UNIT - 4

Flow measurement: Basic principle of flow meter, Differential pressure flow meters, Variable area flow meter,
Volumetric flow meter, Hotwire anemometer, Magnetic and ultrasonic flow meter, Rota meter, Hall effect transducer
working and measurement techniques

1. Basic principle of flow meter, Differential pressure flow meters, Variable area flow meter, Volumetric flow meter,
2. Hotwire anemometer,
3. Magnetic and ultrasonic flow meter,
4. Rota meter,
5. Hall effect transducer working and measurement techniques
What is a Rotameter?

Rotameter is a reliable, simple, and low-cost flow measuring instrument. So this

instrument is used to measure the flow rate of a liquid or a gas. This meter includes a
tapered tube through a moving internal float. Sometimes, rotameters are also called
gravity flow meters, mechanical flow meters or variable area flow meters. In gravity
flow meters, the term gravity means, the rotameter must be installed vertically.

Rotameters’ working principle is to measure the flow rate of liquid because the
liquid supplies throughout a tapered tube. Once the liquid supplies throughout the
tube then its cross-sectional region will become higher.
Rotameter Construction
The rotameter construction can be done by using different components like transparent tube, scale, float, and
transmitter.

• In the construction, the shape of the transparent tube is conical which includes a scale and floats within it. This
transparent tube is very helpful in observing the measurements directly.
• A float is a small device within the tube of a rotameter with precise dimensions. The float is used to indicate
the rate of flow of liquid within the tube, which can be designed with plastic, glass, or metal.
• The scale on this meter displays the flow measurements by showing with float.
• Transmitters are very helpful in recording the flow measurements precisely as compared to we observer on the
scale directly.
• It includes a float and a tapered tube where the float is arranged within the tapered tube. At both ends of the
device, nets are arranged through a pipeline using flanged connections. Rotameters are connected vertically
always in the pipelines and a scale is available on the tube to check the flow rate values directly.
Rotameter Working

In a rotameter, liquid flows from the base of the tapered tube, after that some of the liquid directly hits the
bottom of the float & the remaining liquid will flow away from the float. So, the float in the rotameter
experiences two forces in the reverse direction, the gravitational force is a downside, and the drag force is
on the upside.

The flow of liquid pushes the float up from gravity. After some time, the flowing region achieves a position
wherever the force induced on the floating body accurately matches the float’s weight. So the float will
discover equilibrium once the area in the region of float produces sufficient drag which is equivalent to
weight.

When both the gravity & float weight are stable, then the distance float moved upward is relative to the
flow velocity of the liquid which is flowing throughout the tapered tube.
Parameters

The following parameters need to consider while selecting rotameters.

• Flow rates are like the volumetric flow rate of fluid and gas.
• Operating pressure
• Temperature of liquid
• Diameter of pipe
• Indicating type of scale
• Requirements of valve
Types of Rotameter
These are available in three types which include the following.
Advantages and Disadvantages

The advantages of a rotameter include the following.

• Inexpensive
• The pressure drop is low.
• Good rangeability.
• It is appropriate for small flow rates.
• It is simply used with switches, alarms, or any transmitting devices.
• By using these meters, corrosive liquids flow rate can be measured.

The disadvantages of rotameter include the following.

• It must be connected in vertical
• Handling the glass tube is difficult.
• It is not apt for pulsating services.
• It is restricted to little pipe services.
• It is restricted to low temperatures.
• Its accuracy is ± 1/2 to 10%.
• It uses in-line mounting.
The applications of rotameter include the following.

• Rotameters are used in different industries.

• These are used where there is a quality air supply is required.
• This is used where low pressure is necessary.
• Used in laboratories.
• Process and oil industries.
• Used in the medical field for measurement of oxygen flow rate.