Frederick Jace
A flow meter is a device that is used for measuring the flow or quantity of fluids. It is one of the most important tools in industrial fluid measurement. Flowmeters are very useful in industries where it is necessary to measure liquids or gas at high pressure, such as petroleum refining, water treatment, chemical processing, and power generation industries.
So, are you wondering whether investing in flow meters is the right option for your business or industry? In this article, we’ll talk about what exactly flow
How do flow meters work?
Flow meters are mechanical devices that convert the volume of fluid flowing through them to a unit of measurement.
A common example of a flow meter is the orifice plate, which is essentially a thin plate with a small hole (or several homes) in the centre. When a fluid (such a liquid or gas) passes through the hole, pressure builds up, but as the fluid converges, the pressure drops. The device measures the difference in these two pressure tappings to reveal a result.
Two other popular types of flow meters include the positive displacement flow meter and the volumetric flow meter. Positive displacement devices use a piston or some other device to measure how much fluid has passed through the device it since its last reset.
Volumetric devices typically use jets to measure density changes from one point to another as the fluid flows through a tube at a known velocity.
Types of flow meters
Here’s a list of some the most popular types of flow meters or flow sensors:
- Paddlewheel or turbine flow sensors
- Variable area flow sensors
- Magnetic-inductive flow sensors
- Ultrasonic flow meters
The ultrasonic flow meter is the most common type of flow meter. It works by sending an acoustic signal across a pipe and measuring how long it takes to bounce back.
The ultrasonic sensor sends out sound waves at 25,000 cycles per second, which travel through the pipe until they hit an obstacle or return to the sensor. Measuring these signals helps calculate how much fluid has passed through the pipe in a specific amount of time.
Flow meter costs
How much your new flow meter costs will depend on how you intend to use it. For example, if you’re looking to buy a flow meter for home or office plumbing needs, you’ll find much cheaper options than when purchasing one for large-scale industrial use.
Essentially, the cost of a flow meter will depend on its features, size, accuracy, and brand. The average price ranges from $200 to $1,000 depending on the features that you need for your company.
Conclusion and summary
To summarise, flow meters are handy devices used across a range of industries, including plumbing, power generation, water treatment, petroleum refining, and many more. A flow meter’s main purpose is to measure the flow rate of a fluid, working by sensing pressure changes over time.
If measuring the flow rate and quantity of liquids or gases accurately and easily is important within your industry, investing in flow meters is a smart choice for your business.
