DENSITY MEASUREMENT

Bolton-Ch-12 Density is defined as mass per unit volume. Relative density is the ratio of mass of a volume to the mass of an equal volume of water.

Weight methods
Force-balance systems
Can be used for continuous monitoring of the density of fluids in motion. The fluid passes through a U-shaped tube which has a flexible connectors so that it can pivot about them. The weight of the fluid in the U results in a force on the tube support.
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 With a pneumatic force-balance system, the force causes the pressure to change in a flapper-nozzle system. The changing pressure then results in a changing force applied to the tube support by means of a bellows arrangement. At balance when the U is horizontal, the pressure in the system is measure of the weight of the fluid in the U tube. Since the volume of the U is constant then the pressure is a measure of the density of the fluid. Used for densities up to 1600 kg/m 3 and with slurries and fluid containing solid matter, provided the flow rate is high enough to avoid deposition of entrained solids.

Load Cell
If the level of a liquid in a container is kept constant then any change in its weight will be due to a change in density. Load cells in the supports of the container can be used to give continuous responses related to this change in weight. 3

Buoyancy methods
Hydrometer
The upthrust acting on a body immersed or partially immersed in a fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid it has displaced (Archimedes principle). Hydrometer is essentially a weighted tube which floats in a liquid to a depth which depends on the density of the liquid. The weight of hydrometer is then equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the hydrometer. A scale on the stem of the instrument enables the density to be read off as the value at the liquid surface. The instrument is simple and cheap.

Torque tube
A float is completely immersed and so because the volume of liquid displaced does not change, the upthrust force on the float only changes if the density of the liquid changes. This upthrust force is used to twist a tube. This can be monitored by means of a pneumatic system. Such method can be used for high temp liquids and both open and closed tanks.

Pressure methods
The difference in pressure between any two levels in a liquid or gas is equal to hg,
where h is the vertical distance between the levels, is the density and g the acceleration due to gravity.

Differential pressure methods

The level of liquid in the container is maintained at a constant level. The pressure at some level below the surface depends only on the density.

Bubbler method
Based on the principle that the pressure in an open tube in a liquid when fed with gas, is limited by the gas escaping as bubbles. Two tubes are used with the same gas supply connected to both. The open ends of the tubes are at different depths in the liquid and so there is thus a difference in pressure produced between the two tubes. For a constant height difference between the tubes, the pressure difference is related to the liquid density. Not suitable for closed vessels or liquids containing particles which might block the tubes.

Vibrating tubes
The tube is fixed at each end Tube oscillated by magnetic forces using AC in the drive coilthe coil being located at the mid point. The amplitude is monitored by pickup coil The tube is maintained in oscillation at its natural frequencythe frequency depends on the total mass of the tube and its contents. Since the tube has a constant volume the frequency is affected by changes in the density of the fluid inside. Can be used with liquids and liquid-solid mixtures.

FLOW MEASUREMENT

FLOW MEASUREMENT
Fluid: A substance that flows. Dv Reynolds number =
D pipe diameter v fluid velocity fluid density fluid viscosity

If
the velocity = v

Time = t Cross sectional area of tube = A

The volume of fluid that has moved through this distance in time t = Avt Volume rate of flow Q = Avt/t = Av A fluid in motion has:
potential energy, kinetic energy, pressure energy and heat energy; its total energy is equal to sum of all energies

Flow measurements can include measurements of three different quantities, the actual velocity of the fluid at some point in the fluid, the volume rate of flow, and the mass rate of flow.

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The volume flow rate Q through a pipe or duct is just the integral of the velocity distribution, V(x,y), over the crosssectional area A.

Q V ( x, y ) dA
A

For Engg purposes, an average velocity V is often used:

Q 1 V ( x, y ) dA A A A

Flowmeters measure Q and/or V, while velocity probes measure V(x,y). However, the output of a velocity probe can be integrated to obtain Q or V. Bernoullis equation for the flow of incompressible fluids between points 1 and 2 may be written in terms of local or average velocity as
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P P2 V22 V12 Z 2 Z1 1 2gc g

P absolute pressure

density
V linear velocity Z elevation g acceleration due to gravity g c dimensiona l constant

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Obstruction Meters

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 With velocity change there will be pressure change. At points of maximum restriction, hence max velocity, min pressures are found. A certain portion of this pressure drop becomes irrecoverable owing to dissipation of kinetic energy; therefore, the output pressure will always be less than the input pressure. Venturi with its guided reexpansion, be the most efficient. Losses of about 3040% of differential pressure occur through the orifice meter.
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Electromagnetic flowmeters

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