the meters, but this is not always the case.

    Working Principle of a Rotameter


    One of the formulas used in the rotameters is:

    Q=kA√gh

    Where:

    Q = volumetric flow rate

    k = a constant

    A = annular area contained between the float and the wall of the tube

    g = the force of gravity

    h = the pressure drop of the float


    Because of its advantages, the rotameter is the most widely used variable area flow
    meter. It consists of a float that moves through a tube as the fluid passes through. More
    flow due to volume exerts a greater pressure on the float, thus lifting it even higher. In
    liquids, buoyancy becomes one with the velocity of the flowing liquid, thus raising the
    float. In gasses buoyancy is left out as the speed of the gas, and the pressure assigns
    the float to a certain height.

    Commonly, the tube is set up in a vertical manner with no flow and having the float at
    the bottom. But just as the fluid starts passing through the float begins to elevate up to
    the top of the tube. The height gained by the float as it moves is generally proportional
    to the rate at which the fluid flows. The process reaches equilibrium when the upward
    force now equals the weight of the float, also giving the float a fixed position with no
    movement. At this moment, readings can be easily taken and these include readings of
    the density and the fluid’s resistance to flow (viscosity).

    Using flow regulation valves, one can manually adjust the flow in the rotameter. The
    name rotameter was gained from the early designs where the early equipment had free
    floats which rotated in relation to the change in gas and fluid pressures. Due to the
    rotation, the name Rota-meter then came up.
    Generally used fluids such as air and water already had their calibration data and
    reading scales provided together with the rotameters. Part of this standard information
    such as the calibration tables, standard flow values, nomographs, and slide rules are
    normally provided by the manufacturers.

    Characteristics of a Rotameter
    The characteristics of a rotameter include:

    Linearity of a Rotameter
    The area is proportional to the volume flowing in a unit of time through a variable meter
    thus making these meters have increments of equal scale. The linearity of a rotameter
    scale is amiss at about 5%.

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