3.

OBJECTIVES

Experiment 1 : Determination of the operation and characteristic of mass flow meter and
rotameter
i) To obtain the flow rate measurement by utilizing mass flow meter and rotameter
ii) To compare the flow rate measurement by utilizing mass flow rate meter and
rotameter.

Experiment 2 : Determination of the operation and characteristic of venturi meter

i) To determine the overall experimental constant of the venture meter and compare
with theoretical calculated constant.

Experiment 3 : Determination of the operation and characteristic of orifice meter

i) To determine the overall experimental constant of the orifice meter and compare with
theoretical calculated constant.

4.0

THEORY
Venturi meter, orifice meter, and pitot tube are widely used head flow meters in the
industry. The Pitot-static is often used for measuring the local velocity in pipes or ducts. Or
measuring flow in enclosed ducts or channels, the venturi meter and orifice meters are more
convenient and more frequently used. The venturi is widely used particularly for large
volume liquid and gas flows since its exhibits little pressure loss. However, for smaller pipes
orifice meter is a suitable choice. In order to use any of these devices for measurement it is
necessary to empirically calibrate them. That is, pass a known volume through the meter and
note the reading in order to provide a standard for measuring other quantities.
Venturi meter
In the venturi meter (Figure 1), the gas is accelerated through a converging cone of angle
15-20o and the pressure difference between the upstream side of the cone and the throat is
measured and provides the signal for the rate of flow. The expression for theoretical flow rate
is obtained by applying the continuity equation and energy equation at inlet and throat
section.
For measuring discharged we should apply Bernoullis equation at point 1 and at point 2.
The following treatment is limited to incompressible fluids. Friction is neglected, the meter is
assumed to be horizontal and there is no pump. If v1 and v2 are the average velocities at
point 1 and point 2 respectively and is the density of fluid.

Figure 1: the venturi meter

Since z1 = z2 ,

Now applying the equation of continuity at both points, we have

Therefore,

Where,
Cd = coefficient of discharged (0.63)
At = cross sectional area

Rotameter
The rotameter is a flow meter in which a rotating free float is the indicating element.
Basically, a rotameter consist of a transparent tapered vertical tube through which fluid flow
upward. Within the tube is placed a freely suspended float of a pump-bob shape. When there is
no flow rises until upward and buoyancy forces on it are balanced by its weight. The float rises
only a short distance if the rate of flow is small, and vice versa. The points of equilibrium can be

noted as a function of flow rate. With a well-calibrated marked glass tube, the level of the float
becomes a direct measure of flow rate.

Rotameter
Mass flow meter
Thermal mass flow meters are used almost entirely for gas flow applications. As the
name implies, thermal mass flow meters use heat to measure flow. Thermal mass flow meters
introduce heat into the flow stream and measure how much heat dissipates using one or more
temperature sensors. The amount of heat lost from the sensor is dependent upon the sensor
design and the thermal properties of the fluid.
The thermal properties of the fluid can (and do) vary with pressure and temperature,
however these variations are typically small in most applications. In these applications where the
thermal properties of the fluid are known and relatively constant during actual operation, thermal
flow meters can be used to measure the mass flow of the fluid because the thermal flow
measurement is not dependent upon the pressure or temperature of the fluid.
This method works best with gas mass flow measurement because it is difficult to get a
strong signal using thermal mass flow meters in liquids, due to considerations relating to heat
absorption. While all thermal flow meters use heat to make their flow measurements, there are
two different methods for measuring how much heat is dissipated.

Constant temperature differential

One method is called the constant temperature differential method. Thermal flow meters using
this method have two temperature sensors a heated sensor and another sensor that measures
the temperature of the gas. Mass flow rate is computed based on the amount of electrical power
required to maintain a constant difference in temperature between the two temperature sensors.

Constant current
A second, and more popular concept, is called the constant current method. Thermal mass flow
meters using this method also have a heated sensor and another one that senses the temperature
of the flow stream. The power to the heated sensor is kept constant. Mass flow is measured as a
function of the difference between the temperature of the heated sensor and the temperature of
the flow stream. Both methods are based on the principle that higher velocity flow result in a
greater cooling effect. Both measure mass flow based on the measured effects of cooling in the
flow stream

Mass flow meter

7.0

RESULT

RESULTS
Experiment 1: determination of the operation and characteristic of mass flow meter and
rotameter
Initial pressure = Po = 1 bar
Pressure,
PT1 (bar)
0.14
0.13
0.07
0.08

Mass flow meter

FT1 (LPM)
9.8
18.7
277.0
31.6

Rotameter (LPM)

Temperature (oC)

10
20
30
40

23.2
23.3
23.1
23.0

Rotameter (LPM)

Temperature (oC)

10
20
30
40
50

23.4
23.4
23.4
23.2
23.4

mass flow
reading FT1
10.26
19.40
26.56
31.41

Initial pressure = Po = 2 bar

Pressure,
PT1 (bar)
1.72
1.64
1.62
1.60
1.57

Mass flow meter

FT1 (LPM)
16.0
29.8
44.6
57.1
62.2

mass flow
reading FT1
25.23
47.72
70.85
91.03
99.19

Experiment 2: determination of the operation and characteristic of venturi meter

Initial pressure = Po = 1 bar
Pressure,
PT1 (bar)

Rotameter
(LPM)

Temperature,
TT1 (oC)

0.13
0.03
0.05
0.01

10
20
30
40

23.1
23.0
23.0
22.9

Differential
Pressure,
PT1
(mbar)
0
2
3
4

Air
density,
(kg/m3)

Calculated
flowrate, Q

0.153
0.035
0.059
0.012

4049
10.06
12.56
17.12

Initial pressure = Po = 2 bar

Pressure,
PT1 (bar)

Rotameter
(LPM)

Temperature,
TT1 (oC)

1.62
1.52
1.49
1.47
1.48

10
20
30
40
50

23.0
23.1
23.0
23.0
23.0

Differential
Pressure,
PT1 (mbar)
1
3
3
5
6

density,
(kg/m3)
1.91
1.79
1.74
1.73
1.74

Experiment 3: determination of the operation and characteristic of orifice meter

Calculated
flowrate, Q
(LPM)
0.84
0.98
1.02
1.04
1.03

Initial pressure = Po = 1 bar

Pressure,
PT1 (bar)

Rotameter
(LPM)

Temperature,
TT1 (oC)

0.19
0.10
0.07
0.03

10
20
30
40

23.2
23.1
23.3
23.2

Differential
Pressure,
PT1
(mbar)
1
3
4
5

Air
density,
(kg/m3)

Calculated
flowrate, Q

0.22
0.12
0.08
0.04

5.59x10-5
7.98x10-5
9.93x10-5
1.43x10-4

Differential
Pressure,
PT1
(mbar)
2
3
5
8
10

density,
(kg/m3)

Calculated
flowrate, Q
(LPM)

1.25
1.79
1.76
1.73
1.72

2.53x10-5
1.51x10-5
1.55x10-5
1.61x10-5
1.63x10-5

Initial pressure = Po = 2 bar

8.0

Pressure,
PT1 (bar)

Rotameter
(LPM)

Temperature,
TT1 (oC)

1.06
1.52
1.50
1.47
1.46

10
20
30
40
50

23.1
23.1
23.1
23.2
23.2

SAMPLE OF CALCULATION

Experiment 1
To find the mass flow meter reading at STD (10 LPM),
P1 = 1 bar = 1.03

p2 = P1 + PT1
V2 = FT1
T1 = 273.15 K
T2 = 273.15 + TT1

To find rotameter reading at STD, assuming at 20oC (10 LPM), ,

Experiment 2
To calculate flowrate (LPM), formula of venturi meter is used
Given that,
P1 = 1 bar
D1 = 0.0127 m
D2 = 0.00635 m

To find the air density (10 LPM) ,

P = PT1 X 105
R = 287
T = TT1 + 273.15 K

To find the flowrate (10 LPM) , Q

P1 = P0 = 1 bar
P2 = PT1

= 4.49 LPM

Experiment 3
To calculate flowrate (LPM), formula of orifice meter is used:
Cd = Discharge coefficient of air, 0.65
P1 = P0 = 1 bar
P2 = PT1
A = A2

= 5.59X10-5 LPM