EEN 11 – INDUSTRIAL

ELECTRONICS
BSEE III GI
BSEE III GJ

ENGR. JOEL ANTHONY L. SEVILLA

NOVEMBER 2023
IV. FLOW METERS
A flow meter or a flow sensor is a type of flow
instrument that is used to indicate the amount
of liquid, gas, or vapor moving through a pipe
or conduit by measuring linear, non-linear,
mass, or volumetric flow rates. Since flow
control is often essential, measuring the flow of
liquids and gasses is a critical need for many
industrial applications – and there are many
different types of flow meters that can be
utilized depending on the nature of the
application. They may be classified as follows:
POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT TYPES
INFERENTIAL TYPES
VARIABLE AREA TYPES
DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TYPES
1. POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT TYPES
These types have a mechanical element that
makes the shaft of the meter rotate once for an
exact known quantity of fluid. The quantity of
fluid hence depends on the number of
revolutions of the meter shaft and the flow rate
depends upon the speed of rotation. Both the
revolutions and speed may be measured with
mechanical or electronic devices.
Meshing Motor type consists of two rotors with
lobes. When fluid is forced in, the rotors turn
and operate the indicating system.
2. INFERENTIAL TYPE METERS
The flow of the fluid is inferred from some
effect produced by the flow. Usually this is a
rotor which is made to spin and the speed of
the rotor is sensed mechanically or
electronically.
The main types are:
Turbine rotor types Rotary shunt types
Rotating vane types Helical turbine types
TURBINE TYPE

The turbine type has an axial rotor which is

made to spin by the fluid and the speed
represents the flow rate. This may be sensed
electrically by coupling the shaft to a small
electric tachometer.
Often this consists of a magnetic slug on the
rotor which generates a pulse of electricity each
time it passes the sensor.
ROTATING VANE TYPE

The jet of fluid spins around the rotating vane

and the speed of the rotor is measured
mechanically or electronically.
3. VARIABLE AREA TYPES
FLOAT TYPE

The float is inside a tapered tube. The fluid

flows through the annular gap around the edge
of the float. The restriction causes a pressure
drop over the float and the pressure forces the
float upwards. Because the tube is tapered, the
restriction is decreased as the float moves up.
Eventually a level is reached where the
restriction is just right to produce a pressure
force that counteracts the weight of the float.
The level of the float indicates the flow rate. If
the flow changes the float moves up or down to
find a new balance position.
TAPERED PLUG TYPE

A tapered plug is aligned inside a hole or orifice.

A spring holds it in place. The flow is restricted
as it passes through the gap and a force is
produced which moves the plug. Because it is
tapered the restriction changes and the plug
takes up a position where the pressure force
just balances the spring force. The movement
of the plug is transmitted with a magnet to an
indicator on the outside.
4. DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE FLOW METERS
These are a range of meters that convert flow
rate into a differential pressure:
ORIFICE METERS
VENTURI METERS
NOZZLE METERS
PITOT TUBES
Cross section view
The working principle for all these is that
something makes the velocity of the fluid
change and this produces a change in the
pressure so that a difference ΔP = P2 – P1 is
created. It can be shown for all these meters
that the volume flow rate Q is related to ΔP by
the following formula:
Q = k Δ𝑃
k is the meter constant.
Extra instrumentation
heads can be fitted to
produce an:
electrical output
(4 mA – 20 mA) or a
pneumatic output
(0.2 bar – 1 bar).
V. FORCE SENSORS
MECHANICAL TYPES
It is a basic mechanical principle
that the deflection of a spring is
directly proportional to the applied
force so if the movement is shown
on a scale, the scale represents
force.
HYDRAULICS TYPE
Are often referred to as hydraulic
load cells. The cell is a capsule filled
with liquid. When the capsule is
squeezed, the liquid becomes
pressurized. The pressure
represents the force and may be
indicated with a calibrated pressure
gauge. The capsule is often a short
cylinder with a piston.
ELECTRICAL STRAIN GAUGE TYPE
A typical load cell consists of a metal
cylinder with strain gauges fixed to it.
When the cylinder is stretched or
compressed, the strain gauges convert
the force into a change in resistance
and voltage. Since the elements
require a supply voltage, the cell
usually has 4 wires, two for the supply
and two for the output.
VI. POSITION SENSORS
Position sensors are essential elements in the
control of actuators. The position of both linear
and rotary actuators is needed in robotic type
mechanisms.
Three principle types:
RESISTIVE
OPTICAL
INDUCTIVE
RESISTIVE TYPES

A potentiometer is a variable electrical

resistance. A length of resistance material has a
voltage applied over its ends. A slider moves
along it (either linear or rotary) and picks off
the voltage at its position or angle.
The tracks may be made from carbon,
resistance wire or piezo resistive material. The
latter is the best because it gives a good analog
output.
The wire wound type produces small step
changes in the output depending on how fine
the wire is and how closely it is coiled on the
track.
OPTICAL TYPES

Optical types are mainly used for producing

digital outputs. A common example is found on
machine tools where they measure the position
of the work table and display it in digits on the
gauge head.
Light is emitted through a transparent strip or
disc onto a photo electric cell. The strip or disc
has very fine lines engraved on it which
interrupt the beam. The number of
interruptions are counted electronically and
this represents the position or angle.
INDUCTIVE TYPES
The most common of these
is the Linear Variable
Differential transformer or
LVDT. The transformer is
made with one primary coil
and two secondary coils,
one placed above and the
other below the primary.
The coils are formed into a long narrow hollow
tube. A magnetic core slides in the tube and is
attached to the mechanism being monitored
with a non magnetic stem (e.g. brass).
A constant alternating voltage is applied to the
primary coil. This induces a voltage in both
secondary coils. When the core is exactly in the
middle, equal voltages are induced and they
cancel each other out.
When the core moves, the voltage in one
secondary coil grows but reduces in the other.
The result is an output voltage which
represents the position of the core and the
mechanism to which it is attached. With
suitable electronic equipment for phase
detection, it is possible to detect which
direction the core moves and to switch the dc
voltage from plus to minus as the core passes
the center position.
VII. DEPTH GAUGES
Depth gauges measure the depth of liquids and
powder in tanks. They use a variety of principles
and produce outputs in electrical and
pneumatic forms. The type to use depends on
the substance in the tank.
The ultrasonic system reflects sound waves
from the surface and determines the depth
from the time taken to receive the reflected
sound.
The electronic version uses a variety of
electrical affects including conduction of the
fluid and capacitance.
The pneumatic version bubbles air through the
liquid and the pressure of the air is related to
the depth. A simple pressure gauge attached to
a tank also indicates the depth since depth is
proportional to pressure.