NAME : THANDEKA NCUBE

STUDENT NUMBER : N0183156F

FACULTY : FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

PROGRAMME : CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

COURSE CODE : TCE2109

COURSE NAME : CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

ENGINEERING INSTRUCTOR : L TSHUMA

LAB EXPERIMENT 2 : FLOWMETER RIG EXPERIMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT………………………………………………………...3

INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………..4

EXPERIMENTAL…………………………………………………..5

PROCEDURE……………………………………………………….6

RESULTS……………………………………………………………7

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS………………………………………….8

CONCLUSIONS…………………………………………………….9

RECOMMENDATIONS…………………………………………….10

REFERENCES……………………………………………………….11

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ABSTRACT

This experiment was conducted to calibrate a rota meter by observing changes in the flow rate of
a fluid using the flow meter rig .This was done by adjusting the valve slowly in different
intervals and recording the amount of time taken for the tank to be filled with a certain amount of
the volume of the fluid. The recorded time taken was measured using a stop watch. In this
experiment the flow rate of water was read from the rota meter. The valve was opened so as for
the water to flow into the rota meter and the flow rate reading in the rota meter was recorded
.The flow rates for the water were determined by using a constant volume 2L and the time taken
for the water to reach 2L for each experiment. The experiment was done to compare the flow rate
of the rota meter to the volumetric flow rate. The experiment was successfully done as the
objective of the experiment was reached.

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INTRODUCTION

There are different types of instruments used to measure the flows rates of a fluid, but the most
common measurement instruments are the variable area meters and the head meters. The variable
area meter (Rota meter) is used for the determination of the flow rate of the fluid. The rota meter
is usually used for high viscous fluids and the flow area of restriction is allowed to vary with the
fluid flow rate so as to maintain the differential pressure across it constant. Measurements are
taken from the rotameter comparing them with the calculated flow rates. The flow rate is
calculated by measuring the time taken to fill the volume gauge to a certain volume. To test the
accuracy of the rotameter, the calculated flowrates should be the same as for the rotameter
reading .The equation used to calculate the flowrate using a volume gauge is

volume(litres )
flowrate(litres / min) 
time(min)

ROTAMETER

A rotameter consists of a gradually tapered glass tube mounted vertically in a frame with the
large end up .It consists of a plummet of float which is forced to move inside a tapered glass
tube. The tube is graduated to give the flow rates reading. The fluid stream passes through the
glass tube with the float remaining suspended by the upward movement of the fluid. The rate of
flow is indicated by the equilibrium height of the float. As the flow changes, the float rises or
falls thus changing the area of the annular space between it and the tube, so that the head loss
across this annulus is equal to the weight of the float. The tube is marked in divisions and the
reading of the meter is taken from the scale reading and the reading edge of the float, which is
taken at the largest cross section of the float. The purpose of the calibration process is to plot a
calibration curve for one fluid .The principal step of the calibration is to plot (rotameter versus
the calculated flow rate).The rotameter is inaccurate sometimes due to the variations in density,
temperature and viscosity. The objective of the experiment is to calibrate the rotameter.
Theoretically the experiment is to understand how to calibrate the rotameter by using valves to
regulate the flow of water and using a stopwatch to measure the time taken to the fill the tank
with water up to a specific desired level.

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EXPERIMENTAL

APPARATUS

FLOW
CONTROL
VALVE

METER

ROTAMETER

MANOMETER
TUBES

SWITCH

VALVE VOLUME GUAGE ELBOW

The apparatus used to carry out the experiment were flow meter rig, hydraulic bench, rotameter,
volume gauge, pump and stop watch.

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PROCEDURE

The hydraulic bench valve and the flow control valve were checked for proper flow of fluid. The
pump was switched on in the hydraulic bench and the valve was fully opened on the bench to
allow the fluid to pass through the rotameter. The flow control valve was opened slowly to allow
any trapped air to escape. By adjusting the valve, the flow of the fluid passing through the
rotameter resulted in the float causing a displacement. By continuously opening the valve, the
maximum rotameter reading was reached. The rotameter reading and fluid flow rates were
recorded. Three intervals of two litres per rotameter reading were used in measuring the
volumetric flowrate. The other possible way to get the calculated fluid flow rates was to record
the time taken to fill the volume gauge to two litres at a certain rotameter reading. The procedure
was repeated at different rotameter readings. The flow valve and hydraulic bench valve was fully
closed. After both valves were closed, the pump was switched off.

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RESULTS

Experiment Rotameter Volume Time taken Flowrate Flowrate

Difference
Flowrate in in
Litres\min
Litres\min Litres minutes Litres\min

1 13 2 0.1745 11.5 1.5

2 11 2 0.3152 6.4 4.6

3 9 2 0.3925 5.1 3.9

4 7 2 0.4295 4.7 2.3

5 5 2 0.6038 3.3 1.7

FLOWRATE GRAPH
16

14
Rotameter Reading(L/min)

12

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Volumetric Flowrate(L/min)

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ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

The experimental results show that the curve for volumetric flow rates versus rota-meter reading
was drawn for water. The results also show that the flow rate decreases as the rota-meter reading
varies depending on the number of experiments made. From the results noted we realize that
from the maximum rota-meter reading to the minimum rota-meter reading the time taken to fill
the tank to two litres was inversely proportional to the rota-meter reading. The rota-meter
reading was showing consistence due to the fact that the flow rates were almost the same. Theory
also supports the consistence of the results by having the rota-meter reading being 13L/min and
the time required to fill the tank with 2L of the fluid being 0.1745 minutes. Also, at a rota-meter
reading 5L/min the time taken to fill the tank with 2L of fluid being 0.6038 minutes. There are
errors that could have occurred thus altering the results. These alterations can be due to the
reaction time of the observer thus giving inaccurate time taken resulting to the flow rates not
being accurate too. There was a leakage of the volume gauge and it also had an effect on the
results. The presence of the bubbles inside the fluids would have altered the results. Thus all the
errors would have resulted in the deviation of the volumetric flow rate from the rota-meter flow
rate.

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CONCLUSION

The experiment showed that the rotameter is a variable area meter and the head loss across it is
very little .The head loss can be constructed from a variety of materials and cover a wide range
of temperatures and pressures. The rotameter can be easily read, installed, and maintained. It
cannot be used horizontally.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

The experiment would be more accurate if we include all the apparatus found in the flow meter
rig such as venture meter, manometer and orifice meter. All the leakages should be mended and
bubbles should be eliminated. The hydraulic bench also needed some calibration.

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REFERENCES

1. John F Douglas ,Janusz M ,Gasiorek ,Lynn B ,Fluid mechanics ,Fifth edition

2. Miss L Tshuma National University Of Science and Technology; Laboratory manual
3. Mott,Robert : applied fluid mechanics , 5 th ed , Prentice Hall New Jersey , p . 448-
449(2000).
4. Intoduction to Fluid Mechanics.
5. Daugherty , Franzini &Finnemore , Fluid Mechanics with Engineering Application ,SI
metric edition , Page .571-573

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