How Glass Rotameters Effectively Precise the Fluid
Measuring the flow is an important part of operations in various industries. It has a use in the chemical industry to water treatment plants. A Glass rotameter is an important device to measure the rate of flow of chemicals or any liquid in their industry. It has many industrial applications which provide effective solutions to monitor the flow. We’ll understand the glass rotameter and how effectively it promotes business growth.
In this blog, we understand rotameters, their working, types, applications, and tips for using a rotameter effectively.
What is a Glass Tube Rotameter?
A glass tube rotameter is available in a glass tube with a float inside. It works on the variable area principle, where the fluid movement lifts a float in a tube. The combination of liquid buoyancy and velocity head raises the height of the float. It provides several advantages like clear visibility of float, high accuracy, and being easily readable.
How Does a Rotameter Work?
In the rotameter, the liquid passes from the base of a tapered tube, some liquid directly passes to the bottom, and the remaining liquid away from the float. Rotameter experiences two different forces in the opposite direction, downward gravitational force and drag force on the upside.
After achieving the position of the flowing region, the force on the floating body matches the weight of the floats. When gravity and float weights are stable, then the distance float moved upward is relative to the flow velocity of the liquid which is flowing throughout the tapered tube.
Other Types of rotameter
In this section, we’re discussing types of rotameters, and what are the differences between them. Let’s look at this section:
Metal Tube Rotameters
Metal tube rotameter works on the principle of variable area. It consists of a tapered tube, manufactured with steel with a float. With magnetic coupling, a series of linkages and counterweights move by inner float. It’s durable, ideal with high pressure and temperature, and suitable for opaque liquids. Industries that use metal tube rotameters are food plants, pharmacies, metallurgy, and petrochemicals.
Plastic Tube Rotameters
A plastic tube rotameter is a tube made of plastic, glass, or metal combined with a float, which responds linearly to the rate of flow of fluid in that tube. It has many advantages: lightweight, cost-effective, resistant to corrosion, versatile, and ideal for aggressive chemicals. The applications of plastic tube rotameters are water treatment, chemical dosing, medical, and applications in which glass is unsafe to use.
Purge Rotameters
The purge rotameter is a low-capacity variable for both liquid and gas with an excellent selection of material and scale length. It shows high precision for small flow measurements. It’s generally small for low flow rates. Purge rotameter has special features like corrosion resistance, a high-strength stainless steel body, and a safety-tested operator protection shield. It’s used in laboratory, gas sampling, and analyzer feed control.
Bypass Rotameters
The Bypass rotameter measures a fraction of the total flow in the main flow system. It’s easy to maintain and has all the standard features required for accurate readings. This rotameter is used in large pipelines and systems where measuring direct flow is challenging.
Glass Tube Rotameters
An industrial glass tube rotameter is available with a glass tube with a float inside. It works on the variable area principle, where the fluid movement lifts a float in a tube. The float is raised higher in proportion to the flow rate. The combination of liquid buoyancy and velocity head raises the height of the float. It has several advantages like clear visibility of float, high accuracy, and being easily readable. It is used for clean fluids with low-pressure systems, used in laboratories and the medical industry.
Armored Rotameters
Armored rotameters are suitably used for high-pressure and corrosive applications in municipal and industrial settings. It’s built with a protective armed casing around the tube for the gas analyzer system where glass tubes are unsafe. It’s durable enough to handle the harsh environment of industries like oil and gas.
Pressure-Compensated Rotameters
Pressure-compensated rotameters are designed to compensate for variations in pressure. It changes the signal according to the pressure change of the fluid and helps to monitor the pressure of the liquid in real time with a pressure sensor. It ensures to maintain the accurate flow measurement despite changes in pressure.
Advantages of Rotameter
- Easy to install
- Cost-effective
- Simple and reliable
- Linear scale
- Visual transparent flow body
- Constant low-pressure drop
- Easy to use
- Requires minimum maintenance
- Multiple meters can be used in a single-line
- Able to be used in corrosive liquids with the right selection of building material
- Doesn’t require external power in operation.
- Good accuracy at every viscosity media type.
- Wide range of material choice
Applications of Rotameter
Here, in this section, we highlight points on the application of rotameter. We look to use of rotameter in different industries:
- In chemical processing, it measures and controls the flow of chemicals.
- Water treatment plants use it to monitor and regulate water flow and chemicals in water treatment plants.
- In biotechnology, it helps to monitor the flow of gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide.
- In hospitals, it’s used to monitor and control the flow of therapeutic gases to patients.
- In the food and beverage industry, it helps to control the flow of ingredients during the production of beverages.
- In the dairy processing industry, it helps to measure and control milk processing and its other products.
- It’s used to measure the flow of fuels and lubricants in fuel testing.
- It measures the flow of air and fuel in the engine’s testing.
- In agriculture, it’s used to ensure precise application of liquid fertilizers.
- The monitoring of the environment helps to measure the flow of air in sampling testing.
10 Tips to Utilize the Rotameter for Maximum Efficiency?
- Installation must be in a vertical position, as it works on gravity to function correctly. It must be aligned in the area without disturbance or vibration to avoid fluctuation in reading.
- The correct size of the rotameter is required to measure the appropriate reading. An oversized or undersized rotameter results in inappropriate reading.
- Regularly test the rotameter to maintain the accuracy of the report. It should be done according to the manufacturer’s recommendation or industry standards.
- Proper cleanliness is required for the correct reading of the rotameter. Any type of contamination or debris obstructs the movement of the float.
- The material of the rotameter is required to be compatible with the fluid being measured. It must be taken care to avoid corrosion or any type of damage.
- Operate the rotameter with specific pressure and temperature to avoid damage and accurate readings.
- Never exceed the maximum flow rate specified for the rotameter. It leads to damage to the instrument and provides inaccurate readings.
- The Steady flow must be maintained to avoid unstable readings.
- Check the rotameter for any type of wear and tear.
- Ensure the rotameter is placed correctly to avoid any type of problem in reading.
Accuracy of Rotameter
The accuracy of the glass tube rotameter ranges between 1% to 10% of the flow scale rate flow. It all depends upon design, construction, and specified conditions of its working. Factors to influence accuracy include the precision of float and tube manufactured, correct size, and fluid flow stability. Regularly maintain the cleanliness and calibration to maintain the accuracy of the rotameter. It is always better to use a clean liquid that coats the float or the tube. Liquids with fibrous materials, abrasives, and large particles should be avoided to maintain the accuracy level of the rotameter.
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