Flow Measurement

G P PUNE
Flow:
• Flow is defined as fluid in motion.
• Liquids and gases are fluids as they flow.
• Flow measurement is important in process plants, water treatment
plants, steam and gas production plants.
• Flow is measured to know the proportions of the materials introduced
to a mfg. process and the amount of materials evolved by the process.
• Type of flows are –
1. Laminar flow : the average velocity is slow.
2. Turbulent flow : Beyond certain velocity, eddy currents start to form.
Laminar flow pattern changes and layers disappear.
Selection Criteria:
• Flow measurement type - momentum (velocity), volumetric or mass
flow measurement
• Media - type of media (liquid, gas or slurry) and any special condition
such as particulates in the media and viscosity of the media
• Media conditions - pressure and temperature of media and whether
media conditions are likely to remain constant or vary
• Flow range - required flow range of media (min and max readings
required)
• Accuracy - required accuracy of the readings
• Environmental considerations - special installation considerations
such as hygienic installation, installing in to an ATEX zone (Devices
intended for use in explosive atmospheres) or requiring tamper proof
readings
Flow meters:
• Flow meter is an instrument capable of measuring the quantity of
fluid flowing in circular pipes.
• Classification:
1. Quantity meters, positive displacement meters
2. Head type flow meters :
• Variable head or differential flow meters – Venturi, Nozzle, Orifice,
Rotameter
• Velocity probes – Pitot tubes
3. Special meters - Electromagnetic flow meter, Hot wire anemometer,
Turbine meters, Ultrasonic flow meter, vortex flow meter, Coriolis mass
flow meter
Rotameter • It is most commonly used form of
variable area flow meter.
• It consists of a vertical tapered glass
tube with a float inside which is free to
move up and down in the tube.
• The tube is made tapered to have linear
relationship between flow rate and float
position.
• The fluid enters at the bottom, passes
upwards and exits at the top.
• When there is no flow, float rests at
bottom.
• When fluid enters the tube, float moves
up and rests at a position to show flow
rate on the calibrated scale on the tube.
• It can measure flow rate up to 920 LPH.
Rota meter:
 • Disadvantages:
Rota meter:
1. Must be installed in vertical
• Advantages: position.
1. It can handle any corrosive 2. Expensive for high tem. and
liquid. Pressure.
2. Good accuracy at flow rates. 3. When opaque liquid is used, float
3. Provides linear scale. is not visible.
4. Condition of flow is easily 4. Comparatively delicate.
visible. 5. Not good in pulsating services.
5. Low cost
6. Good rangeability. • Applications:
7. No power supply is required. 1. For flow of liquids and gases in
8. Easy to install / uninstall. industries.
 • This is thermal method of
Hot wire anemometer: measurement.
• It is mostly used in research
applications to study varying flow
conditions.
• When fluid flows over a heated
surface, heat is transferred from
surface and the surface tem. reduces.
The rate of reduction of tem. is
related to flow rate.
• Heat is supplied electrically to a fine
wire placed in flow stream.
• The temperature of wire is
determined by measuring the
resistance with Wheatstone bridge.
Hot wire anemometer:
 • It measures speed of water movement.
Turbine meter: • The rotor is in motion with an angular
speed proportional to the fluid velocity.
• The speed is measured with mechanical
counter.
Turbine meter:
 • These are useful for measurement of slurries,
Electromagnetic sludge and any electrically conducting liquid.
• It operates on Faraday’s law of electromagnetic
flow meter: induction.
• It has a pair of insulated electrodes buried flush in
opposite sides of a non conducting, non magnetic
(plastic or glass) pipe carrying liquid whose flow
is to be measured.
• The pipe is surrounded by electromagnet which
produces a magnetic field.
• The arrangement is analogous to a conductor
moving across a magnetic field.
• As the fluid passes through the pipe, its motion
relative to field produces an emf. Proportional to
velocity.
• The emf is collected by electrodes and given to
external circuitry.
• Emf produced is directly proportional to the
velocity.
• Flow is velocity * cross section of pipe.
Electromagnetic flow meter:
Electromagnetic flowmeter: • Disadvantages:
1. Suitable for fluids having lower
• Advantages: conductivity.
1. No obstruction is created to flow. 2. Expensive for heavy slurries if to be
2. Ability to measure reverse flow. handled.
3. No drop in fluid pressure. 3. Not suitable for low velocities.
4. Provides wide linear range.
5. Gives rapid response to flow. • Applications:
6. Output is unaffected by variations in 1) These are useful for measurement of
viscosity, density, tem, pressure or slurries, sludge and any electrically
conductivity. conducting liquid.
7. For non flow condition, provides
zero output.
Ultrasonic flow • In this, the measurement of flow rate is
determined by the variation in parameters of
meter: ultrasonic oscillations.
• Transmitters A , B transmit pulses which are
received by receivers A, B across the flow.
• Time taken by ultrasonic wave to cross the
pipe along the direction of flow and
opposite to the direction of flow is
measured.
• The difference in transmit times of
ultrasonic pulses is linearly proportional to
flow velocity.
• Ultrasonic transducer is mounted at an angle
or parallel to the pipe wall.
• When ultrasonic wave signal is transmitted
across the fluid flowing, it is increased or
decreased depending on the direction of
flow.
Ultrasonic flow meter:
 Ultrasonic flow meter:
• Advantages: • Disadvantages:
1. Impressive Accuracy 1. Complex circuit
2. Flexible Installation 2. Relatively high cost
3. Minimal Maintenance
4. No flow obstruction
Applications:
5. No moving parts
Mainly used for fluids.
6. Relatively insensitive to viscosity,
temperature and density
7. Excellent dynamic response