Ralph Vincent Sobrevega (March 2009)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Flowmeters, which measures the fluid flow, could help people especially farmers in rural areas. Nowadays, many flowmeters are now equipped of materials that are expensive in the market. Only a few of these flowmeters measures water flow in open water systems like rivers and irrigations. This study aimed to build a Pelton wheel flowmeter design using simple hardware materials that measures the volumetric flow rate and determine the relationship of the voltage produced by the flowmeter and flow rate.
There were five (5) different throttles used in the study, from the least opened to its maximum opened adjustment. The different throttles were used in the flowmeter to determine the different volumetric flow rates. Then the recorded voltage and time were calculated to determine the volumetric flow rate. After this, the flow rates and voltages were plotted in a graph to determine their relationship.
Results of the study showed that there was a direct relationship of the flow rate and the voltage produced by the flowmeter, this means that as flow rate increases the voltage produced also increases. And it also showed that the flowmeter designed was able to measure voltage in irrigations but at a limited area.
The flowmeter was designed using simple hardware materials and was able to successfully measure the voltage produced by the water current through Pelton wheel turbine rotation. The voltage produced by the flowmeter and the flowrates measured by the constant volume over time showed direct relationship.