Electro Magnetic Flow Meter

Introduction
• Rate of flow maybe determined, for
electrically conducting fluids, by measuring
the emf induced across the fluid stream when
it passes through the magnetic field.
• This techique cannot be used for electrically
non-conducting fluids like gases. However, it
gives quite satisfactory results for fluids with
as low conductivity as water.
Principle
• The principle of operation of the unit is directly
analogous to Faraday’s law of electromagnetic
induction for solid conductors.
• The law states that whenever a conductor cuts
lines of magnetic field, an induced emf is
generated and the magnitude of this emf is
proportional to the rate at which these lines are
cut and the emf is perpendicular to the plane of
conductor and the magnetic field. The direction of
the induced emf is given by the Fleming’s right
hand rule.
Construction
The construction of an electromagnetic flowmeter
consists of the following:
• A permanent magnet or an electromagnet which
may be either ac or dc around a non conducting
pipe.
• Two electrodes placed at right angles to the
magnetic field for picking up the induced emf.
• Fluid flow in the pipe which is at right angles to
the plane of magnetic flux lines and the induced
emf direction which is along the line joining the
electrodes.
(a) Schematic arrangement
(b) Section showing electrodes and magnetic field
 Working
•The flowing medium is passed through a pipe, a short
section of which is subjected to a transverse magnetic
flux.
•The fluid itself acts as the conductor having dimension
equal to pipe diameter and velocity roughly equal to the
average fluid velocity.
•Fluid motion relative to the field causes a voltage to be
induced proportional to the fluid velocity.
•The output is detected and processed by appropriate
circuitry.
•The electromagnetic flow meter comes commercially as a
packaged flow device, which is installed in line and
connected to an external electronic output unit.
• Now for the conducting fluid flows, the
induced voltage E◦ generated according to
Faraday’s law is:
Advantages
• This flow meter has a very low pressure loss associated with its use as a result of its
open tube, no obstruction design.

• This absence of internal parts is very attractive for metering corrosive and “dirty”
fluids.

• The operating principle is independent of fluid density and viscosity, responding only
to average velocity, and there is no difficulty with measurements of laminar and
turbulent flows.

• The calibration is not sensitive to the particular liquid being metered.

Disadvantages

• It is suitable for installations that can tolerate only a small pressure drop.

• The use of meter is limited to fluids that are electrically conductive.

• The addition of salts to a fluid will increase its conductivity.

Turbine Flow Meter
• Turbine meters make use of angular momentum
principles to meter flow rate.
• In a typical design, a rotor sits on the shaft, which in
turn is suspended in the flow by the two supports.
• The housing contains flanges for direct insertion into a
pipeline.
• The exchange of momentum between the flow and the
rotor turns the rotor at a rotational speed that is
proportional to the flow rate.
• A pick up sensor is mounted above the rotor. When the
magnetic blades pass by the pickup sensor, a signal is
generated for each passing blade.
• This provides a pulsed signal proportional to the speed
of the rotor.
Advantages
• The cost is moderate.
• Reliable at clean, low viscosity fluids of
moderate velocity.