Deuna, Chrisian Vhincent R.

ECE132-A23 1/24/19
ME-5 2013103371 HW

A venturimeter is a device used to measure the

fluid flow through pipes. This flow
The construction of venturimeter is shown
measurement device is based on the principle
below:
of Bernoulli’s equation. Inside the pipe ,
pressure difference is created by reducing the It has three main parts
cross-sectional area of the flow passage.This
difference in pressure is measured with the
help of manometer and helps in determining
rate of fluid flow or other discharge from the
pipe line. As the main inlet area is more as
compared to throat , velocity of fluid at throat
increases therefore pressure decreases . By this,
a pressure difference is created between the
inlet and the throat of the venturimeter. Hence,
by reducing the cross-sectional area of the flow
passage, a pressure difference is created and
we measure that difference in pressure by using
Bernoulli equation and discharge formula . Short converging part: It is a tapered portion
The main parts of a venturimeter are: whose radius decreases as we move forward.

Throat: It is middle portion of the venturi. Here

the velocity of the fluid increases and pressure
decreases. It possesses the least cross section
area.

Diverging part: In this portion the fluid diverges.

Bernoulli’s equation:

A short converging part: It is that portion of the

venturi where the fluid gets converges.

Throat: It is the portion that lies in between the

converging and diverging part of the venturi. Discharge formula:
The cross section of the throat is much less than
the cross section of the converging and
diverging parts. As the fluid enters in the throat,
its velocity increases and pressure decreases.

Diverging part: It is the portion of the

venturimeter (venturi) where the fluid gets
diverges. where, Coefficient of discharge of venturimeter
(Cd) varies between 0.96 and 0.98.
Deuna, Chrisian Vhincent R. ECE132-A23 1/24/19
ME-5 2013103371 HW

Uses of Venturimeter:

Plumbing Reference:

Venturi meters are used in pipelines at
wastewater collection systems and treatment
plants. They are used in wastewater pipes
because their overall design structure allows for
solids to pass through it instead of collecting in
front of it. Less buildup in the pipes allows for
more accurate readings of the pressure of the
wastewater and thus its velocity.
Rohlin, A. (2019, January 10). The Uses of the
Venturi Meter. Retrieved from
https://sciencing.com/uses-venturi-meter-
6821433.html
Retrieved from
https://www.quora.com/What-is-venturimeter

The Flow of Chemicals in Pipelines

The temperatures and pressures of chemicals in

a pipeline do not affect the accuracy of a
Venturi flowmeter and because of this they are
used in crude oil pipelines. Crude oil pipelines,
such as the ones in Alaska, are exposed to
extreme temperatures during the long arctic
winter months. Another advantage of using the
Venturi meter in such volatile and frigid
environments is that it has no moving parts;
there is no risk of them freezing and breaking
due to thermal expansion. Carburetors

The venturi in carburetors is used to measure

airflow in a car engine and to ensure that a
correct amount of fuel is fed to the gas
combustion engine when needed during
driving. The air and fuel mixture must be evenly
distributed to the engine in order for it to work
properly. The temperatures of air and fuel are
constantly changing due to the shift in
temperatures that occur in an engine during
idling, acceleration, high speeds, and low
speeds. The venturi meter allows the carburetor
to adjust and calibrate the distribution of fuel
and air to the engine as needed.
Deuna, Chrisian Vhincent R. ECE132-A23 1/24/19
ME-5 2013103371 HW

Flow nozzle

A device used to measure the flow rate of fluids Advantages and disadvantages of the flow
in a pipe or conduit. A flow nozzle consists of a nozzle
cone-shaped passage that creates a partial
blockage of the conduit, and flow rate is Advantages
determined by measuring the fluid pressure
 Compact - Low dimension as compared
before and after the flow nozzle. Flow nozzles
to venturi meter.
are used to gather data used for process
 Cheaper and easy to install as
improvement in manufacturing environments.
compared to venturi meter.
 High coefficient of discharge than the
orifice meter.
 Less susceptible to wear.

Disadvantages

 It has no divergent outlet and hence

low pressure recovery.
 It cannot be used in a low-pressure
head.
 It cannot use as a flow meter if the fluid
has a high percentage of the solid
Flow nozzle is similar to the venturi meter. Its particle.
shape provides lesser resistance to flow, and it
has a higher coefficient of discharge. Moreover,
it has no divergent cone for pressure recovery.
Figure shows a standard flow nozzle. Nozzle
meter is bolted between flanges of pipe
carrying the fluid. The pressures on upstream Reference:
and downstream (P1and P2) are noted by using
What is flow nozzle? definition and meaning.
a differential pressure sensor for the calculation
(n.d.). Retrieved from
of flow rate.
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/
Applications of the Flow Nozzle They can use flow-nozzle.html
for measurement of flow rate of fluid that has
Mecholic. (n.d.). Flow nozzle – Applications,
suspended solid particle. It can be used in high
Advantages and Disadvantages. Retrieved from
temperature and pressure fluid flow conditions.
https://www.mecholic.com/2016/11/applicatio
In high-velocity fluid flow, where turbulence is
ns-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-flow-
high and erosion may cause on other primary
nozzle.html
devices. Flow Nozzle is used when fluid is
discharged to the open atmosphere.
Deuna, Chrisian Vhincent R. ECE132-A23 1/24/19
ME-5 2013103371 HW

Pitot Tubes

Introduction to Pitot tubes and probes

Although the pitot tube is one of the

simplest flow sensors, it is used in a wide range
of flow measurement applications such as air
speed in racing cars and Air Force fighter jets. In
industrial applications, pitot tubes are used to
measure air flow in pipes, ducts, and stacks, and
liquid flow in pipes, weirs, and open channels.
While accuracy and rangeability are relatively
low, pitot tubes are simple, reliable,
inexpensive, and suited for a variety of
environmental conditions, including extremely
high temperatures and a wide range of
pressures. Applications of pitot tube

The pitot tube is used in utility streams where

The pitot tube is an inexpensive alternative to high accuracy is not necessary. It is used in the
an orifice plate. Accuracy ranges from 0.5% to air duct and pipe system. It is used in aircraft to
5% FS, which is comparable to that of an orifice. measure air flow velocity. They are used for
Its flow rangeability of 3:1 (some operate at 4:1) mapping flow profile in a channel or duct.
is also similar to the capability of the orifice
plate. The main difference is that, while an
orifice measures the full flowstream, the pitot
tube detects the flow velocity at only one point
in the flowstream. An advantage of the slender
pitot probe is that it can be inserted into
existing and pressurized pipelines (called hot-
tapping) without requiring a shutdown.
Deuna, Chrisian Vhincent R. ECE132-A23 1/24/19
ME-5 2013103371 HW

Advantages and Disadvantages of pitot tubes

Advantages

 Economical to install Do not contain Reference:

moving parts; this minimizes the
Mecholic. (2017, May 04). Applications,
frictional loss.
Advantages and Limitations of Pitot Tubes.
 Easy to install. Due to its small size, It
Retrieved from
can introduce to fluid flow without
https://www.mecholic.com/2017/05/applicatio
shutting down the flow.
ns-advantages-limitations-pitot-tube.html
 Loss of pressure is very small.
 Can be easily installed in extreme OMEGA Engineering. (n.d.). Retrieved from
environment, high temperature and https://www.omega.co.uk/literature/transactio
pressure conditions Some types can ns/volume4/pitot-tube.html
also be easily removed from the
(n.d.). Retrieved from
pipeline.
https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-
Disadvantages/limitation of pitot tubes 12/airplane/pitot.html

 Low sensitivity and Poor accuracy. It

requires high-velocity flow.
 Not suitable for dirty or sticky fluid like
sewage disposal.
 Sensitivity disturbed by flow direction
 Pitot tubes have found limited
applications in industries because they
can easily become clogged with foreign
materials in the liquid.
 There is no standardization for pitot
tube Change in velocity profile may
cause significant errors.
 Due to change in velocity profile, it
develops a very low differential
pressure which is difficult to measure.
Deuna, Chrisian Vhincent R. ECE132-A23 1/24/19
ME-5 2013103371 HW

A change in flowrate upsets this balance of

forces. The float then moves up or down,
changing the annular area until it again reaches
a position where the forces are in equilibrium.
To satisfy the force equation, the rotameter
float assumes a distinct position for every
constant flowrate. However, it is important to
note that because the float position is gravity
dependent, rotameters must be vertically
oriented and mounted.

Applications of Flowmeters:

Building Automation
The rotameter is an industrial flow meter used
to measure the flowrate of liquids and gases. Chemical
The rotameter consists of a tube and float. The
float response to flowrate changes is linear, and Food & Beverage
a 10-to-1 flow range or turndown is standard. In Power & Utilities
the case of OMEGA laboratory rotameters, far
greater flexibility is possible through the use of Marine
correlation equations. The rotameter is popular Metals & Mining
because it has a linear scale, a relatively long
measurement range, and low pressure drop. It Oil & Gas
is simple to install and maintain.
Pharmaceutical

Pulp & Paper

Principle of Operation Water & Wastewater

The rotameter's operation is based on the

variable area principle: fluid flow raises a float
in a tapered tube, increasing the area for
passage of the fluid. The greater the flow, the
higher the float is raised. The height of the float
is directly proportional to the flowrate. With Reference:
liquids, the float is raised by a combination of Rotameters. (n.d.). Retrieved from
the buoyancy of the liquid and the velocity head https://www.omega.com/prodinfo/rotameters.
of the fluid. With gases, buoyancy is negligible, html
and the float responds to the velocity head
alone. The float moves up or down in the tube Industrial Flow Meter Solutions. (n.d.).
in proportion to the fluid flowrate and the Retrieved from
annular area between the float and the tube https://www.smartmeasurement.com/applicati
wall. The float reaches a stable position in the ons.html
tube when the upward force exerted by the
flowing fluid equals the downward gravitational
force exerted by the weight of the float.
Deuna, Chrisian Vhincent R. ECE132-A23 1/24/19
ME-5 2013103371 HW

Ultrasonic Flow meters

An ultrasonic flow meter (non-intrusive Doppler Principle of operation

flow meters) is a volumetric flow meter which
The basic principle of operation employs the
requires particulates or bubbles in the flow.
frequency shift (Doppler Effect) of an ultrasonic
Ultrasonic flow meters are ideal for wastewater
signal when it is reflected by suspended
applications or any dirty liquid which is
particles or gas bubbles (discontinuities) in
conductive or water based. Ultrasonic flow
motion. This metering technique utilizes the
meters will generally not work with distilled
physical phenomenon of a sound wave that
water or drinking water. Aerations would be
changes frequency when it is reflected by
required in the clean liquid applications.
moving discontinuities in a flowing liquid.
Ultrasonic flow meters are also ideal for
Ultrasonic sound is transmitted into a pipe with
applications where low pressure drop, chemical
flowing liquids, and the discontinuities reflect
compatibility, and low maintenance are
the ultrasonic wave with a slightly different
required.
frequency that is directly proportional to the
rate of flow of the liquid. Current technology
requires that the liquid contain at least 100
parts per million (PPM) of 100 micron or larger
suspended particles or bubbles.

Application Cautions for Ultrasonic Flowmeters

For transit time ultrasonic flowmeters, be sure

that the fluid can adequately conduct ultrasonic
waves, because the flowmeter will not measure
when the ultrasonic waves cannot penetrate
the flow stream between the transducers.
Similarly, ultrasonic waves must be able to
penetrate the fluid for Doppler flowmeters to
operate accurately. When the fluid is relatively
opaque and does not penetrate the fluid,
Doppler flowmeters tend to measure the
velocity of the fluid at or near the pipe wall,
which can cause significant measurement error
and/or cause the flowmeter to fail.

For Doppler ultrasonic flowmeters, be sure that

the fluid adequately reflects ultrasonic waves,
because the flowmeter will not operate without
a reflected ultrasonic signal. Depending upon
design, reflections can occur due to small
bubbles of gas in the flow stream or the
presence of eddies in the flow stream. If not
already present in the flowing stream,
generating these sources of reflection can be
difficult in practice. Fortunately, some
Deuna, Chrisian Vhincent R. ECE132-A23 1/24/19
ME-5 2013103371 HW

combination of bubbles of gas and/or eddies

are present in most applications.

The velocity of the solid particles in slurry can

Reference:
be different than its liquid carrier fluid. Be
careful applying ultrasonic technology when the Ultrasonic Flowmeter Technology. (n.d.).
solid particles can become concentrated in one Retrieved from
part of the flowing stream, such as in a http://www.flowmeters.com/ultrasonic-
horizontal pipe flowing at a relatively low technology
velocity. Be careful when applying Doppler
ultrasonic flowmeters in slurry applications Ultrasonic Flow meters. (n.d.). Retrieved from
because the solid particles can produce strong https://www.omega.com/prodinfo/ultrasonicfl
signals that can cause the Doppler flowmeter to owmeters.html
measure the velocity of the solids and not the
velocity of the liquid.

Avoid fluids that can coat wetted transducers or

coat the pipe wall in front of non-wetted
transducers because the flowmeter will not
measure when the ultrasonic waves cannot
enter the flow stream. Be sure to maintain
reliable clamp-on transducer connections to the
pipe wall because the flowmeter will not
measure when the ultrasonic waves are not
able to reach the fluid.

Be sure to understand the process and apply

these flowmeters properly. For example, a
periodic cleaning process upstream may cause
the flowmeter to stop working because the dirt
may not allow ultrasonic energy to pass through
the fluid. Further, if the dirt coats wetted
transducers, the flowmeter may fail to operate
until it is cleaned.
Deuna, Chrisian Vhincent R. ECE132-A23
ME-5 2013103371
How Coriolis Mass Flowmeters Work
Coriolis mass flowmeters measure the force
resulting from the acceleration caused by mass
moving toward (or away from) a center of
rotation. This effect can be experienced when
riding a merry-go-round, where moving toward
the center will cause a person to have to “lean
into” the rotation so as to maintain balance. As
related to flowmeters, the effect can be
demonstrated by flowing water in a loop of
flexible hose that is “swung” back and forth in
front of the body with both hands. Because the
water is flowing toward and away from the
hands, opposite forces are generated and cause
the hose to twist. They represent about 21% of
all flowmeters sold.
In a Coriolis mass flowmeter, the “swinging” is
generated by vibrating the tube(s) in which the
fluid flows. The amount of twist is proportional
to the mass flow rate of fluid passing through
the tube(s). Sensors and a Coriolis mass
flowmeter transmitter are used to measure the
twist and generate a linear flow signal.
1/24/19
HW
Plusses and Minuses
This technology has high accuracy, can handle
sanitary applications, is approved for custody
transfer and is highly reliable and low
maintenance. Mass flow is more important than
volume for fluids intended for the production of
energy. These include petroleum liquids and
natural gas both compressed and liquefied. The
cost is high, especially for line sizes above four
inches. Pressure drop can be a consideration for
“U” shaped tube designs and high viscosity
fluids.
How to Use Coriolis Mass Flowmeters
Coriolis mass flowmeters measure the mass
flow of liquids, such as water, acids, caustic,
chemicals, and gases/vapors. Because mass
flow is measured, the measurement is not
affected by fluid density changes. Be
particularly careful when using Coriolis mass
flowmeters to measure gas/vapor flows
because flow rates tend to be low in the flow
range (where accuracy is degraded). Also, in
gas/vapor applications, large pressure drops
across the flowmeter and its associated piping
can occur.
This flowmeter can be applied to sanitary,
cryogenic, relatively clean, and corrosive liquids
and gases/vapors in pipes smaller than 6-12
inches. General applications are found in the
water, wastewater, mining, mineral processing,
power, pulp and paper, petroleum, chemical,
and petrochemical industries. Materials of
construction are generally limited to stainless
steel and Hastelloy C. Straight-tube designs are
available to measure some dirty and/or
abrasive liquids.
Deuna, Chrisian Vhincent R. ECE132-A23 1/24/19
ME-5 2013103371 HW

Many applications for Coriolis mass flowmeters

are found in chemical processes where fluids
can be corrosive and otherwise difficult to
measure. In addition, the relative insensitivity
to density allows Coriolis mass flowmeters to be
applied in applications where the physical
properties of the fluid are not well known.
These flowmeters can also be used in chemical
feed systems found in most industries.

Industries Where Used

The industries in order of higher to lower are

chemical, oil and gas, food and beverage,
pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, power, metals
and mining, and water and wastewater
followed by all others in small amounts.

Application Cautions for Coriolis Mass

Flowmeters

If the pressure drop is acceptable, operate a

Coriolis mass flowmeter in the upper part of its
flow range because operation at low flow rates
can degrade accuracy. Note that high viscosity
fluids increase the pressure drop across the
flowmeter. For liquid flows, make sure that the
flowmeter is completely full of liquid. Be
especially careful when measuring gas/vapor
flow with Coriolis mass flowmeters. Pay special
attention to installation because pipe vibration
can cause operational problems.

Reference:

How a Coriolis Mass Flow Meter Works. (n.d.).

Retrieved from
https://www.instrumentationtoolbox.com/201
7/02/how-coriolis-mass-flow-meter-works.html

Coriolis Mass Flowmeter Technology. (n.d.).

Retrieved from
http://www.flowmeters.com/coriolis-mass-
technology