Technical Note

00840-0300-4803, Rev AA
October 2009 Rosemount DP Flow

DP Flow Theory - Deriving the DP Flow

Equation (Part 1)
V1 V2
2 2P
Q v = --- d -----------------------------
-
4 d 4
D 1 ----
D
d
P1 P2 If mass flow ( Q m ) is required rather than volumetric
flow, multiply both sides by the flowing density.
The theoretical DP flow equation is derived from two
sources: Bernoullis equation and the continuity
Equation. Bernoullis equation states that the sum of 2 2P
1 2 Q m = --- d --------------------4-
the pressure energy (P), kinetic energy ( --- v ) and 4
1 ----
2 d
potential energy gh in a pipe will be equal at any D
cross section.

To understand DP flow thoroughly, it is important to

1 2 2
P 1 + --- v 1 + gh 1 = P 2 + v 2 + gh 2
2 proportional to the square root of DP, but what does
The continuity equation states that the mass flow
through any cross section in a pipe will be equal. By
assuming density is constant, the continuity equation
can be written: A 1 V 1 = A 2 V 2 Well abbreviate all of
the algebra steps as follows:
1. Cancel the potential energy terms in Bernoullis
Equation (assume the pipe is level)
understand the theory. We all know that flow rate is
the DP really measure? Most other flowmeters
measure something that is directly proportional to
velocity or directly proportional to the mass flow rate.
Vortex meters and coriolis are good examples. But
what is DP directly proportional to?
DP actually measures the kinetic energy, the
2
1
/2 v term, in the equation. If the kinetic energy and
the density is known, it is possible to solve for
velocity.

2. Solve for v 1 in terms of v 2 using the continuity

equation 2P
v -----------
3. Substitute v 1 in terms of v 2 in Bernoullis
equation and simplify
4. Solve for the velocity at the throat, v 2
This relationship has two inherent advantages. In an
un-compensated mass or standard volume
2P measurement, a DP flowmeter will be 1/2 as sensitive
v2 = -------------------------
4
d to changes in fluid density as a velocity type
1 ------4
D flowmeter. Second, errors in measured DP will only
contribute 1/2 as much error to the measured flow
This is the equation for the velocity at the meter rate. So a 0.5% error in DP measurement will only
throat. Since most people dont measure their flow cause a 0.25% error in measured flow.
rates in velocity, the volumetric flow ( Q v ) equation DP Flow Theory Part II will discuss the empirical
can be obtained by multiplying by the cross sectional corrections to the theoretical equation above.
area of the throat.

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 Technical Note
00840-0300-4803, Rev AA
Rosemount DP Flow October 2009

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00840-0300-4803 Rev AA, 10/09