ABSTRACT

There are 3 experiment conducted for this laboratory.The objectives of this

experiment is to obtain and compare flow rate measurement by utilizing
mass flow meter and rotameter. In experiment 1, the flow rate is obtained
from flow meter and rotameter. Then ,in experiment 2 and 3 the overall
experimental constant of venturi meter and orifice meter is obtained and
compared with the theoretical calculated constant.
In reality,the investigation of a compressible fluid flow is done

by using

different measuring instrument and techniques including primary flow

measurement devices (e.g orifice and venture) as well as secondary flow
measurement devices (e.g differential transmitter).Hence, the comparison of
different measurement or devices can be accomplished as all the flow
measuring devices are strategically arranged in a pipe work which pressure
and flow measurement are provided for flow compensation of a compressible
fluid.

INTRODUCTION
A flow meter is a device used to measure the flow rate or quantity of a gas or
liquid in a pipe. Flow measurement applications are very diverse such as
water flow through an open channel, hydraulic valve leakage, fuel
measurement through a fuel injector, or respiratory flow through a peak
expiratory flow meter. Although there are many technologies used to
measure flow, the positive displacement flow meter is unique as it is the only
one to directly measure the actual volume. All other types infer the flow rate
by making some other type of measurement and equating it to the flow rate.
An orifice meter is simple apparatus consists of a flat plate with a drilled hole
inserted into the pipe. This flat plate or commonly known as orifice plate
causes restriction in the fluid flow and will create pressure difference before
and after the orifice plate. Because of the restriction, the fluid flow will take
the form of the restriction and will have a change in cross sectional area
depending upon the area of the hole in the restriction. . The orifice plates are
simple, cheap and can be delivered for almost any application in any
material. The Turn Down Rate for orifice plates are less than 5:1. Their
accuracy are poor at low flow rates. A high accuracy depend on an orifice
plate in good shape, with a sharp edge to the upstream side. Wear reduces
the accuracy.

Due to simplicity and dependability, the Venturi tube flow meter is often used
in applications where it's necessary with higher Turn Down Rates, or lower
pressure drops, than the orifice plate can provide. In the Venturi Tube the
fluid flow rate is measured by reducing the cross sectional flow area in the
flow path, generating a pressure difference. After the constricted area, the

fluid is passes through a pressure recovery exit section, where up to 80% of

the differential pressure generated at the constricted area, is recovered.

The rotameter consists of a vertically oriented glass (or plastic) tube with a
larger end at the top, and a metering float which is free to move within the
tube. Fluid flow causes the float to rise in the tube as the upward pressure
differential and buoyancy of the fluid overcome the effect of gravity.

OBJECTIVES
For experiment 1: Determination of the operation and characteristic of
mass flow meter and rotameter
1) To obtain the flow rate measurement by utilizing mass flow meter and rotameter
2) To compare rate flow measurement by utilizing mass flow rate and rotameter
For experiment 2: Determination of the operation and characteristic of
venturi meter
1) To determine the overall experiment constant of the venturi meter and compare
with theoretical calculated constant
For experiment 3: Determination of the operation and characteristic of
orifice meter
1) To determine the overall experiment constant of the orifice meter and compare
with theoretical calculated constant

THEORY

Flowmeters are used in fluid systems (liquid and gas) to indicate the rate of
flow of the fluid. They can also control the rate of flow if they are equipped
with a flow control valve.
1. Rotameter

Rotameter is a particular kind of flowmeter, based on the variable area

principle. They provide a simple, precise and economical means of indicating
flow rates in fluid systems.
This variable area principle consists of three basic elements, a uniformly
tapered flow tube, a float, and a measurement scale. A control valve may be
added if flow control is also desired. In operation, the rotameter is positioned
vertically in the fluid system with the smallest diameter end of the tapered
flow tube at the bottom. This is the fluid inlet. The float, typically spherical, is
located inside the flow tube, and is engineered so that its diameter is nearly
identical to the flow tubes inlet diameter.

When fluid (gas or liquid) is allow to flow into the tube, the float is lifted from
its initial position at the inlet, allowing the fluid to pass between it and the
tube wall. As the float rises, more and more fluid flows by the float because

the tapered tubes diameter is increasing. Ultimately, a point is reached

where the flow area is large enough to allow the entire volume of the fluid to
flow past the float. This flow area is called the annular passage. The float is
now stationary at that level within the tube as its weight is being supported
by the fluid forces which caused it to rise. This position corresponds to a
point on the tubes measurement scale and provides an indication of the
fluids flow rate.
One way to change the capacity or flow range of a rotameter is to change
the float material, and thus its density, while keeping the flow tube and float
size constant. Floats which are made from less dense materials will rise
higher in the tube and therefore will yield lower flow capacities for the same
diameter flow tube.
2. Venturi meter

Venturi meter is the most widely used device to measure the discharge
through the pipe. A venturi is a converging-Diverging nozzle of circular crosssection.The principle of venture meter is that when a fluid flows through the
venture meter, it accelerates in the convergent section and decelerates in
the divergent section, resulting in a drop in the static pressure followed by a
pressure recovery in the flow direction. By measuring the difference in

the pressures at an axial station upstream of the convergent section and at

the throat, the volumetric flow rate can be estimated.The flow through the
venture meter and hence through the pipe is given by

where
Qactual = Actual discharge in m3 /s
Cv =Discharge co-efficient of a venturimeter
A1 =area at the inlet side in m2
A2 =area at the throat side in m2
h =Differential pressure head of liquid in m
g =Acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s2)
In a venturi meter there is first a converging section in which the cross
sectional area for flow is reduced. Then there is a short section at the
reduced diameter, known as the throat of the meter. Then there is a
diverging section in which the cross sectional area for flow is gradually
increased to the original diameter. The velocity entering the converging
section is where the pressure is P1. In the converging section the velocity
increases and the pressure decreases. The maximum velocity is at the throat
of the meter where the minimum pressure P2 is reached. The velocity
decreases and the pressure increases in the diverging section. There is a
considerable recovery of pressure in the diverging section. However, because
of frictional effects in the fluid, the pressure leaving the diverging section is
always less than P1, the pressure entering the meter.

The venturi tube has a converging conical inlet, a cylindrical throat, and a
diverging recovery cone. It has no projections into the fluid, no sharp corners,
and no sudden changes in contour.

3. Orifice meter
Orifice meter is another simple device used for the measuring the discharge
through pipes, orifice meter also works on the same principle as that of
venturi meter i.e., by reducing the cross-sectional area of flow passage, a
pressure difference between the two sections before and after Orifice is
developed and the measurement of the pressure difference enables the
determination of the discharge through the pipe . An orifice meter is a
cheaper arrangement for discharge measurement through pipes and its
installation requires a smaller length as compared with venturi meter. As
such where the space is limited, the orifice meter may be used for the
measurement of discharge through the pipe.

Where,
= volumetric flow rate (at any cross-section), m/s
= cross-sectional area of the orifice hole, m
= diameter of the pipe, m
= diameter of the orifice hole, m
= fluid upstream pressure, Pa with dimensions of kg/(ms )
= fluid downstream pressure, Pa with dimensions of kg/(ms )
= fluid density, kg/m

APPARATUS

Model FM 120
SOLTEQ
Gas Flow measurement Bench

PROCEDURE
General start up procedure
1. All the valves are closed
2. The compressor was connected to the gas flow measurement bench
using PU tubes.
3. The compressor pressure was regulated to 1 bar
4. The main switch was turned on at the panel
5. The desired valves was opened according to the experimental
procedure
General Shut-down procedure
1. All the pressure in the piping was released
2. The main switch was turned off at the panel

Experiment 1: Determination of the operation and characteristic of mass flow

meter and rotameter
1. The pressure tubing was connected and the compressor pressure was
set to 1 bar
2. The valve V1,V2 and V13 were opened
3. The valve V13 was regulate to 10 LPM
4. After the reading had stabilized, the temperature reading,(TT1)
,pressure reading (PT1) and mass flow meter reading (FT1) was
recorded
5. The step 3 and 4 were repeated with different flow rates.
6. The experiment was repeated with different compressor pressure.
Experiment 2: Determination of the operation and characteristics of venture
meter
1. The pressure tubing was connected and the compressor pressure was
set to 1 bar

2. The valve V4,V5,V9 and V10 were opened

3. The valve V13 was regulate to 10 LPM
4. After the reading had stabilized, the temperature reading,(TT1)
,pressure reading (PT1) and mass flow meter reading (FT1) was
recorded
5. The step 3 and 4 were repeated with different flow rates.
6. The experiment was repeated with different compressor pressure.
Experiment 3: Determination of the operation and characteristic of orifice
meter
1. The pressure tubing was connected and the compressor pressure was
set to 1 bar
2. The valve V7,V8,V11 and V12 were opened
3. The valve V13 was regulate to 10 LPM
4. After the reading had stabilized, the temperature reading,(TT1)
,pressure reading (PT1) and mass flow meter reading (FT1) was
recorded
5. The step 3 and 4 were repeated with different flow rates.
6. The experiment was repeated with different compressor pressure.