ABDULLAH GUL UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CE 371 – HYDROMECHANICS
HOMEWORK 3
Name Surname: Ramazan Özdemir
Student ID: 110310057

QUESTION

Write an essay about flow rate measurement devices and their working principles. Don’t forget
to give your references used to prepare this homework.

Electromagnetic Flowmeter

The physical basis of this principle dates back to the British physicist Michael Faraday, who
discovered in 1831 that electric current could be produced by the help of magnetic fields. .
Each electromagnetic flowmeter has 2 coils. By using metal parts placed on these coils, a
continuous magnetic field is formed along the cross-sectional area of the measurement tube. In
the absence of flow, no electrical stress occurs between the 2 electrodes. In the conductive
liquid, the negative and positively charged ions are equal in the liquid. The negative and
positively charged ions are separated from each other and directed towards the opposite sides
of the measuring tube. When this happens, an electrical voltage is detected by the electrodes.
The current volume and velocity information of the measuring tube can be calculated with the
flow rate. As the flow rate increases, the separation of the charged particles will increase. In
order to achieve this, the magnetic field must be generated with pulsed direct current. By
replacing the ions installed with the right pulsed current between the electrodes, the magnetic
noise is removed and the precise and stable flow measurement is performed.

Coriolis Mass Flow Meter

This measurement principle is based on the theorems of Gaspard-Gustave Coriolis. This method
can be used to measure the mass directly. In this principle, there is a tube inside each flowmeter,
which is constantly vibrating at a certain frequency by means of a vibration mechanism. There
are also very sensitive sensors that detect the vibrations of the tube inside the meter. It allows
the sensors to produce signals at the same time. When the flow begins, there is a degree of
irregularity in the measuring tube. These bends cause the phase shift between input and output
sensors to occur and the sensors begin to generate signals in different time zones. The time
difference between the signals produced by the sensors in this method, it is measured not only
the mass transfer quantity but also the fluid density.
For example, the oscillations of the measuring tube filled with water are faster than viscous and
denser honey, the sensors that detect the vibration frequency of the measuring tube also count
how many signals are generated. This allows the direct measurement of the fluid density at the
vibration frequency.
With this method, different parameters (mass flow and density) are measured independently at
the same time.
Vortex Flow Meter

The foundation of this principle was laid by Leonardo Da Vinci in the 16th century. Leonardo
Da Vinci determined how vortexes formed in the flowing waters.20. In the 19th century, the
Hungarian physicist Theodora Von Karman described the laws of physics that caused the
formation of vortices.
We can explain this flow measurement principle as follows: Vortex flowmeters also have a
body in the middle. This body acts as an obstacle that disrupts the profile of the flow. The
mechanical sensor on the measuring tube determines the pressure differences even if it is very
small. Vortex does not occur when there is no flow. Vortexes are transported on the fluid side,
respectively on both sides of the tube. Low and high pressure vortices form the phenomenon
called Karman Vortex Street. The distance between the 2 vortexes corresponds to a certain
volume of the fluid. In this way, the total flow is calculated by counting the vortices. There are
minimum values for the vortices generated by the flow velocity. The undetectable vortex waves
in large diameters can be detected by increasing the cross-sectional area and increasing the
velocity. Mass flow measurement can be performed. This feature allows mass measurement for
saturated steam and process gases.

Ultrasonic Flowmeter

This principle is mainly based on the time difference between the times of ultrasonic signaling.
The ultrasonic sound wave between these sensor pairs reaches to the receiver sensor from the
sensor where it is emitted at certain frequency. In the opposite case, the ultrasonic signal
generates piezoelectric crystal voltages.
By increasing the number of sensors, the distortions in the flow profile are corrected in the pipe
section and corrected mathematically.
When there is no flow, the transmission time between the two sensors is the same as the transit
time. The signal transition takes less time in the flow direction. The time difference between
the signals is proportional to the flow rate.
Ultrasonic flowmeters are the ideal solution especially for pipes with large diameters. They can
be used in pipes with a diameter of up to 4 meters. 2 pcs, 4 pcs and 8 sensors can be used.

REFERENCES

Hans, V., & Windorfer, H. (2003). Comparison of pressure and ultrasound measurements in
vortex flow meters. Measurement, 33(2), 121-133.

Koyano, K., Usui, Y., & Pan, H. (2003). U.S. Patent Application No. 10/304,868.

Miller, R. W. (1983). Flow measurement engineering handbook.

Oddie, G. M. (2016). U.S. Patent No. 9,366,559. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office.

Shercliff, J. A. (1962). The theory of electromagnetic flow-measurement. CUP Archive.