VARIABLE AREA

METER
Submitted To
Dr. Muhammad Ayyaz
Submitted By
Afifa (RP23-CE07)
Amina (RP23-CE12)
Javeria (RP23-CE18)
Hafsa (RP23-CE24)
CONTENTS:
 History&Background
 Introduction
 Terminologies &Definitions
 Working Principle
 Working Equation
 Domestic/Lab Scale &Commercial Level Applications
 Advantages &Disadvantages
 Developments
 References
H I S T O RY & B A C K G R O U N D

The history of variable-area meters dates to 1908

when they were invented by German engineer Karl
Kueppers in Aachen, Germany.
FelixMeyer recognized the commercial potential of
Kueppers' invention, and in 1909 founded "Deutsche
Rotawerke" in Aachen.
Kueppers invented the special shape for the inside
of the glass tube that realized a symmetrical flow
scale.
 A Variable Area Flow Meter is a
flow meter that can measure
the volumetric flow of liquid, gas
or steam.
VARIABLE AREA  It is a type of differential
METER & pressure flowmeter. Also called
ROTAMETER a rotameter.
 Within the Variable Area Flow
Meter, gas or liquid moves the
float until equilibrium is
reached.
 TERMINOLOGIES
 Float  Gravitational Force
Tapered Tube Pressure Drop
Flow Area Viscosity

Metering Tube  Reynolds Number

Scale Calibration

Flow Rate  Turndown Ratio

 Upward Force / Buoyant  Density Compensation
Force
Float
s  The float is the moving
component inside the
meter, which rises and
falls depending on the
flow rate.
 It can have different
shapes, such as spherical,
conical, or cylindrical, and
is usually made of
materials like metal, glass,
or plastic.
TAPERED TUBE
The tube in a variable area
meter has a conical or
tapered shape, wider at the
top and narrower at the
bottom.
 This design allows the float
to rise to a point where the
flow area equals the flow
rate.
Flow Area
 The flow area is the space
between the float and the
tube wall.
 As the float rises, the area
around it increases, balancing
the upward force of the fluid
with the gravitational force on
the float.
 Metering
This is the main body of the
Tube
variable area meter, typically
made of glass, plastic, or metal.
Itis transparent in many cases,
especially when used for visual
monitoring of the float position.
Scale The scale is the measurement
indicator on the side of the
meter.
It is calibrated to show the flow
rate based on the position of the
float in the tube.
The scale can be in units of
volume per time, such as liters
per minute (L/min) or cubic
meters per hour (m³/h).
Flow Rate Theflow rate is the
quantity of fluid passing
through the meter per unit
time.
It is determined by the
position of the float in the
tapered tube.
Upward Force
& Buoyant
The buoyant force is the
Force
force exerted by the fluid
on the float, which pushes
it upwards.
The magnitude of this
force depends on the fluid's
density and velocity.
Gravitationa
l Force This is the force acting
downward on the float due to
its weight.
 It counteracts the buoyant
force, allowing the float to
stabilize at a specific height
based on the flow rate.
Pressure
Drop The pressure drop across the
variable area meter is the
difference in pressure between
the inlet and the outlet of the
meter.
Itremains relatively constant
because the meter's design
allows the float to adjust its
position to compensate for
changes in flow rate.
Viscosity Viscosity is a measure of a
fluid's resistance to flow.
Itcan affect the accuracy of
variable area meters, especially
for non-Newtonian fluids or
when there is a significant
variation in viscosity with
temperature.
Reynolds
Number The Reynolds number is a
dimensionless parameter used
to predict flow patterns in
different fluid flow situations.
 For variable area meters, it
helps determine whether the
flow is laminar or turbulent.
Calibration Calibration is the process of
adjusting the scale of the
variable area meter to
accurately reflect the flow rate
for a specific fluid.
 Calibration can vary based on
fluid properties like density and
viscosity.
Turndown
Ratio The turndown ratio is the range
over which the variable area
meter can accurately measure
the flow rate.
It
is the ratio of the maximum
measurable flow to the
minimum measurable flow.
Density
Compensatio
n Meters, in some variable area
density compensation is used to
account for changes in fluid
density, which can affect the
accuracy of flow
measurements, especially in
gases.
WORKING PRINCIPLE

A variable area meter (rotameter) works by allowing

fluid to flow upward through a tapered tube, lifting a
float. The float stabilizes at a height where the
upward fluid force balances gravity. The float’s
position corresponds to a calibrated scale, indicating
the flow rate.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The working of the variable area meter is governed by
the balance of forces acting on the float:

Working of Rotameter
UPWARD FORCE

Buoyancy + Drag force

When fluid enters the tapered tube from the bottom,

it exerts an upward force on the float. This upward
force is a combination of Buoyancy: Caused by the
displacement of the fluid. Drag Force: Created by
the flow of fluid as it moves around the float.
Buoyancy:
Caused by the
displacement of the fluid.
Drag Force: Created by
the flow of fluid as it
moves around the float.

Drag Force:
Created by the flow
of fluid as it moves
around the float.
 DOWNWARD FORCE
(GRAVITY):

The weight of the float acts as a downward force

due to gravity.
Fg=m . g
EQUILIBRIUM POSITION
As fluid flows, the float moves upward, and the
cross-sectional area between the float and the tube
increases.
The float rises until the upward forces (buoyancy +
drag) balance the downward force (gravity).
At this equilibrium position, the flow rate is constant
and can be read directly from the calibrated scale
on the tube.
WORKING EQUATION

The working equation of a Variable Area Flow Meter

(Rotameter) relates the flow rate to the forces acting
on the float. It is derived from the balance of
gravitational, buoyant, and drag forces at the float's
equilibrium position.

Fb + Fd= Fg
Substituting the expressions:
pf . Vf .g + Cd. A . pf .v2 = m . g

Rearranging to express in velocity (v)

v=
As
Q = A.v
So,
Q=A.
FINAL EQUATION

Where;
K= Calibration constant
Pf = Fluid Density
g = Acceleration due to
gravity
h= Height or Displacement of the float
Applications Of Variable Area Meter

Variable area meters, also known

as rotameters, are widely used in
various industries for measuring
the flow rate of liquids and gases.
Here are some of the key
applications of variable area
meters:
Industrial
Applicatio
ns 1. Chemical Processing: To measure the flow
rate of chemicals, solvents, and other
process fluids.
2. 2. Oil and Gas: To measure the flow rate of
crude oil, natural gas, and petroleum
products.
3. 3. Power Generation: To measure the flow
rate of fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas, in
power plants.
4. 4. Water and Wastewater Treatment: To
measure the flow rate of water,
wastewater, and chemicals in treatment
plants.
Research
Applicatio
ns
 Research and Development: To
measure the flow rate of gases
and liquids in laboratory
settings.
Laboratory
Applicatio
ns Calibration and Testing: To
calibrate and test other flow
meters and instruments.
 Pilot Plant Operations: To
measure the flow rate of fluids
in pilot plant operations
Medical
Applicati
ons
 Medical Gas Systems: To
measure the flow rate of
medical gases, such as oxygen,
nitrous oxide, and anesthetic
gases
Pharmaceut
ical
Applications
Pharmaceutical Processing: To
measure the flow rate of fluids
such as;
 water
solvents

 active pharmaceutical
ingredients (APIs)
Aerospace
and Defence
Applications Fuel Flow Measurement: To
measure the flow rate of fuels
in aircraft and missile systems.
 Oxygen Flow Measurement: To
measure the flow rate of
oxygen in aircraft and
spacecraft systems.
Food and
Beverage
Applications To measure the flow rate of
fluids, such as;
 water
 juice
 beer.
Pulp and
Paper
Processing
To measure the flow rate of
Applications fluids, such as;
water

Pulp

paper chemicals.
Mining and
Mineral
To measure the flow rate of
Applications fluids such as;
 water
 slurries
 process chemicals.
Advantages Of Variable Area Meter

 High Accuracy
 Simple and Rugged Design
 Low Pressure Drop
 Wide Range-ability
 Linear Scale
 No Electrical Power Required
 Low Maintenance
 Cost-Effective
 Wide Operating Range
 Easy Installation
 Disadvantages of variable area
meter
Cannot be placed horizontally
Cannot withstand high pressure and temperature
Only measures small flow rates
Must be free from solid impurities
Noise and vibration
Fragile glass tubes
Developmen
ts 2.Automati
1. Material on and
Improveme Digitializati
nts on

3.Performan 4.Integratio
ce n with
Enhancemen Control
ts systems
 Material
Improveme
nts
Durability: Use of
polycarbonate/stainless steel for
impact resistance.
Corrosion Resistance: Advanced
coatings like PTFE or Hastelloy.
Automation
and
Digitalizatio
Sensors: Real-time float
n detection, digital output.

IoT: Remote monitoring via

HART/Modbus/Bluetooth.

Alarms: Threshold alerts for

safety.
Performance
Enhancemen
ts
Adaptive Measurement:
Auto-compensation for fluid
properties.
Extended Range: Advanced
floats for broader flow rates.
Integration
with Control
systems
Automation: Integrated with
control systems.

Efficiency: Reduced pressure loss

and energy use.
Reference
Books
s for  Flow Measurement Handbook –
R.W. Miller (McGraw-Hill)
Variable  Instrument Engineers' Handbook
– Bela G. Liptak (CRC Press)
Area  Industrial Instrumentation –

Meters Donald P. Eckman (Wiley)

Reference Research Papers
1. Advances in Rotameter Flow
s for Measurement – A. Price
(Measurement Science and
Variable Technology)
2. Design and Calibration of
Area Variable Area Flow Meters – J.
Zhou et al. (Flow Measurement
Meters and Instrumentation)
Reference
s for Websites
 Engineering Toolbox
Variable  Omega Engineering
Area  Instrumentation Today
 NIST
Meters