Fluid Foundations Lab, Week 2

Name

Institution

Date
 2

Abstract

The aim for this lab was to calibrate a gap-meter for measuring fluid flow using the

volumetric method. The gap meter was set at readings of 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 & 20 to measure the

volume of water flowing though the meter, and the time taken. The data used to calculate the

average mass flow rate for meter-calibration. A calibration for the gap-meter was obtained by

plotting the average mass flow rate against meter scale readings. A linear calibration equation

of: y=0.0183 x +0.0473 was obtained. This equation gives the correlation between meter

scale reading and mass flow rate. The calibration curve failed to pass through the origin as

expected. This was attributed to experimental and instrumental errors.

 3

Introduction

A Gap-meter is a flow measurement instrument that is used to measure the rate of fluid flow

through a pipe or a system. For professional use where flow measurements are critical, it is

important that the flow measurements become accurate (LaNasa & Loy Upp, 2014). This

makes it crucial to calibrate the flow meter to assure that the measurements are highly

accurate as specified, because flow meters can be out of calibration. Calibration is the process

of adjusting the metering a flow measurement device to conform to a standard scale of

measurement (Baker, 2002).

Like any other instrument, the performance of a gap-meter depreciates over time as parts

break or wear out. Flow measurement devices can also be affected by corrosion or

accumulated dirt delivered by the fluid flowing through them, or get damaged by improper

installation, variations in the flow process, or impact (Hardy, et al., 1999). Thus, the need to

ensure that flow meters are properly calibrated to deliver accurate flow measurement

readings. Accurate flow measurements are used by control and instrumentation engineers to

monitor and regulate the rate and efficiency of industrial devices and processes (Integrated

Flow Solutions (IFS), 2019).

This lab aimed to use the volumetric method to calibrate a gap-meter that can be used to

measure fluid flow more accurately. It was expected that the calibration graph for predicting

fluid mass flow rate will be linear, passing through the origin.

Methodology

List of equipment used:


 4

Procedure:

Initially, the flow control valve was adjusted so that the gap-meter scale reading was at zero.

The flow rate was measured in three trials using the volumetric method. The three flow

measurements were used to calculate the average mass flow rate. This procedure was

repeated with the gap-meter scale readings of 4, 8, 12, 16, & 20.

Results

The experimental results are presented in table 1 below:

Table 1: Measured and calculated results

Meter Volume Volume m Time ṁ=m/t Average mass flow

reading (ml) V litres (kg)=V t(s) (kg/sec) rateṁave (kg/sec)
litres
0 200 0.2 0.2 4.06 0.049 0.049
0 310 0.31 0.31 6.03 0.051
0 240 0.24 0.24 5.03 0.048
4 440 0.44 0.44 3.75 0.117 0.122
4 410 0.41 0.41 3.28 0.125
4 540 0.54 0.54 4.41 0.122
8 390 0.39 0.39 2.04 0.191 0.191
8 520 0.52 0.52 2.72 0.191
8 605 0.605 0.605 3.19 0.190
12 575 0.575 0.575 2.12 0.271 0.271
12 610 0.61 0.61 2.43 0.251
12 750 0.75 0.75 2.57 0.292
16 660 0.66 0.66 1.93 0.342 0.327
16 830 0.83 0.83 2.44 0.340
16 690 0.69 0.69 2.32 0.297
20 670 0.67 0.67 1.62 0.414 0.423
20 460 0.46 0.46 1.06 0.434
20 950 0.95 0.95 2.25 0.422

Sample calculation:

At meter reading of zero, volume of water passing through the meter is 200 ml for the first

trial.

200 ml ÷ 1000 ml per Litre=0.2litres=0.20 kg

 5

Mass flow rate ¿ [mass of water ÷ time ] ¿ 0.2 kg /4.06 sec=0.049 kg/ sec

The other two trials were repeated as shown in the above calculation and the average mass

flow rate of the three measurements calculated and found to be 0.049 kg/sec.

When the average mass flow rates for different gap-meter readings were plotted against the

meter scale readings, the graph shown in figure 1 below was obtained.

Gr ap h o f av er age mas s fl o w r ate agai n s t gap - meter

r ead i n g
0.45
0.4
Average mass flow rate (kg/sec)

f(x) = 0.0183214285714286 x + 0.0472857142857143

0.35 R² = 0.996875684201675

0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Meter reading

Figure 1: Flow bench gap-meter calibration for water

Discussion and conclusion

From the calibration curve presented in figure 1 above, the calibration equation of the gap-

meter is:

y=0.0183 x +0.0473

Where:

y – Denotes the mass flow rate

x – Denotes the scale meter reading

 6

From this equation, it is possible to predict the mass flow rate of water through the meter at

any scale reading. It was expected that the curve will pass through the origin because the rate

of fluid flow is directly proportional to gap-meter reading. However, it is observed that zero

meter reading, there are small flow rates being recorded. This was not expected because at

full closure of the valve, there is supposed to be zero flow. This is likely to be caused by the

meter-gap itself; either damaged, worn out, fouled or improperly installed (National

Measurement System (U.K.), 2019). There was also some leakages observed from the

hydraulic bench and this could have contributed to lower volume measurements of water

flow. In addition to instrumental errors mentioned above, there is also the possibility of

human error. It is possible that parallax error may have occurred when taking volume

measurements, and that timing of flow was not very accurate.

These errors can be avoided or minimized by ensuring that the flow measurement device is in

good working condition prior to the calibration exercise. Parallax error can be avoided by

ensuring that water volume readings are taken in a position that is perfectly horizontal to the

water level. The person operating the stop watch should be extra-keen and concentrate on the

experiment to minimize timing errors. These steps can improve the outcome of this

experiment.
 7

References

Baker, R. C., 2002. An Introductory Guide to Flow Measurement. 2 ed. London, U.K.: John

Wiley & Sons.

Hardy, E. J. et al., 1999. Flow Measurement Methods and Applications. London, U.K.: John

Wiley & Sons.

Integrated Flow Solutions (IFS) LLC, 2019. How to Calibrate a Flow Meter & Calibration

Procedures. [Online]

Available at: https://ifsolutions.com/how-do-you-calibrate-a-flow-meter/

[Accessed 1 June 2019].

LaNasa, J. P. & Loy Upp, E., 2014. Fluid Flow Measurement: A Practical Guide to Accurate

Flow Measurement. 3 ed. Oxford, United Kingdom: Butterworth-Heinemann.

National Measurement System (U.K.), 2019. The calibration of flow meters. [Online]

Available at:

https://www.tuv-sud.co.uk/uploads/images/1523011053028922650326/calibration-of-flow-

meters.pdf

[Accessed 1 June 2019].