Flowmeter

Project developed by Ajit Thachireth & Mayank Moon

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Abstract

  1. Flowmeters are the devices that are used to measure the flow of liquid & gases that pass through them.
  2. Flowmeter that measure the flow by calculating the amount of liquid flown in unit time are called velocity flowmeter. This type of flowmeter typically provides with velocity of flow (ex: 10 litres per minute).
  3. Volumetric flowmeter on the other hand measure the total amount that has been discharged. For example this flowmeters may be utilized to know the amount used in house over a month(100 l).
  4. This project is focused to have a flowmeter that has the ability to act both as velocity flowmeter & volumetric flowmeter. So, that it can be used by researchers and also customizable to their requirement rather than procuring a new one for different applications.
  5. A typical flowmeter has a casing, transducer and transmitter. Casing is to ensure leak proof operation thereby avoiding any measurement error. Transducer senses the fluid passing through them and converted through transmitter into raw signal. In this project, the data is processed using Arduino and displayed through LCD display.

Bill of Materials

Exploded view mechancial component
Exploded view mechancial component

1. Component of 3-d printer Casing:

  • Lower casing with integrated input and output tube
  • Blade rotor
  • Bearing carrying plate
  • Magnet mounted plate
  • top casing cover
  • Bearing (outer dia 30, inner dia 10, thickness 10) (in mm)
  • 2XM8 bolt and nut

2. Electrical Component

  • Auduino Board
  • Couple of breadboard
  • Hall effect sensor
  • LCD display
  • Electrical wires
Electrical component
Electrical component

Tools needed for fabrication of flowmeter

  1. MOST Delta RepRap or similar RepRap 3-D printer

Skills and Knowledge Necessary to edit design

  • 3D Modelling software - FreeCAD
  • CURA(Matter control software)
  • Arduino programming

Technical Specifications and Assembly Instructions

  1. Download all the .stl files from the link mentioned above.
  2. Print all the parts keeping equal scale(x=100% y=100% z=100%) for all parts except for the clips(x=75% y=75% z=150%) on CURA.
  3. Slide the small bevel gear into the top plate and the big bevel gear into the right plate.
  4. Attach left side plate and bottom support plate to the previous assembly.
  5. Weld the 4 top and 4 bottom joints to the top and bottom plates to make the frame rigid.
  6. Attach handle to the big bevel gear.
  7. Slide the small disc into the vertical small bevel gear. Attach the test tube plate on the small bevel gear.
  8. Fix the box between the end of the small bevel gear and test tube plate.
  9. Put the 4 rings on the top test tube plate and make welded joints to prevent the rings from snapping out of the apparatus while rotating.
  10. Fix the four test tubes into the rings.
  11. Fix the complete apparatus to the C-Clamps.
  12. The apparatus is now ready to work.
    1. The print time for the complete assembly must be around 22-24 hours with 30% Infill.
    2. The assembly time for the complete assembly is around 1 hour.

Cost savings

  1. The estimated cost of the manual centrifuge apparatus is approximately $8-10 for the basic PLA filament.
  2. Commercial equivalent costs approximately $80-100. Check the commercial version here -> [1]
  3. Savings of $90 is easily possible for our apparatus.

Abstract

Flowmeter is a device used to measure flow and total output of a liquid
Flowmeter.jpg

= Technical Specifications and Assembly Instructions

  1. Demonstration video as shown
3D printed Flowmeter demonstration video
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