FLOW MEASURING DEVICES

Manometer:
An instrument for measuring the pressure acting on a column of fluid, consisting of a U-shaped
tube of liquid in which a difference in the pressures acting in the two arms of the tube causes
the liquid to reach different heights in the two arms.

Types:
1. Simple Manometer.
2. Micromanometer.
3. Differential Manometer.
4. Inverted Differential Manometer.

Venturi meter:
A device meant for measuring the quantity of a liquid flowing through a pipe. In its simplest
form, the device consists of a short converging section leading to a throat and followed by a
diverging section. The entrance and the exit diameters will be the same as that of the pipe line
to which it is fitted.
 FLOW MEASURING DEVICES

Orifice meter:
An orifice meter is another device to gauge the flow of a liquid through a pipe. It consists of a
flat plate containing a circular orifice provided concentrically with the pipe across the flow as
shown in Fig. It is fitted to the pipe by flanged joint. This device works on the same principle as
that of the venturi meter.

Rotameter:
The rotameter consists of a vertically oriented glass (or plastic) tube with a larger end at the top,
and a metering float which is free to move within the tube. Fluid flow causes the float to rise in
the tube as the upward pressure differential and buoyancy of the fluid overcome the effect of
gravity.
 FLOW MEASURING DEVICES

Pitot Tube:
A simple device meant for measuring the velocity of a liquid at any point. In its simple form, a
pitot tube consists of a glass tube whose lower end is bent at right angles. The device is placed
in a moving liquid with the lower opening directed in the upstream direction. The liquid level in
the pitot tube will depend on the velocity of the stream. The pitot tube measures the fluid flow
velocity by converting the kinetic energy of the flow into potential energy. The use of the pitot
tube is restricted to point measuring.