KSP

KNOWLEDGE SHARING PROGRAM

Topic- FLOW MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
-:by:-
Mohammad Zulfequar Ali Khan
Dy. Manager -Quality E&I
(3.0 MTPA Blast Furnace Project, Nagarnar)
 FLOW
 Flow in Process line can be measure through 2 common processes:-
1) Flow measurement through Pressure differential measurements:
Differential pressure can be measure through restriction elements like-
a) Orifice Plate
b) Ventury Meter
c) Flow nozzel
d) Pitot tube
e) Annubar (Averaging Pitot tube) etc.

2) Flow measuring through Flow meters:

Following are the common use flow meters in process industries.
a) Ultrasonic Flow meter
b) Vortex Flow meter
c) Coriolis Flow meter
d) Rotameter etc.
 FLOW MEASUREMENT THROUGH DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE

BERNOULLI’S THEOREM
Flow rate is proportional to the square root of the differential pressure
generated by flow through restriction.
In other words- Flow rate is proportional to the square root of differential
pressure.
Qα√ΔP
The differential pressure increases in proportion to the square of flow rate
We Can write as : Δ P α (Q)2

Where:-
Q = Volumetric Flow rate
Δ P = Differential Pressure
 Orifice
 An orifice plate is basically a thin metal plate with a hole bored in the center.
It has a tab on one side where the specification of the plate is stamped.
 When an orifice plate is installed in a flow line (usually clamped between a
pair of flanges), increase of fluid flow velocity through the reduced area at
the orifice develops a differential pressure across the orifice.
INSTALLATION OF ORIFICE BETWEEN FLANGES
ORIFICE
Orifice Size
Typical arrangement of DP type flow transmitter
 VENTURI METER
Venturi Meter
 In the venturi meter the fluid is accelerated through a converging cone of

angle 15-20o and the pressure difference between the upstream side of the

cone and the throat is measured and provides a signal for the rate of flow.
 For applications where high permanent pressure loss is not tolerable, a

venturi tube can be used. Because of its gradually curved inlet

and outlet cones, almost no permanent pressure drop occurs.
Fluid velocity increases in the converging inlet section, increasing the
velocity head and decreasing the pressure head.
 Venturi Meter
 According to the laws governing fluid dynamics.
Fluid's velocity must increase as it passes through a constriction to satisfy
the principle of continuity, while its pressure must decrease to satisfy the
principle of conservation of mechanical energy.
 FLOW NOZZLE
 A flow nozzle is also called a half venturi. The Flow nozzles are used for flow
measurements at high fluid velocities. The cost of flow nozzle is
considerably higher than an orifice plate. It is more compatible for gas
service than for liquids.
 Working Principle:-The fluid whose flow rate is to be measured enters the
nozzle smoothly to the section called throat where the area is minimum.
Before entering the nozzle, the fluid pressure in the pipe is p1. As the fluid
enters the nozzle, the fluid converges and due to this its pressure keeps on
reducing until it reaches the minimum cross section area called throat. This
minimum pressure p2 at the throat of the nozzle is maintained in the fluid
for a small length after being discharged in the down stream also. The
differential pressure sensor attached between points 1 and 2 records the
pressure difference (p1-p2) between these two points which becomes an
indication of the flow rate of the fluid through the pipe when calibrated.
Applications of Flow Nozzle
 It is used to measure flow rates of the liquid discharged into the atmosphere.
 It is usually used in situation where suspended solids have the property of
settling.
 Is widely used for high pressure and temperature steam flows.
FLOW NOZZLE
FLOW NOZZLE
 PITOT TUBE
 Pitot tubes sense two pressures simultaneously, impact and static. The
impact unit consists of a tube with one end bent at right angles toward the
flow direction. Which sense stagnation pressure. The static pressure is
generally measured using the static ports on the side.
 ANNUBAR (AVERAGING PITOT TUBE)
 An Annubar is similar to a pitot tubeused to measure the flow of gas or
liquid in a pipe. It provides better accuracy than pitot tubes.
 The biggest difference between an annubar and a pitot tube is that an
annubar takes multiple samples across a section of a pipe. In this way, the
annubar averages the differential pressures encountered accounting for
variations in flow across the section. 
ANNUBAR ARRANGEMENT
 SELECTION OF FLOW METER
Flowmeter Recommended Pressure Typical Required  Viscosity Relative
element Service Loss Accuracy, Upstream effect Cost
percent pipe,
diameters
Orifice Clean, dirty Medium ±2 to ±4 10 to 30 High Low
liquids; some of full
slurries scale
Wedge Slurries and Low to ±0.5 to ±2 10 to 30 Low High
Viscous liquids medium of full scale
Venturi tube Clean, dirty Low ±1 of full 5 to 20 High Medium
and viscous scale
liquids; some
slurries
Flow nozzle Clean and Medium ±1 to ±2 10 to 30 High Medium
dirty liquids of full scale
Pitot tube Clean liquids Very low ±3 to ±5 20 to 30 Low Low
of full scale
Elbow meter Clean, dirty Very low ±5 to ±10 30 Low Low
liquids; some of full scale
slurries
Target meter Clean, dirty Medium ±1 to ±5 10 to 30 Medium Medium
viscous of full scale
liquids; some
 SELECTION
Flowmeter Recommended Pressure Loss Typical Required  Viscosity Relative
element Service Accuracy, Upstream effect Cost
percent pipe,
diameters
Turbine Clean, viscous High ±0.25 of 5 to 10 High High
liquids rate
Vortex CLean, dirty Medium ±1 of rate 10 to 20 Medium High
liquids
Electromagnetic Clean, dirty None ±0.5 of 5 None High
viscous con- rate
ductive liquids
and slurries
Ultrasonic Dirty, viscous None ±5 of full 5 to 30 None High
(Doppler) liquids and scale
slurries
Ultrasonic Clean, viscous None ±1 to ±5 5 to 30 None High
(Time-of-travel) liquids of full scale
Mass Clean, dirty Low ±0.4 of None None High
(Coriolis) viscous rate
liquids; some
slurries
Mass Clean, dirty Low ±1 of full None None High
(Thermal) viscous scale
THANKS FOR BEING ATTENDIVE AND
LISTNING THE WHOLE PROGRAM