What is a Flow Meter
A flow meter (or flow sensor)
is an instrument used to measure linear, nonlinear, mass or
volumetric flow rate of a liquid or a gas in the form of an electrical
signal. When choosing flowmeters, one should consider such
intangible factors as familiarity of plant personnel, their
experience with calibration and maintenance, spare parts
availability, and mean time between failure history, etc., at the
particular plant site. It is also recommended that the cost of the
installation be computed only after taking these steps.
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Characteristics of Instruments
Accuracy:
Accuracy is the extent to which a reading might be wrong, and is often quoted as a percentage of full-
scale reading of an instrument.
Accuracy refers to the truthfulness of the instrument. An instrument of high accuracy more nearly gives
a true reading than an instrument of low accuracy, then, is the quality of the instrument
For example : 0.1 – 0.2%
Repeatability
The value below which the difference between any two test results, taken under constant conditions
with the same observer and with a short elapsed time, are expected to lie with 95% confidence.
Precision
Precision is the qualitative expression for repeatability. It should not take a value and should not be used
as a synonym for accuracy.
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Characteristics of Instruments
Uncertainty (of measurement)
uncertainty refers to the quality of the measurement
Uncertainty indicates the doubt about the validity of the result of a measurement or expressed more
formally: The parameter, associated with the result of a measurement, that characterizes the dispersion
of the values that could be reasonable be attributed to the property to be measured.
we can correctly refer to an instrument reading having an uncertainty of ±1%. By this we mean that the
readings will lie within an envelope ±1% of the true value
Each reading will, of course, have an individual error that we cannot know in practice, but we are
interested in the relationship of the readings to the true value.
Linearity
Linearity may be used for instruments that give a reading approximately proportional to the true flow
rate over their specified range.
It is normally describes that the output reading of an instrument is linearly proportional to the quantity
being measured.
Linearity refers to the closeness within which the meter achieves a truly linear or proportional response.
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Characteristics of Instruments
Range and Rangeability
An instrument should have a specified range over which its performance can be trusted. Therefore, there
will be upper and lower range values. This reflects the fact that probably no instrument can be used to
measure a variable when there are no limitations on the variable. Without such a statement, the values
for uncertainty, linearity, etc., are inadequate. The ratio of upper range value and lower range value may
be called the Rangeability, but it has also been known as the turndown ratio. The difference between
upper and lower or negative range values is known as span. It is important to note whether the values of
uncertainty, linearity, etc., are a percentage of the actual flow rate or of the full-scale flow [sometimes
referred to as full-scale deflection (FSD), full-scale reading (FSR), maximum scale value, or upper range
value (URV)].
The word tolerance was used for what is now known as uncertainty.
Random error
the random part of the experimental error
It may be calculated by taking a series of repeat readings resulting in the value of the standard deviation.
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Characteristics of Instruments
Confidence level
The confidence level, which is a statement of probability, gives this frequency, and it is not satisfactory to
state an uncertainty without it. Usually, for flow measurement, this is 95%. We shall assume this level in
this book. A confidence level of 95% means that we should expect on average that 19 times out of 20
(19/20 = 95/100 = 95%).
The reading of the meter will fall within the bracket specified (e.g., ±1% of actual calibrated value).
Turndown Ratio
maximum flow / minimum flow
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What is a Flow Meter
The object of installing a flowmeter is to obtain a measure of the flow rate, usually in the form of an
electrical signal, which is unambiguous and with a specified expanded uncertainty. This signal should be
negligibly affected by the inlet and outlet pipework and the operating environment.
It is useful to introduce two factors that define the response of flowmeters, although they are most
commonly used for linear flowmeters with pulse output. The K factor is the number of pulses per unit
quantity. In this book, we shall take it as number of pulses per unit volume when dealing with turbine
and vortex meters:
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What is a Flow Meter
It defines an approximately linear flowmeter with a 10:1 turndown and an uncertainty of ±1% of rate
with a confidence level of 95% against a traceable standard calibration. This is performance for a
flowmeter
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