FLOW METERS

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL
ENGINEERING
PRESENTED BY:
ZURRIYA FATIMA(16)
NAWAL ASGHAR(18)
HARIS AMIN(17)
UMER ALI(19)
CONTENTS
• What are flow meters
• Use of flow meters
• Types of flow meters
• Orifice meter
• Venturi meter
• Rota meter
• Pitot meter
• Construction
• Working
• Specification
• Limitation
WHAT ARE FLOW METERS?
 Designed to measure the discharge of
a fluid.

Four major types used:

● Differential Pressure
● Positive Displacement
● Open Channel
● Electromagnetic
USE OF FLOW METERS:

The most divers substances are transported and

distributed in piping system like chemicals, oils, gas,
water & slurries

Fluid flowing through pipes have different properties

consequently there are different principles and
different flow measuring devices
SCIENTIFIC
ADVANCEMENTS
● BERNOULLI'S PRINCIPAL -> DIFFERENTIAL
PRESSURE FLOW METERS

● FARADAY’S LAW -> ELECTROMAGNETIC FLOW

METERS

● REYNOLDS -> OPEN CHANNEL FLOW METERS

HOW TO CHOOSE FLOW METER TYPE?

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING FACTORS WHEN

CHOOSING WHICH FLOW METER TYPE BEST FITS
YOUR PURPOSE

1- TYPE OF FLUID
2- FLUID TEMPERATURE AND VISCOSITY
3- PRESSURE DROP
4- TYPE OF FLOW
5- MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM FLOW RATE
ORIFICE PLATE
● ORIFICE PLATES ARE THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF
DIFFERENTIAL FLOW METER
● ORIFICE PLATE IS THIN PLATE WITH A HOLE IN MIDDLE
WHICH HELPS TO MEASURE FLOW RATE
● THE PRESSURE DROP CAN BE MEASURED TO FIND THE
DISCHARGE
Signification
• Occupy less space
• Can use for flow in large pipes
Limitations
• Vena-contracta length deprnds on
roughness of inner surface of plate
• Accuracy depends upone density,
pressure & viscosity of fluid
• Requires straight pipes
VENTURI TUBE
VENTURI TUBE ARE A DIRECT APPLICATION OF BERNOULLI'S
PRINCIPLE.

● THIS TUBE FORCES AN INCREASE IN A FLUID’S VELOCITY.

● MANOMETERS ALLOW THE PRESSURE HEAD TO BE DIRECTLY
MEASURED.
● USING BERNOULLI'S EQUATION, THE DISCHARGE CAN
EASILY BE FOUND.

Significance
• Increase velocity and low pressure
Limitation
• Can not use in space constrained
• Flow should me streamline
ROTA METER
• Rota meter consist of float which rise
vertically depending upon flow of fluid in
tapered tube
• It works on principle of up thrust force
Significance
• Flow is linear
• No external power
• Can measure flow at low flow rate
Limitation
• Impact of gravity
• When opaque fluid is used, float may not be visible.
• It has not well in pulsating services.
• Glass tube types subjected to breakage.
• It must be installed in vertical position only.
PITOT TUBE
• The pitot tube is pressure measuring instrument used for fluid flow
velocity
• It measure local velocity at a single point in a stream
• Static pressure is measured by large tube
• Impact pressure is measured by small tube (kinetic energy coverts in
pressure energy
• Application of Bernoulli equation

Significance
• Measure pressure and velocity of steam at single
point
• Can be use for bent
Limitation
• Can not use for low velocity
• Impect of gravity
COMPARISON
Types Viscous fluid Slurry Gas Pressure loss Accuracy%

Orifice Limited Poor Good High ±0.5to ±2%

Venturi Limited Limited Good Medium ±0.5to ±3%

Rota Limited Limited Good Average ±0.5

pitot Poor Poor Good Poor ±0.5to ±10%