CHE 406: MOMENTUM TRANSFER

Lecture 4
Pipe Flow Measurement
(Friction due to Meters)

Lecturer:
ENGR. MICHAEL ALLAN G. RAMOS
Department of Chemical Engineering
Technological Institute of the Philippines
2nd Semester, 2018-2019
Frictional Losses in Metering Devices

! " = "$ + "& + "' + "(

• Flow meters are designed to cause a pressure drop that can be measured and
related to the rate of flow.

• Causes of Pressure Drop:

i. changes in kinetic energy;
ii. by skin friction; or
iii. by form friction

• By use of energy balance, an equation can be derived to relate the rate of flow and
this pressure drop.
 Metering Devices
Pressure measuring devices
• Three of the most common
flowrate measuring devices are: Flow
Orifice, Nozzle, and Venturi obstruction

Flowmeters.

• The general principle is by

introducing a flow obstruction:
Flow area
↓ "#$% &'(& ; ↑ +(#$,-./ & ↓ 1'(223'( reduction

• An auxiliary device to measure the

pressure drop is necessary.
(Image source: Instrument Specialties, Inc.)
Measurement of Pressure Drop

Simple U-Tube Manometer

• Ends are tapped to the pipe: (e) (d)
Point 1 à upstream of obstruction
Point 2 à downstream of obstruction
(c)
• Pressure drop, ∆"# , is related to
manometer reading h or Rm by applying
mechanical energy balance: (a) (b)
+
− ∆%& = (& )& − )* EQN 1
+,
(Image source: Instrumentation-Electronics)
 Measurement of Pressure Drop
)
− ∆#$ = &$ '$ − '( EQN 1
)*

• A high pressure difference will result to a

high manometer reading and thus will
require a long manometer.

• For high pressures: use of mechanical

devices (i.e. Bourdon gauge)

(Image source: sika.net; flowcontrolnetwork.com)

Friction Due to Meters: General Formula

$% = '% ∆(%

Where:

Fm friction due to flow meter

Km fraction of differential head leading to friction
∆"# differential head due to friction
)*++,-,./*01 2-,334-, 05-633 7,/,- −∆:#
∆"# = =
+14*) ),.3*/8 ;<

>% A
By EQN 1: ∆(% = =% −@
>? AB
The General Meter Equation

+ ,- ./)
' = () *)
01 − 3
Where:
v Average linear velocity of the fluid
Cm Meter coefficient or discharge coefficient (fraction of head loss caused
by the meter)
Ym Expansion factor (gases: 0–1.0 ; liquids: 1.0)
∆Hm differential head across meter
$%
∅ pipe diameter / meter diameter ∅ = $
&
Orifice Flow Meter
Features:
• Flat plate
• Drilled hole at the center
• Beveled to a sharp-edge
• Installed perpendicular to the fluid flow direction

(Image source: Instrument Specialties, Inc.)

 Orifice Flow Meter

& '( )*+

! = #$ %$
,- − /

• The orifice coefficient, Co , is a function of

Reynolds number

• Installation of orifice plate should be at least

50 pipe diameters downstream or 10 pipe VENA-CONTRACTA
diameters upstream from any disturbances • ½ to 2 duct diameters
downstream from the plate
• Flow conditioners (i.e. straightening vanes)
may be used to decrease the these straight
pipe requirements
(Image source: GROEBNER; Instrument Specialties, Inc.)
Velocity Profile Distortion
PIPE ENTRANCE REGION
Velocity Profile Distortion
VARIOUS DISTURBANCES: Bends/Elbows, Reducers/Expanders

(Image source: ALIAXIS)

Use of Flow Conditioners

(Image source: flowcontrolnetwork.com)

Evaluation of Orifice Coefficient, Co

• If NRe ≥ 30,000: Co = 0.61

• If NRe < 30,000: use graph

Evaluation of Km; and Yo for gases

!" = $" ∆&"

+ ,- .&"
' = () *)
/0 − 2

Km fraction of differential head

leading to friction

1−6 0.35
34 = 1 − 0.41 + ?
7 ∅
@A CD
6= 7=
@B CE
Venturi Flow Meter
Features:
• Converging cone (25-30 degrees)
• Diverging cone (<7 degrees)
• Form friction is minimized but needs proper design
• Permanent pressure loss is about 10% of total pressure drop across the meter

(Image source: amityindustries.com)

 Venturi Flow Meter
Evaluation of Km:
& '( )*+ • varies with design/brand (0.10 to 0.20)
! = #$ %$
,- − / • Good design: 0.10 (assumed when not specified)

0+ = 1+ ∆*+ Evaluation of CV:

• If NRe ≥ 10,000: CV = 0.98
• If NRe < 10,000: CV = 1 / ∅

:>?
9 < 1− 8 : ∅@ − 1
Evaluation of YV for gases: 56 = (8 : )
<−1 1−8 9
∅@ − 8 :

A9 BC
8= <=
A? BD
Basic Flow Metering and Controlling Loop

(Image source: instrumenttoolbox.com) (Image source: flowtechonline.com)

Next: ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS.