Flow Meter

Subject- Pharmaceutical
Engineering
Unit - 1st
Topic- Flow meter
Prepared by- Shailendra Singh
Flow meter ( measurement of flow)
A flow meter is a device used to measure the flow rate of a gas or
liquid moving through a pipe.
Types of flow meter
1) Orifice meter 2) Venturi meter 3) Pitot tube 4) Rotameter
Construction:-
 It consist of thin plate containing a narrow & sharp aperture/ hole
through which fluid flow.
 This thin plate is placed between long straight pipe.
 A manometer is attached between point A & B to measure the
pressure head.
fig. Orifice meter

Working:-
 When fluid is passes through narrow constriction or hole in the
plate the velocity of fluid at point B increases & according to
Bernoulli's theorem there will decrease in pressure head at that
point.
 The difference between pressure head between main channel
& point of constriction is measured by manometer inserted to
the point A& B.
 According to Bernoulli's equation
uo2 - ua2 = Co 2g. ΔH
uo = Velocity of fluid at orifice
ua = Velocity of fluid at point A
Co = Constant related to orifice meter
ΔH = differential head
 If the diameter of the orifice is 1/5 or less the pipe diameter
then ua is neglected so,
uo = Co 2g. ΔH
Application:-
 It is used for the measurement of discharge through a pipe.
 Volume of liquid flowing per hour can be determined.
 It is also used in some small river systems to measure the flow.
Advantage:-
 It is simple in construction and very easy to install & handle.
 It is cheap in comparison of venturimeter.
Disadvantages:-
 Power loss if fluid is carried for long time.
Construction:-
The venturimeter consist of two tapered sections with throat (
constricted portion) at center and attached a manometer
between the point A & B.
Fig. Venturimeter
Working:-
When stream of fluid passes through throat (constricted portion),
the velocity of fluid increases as compared to the upstream . This
result in decreased pressure in the upstream cone.
The pressure drop in the upstream cone is utilized to measure the
rate of flow using manometer.
An equation for venturi meter may be written as:
uv2 - ua2 = Cv 2g. ΔH

uv = velocity at the throat of the venturi (m/s)
ua = Velocity at point A (m/s)
Cv = Coefficient
If the diameter of the smaller section is one-fifth of the pipe
diameter.
ua2 is very small compared to uv2 in such case ua2 can be neglected
And equation become
Uv = Cv 2g. ΔH
Application:-
- It is commonly used to measure flow of fluid especially of water
- It is also used for measuring sewage and flow carrying other
material.
Advantages:-
- It is very accurate in measurement.
- It has very little, power and fractional losses.
- It require very little maintenance.
Disadvantages:-
- It is expensive than orifice meter.
- Its construction is not simple as it is permanent and not flexible.
A.
.B
Working:-
 The pitot tube is inserted into the stream of flowing flood.
 The tube (at point A) that have pointed upstream measures
pressure head and velocity head.
 The tube (at point B) Which is at right angle to flow measures
pressure head only.
 The difference in these two readings indicates the velocity head
 Manometer measure the velocity head.
 Velocity head of fluid may be obtained by
u2 = ΔHp 2g
u = Cp 2g ΔHp
u = Velocity of flow at point of insertion (m/s)

ΔHp = difference in head from manometer
Application:-
 It is used in fluid flow management in industry.
 It is used to determine cooling amount that is happening in a
room.
Advantages:-
 Low cost.
 Simple in construction & easy to install and handle.
 It can measure velocity directly at a single point in pipe.
Disadvantages:-
 They do not give average velocity directly.
 Low accuracy.
Rotameter
- A rotameter is a device that measures the flow rate of fluid
in a closed tube.
- It is also called variable area meter.
Principle:-
 It works on the variable area principle, during the fluid flow
through the tube the plummet /float rises and falls because
variation of flow.
Construction:-
 It consist of a transparent tapered
tube made of glass.
 A plummet/ float made up of glass/metal/
plastic is placed in narrow end of tube.
 A scale is attached for indication of flow.
 A transmitter is attached to record the
measurement.
Working:-
 As the flow is upward through the tapered tube the plummet/
float rises and falls depend on the flow rate.
 Greater the flow rate higher the rise in float.
 There is a scale which read the position of the float & giving the
flow rate.
 There is a head loss occurs, this is equal to the weight of float.
Advantages:-
 We can find the rate of flow by direct visualization.
 Cost of this equipment is less.
Disadvantages:-
 Low accuracy.
 Tendency of float to ‘stick’ at low flow rate.
Application:-
 It is used in chemical & pharmaceutical industry.
 It is used in hospitals & clinics controlling the oxygen intake by
patient.

Flow Meter

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Subject- Pharmaceutical

fig. Orifice meter

uv2 - ua2 = Cv 2g. ΔH

u = Velocity of flow at point of insertion (m/s)

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