The flow measurement industry has come a long way, and while other kinds of flow meters have hardly undergone significant changes, others have advanced in their designs. Proper flow meter selection requires knowledge of how flow meters operate. Failure to select proper flow measurement devices will lead to poor performance and inconsistencies in flow measurement. As a plant manager, your job is to ensure that all the necessary factors are considered before selecting and installing a liquid flow meter in your flow system.
Besides that, you need to understand that there are numerous flow meter vendors and manufacturers. Not all of them offer high-quality flow measurement devices; therefore, conduct extensive research before settling for one particular type of flow meter. Proteus Industries are well known worldwide for providing and distributing high-quality flow meters for all kinds of applications.
This guide will highlight the various categories of flow meters and their applications. Continue reading to gain more knowledge on the functions of flow meters based on their applications.
What Are Flow Meters?
Flow meters are devices designed to measure the quantity or the amount of fluid, steam, and gas. There are different types of flow meters, and that is why you have to be extra careful when picking one because they all measure flow rate differently.
Significance of Measuring Flow
In any flow system, accuracy is critical; that is why you need to understand the flow system first. Occasionally, industrial processes use hazardous materials requiring special flow meters. Ensuring that they are installed correctly makes the system work optimally. Let’s now look at the several flow meters with their applications. Flow meters are categories into five different categories:
- Differential pressure
- Positive displacement
- Open Channel flow metered
- Velocity flowmeters
- Mass flowmeters
Positive Displacement Flowmeter
An oval gear flow meter is an example of positive displacement liquid flow meter categories. They have moving parts that spin when the flow goes through the pipe. This means that flow needs to be there all the time if you want to achieve accuracy since flow is measured directly.
Differential Pressure Flow Meters
Examples of flow meters that use the differential pressure principle of flow measurement include vent tubes, flow nozzles, elbow-tap meters, and variable area meters. These flow meters are very popular in many areas and industries because they are mostly used. The majority of the flow meters used worldwide consist of DP flow meters. It has a secondary part of the flow meter which usually provides flow rate.
Velocity Flow Meters
Many velocity flow meters are used in the market today, including turbine flow meters, swirl flow meters, electromagnetic flow meters, and many more. The petroleum industry utilizes flow meters to detect leaks in pipelines. Turbine flow meters are also used when transporting hydrocarbon products. This is done when loading such products in rail cars and tankers. They also make ideal flow meters for fuel, oil, and chemical industries.
Mass Flow Meters
The two major examples of mass flow sensors are Coriolis and thermal meters. Coriolis flowmeters are ideal types of flow meters when it comes to measuring flow rate that requires higher levels of accuracy. Mass flow meters are common flow measurement instruments in the power, wastewater, and mining industries.
Open Channel Flow Meters
Weir and flume makeup opens channel flow meters. Fluids in use with these flow meters are usually not enclosed in a pipe or a duct. They flow freely in an open channel. These flows include rivers, streams, tunnels, non-pressurized sewers, and canals. Instantaneous flow rate is measured by getting the depth of water.
Conclusion
Without flow measurement systems, it can be hard to determine the accuracy of industrial processes; hence the end product will be affected—understanding how flow meters work makes it easier to pair it with the right application. If you cannot decide, then ask your vendor for assistance.
