JOINT MEASUREMENT OF

VOLUME FLOW RATE AND

FLUID DENSITY

PLANT AND EQUIPMENT DESIGN

J.Y.P.P.KARUNANANDA
170289G
BACKGROUND

 The common way of measuring mass flow rate was to calculate

the value using separate, simultaneous measurements of the
volume flow rate and the fluid density before the introduction
of Coriolis meter.

 Under many circumstances, this method is still the cheapest

option but measurement accuracy is considerably lower to that
provided by a Coriolis meter.
 VARIABLE HEAD METERS

♦Meters that measures the pressure drop across a restriction in a pipeline are variable-head meters.
♦The basic flow equations for one dimensional incompressible flow systems can be developed as
follows using Bernoulli equation.
 VARIABLE HEAD METERS………

 The three types of obstruction or constriction meters that are widely used are the
Venturi, flow nozzle, and orifice.
 The Venturi offers the best accuracy, least head loss, and best resistance to abrasion
and wear due to dirt particles in the fluids. But it is expensive and occupies
considerable space.
 The nozzle-type meters offer all the advantages of the Venturi to a slightly lesser
extent, but require only a small space. However, proper installation of the nozzle is
difficult.
 The orifice is less expensive, easy to install, and occupies a very small space. However,
it suffers from considerable head loss and is very sensitive to abrasion and other
damages.
 Pitot Tubes

 The measurement of flow rate is taken by calibrating it for volume flow rate by locating it at a
specific point in a duct. But such single-point flow rate measurements become inaccurate when
velocity profiles differ from calibration conditions. This method is all right for laboratory
applications but impractical for online monitoring of flow rates.
 Pitot tubes also have the advantage that they cause negligible pressure loss in the flow. They are also
cheap, and the installation procedure consists of the very simple process of pushing them down a
small hole drilled in the flow-carrying pipe.

♦Other flow rate measuring instruments-

•Drag-body meter •Hot wire anemometer
•Variable area meter
 Direct Mass Flow Meters

  
From fluid mechanics concepts, it can be shown that for a torque τ exerted by an impeller wheel on the fluid
(with a negative sign) or on a turbine wheel by the fluid (with a positive sign) is given by

If the incoming flow has no rotational component of

velocity (i.e., Vti = 0), and if the axial length of the impeller is enough to make Vto = rω, the driving torque
necessary on the impeller is τ = ω m˙ where r and ω, respectively, are the impeller radius and its rotational rpm,
they are also constants. Thus, the torque τ is a direct and linear measure of mass flow rate m˙ .
Density-Meters
Pycnometer
An accurate method but temperature
sensitive and time consuming.
Suitable for liquids, dispersions,
powder and granules.
Digital Density Meter
Quick process, exact temperature
control by Peltier elements and
automatic density measurement but
Viscous samples require a viscosity
correction (available in modern
instruments)
Gravimetric,
Buoyancy
Quick process, flexible with regards
to sample size but temperature
sensitive and Sample must be wet
very carefully.