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ROTAMETER FOR FLOW MEASUREMENT IN

LABORATORY BASED EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
Group Members:
Hunain Shabir (17004134-010)
Hassan Shahzad (17004134-009)
Program/Session:
BS-ME,Batch-04/2017-2021
Presented To:
Sir Fahad 2
Course
Instrumentation & Control System
 CONTENTS
Prior Concepts
Measurement of flow
Rotameter
Learning Objectives
Forces on a Rotameter
Apparatus
Experimental setup
Stepwise Procedure
Observation
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Conclusion
TO MEASURE RATE OF FLOW OF
LIQUID USING ROTAMETER
 PRIOR CONCEPTS:
i. Flow
ii. Buoyancy effect
iii. Law of continuity
iv. Float.

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 MEASUREMENT OF FLOW

1. Rate of flow: It is the quantity of liquid flowing per unit time. It is

measured in meters per second and then multiplying it by cross sectional
area of pipe. It is expressed in cubic meters per second.
2. Quantity: It is the total amount of liquid that flows across a given point
in a specified interval of time through the cross sectional area. It is
expressed in cubic meters.

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 ROTAMETER
(CONCEPT STRUCTURE)
It is a variable area flow meter where the pressure drop at the inlet and outlet
is kept constant, by changing the annular area.

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 ROTAMETER
 Rotameters are simple industrial flow meters that measure the flow rate of
liquid or gas in a closed tube. 
 Rotameters are a subset of meters called variable area flow meters that
measure the flow rate by allowing the fluid to travel through a tapered tube
where the cross sectional area of the tube gradually becomes greater as the
fluid travels through the tube. 
 The flow rate inside the rotameter is measured using a float that is lifted by
the fluid flow based on the buoyancy and velocity of the fluid opposing
gravity pulling the float down.  For gasses the float responds to the velocity
alone, buoyancy is negligible.

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 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
 Intellectual skills:
i. To understand the principle and working of a rotameter.
ii. To select the appropriate flow measuring technique for a specific application.
iii. To differentiate rotameters from other flow meters.
 Motor skills:
i. Ability to observe and measure the flow rate using rotameter.
ii. Ability to measure actual flow rate using standard container and stop watch.

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 FORCES ON A ROTAMETER
1. Gravity Force
2. Drag Force
3. Buoyancy Force
The buoyant force exerted on an immersed
object is equal to the weight of liquid
displaced by that object.

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 APPARATUS:
i. Rotameter.
ii. Fluid source (Pipe line), Outlet pipe, Valve, Container.
iii. Rotameter tab with engraved scale.
iv. Suitable for measuring liquids.
v. Float material Stainless steel or any non-Corrosive metal.
vi. Suitable arrangement for inlet and outlet connections with valves on both
the sides.

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EXPERIMENTAL SETUP FOR
FLOW MEASUREMENT USING
ROTAMETER(FIGURE1)

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 STEPWISE PROCEDURE
i. Make the arrangement as shown in the figure 1. Make sure that the rotameter is in
vertical position.
ii. Start the flow by operating the tappet or valve slowly.
iii. As the float moves upwards, an annular passage is opened between the wall of
tapered glass tube and float periphery as shown in figure 2.
iv. Now stop the valve adjustment and observe that the float comes to dynamic
equilibrium position. This position is reached when the annular passage is sufficient
to pass all the fluid.
v. Upward and downward movement of the float depends upon the rate of flow (i.e.
each float position corresponds to a particular flow rate.)
vi. The float gives readings on a calibrated scale in terms of flow rate (liters/hr) as
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shown in the figure 1.
SHOWING FLOAT LIFT

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OBSERVATION
Rotameter Reading (litre /hr) Collection time(min) Volume Collected (cm^3)
2 1 279
4 1 290
6 0.5 300
8 0.5 377
10 0.5 453

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 CONCLUSION
 Rotameters can be installed in areas with no power since they only require the properties of
the fluid and gravity to measure flow.
 Rotameters can be installed with standard pipe fittings to existing piping or through a panel. 
You do not have to worry about straight runs of pipe as with a magnetic or turbine flow
meter.
 With a properly maintained rotameter the operator can expect sustained high repeatability.
 Rotameters offer wide flow measurement ranges.
 The rotameter's scale is linear because the measure of flow rate is based on area variation. 
 Pressure loss due to the rotameter is minimal and relatively constant because the area
through the tapered tube increases with flow rate.  This results in reduced pumping costs.
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THANK U!
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