Advantages of Variable Area Flowmeter | disadvantages of Variable Area Flowmeter
This page covers advantages and disadvantages of Variable Area Flowmeter. It mentions Variable Area Flowmeter advantages or benefits and Variable Area Flowmeter disadvantages or drawbacks.
What is Variable Area Flowmeter?
Introduction:
• It is used for volume flow measurement of fluids and gases.
• It requires components such as vertical conical tube and mobile float.
• The fluid flows from bottom to top part and moves the float in the tube.
• There are three forces viz. Weight (W) which acts downwards and
Drag (D) / Buoyancy (B) act upwards. Both W and B are constant where as D is variable.
• Position of the float is used as flow indicator in this type of flowmeter.
• Variable Area Flowmeter is purely mechanical. It does not require any
auxiliary power supply for its operation. This has made it more popular.

• The rotameter is the most widely used variable area flowmeter.
• It offers lower cost, simple design, lower pressure drop, wide range and linear output.
• Refer advantages and disadvantages of Rotameter >> for more information.
Benefits or advantages of Variable Area Flowmeter
Following are the benefits or advantages of Variable Area Flowmeter:
➨It is inexpensive.
➨It does not require external power supply.
➨It is useful for gases, liquids and steam.
➨It does not require any inlet and outlet sections.
➨As it is simple in design,
it is very easy to install and maintain.
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Drawbacks or disadvantages of Variable Area Flowmeter
Following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of Variable Area Flowmeter:
➨It is mounted in vertical position.
➨It has constant pressure drop.
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