THE CHARACTERISTIC OF LABORATORY FLOW METER

Mirmanto
Mechanical Engineering Department, The University of Mataram
Jl. Majapahit no. 62, Mataram, NTB, Indonesia
mirmanto70@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Academic communities and student do not have enough skill yet. Therefore, although their
studies are successful and satisfy, but when the go down to the job, they are not suitable yet with
what company or industry needed. This case is caused by that students have no enough practices
especially for undergraduate (S1) in the university. It is not rare that students do not have enough
capabilities to solve the problems appear on the work field. With this research, we hope that
students will have some skills how to predict the flow losses truly. The method used in this research
is experimental on pipe flow-test bench. Student for practicing will use this test bench. After that,
then students can understand and can explain how to predict the flow losses. Data resulted in the
research is processed and calculated for making conclusion. The dimension of the test bench is
1200 mm x 2000 mm. It consists of several components such as pipes, orifice, ventury meter and
other accessories. The length of the pipes is 1500 mm and ½ inch, ¾ inch, 1 inch in diameters. The
result shows that the flow trough flow meter will have pressure drop. The pressure can be used for
predicting the amount of the flow rate. The research indicates that the flow rate measurement of 8
mm orifice results pressure drop of 20 mmHg -555 mmHg. Those pressure drops can be converted
to get the flow rate. Therefore, the flow rate corresponded to the pressure drop is 0.081 l/s – 0.455
l/s. if the flow rate is measured by fabric flow meter, flow rate of 0.081 l/s is equal to 0.833 l/s. It
means that the orifice must be calibrated.

Keyword: Orifice, Pressure drop and flow rate.

ORYZA Volume VII / Nomor 1, Maret 2008