Muhammad Mansoor Gohar (14-EE-197)

A rotameter is a device that measures the flow rate of liquid or

gas in a closed tube.
It belongs to a class of meters called variable area meters, which
measure flow rate by allowing the cross-sectional area the fluid
travels through, to vary, causing a measurable effect.
A rotameter consists of a tapered tube, typically made of glass
with a 'float', actually a shaped weight, inside that is pushed up
by the drag force of the flow and pulled down by gravity. The
drag force for a given fluid and float cross section is a function of
flow speed squared only, see drag equation.

A higher volumetric flow rate through a given area increases flow speed and drag
force, so the float will be pushed upwards.
However, as the inside of the rotameter is cone shaped (widens), the area
around the float through which the medium flows increases, the flow speed and
drag force decrease until there is mechanical equilibrium with the float's weight.
Floats are made in many different shapes, with spheres and ellipsoids being the
most common.
The float may be diagonally grooved and partially colored so that it rotates axially
as the fluid passes. Readings are usually taken at the top of the widest part of the
float; the center for an ellipsoid, or the top for a cylinder.

The "float" must not float in the fluid: it has to have a

higher density than the fluid, otherwise it will float to the
top even if there is no flow.
The mechanical nature of the measuring principle
provides a flow measurement device that does not require
any electrical power. If the tube is made of metal, the float
position is transferred to an external indicator via a
magnetic coupling. This capability has considerably
expanded the range of applications for the variable area
flowmeter, since the measurement can observed remotely
from the process or used for automatic control.

FIGURES OF
ROTAMETERS

When fluid or gas flows through a taper tube containing a float, a pressure
difference of P1 and P2 is created between upper and lower side of the float. The
float moves upwards by a force obtained by the pressure differential by the
maximum cross sectional area of the float.
Due to taper tube, as the float moves upwards, the fluid passing area increases
as a result of which the differential pressure decreases. Upward movement of
float stops when the dead load is dynamically balanced by the differential
pressure. Tapering of metering tube is so designed that the vertical movement of
the float becomes linearly proportional to the rate of flow and the scale is
provided to read the position of the float.

The height of the float indicates flow rate

The rotameter tube can be calibrated and graduated in suitable flow units
Rotameter tubes can be made from glass, metal, or plastic
Tube diameters range from 1/4 to greater than 6
Glass or metal tubes are used depending on application need & safety
Plastic-tube rotameters are low cost rotameters. They are perfect for applications
involving corrosive fluids or deionized water
Almost all rotameters are insensitive to viscosity variations
One of the early float designs had slots, which caused the float to spin for stabilizing
& centering purposes. Because of this rotation, the term rotameter was coined

TYPE OF ROTAMETERS :
1) Glass tube rotameter

2) Magnetic rotameter

Main components are tube & float. The basic rotameter is the glass tube indicating-type. The
tube is precision formed of borosilicate glass, and the float is precisely machined from metal,
glass or plastic. The metal float is made of stainless steel (for corrosion resistance). The float
has a sharp metering edge where the reading is observed by a scale mounted along
tubeside.

The scale of the rotameter can be calibrated for direct reading of gases & liquid. It can read
percent or arbitrary number.

Glass tube rotameters are not suitable for water with high pH, wet steam, caustic soda and
hydrofluoric acid.

Measuring range : Small 6 mm (1/4") tubes are suitable for working pressures up to 500
psig, operating pressure for a large 51 mm (2") tube is as low as 100 psig. Temperature limit
is 204C. There is a linear relationship between the operating temperature and pressure.

These Rotameters are intended for application where high pressure, temperature OR
corrosive conditions.

Thus metal variable area type flowmeter is designed to measure flow rate of liquids,
gases & steam under critical conditions.

It consists of a tapered metal tube, an indicating assembly and a float. A magnet

encapsuled in float couples with rotating magnets connected to an indicating pointer,
thus the movement of the float, is accurately indicated in terms of flow rate.

magnetic floats can be used for alarm and signal transmission functions.

Based on Bemoulli's theorem, the principle mentioned above can be theoretically expressed as follows.

Where
Q = Volumetric flow rate
V = Volume of Float
C = Flow coefficient
Af = Maximum pressure receiving area of float.
A = Fluid passing Area
P = Float Density
g = gravimetric acceleration
y = Fluid Density

Rotameters are generally provided with calibration data and a direct reading
scale for air or water.
For sizing a rotameter for other service, it is necessary to first change the actual
flow to a standard flow. In case of liquids the standard flow is meant to be the
water equivalent in GPM whereas when gases are concerned, the intended
standard flow is the air flow equivalent in standard cubic feet per minute.
Tables listing standard water equivalent gpm and air scfm values are supplied by
rotameter manufacturers. It is required to mention slide rules, nomographs, or
computer software which is often needed for sizing of rotameter.

MAJOR ADVANTAGES OF ROTAMETER :

Low cost
Simplicity
Low pressure drop
Quite wide rangeability
Linear output

1)

ROTAMETER FLOW METER , F VA Trogfluk :Low Cost Plastic Rotameter /

Variable Area Flow Meter for Water
&
Transparent Liquids, Air & Gases . General
purpose plastic rotameter / VA flow meter
from for non-demanding liquid or gas flow
applications. The F VA Trogflux rotameter flow
meter is available in standard or short tube
lengths

2) ROTAMETER FLOW METER , F VA Tubux :TheMecon F VA Tubux is a

variable area flow meter with a glass flow
tube for measuring the volume of transparent
liquids and gases (e.g. air, nitrogen,
hydrogen, oxygen, argon, helium) passing
through closed piping.
3) ROTAMETER FLOW METER , F VA UNOX :Variable Area Flow Meter
with Removable Glass Flow Tube for Water,
Liquids, Air & Gases and High Temperature
Applications . Rotameter / VA flow meter with
a glass flow tube from Mecon GmbH that is
compatible with many chemical substances
and can withstand temperatures up to 150
deg C.

4) ROTAMETER FLOW METER , F VA MINIX :Aluminium Rotameter with Glass Flow

Tube and Built-in Needle Valve for Manual Control
of Flow Rates . TheMecon F VA Minix aluminium
variable area flow meters with glass flow tube are
used to measure the volume of transparent liquids
and gases passing through closed piping. The
built-in needle valve permits manual control of

5) ROTAMETER FLOW METER , F VA 250 :All Metal Rotameter / Variable Area

Flow Meter for Rugged Environments, High
Temperatures & Pressures . TheMecon F VA 250 is
an all-metal variable area flow meter for liquids
and gases up to 300 deg C. With a standard
length of 250 mm and a completely metal design
the F VA 250 rotameter can be used to measure
many different types of liquids and gases passing