Fluid Mechanics Lab

Lab session 1 Introduction to Flow Rate Measurement

TAUQEER IQBAL MSc. Material Science Engineering(Belgium) MSc. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics(Spain)

Assessment Criteria
Class Participation Discipline Assignments Presentation Sessional viva Final viva

In Todays Session
Fluid Flow Measurement

Basics of flow rate measurements

Introduction to Hydraulic Bench

Flow Rate Measurement via Hydraulic Bench

Vocabulary/Definitions
Fluid:
A fluid is anything that would spill or float away if it weren't in a

container.

All liquids and gases are fluids

Manometer:
A device that measures the height (head) of liquid in a tube at the
point of measurement.

Learning Objectives
After this activity, one should be able to:

Calculate the mass and volumetric flow rates(Discharge) Introduction and use of Hydraulic Bench Familiarize with Different flow measurement Devices in Fluid

Mechanics

What Is flow Measurement?

Flow measurement is the quantification of bulk fluid movement.

Mass flow measurement Volumetric flow measurement

Mass flow rate(mass/time)

Example
An empty bucket weighs 2.0 kg. After 7 seconds of collecting water the bucket weighs 8.0 kg, then: mass flow rate = = = mass of fluid in bucket time taken to collect the fluid

8.0 -2.0
7

= 0.857 kg/s (kg s-1)

Mass flow rate(mass/time)

Can you Solve? Example
If we know the mass flow is 1.7 kg/s, how long will it take to fill a container with 8 kg of fluid?

Volumetric Flow Rate(Discharge)

Discharge = Q = volume of fluid

time Q= mass of fluid density x time mass flow rate density

mass

density = volume

Q=

m/t
= r

Volumetric Flow Rate(Discharge)

Example
If the density of the fluid in the previous example is 850 kg/m3 what is the volume per unit time (the discharge)?

mass fluid rate density Q=

m/t = r

1.008 l/s

Flow measurement Instruments

Orifice Plate Rotameter Venturi Tube Pitot Tube Nozzle

Vane Meter
Positive Displacement Flow Meter Coriolis Flow Meters

Flow measurement Instruments

Orifice Plate

C0 1 4

2 pa pb

Q VA

Flow measurement Instruments

Rotameter

Introduction to Hydraulic Bench

The Hydraulic Bench serves as a reservoir of water with a pump to supply the testing equipments with a controlled water flow rate. It also provides a method of determining the volumetric flow rate of water in experiments.

Hydraulic Bench
Parts Identification

Flow Rate by Hydraulic Bench

Close Dump Valve

Use stopwatch to measure volume increase/time.

Flow Rate by Hydraulic Bench

Set the flow rate using the outlet valve located at the front of the hydraulic bench. The valve should be about 55% open. Measure the actual flow rate using hydraulic bench and a stopwatch. Repeat this measurement ten times.

Home Assignment
Search for Flow measurement devices not discussed here which are being used for;

Liquids Gases