Classification: General Business Use

Instrumentation Training
Flow Measurement Techniques
Prepared by: Mohamed Yehia
Classification: General Business Use

Flow Measurement
• Flow Rate
Flow rate is an indication of how fast a substance moves through a conduit from one place to another.
Flow rate can also be used to determine the distance a substance moves over a time period. Flow rate is
usually expressed as
• Volume flow rate
• Mass flow rate
• Volume Flow Rate represents the volume of fluid that passes a measurement point over a period of
time. An example measurement unit is kg per hour. The volume flow rate can be calculated if the
average flow velocity and inside pipe diameter are known. The calculation is based on the formula
Q=A*v
Where:
• Q = volumetric flow rate
• A = cross-sectional area of the pipe
• v = average flow velocity (flow rate)
Classification: General Business Use

Flow Measurement

• Mass Flow Rate: represents the amount of mass that passes a specific point over a period of time.
• Mass flow rates are used to measure the weight or mass of a substance flowing through a process
operation. If the volumetric flow rate and density are known, the calculation is based on the formula
• W=Qxr
Where:
• W = mass flow rate
• Q = volumetric flow rate
• r = density (r = density “rho” )
Classification: General Business Use

Flow Measurement
Definitions:
Laminar Flow: Streamlined flow of a fluid where viscous forces are more significant
than inertial forces, generally below a Reynolds number of 2000.
Turbulent Flow: When forces due to inertia are more significant than forces due to viscosity. This typically
occurs with a Reynolds number in excess of 4000.
Volume Flow Rate: Calculated using the area of the full closed conduit and the average fluid velocity in
the form, Q = V x A, to arrive at the total volume quantity of flow. Q = volumetric flowrate, V = average fluid
velocity, and A = cross sectional area of the pipe.
Differential Pressure: The difference in static pressure between two identical pressure taps at the same
elevation located in two different locations in a primary device.
Static Pressure: Pressure of a fluid whether in motion or at rest. It can be sensed in a small hole drilled
perpendicular to and flush with the flow boundaries so as not to disturb the fluid in any way.
Classification: General Business Use

Flow Measurement
Flow Elements
Differential Pressure ((Orifice Plate, Pitot Tube, Venturi Tube))
Advantages: Simple, no moving parts
Disadvantages: - Susceptible to wear in dirty services except vertically
- Orifice edge sharpness affects accuracy
Turbine ((Rotor))
Advantages: Accuracy
Disadvantages: Moving parts can wear
Vortex ((Bluff Body))
Advantages: No moving parts
Disadvantages: Bluff body can corrode
Classification: General Business Use

Flow Measurement
Flow Elements
Positive Displacement (PD): ((Oval Gear, Sliding Vane, Nutating disk))
Advantages: Can process a wide variety of viscosities, especially high viscosity media.
Disadvantages: - Many moving parts subject to wear
- Prefilters for dirty service
Mass Flow ((Coriolis, Thermal Mass))
Advantages: - Very low maintenance (Coriolis)
- No moving parts, corrosive fluid may affect element (Thermal Mass)
Disadvantages: Moving parts can wear
Magnetic Field - MAG meter ((AC Field, DC Field))
Advantages: Low Maintenance element
Disadvantages: The meter only works on conductive fluids and will read zero if the fluid has
no or very low conductivity.
Classification: General Business Use

Flow Measurement Element Symbols

Classification: General Business Use

Flow Measurement ORIFICE PLATE

Classification: General Business Use

Flow Measurement
DP Flow Element Mounting with different types of fluids:
Liquid Flow Measurement:
• Place taps to the side of the line to prevent sediment deposits on the transmitter’s process isolators.
• Mount the transmitter beside or below the taps so gases can vent into the process line.
• Mount drain/vent valve upward to allow gases to vent..
Gas Flow Measurement:
• Place taps in the top or side of the line.
• Mount the transmitter beside or above the taps so liquid will drain into the process line.
Steam Flow Measurement:
• Place taps to the side of the line.
• Mount the transmitter below the taps to ensure that the impulse piping will stay filled with condensate.
• Fill impulse lines with water to prevent the steam from contacting the transmitter directly and to ensure
accurate measurement at start-up.
Classification: General Business Use

Flow Measurement ORIFICE PLATE

ORIFICE & Annubar elements

Classification: General Business Use

Flow Measurement
DP Flow Element Mounting with different types of fluids:
Classification: General Business Use

Flow Measurement
Magnetic Flowmeter
A magnetic flow meter (mag
meter, electromagnetic flow meter) is a
transducer that measures fluid flow by the
voltage induced across the liquid by its flow
through a magnetic field. A magnetic field is
applied to the metering tube, which results in
a potential difference proportional to the flow
velocity perpendicular to the flux lines. The
physical principle at work is electromagnetic
induction. The magnetic flow meter requires a
conducting fluid, for example, water that
contains ions, and an electrical insulating
pipe surface, for example, a rubber-lined
steel tube.
Classification: General Business Use

Flow Measurement

Rotameter

The operation of a rotameter is based on the variable area

principle. That is, the flow of a liquid raises the float inside
a tapered tube, increasing the area through which the
liquid can pass. The larger the flow, the higher the float will
be raised.
Classification: General Business Use

Flow Measurement
Mass Flowmeter
Tube Vibration:
Process fluid entering the sensor is split, half passing through
each flow tube.
During operation, a drive coil is energized. The drive coil causes
the tubes to oscillate up and down in opposition to one another
Signal Generation
Magnet and coil assemblies, called pick-offs, are mounted on
the flow tubes. Wire coils are mounted on the side legs of one
flow tube, and magnets are mounted on the side legs of the
opposing flow tube.
Each coil moves through the uniform magnetic field of the
adjacent magnet. The voltage generated from each pickoff coil
creates a sine wave. Because the magnets are mounted on one
tube, and the coils on the opposing tube, the sine waves
generated represent the motion of one tube relative to the other.
Classification: General Business Use

Flow Measurement

Mass Flowmeter
No Flow - Tube Motion:
The flow tubes oscillate 180 degrees in opposition to one
another; while one tube moves downward, the other tube moves
upward and then vice versa.
Both pickoffs - the one on the inlet side and the one on the
outlet side - generate sine wave current continuously when the
tubes are oscillating. When there is no flow, the sine waves are
in phase.
Classification: General Business Use

Thank You
Happy to hear form you
Mohamed Yehia