Topics of Today’s Lecture:

1. Numerical (Bernoulli’s Equation)

Chapter 3
Fluid dynamics 2. Flow rate measurement
ME-204_W6_L1 (Application of Bernoulli’s Eqn.)

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 Uses of Bernoulli Equation: Flow Rate Measurement
• Flow measurement is the quantification of bulk fluid and its movement.
• Flow measurement is important for the sale and purchase of fluid, for regulating a
process, for producing the desire pressure difference needed to maintain the flow etc.
• To measure the flow a flow sensor is introduced into the flow.
• Most flow sensors require straight sections of piping before and after the sensor.
• Several sensors rely on the pressure drop occurring as a fluid flows through a sensor.
• The relationship between flow rate and pressure difference is determined by the
Bernoulli equation, assuming that changes in elevation is negligible.
Uses of Bernoulli Equation: Flow Rate Measurement
 The pressure difference can be measured either by using the manometer
(Piezometer tube, U-tube or inclined tube) Mechanical (Bourdon Pressure
gauge) or Electronic pressure transducer (Strain gauge pressure
transducer).
 The low pressure at the point of highest velocity creates the possibility for
the liquid to partially vaporize; it might remain partially vaporized after the
sensor (called flashing) or it might return to a liquid as the pressure
increases after the lowest pressure point (called cavitation).

Bernoulli's equation  We want to avoid any vaporization to ensure proper sensor operation and
to retain the relationship between pressure difference and flow.

 Vaporization can be prevented by maintaining the inlet pressure sufficiently

where ∑f represents the total friction high and the inlet temperature sufficiently low.
loss that is usually assumed negligible.

 During a process, most of the parameters are fixed and therefore if pressure
difference is measured then the flow rate can be calculated from 50 the 50
Bernoulli's equation.

Uses of Bernoulli Equation: Flow Rate Measurement

Three commonly used types of flow meters are illustrated: the orifice meter, the
nozzle meter, and the Venturi meter. The operation of each is based on the same
physical principles—an increase in velocity causes a decrease in pressure.

Flowrate Measurements in Pipes using Restriction: Horizontal Flow:

An increase in velocity results in
a decrease in pressure.

Assuming conservation of mass:

Substituting we obtain:

So, if we measure the pressure

difference between (1) and (2) we have
the flow rate.

The difference between them is a matter of cost, accuracy, and how closely 50
their actual operation obeys the idealized flow assumptions.