Fluid Flow Metrology Volume Flow Rate Measurement

VOLUME FLOW RATE MEASUREMENT

determination of fluid quantity (volume or mass flow rate)
one of the most common types of measurements in industry
worldwide production in 1979
crude petroleum 22 billion barrels (3.5 billion m3)
natural gas 60 trillion ft3 (1.5 trillion m3)
uncertainty of 0.01%

huge losses

Classification of metering devices

quantity meters

weighting (for liquids)

volumetric (for liquids)
volumetric (for gases)

rate meters

differential pressure
momentum
variable area
force
thermal
fluid surface height
other
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Fluid Flow Metrology Volume Flow Rate Measurement

orifice meters

flow rate is proportional to the pressure drop

between control cross-sections
Q ~ p

(3)

Q - volumetric flow rate

p - upstream-to-downstream pressure drop

(cross-sections of undisturbed flow and of
vena contracta)
Q is dependent on unquantifiable parameter
discharge coefficient (being a function of an
orifice geometry, throat shape, Reynolds number,
locations of the pressure taps)
calibration
required
large pressure differences
high accuracy

high sensitivity

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Fluid Flow Metrology Volume Flow Rate Measurement

Venturi tubes

differential-pressure type meters

shape closely approximates the streamline pattern
(there is no separation of boundary layer)
pressure losses lower than those of orifice meters
discharge coefficient close to unity
elbow meters

differential-pressure type meters

higher uncertainty
non-intrusive devices no additional pressure
losses
low cost manometer connected to the existing
elbow
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Fluid Flow Metrology Volume Flow Rate Measurement

laminar flowmeters

establishment of laminar flow through a measuring

(test) section is required

capillary tubes

honeycomb-like structures

the well-known relationship

p =

128L
Q
4
D

( 4)

not recommended for flows containing particulates

bidirectional operation
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Fluid Flow Metrology Volume Flow Rate Measurement

turbine meters

angular speed of the propeller wheel is related to

the average flow rate
high accuracy max. error up to 0.25%
angular speed is determined by summing up the
pulses received from passing blades
rotameters

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Fluid Flow Metrology Volume Flow Rate Measurement

the flow rate is proportional to the elevation of the

float placed inside the vertical diverging tube;
weight of the float is balanced by the fluid drag
force
low and medium pressures glass or plastic
(transparent) metering tubes
high pressures
metal tubes
float position has
to be sensed magnetically or electrically
changeable floats (different weights and shapes)
a wide range of flow rates can be measured in the
same tapered tube
target meters

the flow rate is proportional to the fluid drag on a

disc supported in a pipe flow
the drag can be sensed by use of strain gauge
bidirectional device
they can be used to measure the flow rate of dirty
fluids (with sediments) as long as these particles
do not alter the characteristics of the device
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Fluid Flow Metrology Volume Flow Rate Measurement

thermal flowmeters

mass flow rate m is related (inversely proportional)

to the temperature increase T detected between 2
thermometers
q
m=C
(5)
c p T

q
cp
C

heat flux released by the heater

specific heat at constant pressure
proportionality coefficient

calibration required
nonintrusive arrangement is also possible

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Fluid Flow Metrology Volume Flow Rate Measurement

weirs

a wall-like structure across the stream (river)

open-channel version of an orifice-plate meter
the upstream depth of the liquid above the weir
crest is related to the flow rate in the channel
the upstream depth can be sensed by:

surface height gauge

static pressure measurement

proper performance (according to rating curve) of

the weir is guaranteed if the cavity under the
nappe is aerated
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Fluid Flow Metrology Volume Flow Rate Measurement

acoustic flowmeters

based upon a Doppler principle

a pair of ultrasonic transmitters send the beams
detected by the receivers; one of the transmitters
beams upstream while the other downstream
difference in the times of passages is related to the
velocity of the flow
the knowledge about velocity profile is required to
deduce flow rate
vortex-shedding meters

the meter is composed of a strut or a number of

cords (wires) placed across the pipe
for Reynolds numbers above certain critical value
the near wake region behind the wires is
dominated by vortices generated at frequencies
proportional to the average velocity (von Karman
vortex path)
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Fluid Flow Metrology Volume Flow Rate Measurement

frequency can be sensed by:

pressure transducers

thermal sensors (heating of the strut is
required)

velocity measurements

strain sensors detecting vortex-produced
oscillations (vibrations) of the strut

laser flowmeters
Coriolis-acceleration flowmeters
magnetic flowmeters

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