Flow meters and Flow Measurement

By:

Arates, Marielle Valencia

Besa, Leo
Catulay, Almie Jane
Rubio, Rochelle Marie

6 March 2018
School of Technology
Dennis Ong
Table of Contents

Page
No. Title
no.

1 Introduction 3

2 Objectives 4

3 Scope and limitations 4

4 Methodology 4

5 Data Sheet 5

6 References 6
Introduction
Flow, defined as volume per unit of time at specified temperature and pressure conditions,
is generally measured by positive displacement or rate meters (Perry, 2008). Flow measurement is
the quantification of the bulk fluid movement (vlab, 2018). Differential pressure type of flow
meters have been introduced to measure flow rate through a constriction in the flow. The most
common of the flow meters are the Venturi and Orifice meters.

Figure 1. Orifice flow meter. (From Geankoplis (1995) Figure 3.2-4)

An orifice plate is a restriction with an opening smaller than the pipe diameter which is
inserted in the pipe; the typical orifice plate has a concentric, sharp edged opening, as shown in
Figure 1. Because of the smaller area the fluid velocity increases, causing a corresponding
decrease in pressure. The flow rate can be calculated from the measured pressure drop across the
orifice plate, P1-P2. The orifice plate is the most commonly used flow sensor, but it creates a
rather large non-recoverable pressure due to the turbulence around the plate, leading to high energy
consumption (Foust, 1981).

Figure 2. Venturi flow meter. (From Geankoplis (1995) Figure 3.2-2)

The venturi tube shown in Figure 2 is similar to an orifice meter, but it is designed to nearly
eliminate boundary layer separation, and thus form drag. The change in cross-sectional area in the
venturi tube causes a pressure change between the convergent section and the throat, and the flow
rate can be determined from this pressure drop. Although more expensive that an orifice plate; the
venturi tube introduces substantially lower non-recoverable pressure drops (Foust, 1981).
Objectives
The main objective of the experiment is to determine discharge coefficient for both the
venturi meter and the orifice meter at varying flowrates for different orifice plates.

Scope and Limitations

The scope of the experiment involves the use of the venturi meter and different orifice
plates at three (3) different flow rates. The experiment is limited to the hydraulic pipe set-up in
SOTECH unit operations laboratory, UPV, Miag-ao, Iloilo city.

Methodology
Apparatus:
• Venturi meter
• Orifice meter
• Pressure gauge
• Orifice plates with various opening
• Storage container for discharge
• Graduated cylinder for volume measurement

Procedure:
Open the flow control valve. Let the flow of water stabilize. Record the
pressure difference for the venturi meter. Record measurements at different
flowrates. Flow rates will be calculated by how much water will be discharged at a
given time.
Do the same for the orifice meter, test three orifice plates at three different
flow rates.
Data Sheet

Venturi meter

Trial H2 H1 Time Volume

Orifice Meter

Trial H2 H1 Time Volume

3
References

Foust, A. S., et al.(1981). Principles of Unit Operations, 2nd ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons,
Inc.
Geankoplis Christi J. (1995). Transport Processes and Unit Operations, 3rd ed. Singapore:
Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Perry Robert H., Green Don W. (2008). Perry’s Chemical Engineer’s Handbook, 8th ed. New
York: McGraw-Hill Book Company.
iitb.vlab.co.in,. (2011). Flow measurement by orificemeter and venturimeter. Retrieved 6 March
2018, from
iitb.vlab.co.in/?sub=8&brch=116&sim=952&cnt=1