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Fluid Mechanics 7 (Flow rate and velocity measurement)

The document provides an overview of flow rate measurement techniques in fluid mechanics, focusing on various types of flow meters such as orifice meters, Venturi meters, and pitot tubes. It discusses the principles behind these devices, their advantages and disadvantages, and includes examples of calculations for flow rates. Additionally, it explains key concepts like discharge coefficients and stagnation pressure.

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Sarath Ponseka
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31 views31 pages

Fluid Mechanics 7 (Flow rate and velocity measurement)

The document provides an overview of flow rate measurement techniques in fluid mechanics, focusing on various types of flow meters such as orifice meters, Venturi meters, and pitot tubes. It discusses the principles behind these devices, their advantages and disadvantages, and includes examples of calculations for flow rates. Additionally, it explains key concepts like discharge coefficients and stagnation pressure.

Uploaded by

Sarath Ponseka
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Flow Rate Measurement

A major application area of Fluid Mechanics is the determination of the


flow rate of fluids, and numerous devices have been developed over the
years for the purpose of flow metering. Flow meters range widely in
their level of sophistication, size, cost, accuracy, versatility, capacity,
pressure drop, and the operating principle. We give an overview of the
meters commonly used to measure the flow rate of liquids flowing
through pipes.
Flow Rate Measurement

Most flow meters measure the flow rate indirectly. they measure the
average velocity v or a quantity that is related to average velocity such as
pressure and determine the volume flow rate from

where Ac is the cross-sectional area of flow. Therefore, measuring the flow


rate is usually done by measuring flow velocity.
Flow Rate Measurement – Orifice Meter
An orifice meter is a thin plate with
a chamfered edge to the hole in the
middle of it which is placed into a
long straight tube. Pressure tapping
is made either side of the orifice
plate and a manometer is connected
between the two tappings. The
pressure differential is a measure of
the flow through the pipe.
Flow Rate Measurement – Orifice Meter

Orifice Plate Orifice Plate


Flow Rate Measurement – Orifice Meter
What is Vena Contracta?
It is the point in a liquid stream
where the diameter of the stream is
the least, and liquid velocity is at its
maximum.
Flow Rate Measurement – Orifice Meter
Applying the Bernoulli equation
between points 1 & 2, and
combining with the continuity
equation, the flow rate,

Note that this is the theoretical flow rate. Actual flow rate is always less than
theoretical value. The ratio between Actual flow rate and theoretical flow rate is
defined as discharge coefficient.
Flow Rate Measurement – Discharge coefficient (Cd)
For Obstruction flow meters
Flow Rate Measurement – Other flow coefficients
Coefficient of contraction (Cc)

Coefficient of velocity (Cv)

For any type of orifice; Cd = Cc × Cv


Flow Rate Measurement – Orifice Meter

Advantages of Orifice meter


❖ Easy to install/remove, and can be easily maintained.
❖ Measures a wide range of flow rates.
❖ Simple structure, strong, stable and reliable performance, lower price.
Flow Rate Measurement – Orifice Meter
Disadvantages of Orifice meter
❖ Causes a permanent pressure loss in the fluid.
❖ Their accuracy is affected by density, pressure and viscosity of the
liquid.
❖ Requires straight pipe runs, specially for larger diameter pipes, to
ensure accuracy is maintained.
Flow Rate Measurement – Orifice Meter Example

Example 01
The flow rate of methanol at 20 0C (ρ = 788.4 kg/m3
and μ = 5.857 ×10-4 kg/m·s) through a 4-cm
diameter pipe is to be measured with a 3-cm
diameter orifice meter equipped with a mercury
manometer across the orifice plate, as shown in the
figure. If the differential height of the manometer is
11 cm, determine the flow rate of methanol through
the pipe and the average flow velocity. The
discharge coefficient of the orifice meter, Cd = 0.61
Flow Rate Measurement – Orifice Plate Example

Example 02
A sharp-edged 50 mm diameter orifice is located in the vertical side of a large tank
discharges water under a head of 5.2 m. If Cc = 0.62 and Cv = 0.98. determine;

(a) The diameter of the jet


(b) The velocity of the jet at vena contracta
(c) The discharge in m3/s
Flow Rate Measurement – Orifice Meter Examples

Example 03
Water at 20°C flows through the orifice
(Cd = 0.7) in the figure below, which is
monitored by a mercury manometer.
If d = 3 cm,
(a) what is h when the flow rate is 20 m3/h
(b) What is Q in m3/h when h = 58 cm?
Flow Rate Measurement – Venturi Meter
The Venturi Meter is designed by tapering down to the throat gradually and then
tapering out again. No contraction occurs in the flow so Cc = 1. (Therefore Cd = Cv)
The outlet is designed to expand the flow gradually so that the kinetic energy at the
throat is reconverted into pressure with little friction. Consequently the coefficient of
discharge is much better than for an orifice meter. Therefore overall pressure loss is
much smaller than for an orifice meter.
Flow Rate Measurement – Venturi Meter
Example 04
A Venturi meter equipped with a
differential pressure gage is used to
measure the flow rate of water at
15°C (ρ = 999.1 kg/m3) through a
5-cm-diameter horizontal pipe.
The diameter of the Venturi neck is
3 cm, and the measured pressure
drop is 5 kPa. Taking the discharge
coefficient to be 0.98, determine the
volume flow rate of water and the
average velocity through the pipe.
Flow Rate Measurement – Venturi Meter
Example 05
A horizontal Venturi meter has a main diameter of 65 mm and a throat diameter of
26 mm, when measuring the flow of water, the reading of the mercury differential
pressure gage was 71 mm. Calculate the flow through the meter. Take the coefficient of
the meter as 0.97 and the specific gravity of mercury as 13.6

Example 06
A Venturi meter is 50 mm bore diameter at inlet and 10 mm bore diameter at the
throat. Oil of density 900 kg/m3 flows through it and a differential pressure head of
80 mm is produced. Given Cd = 0.92, determine the flow rate in kg/s.
Flow Rate Measurement – Venturi Meter

Advantages of Venturi meter


❖ Low pressure loss compared to the orifice meter .
❖ Can be used to measure higher flow rates in pipes having few meters of
diameters.
❖ Can be used in any position e.g. horizontal, vertical or inclined.
❖ Higher sensitivities can be achieved due to smaller size throat which
leads to higher pressure differential.
Flow Rate Measurement – Venturi Meter

Disadvantages of Venturi meter:


❖ Can not be used in limited space applications due to larger size.
❖Due to large size, the cost of venturi meter, cost of installation is higher.
❖Very small diameter of throat results into cavitation of fluid in the throat.
Flow Rate Measurement – Pitot Tube

Stagnation point
Stagnation point is a point in a flow field
where the velocity of the fluid is zero.
Stagnation points exist at the surface of
objects in the flow field, where the fluid is
brought to rest by the object.
Flow Rate Measurement – Pitot Tube
Stagnation pressure
Stagnation pressure is the pressure at a stagnation point in a fluid flow.

Applying Bernoulli equation between point (1) and (2)

Dynamic pressure
Stagnation pressure
Static pressure
Flow Rate Measurement – Pitot Tube
Pitot Tubes
The basic pitot tube consists of a tube pointing directly into the fluid flow. As this tube
contains fluid, a pressure can be measured; the moving fluid is brought to rest
(stagnates) as there is no outlet to allow flow to continue. This pressure is the
stagnation pressure of the fluid, also known as the total pressure or (particularly in
aviation) the pitot pressure.
Flow Rate Measurement – Pitot Tube
There are 3 basic types of pitot tubes.

(a) Simple pitot tube


Can be used to measure stagnation pressure

(b) Static source


Can be used to measure static pressure

(c) Pitot – Static tube


A combination of pitot tube and static source. Can be
measured both static and stagnation pressure or
difference.
Flow Rate Measurement – Pitot Tube
Pitot tubes are widely used;
• To determine the airspeed of an aircraft

• To measure air and gas velocities in industrial applications.


Flow Rate Measurement – Pitot Tube

As shown in the figure, pitot static tube consists two concentric


tubes which are attached to two pressure gauges.

The center tube measures the stagnation pressure (p3)


while the outer tube measures static pressure (p4).

If the elevation changes are negligible;


Flow Rate Measurement – Pitot Tube

Also

By combining these two equations;

Which can be rearrange to give


Flow Rate Measurement – Pitot Tube

Example 07
A piezometer and a Pitot tube are tapped into a
horizontal water pipe, as shown in the figure, to
measure static and stagnation pressures. For the
indicated water column heights, determine the
velocity at the center of the pipe.
Flow Rate Measurement – Pitot Tube
Example 8
A Pitot-static probe is used to measure the speed of an aircraft flying at 3000 m. If the
differential pressure reading is 3 kPa, determine the speed of the aircraft.

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