Flow of Liquid and Gas Through a Flowmeter
Flow of Liquid and Gas Through a Flowmeter
This is a diagram that shows the flow of liquid and gas through a flowmeter. The liquid flowmeter registers the same volumetric flow, because liquids are incompressible, while the gas flowmeter registers more volumetric flow, because the gas has expanded.
Here is a more detailed analysis:
- Liquid flow: The liquid flowmeter shows a reading of 430 ft³/min at a pressure of 250 PSIG. This means that 430 cubic feet of liquid is flowing through the meter per minute at a pressure of 250 pounds per square inch gauge.
- Gas flow: The gas flowmeter shows a reading of 736 ft³/min at a pressure of 140 PSIG. This means that 736 cubic feet of gas is flowing through the meter per minute at a pressure of 140 pounds per square inch gauge.
- Pressure drop: The pressure drop across the valve is the same for both the liquid and gas flow. This is because the valve is restricting the flow of both fluids in the same way.
- Expansion: The gas has expanded more than the liquid because gases are compressible while liquids are not. As the gas flows through the valve, the pressure drops and the gas expands to fill the available volume. This is why the gas flowmeter registers a higher volumetric flow than the liquid flowmeter.
Overall, flowmeter can be used to measure the flow of both liquids and gases. However, it is important to note that the flowmeter will only measure the volumetric flow, and not the mass flow. This is because the density of a gas can change depending on the pressure, while the density of a liquid is relatively constant.