Pulsation error in a rotameter

Abstract

The effect of square‐wave pulsations in gas flow on the performance of a rotameter has been studied. The experimental variables were pulsation frequency (1–24 Hz), gas flow rate, gas density, float mass, and the gas volume between the pulse generator and the flowmeter. The fluctuation in float position was found to decrease with increasing frequency and this was in agreement with a simplified theoretical model. Pulsation caused the rotameter to over‐read by as much as 100% and in some cases the error was appreciable even when the float was almost stationary. The error decreased as the damping volume was increased. The factor of error was correlated empirically with the above variables. The results were also compared with other published data and theory, and with a numerical solution of the equations of motion of the float. The numerical solution was found to predict the error satisfactorily in cases where a damping chamber was used and where float bouncing did not occur.