What is a rotameter?

Rotameter is a device that is used to measure the flow rate of liquids or gases. It is based on the principle of variable area flow measurement, where the flow of fluid causes a float to rise in a tapered tube that has been calibrated to allow the measurement of the flow rate.

The rotameter consists of a glass or plastic tapered tube that is mounted vertically and contains a float inside it. The float is typically made of a lightweight material such as glass or plastic and is designed for buoyancy in the fluid. The tapered tube is designed in such a way that it narrows towards the bottom, which causes the fluid to flow upward.

As the fluid flows through the rotameter, it forces the float upwards and this causes the float to move up the tapered tube. The position of the float within the tube provides an indication of the flow rate of the fluid, which can be read from a scale that is attached to the rotameter.

Rotameters are widely used in many industries such as chemical, petrochemical, and oil and gas, due to their simplicity, accuracy, and reliability. They are commonly used to measure the flow rate of liquids and gases in pipelines, tanks, and other process equipment.