A new flowmeter design is presented which is suitable for accurately measuring flows ranging from ≂1 to ≂1000 cm3 s−1. It may be simply constructed from readily available parts and may be adapted to measure flow of any fluid for which a noncorrosive ball and transparent tube are available. Starting with standard Venturi meter theory, a formula is derived for the volume flowrate in terms of ball and tube dimensions, ball and fluid densities, and the angle at which the ball comes to rest in the tube. Actual examples of curved‐tube flowmeters are given for particular cases of nitrogen at 0 – 42.4 cm3 s−1 and water at 0–11.4 cm3 s−1, constructed using bearing balls in standard Eastman Polyflo tubing. Using the formula as a guide, extension to lower and higher flowrates is straightforward.
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December 1985
Research Article|
December 01 1985
Curved‐tube flowmeters
H. Houtman
H. Houtman
Department of Physics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T‐1A6
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Rev. Sci. Instrum. 56, 2295–2298 (1985)
Article history
Received:
July 15 1985
Accepted:
August 19 1985
Citation
H. Houtman; Curved‐tube flowmeters. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 1 December 1985; 56 (12): 2295–2298. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1138368
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