DIAGRAM AND APPARATUS

In order to complete the demonstration a number of pieces of equipment is needed:

The Hydraulics Bench which allows the measurement of flow by timed volume
collection.

The F1-21 Flow Meter Apparatus

A stopwatch to allow the determination of the flow rate of water.

DESCRIPTION EQUIPMENT

Orifice Meter
Air Bleed
Valve
5

System Pressure
Control Valve

Variable
Area
Meter

8 Bank Manometer
1
Bench
Supply
Valve

Inlet Pipe

Venturi Meter
Outlet Pipe

The accessory is designed to be positioned on the side channels of the hydraulics bench
top channel.

The Venturi meter, variable area meter and the orifice plate are installed in a series
configuration to permit direct comparison.

Flow through the test section is regulated using a flow control valve. This together with
the bench control valve permits variation of the system static pressure.

Pressure tapping in the circuit is connected to an eight-bank manometer which

incorporates an inlet \outlet valve in the top manifold with facilities to connect a hand
pump. This enables the levels in the manometer bank to be adjusted to a convenient level
to suit the system static pressure. The pressure tapping for the manometers arranged to
give a set of readings around the flow meters in the system.

PROCEDURES
Equipment set up
1. The flow meter test rig is placed on the bench and ensures that it is level (necessary for
accurate readings from the manometer).
2. The inlet pipe is connected to the bench supply and the outlet pipe into the volumetric
tank, and then secures the end of the pipe to prevent it moving around.
3. The pump is started and opens the bench valve and test rig flow control valve, to flush the
system.
4. The bench and test rig valves are closed to bleed air from the pressure tapping points and
manometers and open the air bleed screw and remove the cap from the adjacent air valve.
5. A length of small tubing is connected from the air valve to the volumetric tank.
6. The bench valve is opened and allows flow through the manometer tubes to purge them
of air.
7. Tighten air bleed screw and partly open the test rig flow control valve and pathly close
the bench valve.
8. The air bleed screw is opened slightly to allow air to be drawn into the top of the
manometer tubes.
9. Re-tighten the screw when the manometer levels reach a convenient height.
10. All the manometers are checked on the scale at the maximum flow rate (full- scale
reading on the variable area meter). These levels can be adjusted further by using the air
bleed screw or the hand pump supplied.

Taking a set of results

1. At fixed flow rate, all manometer and the variable area meter readings are recorded and
carry out a timed volume collection using the volumetric tank. This is achieved by
closing the ball valve and measuring (with a stopwatch) the time taken to accumulate a
known volume of fluid in the tank, as measured from the sight-glass.
2. At least one minute, fluid is collected to minimize timing errors.
3. This measurement is repeated twice to check for consistency and average the readings.
4. Ensure that the operating principle of each of these flow meters is understood.

REFERENCES

Laboratory manual 1, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, UiTM Malaysia

Fluid mechanics, Fundamental and Applications, Yunus A. Cengel and John M.Cimbala,
Mc Graw Hill.
Lecturers note from Pn Atikah bt Kadri
Yahoo and Google search engines (keyword: flowmeter, venturi meter, orifice meter)

APPENDICES

Orifice plate

Venturi meter

Variable area meter

The eight bank manometer