I.

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of experiment the student should be able to:
a) Identify the different parts of weighing scale and flow meter.
b) Use the platform balance and know how to read volume flow meter.
c) Know how to calibrate weighing scale.

II.

DISCUSSION OF THEORY

MEASUREMENT OF WEIGHT AND VOLUME

Weighing is a primary method of measuring forces, and volumetric
devices are calibrated initially by direct weighing. Scales have been
constructed to weigh a million pounds or more (testing) machines, while the
chemical balance, at the opposite extreme, will easily weigh a millionth of a
pound.
Platform Scale
Platform scale is an industrial weighing instrument consisting of a
platform coupled to an automatic system of levers and adjustable weights,
used to weigh large or heavy objects.
The common platform scale used in the laboratory consists of a
compound leverage system such as the one shown. A series of standard
weights hung on one end of the leverage system serves to balance an
unknown weight at the other end of the system. Knife-edge fulcrums are
ordinarily used, although torsion bands or flexure plates are introduced in
large scales to eliminate friction. The latter construction allows accuracy as
great as 1 part in a million.

Triple Beam Balance

The Triple Beam Balance is a typical mechanical balance. It has a beam
which is supported by a fulcrum. On one side is a pan on which the object is
placed. On the other side, the beam is split into three parallel beams, each
supporting one weight. In measuring the weight of an object, rather than

adding additional weights, each of the three weights can be slid along the
beam to increase their lever arm.

Flow Measurement in History

Our interest in the measurement of air and water flow is timeless.
Knowledge of the direction and velocity of air flow was essential information
for all ancient navigators, and the ability to measure water flow was
necessary for the fair distribution of water through the aqueducts of such
early communities as the Sumerian cities of Ur, Kish, and Mari near the Tigris
and Euphrates Rivers around 5,000 B.C.
Terminology
The term flow measurement is a general term, and before selecting a
flow meter it is important to be sure what type of flow measurement is
actually required. For a fluid flowing through a pipe, flow measurement may
mean any of six different types of measurement.
1. Point velocity measurement- the fluids velocity at a fixed point
across the pipes cross section (m/s)
2. Mean flow velocity measurement- average fluid velocity across the
cross section of the pipe (m/s)
3. Volumetric flow rate measurement- the rate of change in the
volume of fluid passing through the pipe with time (m3/s)
4. Total volume measurement- the total volume of fluid which has
passed through the pipe (m3)
5. Mass flow rate measurement- the rate of change in the mass of the
fluid passing through the pipe with time (kg/s)
6. Total mass measurement- the total mass of fluid passing through
the pipe (kg/s)

Although the most common type of flow measurement is that of a fluid

through a closed conduit or pipe, open channel flow measurements are also
regularly needed in applications such as sewage and water treatment.
What is a Flow Meter?
A device that measures the flow rate i.e. the quantity of a fluid flowing
in unit time in an open or closed conduit. Flow meter is identified by its
operating principle, such as differential pressure meter, velocity meter, area
meter, positive displacement meter or by its applied technology viz, orifice
meter, turbine meter, magnetic meter, gas ionization meter, NMR meter,
ultrasonic meter, etc.
The object of installing a flow meter is to obtain a measure of the flow
rate, usually in the form of an electrical signal, which is ambiguous and with
a specified expanded uncertainty. This signal should be negligibly affected by
the inlet and outlet pipework and the operating environment.
Water Meter

Volume Tanks
Tanks are used for the collection of fluid that has passed through a flow
meter being calibrated and can be used to dispense liquid through a flow
meter for calibration.
The differential pressure (DP) between two points or levels in a liquid
depends on the density (), the acceleration due to gravity (g), and the
vertical separation between the two points or levels. Therefore, in a simple
system, if one could determine the DP between the bottom of a tank
containing liquid and the surface of the liquid, the height of the liquid could
be inferred from and g. If the mean cross-sectional area of the tank were
known or could be inferred, the volume of the liquid in the tank could be
determined.
Changes in the height (and therefore volume) of the liquid could be
determined from DP measurements before and after collection or discharge
of liquid.

III.

SET-UP

IV.

APPARATUS
1. Platform scale (set of counter weights)
2. Steel tape
3. Calibrated tank
4. Water meter
5. Triple beam balance
6. Thermometer

V.

DATA AND RESULTS

A) Platform Scale Calibration
Load
(kilogram
s)
.25
.50
1.00
1.50

Corner Reading
(kilograms)

.30
.50
1.00
1.50

.30
.50
1.00
1.50

.30
.50
1.00
1.50

.30
.50
1.00
1.50

Center
(kg)

Average
(kg)

.15
.50
1.00
1.50

.27
.50
1.00
1.50

Computations:
Average:
@ .25 kg
Average = (.30 + .30 + .30 + .30 + .15)/5 = .27 kg
@ .50 kg
Average= (.50 + .50 + .50 + .50 + .50)/5 = .50 kg
@ 1.00 kg
Average = (1.00 + 1.00 + 1.00 + 1.00 + 1.00)/5 = 1.00 kg
@ 1.50 kg
Average = (1.50 + 1.50 + 1.50 + 1.50 + 1.50)/5 = 1.50 kg
B) Sensitivity of Platform Scale
Trial
1. Paper
2. Eraser
3. Ring
4. Guitar pick
5. Tissue

Load (grams)
1.67
0.4
1.8
1.35
0.3

Trial
6. Pen cap
7. Flash Drive
8. Candy
wrapper
9. Tooth pick
10. Ball chain

C) Calibration of water meter and volume tank

Load (grams)
3.0
1.5
0.15
0.15
1.10

Trial
s

Initial
reading
of
water
meter

Final
readin
g of
water
meter

77.641
2
77.762
9
77.680
3

77.762
9
77.680
3
77.693
0

2
3

VI.
VII.
VIII.
1.

Volume
based
on
water
meter
(m3)

Scale Volum
readin
e
g (kg) based
on
mass
(m3)
60.5
58.4
55

Cross
section
al Area
of tank
(m2)

Heig
ht of
wate
r (m)

.
366025
.
366025
.
366025

0.06

Volum
e
Based
on
water
level
(m3)

0.05
5
0.04

OBSERVATION
CONCLUSION
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Discuss how heavy loads like ten wheeler trucks are weigh.
Trucks are weighed by driving them onto metal roadways called
weighbridges, which are supported by hydraulic rams. The heavier the
truck, the greater the force on the rams and the harder they have to
push upward to balance the truck's weight exactly. You can calculate
the truck's weight from the hydraulic pressure of the rams. If you know
the truck's curb weight (kerb weight or unladen weight), which is often
painted on the side of the vehicle, you can easily calculate the weight
of its cargo by subtraction.

2. What are the sources of error in weighing?

a. Reading the weight from different angles
b. Change in temperature
c. Non-level surface under weighing machine or scale
d. Additional weight of some unwanted things like dust or absorbed
moisture
e. Internal fault
f. Incorrectly adjusted balance
g. Influence of the operator (parallax errors when reading a display
that has a pointer, change in the mass of an object being weighed
when the operator touches it with his or her hands)
h. Fluctuations in the displayed weight, for instance, caused by wind.
i. A balance with incorrectly adjusted sensitivity

3. With the aid of drawing discuss the operation of the following

instruments used to measure volumetric flow:
a. Rotary disk meter
OPERATION PRINCIPLE

The motion of the disk is guided by two half balls mounted upon
it, and with each complete revolution a fixed volume of water
passes through. The circular motion of the upper end of the disk
shaft operates the counting gears.
b. Rotary displacement meter
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

It measures the gas flow by trapping it between two impellers

that rotate in opposite directions. The bottom impeller turns
counterclockwise, allowing the gas to enter the space between the

impeller and the casing. As the impeller reaches the horizontal position
the measured quantity of gas is contained between the impeller and
case wall. The gas discharges through to the outlet, as the impeller
continues to turn.
c. Revolving drum condensate meter
OPERATION PRINCIPLE

The drum consists of six scroll-shaped sections. Liquid enters the

drum through an axially mounted inlet Flowing Meter spout at the
center of the meter. As each section fills, excess water spills in to the
next section. This shifts the center of gravity and the drum rotates.
Since the volume of each drum is a known factor, counting revolutions
is virtually 100% accurate.
d. Piston meter
d.1) Rotary Piston Meter
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

Liquid enters into a precision machined chamber which contains

an oscillating piston. The position of the piston divides the chamber
into compartments containing an exact volume. The liquid pressure
causes the piston to oscillate and rotate its centre hub. The
movements of the hub are sensed through the meter wall by a series
of magnets. Each revolution of the piston hub is equivalent to a fixed
volume of liquid, which is indicated as flow by an indicator or totaliser.
Close clearances between the piston and the chamber ensure

minimum slippage of the liquid for highly accurate and repeatable

measurement of each volume cycle.
d.2) Reciprocating Piston Meter
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

Suppose the piston is at the bottom of its stroke. The valve is so

arranged that inlet liquid is admitted below the piston, causing it to
travel upward and the liquid above the piston to be discharged to the
outlet pipe. When the piston has reached the limits of its travel, the top
of the cylinder is cut off from the outlet side and opened to the inlet
liquid supply. At the same time the bottom of the cylinder is opened to
the outlet side but cut off from the inlet liquid. The pressure of the
incoming liquid will therefore drive the piston downward, discharging
the liquid from below the piston to the outlet pipe. The process
repeats.
As the piston reciprocates, a ratchet attached to the piston rod
provides an actuating force for an incremental counter, each count
representing a predetermined quantity of liquid.
e. Bellow Gas meter
OPERATION PRINCIPLE

Bellows gas meters measure the quantity of gas passing through

them by filling and emptying, in a regular sequence, one or more
internal chambers of known capacity. Counting the times each
chamber is filled and emptied gives the volume of gas delivered.
4. Define the following terms:
a. Coefficient of discharge
The ratio of an actual discharge through an orifice to the theoretical
discharge is known as coefficient of discharge. Mathematically
coefficient of discharge,

Thus the value of coefficient of discharge varies with the values of

and . An average of coefficient of discharge varies from 0.60 to
0.64.
b. Coefficient of velocity
The ratio of actual velocity of the jet, at vena-contracta, to the
theoretical velocity is known as coefficient of velocity.
The theoretical velocity of jet at vena-contracta is given by the
relation,
, where h is the head of water at vena-contracta.
Mathematically coefficient of velocity,

The difference between the velocities is due to friction of the

orifice. The value of Coefficient of velocity varies slightly with the
different shapes of the edges of the orifice. This value is very small for
sharp-edged orifices. For a sharp edged orifice, the value of
increases with the head of water.
c. Coefficient of contraction
The ratio of the area of the jet, at vena-contracta, to the area of
the orifice is known as coefficient of contraction. Mathematically
coefficient of contraction,

The value of Coefficient of contraction varies slightly with the

available head of the liquid, size and shape of the orifice. The average
value of
is 0.64.
5. With the aid of illustration discuss the operation of gasoline and fuel
meter.

Fuel gauge DFM has three-dimension ring type measuring chamber.

DF generates an impulse, when the volume of fuel (which is equal to
volume of the measuring chamber) passes through it.

REFERENCES:
Baker, R. C. (2000). Flow Measurement Handbook: Industrial Designs,
Operating Principles, Performances and Applications. New York, USA:
Cambridge University Press.
Bishop, R.H. (2002). The Mechatronics Handbook, Second Edition. Boca
Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Mechanical Measurements. (2010). In W. Boyes (Ed.), Instrumentation

Reference Book (Fourth ed.). Burlington, MA: Butterworth- Heinemann.
Treloar, R. (2010). Gas Installation Technology (Second Edition ed.).
West Sussex, UK: John Wiley and Sons.
Woodford, Chris. (2009) Weights and Balances. Retrieved from
http://www.explainthatstuff.com/weights_and_balances.html.
[Accessed
September 19, 2015]
Flow Meters. (n.d.). Retrieved September
http://www.omega.com/prodinfo/flowmeters.html

19,

2015,

from

Menu. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015, from http://www.trimecfp.com.au/products/multipulse-rotary-piston-meters/

Orifice.
(n.d.).
Retrieved
September
19,
2015,
from
http://www.codecogs.com/library/engineering/fluid_mechanics/orifice/index.p
hp