The effects of fluid viscosity on the orifice rotameter

Abstract

Due to the viscous shear stress, there is an obvious error between the real flow rate and the rotameter indication for measuring viscous fluid medium. At 50 cSt the maximum error of DN40 orifice rotameter is up to 35 %. The fluid viscosity effects on the orifice rotameter are investigated using experimental and theoretical models. Wall jet and concentric annulus laminar theories were adapted to study the influence of viscosity. And a new formula is obtained for calculating the flow rate of viscous fluid. The experimental data were analyzed and compared with the calculated results. At high viscosity the maximum theoretical results error is 6.3 %, indicating that the proposed measurement model has very good applicability.