Flowmeter
Project developed by Ajit Thachireth & Mayank Moon
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Abstract
- Flowmeters are the devices that are used to measure the flow of liquid & gases that pass through them.
- 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).
- 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).
- 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.
- 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
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
Tools needed for fabrication of flowmeter
- 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
- Download all the .stl files from the link mentioned above.
- Print all the parts keeping equal scale(x=100% y=100% z=100%) on CURA.
- Trim off any extruding flash obstructing assembly.
- Take the lower casing and on it place the blade rotor, the grove part of the blade should go on the casing.
- Smaller hole is designed and hence material has to be scraped form the inner surface of the printed part. Ensure sealing of bearing for any leak. Take the bearing assembled and bolt it to the lower casing and on it place the blade rotor, the grove part of the blade should go on the casing.
- Place the magnet mounted plate on the other side of bearing. Place the covering on it top and bolt the whole assembly with M8 bolt and nut
- The print time for the complete assembly must be around 12-14 hours with 30% Infill.
- Hall effect sensor was mounted on the casing taking care the diameter of the magnet plate.
- Circuit Connection:
- Hall effect sensor has 3 wires, the two outer for voltage input and the middle wire gives the signal which is straight away given to Arduino.
- The ports of LCD and aurduino board are connected as shown in the picture.
- Battery was connected to Arduino board
- Demonstration video as shown
3D printed Flowmeter demonstration video |
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Calibration
- The component were assembled and was feed into a tap as shown in demonstration. Time was also being recorded. water was allowed to be flown and collected in a bucket. After one minute the water calculated was recorded in litres. The total pulse was noted from LCD display.
- Each pulse reading could consequently be calculated both for litre discharge per min and each pulse give how in total volume of water.
- For our case, each pulse gave 50 ml of water.
Cost savings
- The estimated cost of PLA material is approximately $7 for the basic PLA filament.
- Commercial equivalent costs approximately $50-150. Check the commercial version here -> [1]
- Savings of $90 is easily possible for our apparatus.