How to measure flowrate using a differential pressure sensor

[CadisEtramaDiRaizel]

I have to build a digital peak flow meter. I ve read that you can measure the volume metric flow rate using a differential pressure sensor. H ow do i go about doing so. The peak flow meter will be used to measure asthma.

 

[Simon Bridge]

1st work out how the pressure sensor works.
This should let you know the relationship between what it says and the flow rate - which will also depend on the geometry of the device.
Do you know the relationship between fluid pressure and it's speed?

 

[CadisEtramaDiRaizel]

1st work out how the pressure sensor works.
This should let you know the relationship between what it says and the flow rate - which will also depend on the geometry of the device.
Do you know the relationship between fluid pressure and it's speed?

Initially i thought of just measuring the pressure at one of the inlet ( using it as a gauge pressure sensor). Hence, i would get the pressure readings and then just graph them. But it does not tell me the volume metric flow, and that data probably isn't useful.

Differential pressure sensor.
http://au.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Honeywell/SSCSNBN005PDAC5/?qs=%2fha2pyFadujTzXc4EG5AIpywoMeCdsHuWImDF3mnLPxOkVmFo1jG4A%3d%3d

 

[Simon Bridge]

If you know the gauge-pressure at a position in some flow, that can be useful for telling you the speed of the flow... provided you know the relationship between pressure and air speed. You usually also need other information like the geometry of whatever the air is flowing through.

So:
Do you know how pressure relates to air speed?
Do you know how air-speed relates to volume flow?

 

[CadisEtramaDiRaizel]

If you know the gauge-pressure at a position in some flow, that can be useful for telling you the speed of the flow... provided you know the relationship between pressure and air speed. You usually also need other information like the geometry of whatever the air is flowing through.

So:
Do you know how pressure relates to air speed?
Do you know how air-speed relates to volume flow?

I believe flow rate = cross sectional area x fluid velocity

Im not sure about the pressure vs velocity

pressure = force/area
force= mass x acceleration
velocity = integral of acceleration

so pressure= ( mass x velocity x time) / area

 

[Simon Bridge]

Flow rate: well done.

Pressure/velocity: nice reasoning, but that would be (loosely) the pressure exerted by a jet of air directed at a surface on that surface
You need the pressure of the air going past a surface. fast air has low pressure.

... look up "bournoulli's equation".

You could probably work out the pressure-speed relationship for your design empirically.

 

[LakeGazer]

Have you thought of using a Pitot tube or an orifice? How critical is the pressure drop caused my the measurement device? I would imagine if you are measuring pulmonary air flow, the lower delta p the very better.

 

[Dimi33]

In order to use a differential pressure sensor to measure flow, you have to induce an obstacle of a known pressure drop per flow range and measure the differential pressure across this obstacle. For example, If you induce an obstacle within a pipe that creates a ΔP of 5mbar when 14 l/min pass through it, by using a differential pressure sensor, you will know when measuring 5mbar, that 14 l/min pass through the tube.

[Questionable link deleted by the Mentors]

Bernoulli’s Equation is on there, too.

I hope it helps!

 

[Tom.G]

If you are building just one or a few you are likely better off buying a commercial flow sensor and interfacing it to a small computer. Even a single-board computer would be more than needed.

Here is one commercial unit that showed up on a Google search:
https://www.festo.com/us/en/p/flow-sensor-id_SFAH/?q=~:festoSortOrderScored

(above, and many more, found with:
http://www.google.com/search?q=pneumatic+flow+meter)

Another possibility is look at how an electronic anemometer for wind speed works to see what you can come up with. There are those that count how fast a windmill is spinning and the 'hot wire' anemometer that sense the temperature change of a heated wire as air flows past it.

Here is a link to a 'mass air flow' sensor as used in medical equipment for monitoring the air flow in patient ventilators.
https://www.seeedstudio.com/blog/20...00-200-for-gases-medical-ventilator-solution/

That should keep you busy for a while!

Cheers,
Tom