An automation system based on labview to control the test of mechanical flow meters

Abstract

We present a computational system, based on a PC and LabVIEW to test and characterize the response of mechanical flow meters of conical cup type with vertical axis. A mechanical flow meter is a device used mainly to measure and calculate velocity of water flow on rivers and open channels. These devices, suffer mechanical imperfections, over time, which is why it is important to calibrate them, normally twice a year, depending on its time of use. At the Mexican Institute of Water Technology (IMTA in Spanish) was designed and developed a circular water tank for the purpose of testing these meters. This paper shows the automation systems designed to control the tests to calibrate these mechanical meters. The system is based on LabVIEW. LabVIEW is a general purpose programming tool with extensive libraries for data acquisition instrument control, data analysis, and data presentation. With this tool and a special hardware interface, it was possible to automate the process to test these mechanical meters. The system is called SCM (system for characterization of mechanical meters). SCM controls the test of two mechanical meters simultaneously, and has some user control features that permit the Operator an easy to use human machine interface.