Featured Image Caption: Types of Flow Meters
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Flow meters are instruments used to determine the flow of liquids, mass, volume, and gas. Flow meters are also referred to as flow gauges, liquid meters, or flow rate sensors. This will depend on the particular industry. But they all measure the flow of liquids. You can as well measure open channels like rivers and streams with flow sensors.
The most significant advantages of flow meters are improved precision and accuracy. Precision flow meters are usually used to give accurate measurements of liquids. They also control the flow of fluids. Flow meters come in different types. These meters are used to measure different types of fluids. Flow meters also have different levels of accuracy. Here are the most known types of flow meters.
Universal Flow Meter Types
Flow meters come in different types. They are classified into the following;
- Differential pressure flow meters
- Positive displacement flow meters
- Magnetic tube flow meters
- Turbine
- Vortex meters
- And Coriolis flow meters
Orifice Plate Flow Sensors
Orifice plate flow meters are among the most common ones in the market. An orifice is usually a plate that has a hole in it. It is popular because it is simple to use and manufacture. This meter is used in measuring clean fluids, gases, and steam. You can as well use it in several fluids. You can use an orifice plate to determine the flow rate of fluids in a straight pipe. When you set this meter in a pipe, it will generate a difference in pressure as the liquid passes through it. This pressure difference is direct to the flow rate of the liquid.
Venturi Flow Meter
Venturi tubes measure large volumes of liquid, and their pressure drops are always low. These tubes are used to find the flow of liquids in a straight tube. When measuring flow using venturi flow meters, the fluid will increase over the converging cone, and you will then measure the pressure difference between the upstream side of the come and the throat. This throat will be measured, and it will, in turn, give the signal for the flow rate.
Venturi meters recover pressure better than the orifice plate meters. These meters also have a low-pressure loss. You can use them to measure clean, dirty, and thick liquids. Their high pressure and ability to recover pressure make them ideal where small pressure heads are available.
Magnetic Flow Meters
Electromagnetic flow meters are among the most popular flow meters in the market. They operate using Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction. In this meter, the liquid is the one that acts as a conductor. The magnetic fields are then generated by the coils that are outside the flow pipe. The energy which will be created is directly related to the flow rate.
When installing, you will then attach two electrodes to the pipe wall. These pipes will intern detect the energy, and a secondary element will then measure it. You can use electromagnetic flow meters to measure corrosive and dirty fluids.
Ultrasonic Flow Meters
Ultrasonic waves can pass through any substance, such as liquid, solids, and gases. This property of the wave helps to measure the fluid in a pipe. When measuring the liquid flow, a signal will be sent to the tube at a certain angle. You will measure the time taken for the signal to reach the other side. The difference between the transit time over the pipe and the signal is related to the flow rate.
Vortex Flow Meters
The vortex flow meter is also referred to as an oscillatory meter. It operates using a natural phenomenon. This is when the liquid can flow over a bluff material. The speed of the vortex shedding is usually related directly to the velocity of the fluid flowing over the r. These meters are popular, and you can use them to measure the flow of steam.
Coriolis Flow Meters
Coriolis flow meters are the best ones in the market. They are usually used to measure the accurate flow of liquids. Coriolis flow meters operate using Newton’s second law of motion. They are usually not sensitive to changes in temperature, pressure, thickness, and density of the liquid. You can use these flow meters to measure liquids, slurries, and gases. They are primarily used in custody transfer applications due to their high accuracy levels.
Turbine Flow Meters
Turbine flow sensors are also popular. They work so that when the fluid passes over the tube, it will come in contact with the vanes of the turbine then this meter will start to rotate. Then the rate at which this fluid is rotating will then be determined. The blade rotor is then fixed in the pipe. This tube is related to the flow of liquid. The speed at which it is rotating is directly related to the function of the flow rate of the fluid. A photoelectric will then sense the flow rate of the fluid.
Thermal Flow Meter
Thermal flow sensors measure the flow of gases and liquids. It uses a heating part that is separate from the flow channel. The flow path gets heat from a sensor, and this heat is directly related to the mass flow rate.
Elbow Tap Meters
These meters operate so that the centrifugal force will be exerted in the outer edges of the fluid passes in a round channel. The force on the center of these elbows is inversely related to the radius of these elbows. These meters are easy to install and maintain. They are also readily available in the market. They also do not have added pressure loss.
Final Thought
Flow meters are essential when it comes to flow measurement. They have devices like transducers and transmitters. The transducer is used to sense the liquid that passes over a primary device. A transmitter will then get the signal from the transducer. Make sure to install flow meters properly for better measurements.
By Naman Modi
who is a Professional Blogger, SEO Expert & Guest blogger at Proteus Industries Inc. He is an Award-Winning Freelancer & Web Entrepreneur helping new entrepreneur’s launches their first successful online business.
Member since April, 2019
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