flow meters

===================

for batching: fixed volume to be filled/passed

for metering: fixed flowrate to be mantained for a process

NOTE: the height of column on either side of a flow meter must be equal so that the pipe area of the
meter is compeletely filled. this a common mistake in the industry

installation guidelines downloaded (flocat electromagnetic flow meter)

pump upstream

control valve downstream

flowmeter upstream of valve to avoid bubbles

most common types:

turbine flowmeter ----------------------------------------------------------

working principle----------

turbine of stainless steel

electrical component mounted on the meter body. these are called pickoffs and have magnets through
which they take the signal from each passing rotor blade

the velocity of rotor blade is proportional to the fluid velocity and knowing the area of the pipe, we can
measure volumetric flowrate

k factor: number of electrical pulses produced by passage of each unit of process liquid. it is unique for
evey model and determined by the manufacturer e.g. 150 (ppg pulses per gallon)

flowrate = output frequency/k factor

for a k factor of 3 and a fluid discharge of 200 gpm,

200 GPM = 200/60 GPS = frequency/ 3

so, frequency = 3.333 x 3 = 10 hertz

conditions for use------

10 pipe diameters upstream (20 if there is a bend at start)(50 if partially open valve)

5 pipe diameters down stream of the meter body

rotor in the exact centre of pipe

only clean fluid without solid particles should be used with it

straightening vanes to be used for acheiving laminar flow

downsides-------

k factor value is changed at very low flowrates

viscosity influences the k factor

not for steam

bearing wear out

electronics---------

signal from the pickoff is very low and transmission to over 6 meters is not reliable. so a preamplification
module is used and is present on the meter.

oval gear----------------------------------------------------------------------

positive displacement
magnets embedded inside one (the active rotor) of the oval gears and pulse signal detected.

the active rotor is identified by a dimple

k factor: same as turbine flowmeter

meter orientation: axes of gear rotation horizontal in either vertical or horizontal pipe flows

install before any valve to avoid complete emptying of the flow meter

flow conditioning pipes(10D, 5D etc) not needed in DON oval gear meters

bypass system: a parallel line that bypasses the flowmeter line which is activated when the meter is to
be stopped without interrupting the flow

used for high viscosity

used for smaller pipe sizes e.g. 1"

electromegnatic --------------------------------------------------------------

used for electrically conductive fluids

2 field coils

2 electrodes perpendicular to coils

when the electrically charged fluid flows, the positive and negative particles seperate and create a
voltage difference which is detected by the electrodes.

the flow velocity is proportional to the generated voltage

(faraday law: Voltage = L b v)

with the known cross section of pipe, flow volume is calculated

interference voltages are generated which are mitigated by using pulsed dc signal to alternate the
polarity of the magnetic field

grounding rings are used to avoid stray currents affecting the measurement

very accurate, no moving parts

constraints: max pressure 250 bar, max temperature 180 degree celsius

others:

coriolis------------------------------------------------------------

flow is split in two tubes

2 pickoff sensors record the signal

without flow, the tubes oscillate in phase

when flow is introduced, the two tube points i.e. inlet pickoff and outlet pickoff start to oscillate with a
phase shift delta t.

this delta t is proportional to mass flow rate

the signal frequenct indicates the density of the fluid.

now that we know mass flow rate and density, we can know the volume flow rate:

Vdot = mdot/density

no flow conditioning pipe runs required

ultrasonic------------------------------------------------------------

transient-time

difference between the in flow and counterflow wave travel time is proportional to flow velocity

dopler type

uses dopler effect: the time for wave to go away is different from the time to get back to the sensor

only for slurry liquids with more than 100 ppm of sediments or particles

2 pairs are used perpendicularly for better measurement by averaging values from both

not to use straightening vanes on any elbow configurations, since the profile is dramatically changed and
ultrasonic flowmeters tend to produce measurement error

flow conditioning is very important and different straight run lengths are required for different
components e.g. valves, elbows etc

correction factors calculated for different components

pipe thickness is measured before-hand with other transducers

corrosion and fouling may produce error in cross section measurement.

a gel is applied b/w the us sensor and pipe wall and placed perpendicular to the pipe for correct
measurement

pipe manufacturing defects and non uniform hardening may affect the measurement

z, v and w type.

z for large pipe dia and old pipes (because for v and w, the signal may be absorbed by the interior scale
or rust)

v and w for smaller pipe dia

correct positioning is critical

1 mm deviation from expected position can cause 1 percent error

the rougher the interior of the pipe, the lower the frequency of the flowmeter should be used.