AutoQuiz is edited by Joel Don, ISA's social media community manager.
This automation industry quiz question comes from the ISA Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST) program. Certified Control System Technicians calibrate, document, troubleshoot, and repair/replace instrumentation for systems that measure and control level, temperature, pressure, flow, and other process variables. Click this link for more information about the CCST program.
Which of the following flowmeter types does not operate on the principle that a differential pressure is developed across a flow restriction?
a) pitot tube
b) elbow
c) coriolis
d) venturi
e) none of the above
Answers A, B, and D are all flowmeter types for which a differential pressure is measured across a flow restriction, which can be correlated to a flow rate (volumetric). The pitot tube has an impact port (or nozzle). As fluid hits the port, its velocity is reduced to zero and kinetic energy (velocity) is converted to potential energy (pressure). An elbow flowmeter is a pipe elbow in which a pressure differential is created by centrifugal force between the inside diameter and the outside walls of the pipe elbow. A venturi flowmeter is similar to an orifice plate, but the restriction is formed gradually by decreasing the pipe diameter over a distance. In each case above, the square root of the differential pressure developed across the restriction is proportional to the flow rate.
A coriolis flowmeter develops a flow measurement by measuring the degree of deformation (twisting) of a vibrating tube(s) as the fluid moves through the tube. The degree of deformation is directly proportional to the mass flow rate through the meter.
The correct answer is C, Coriolis flowmeter.
Reference: Maintenance of Instruments & Systems, Second Edition by Goettsche, L.D.
About the Editor
Joel Don is the community manager for ISA and is an independent content marketing, social media and public relations consultant. Prior to his work in marketing and PR, Joel served as an editor for regional newspapers and national magazines throughout the U.S. He earned a master's degree from the Medill School at Northwestern University with a focus on science, engineering and biomedical marketing communications, and a bachelor of science degree from UC San Diego.
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