Rotameter is a variable area flow meter that measures volumetric flow rate of fluids. It has a tapered glass or metal tube with a scale and a float inside. As fluid enters the bottom of the tapered tube, the float experiences upward buoyant force and downward gravitational force. It reaches equilibrium when the drag force equals weight-buoyancy force, indicating flow rate. Higher float position corresponds to greater flow rate due to larger flow area around the float. Pressure drop across the float depends on fluid density and flow area. Coefficient of discharge accounts for pressure losses to determine actual flow rate from measured float position.
INTRODUCTION
• A rotameteris a device that measures the
volumetric flow rate of fluid in a closed tube. It
belongs to a class of meters called variable area
meters, which measure flow rate by allowing
the cross-sectional area the fluid travels
through to vary, causing a measurable effect.
4.
CONSTRUCTION
A rotameter ismade up of a tapered tube and a float inside
it . The glass tapered tube has a scale on the surface or a
scale is placed adjacent to it, according to purpose
Tapered tube :
The tapered tube is placed vertically in the flow channel
with a conical shape inside . The quantity measured is
defined by the height of float going up . Glass tubes are
used for both liquid and gas measurement . Metallic tubes
are used where the process fluid with high temperature
and pressure.
Float :
Stainless steal floats are commonly used, there are
different types of metals from lead to aluminium used as
floats . A float material, shapes are also varied according to
applications considering density . Spherical shape floats are
used for small flows .
5.
PRINCIPLE
• “The buoyantforce exerted on an
immersed object is equal to the weight
of liquid displaced by that object.”
6.
WORKING
• Fluid entersfrom the bottom of the
tapered tube.
• Now the float experience two forces in
opposite direction, darg force upward and
gravitational force downward.
• Fluid flow moves the float upward against
gravity .At some point, the flowing area
reaches a point where the pressure -
induced force on the floating body exactly
matches the weight of the float . The float
will find equilibrium when the area around
float generates enough drag equal to
weight – buoyancy.
• As the float weight and gravity are
constant, the distance float displaced
upward is proportional to the flow velocity
of the fluid passing through the tapered
tube .
7.
PRESSURE DROP
• Thepressure drop arises from the conversion of pressure energy and from frictional losses which are
accounted for in the coefficient of discharge.
• The pressure difference over the float -∆𝑃, is given by:
−∆𝑃 =
𝑉 𝑓 𝜌 𝑓−𝜌 𝑔
𝐴 𝑓
• This equation shows the pressure difference across the float is equal to its weight in the fluid divided
by its maximum cross sectional area.
MEASURING PRINCIPLE OFROTAMETER
• However, the difference in this application is
that the value inside the radicand is constant
since the pressure difference will remain
constant and the fluid density will likely
remain constant as well.
• Thus, k will change in proportion to Q. The
only variable within k relevant to float position
is the flowing area between the float and the
tube walls.
𝑄 =𝐾
𝑃1−𝑃2
𝜌
11.
REFERENCES
• Rotameter –Wikipedia
• How does a variable area flow meter work? | Omega Engineering
• Working of Rotameter / Variable area flowmeter - Field Instrumentation / Flow
Measurement - Industrial Automation, PLC Programming, scada & Pid Control
System