There are a wide variety of flow meter types in the market. Each device has a unique use and traits. It is up to you to select one that suits your needs.
Many flow meters have the same working law in the industry. Yet, the little differences in accuracy and liquid parameters they handle make all the difference. This guide has information if you wish to explore the various types and uses of flow meters. Take a sip of your juice and continue to read through this article for more details.
Working Principles of a Flowmeter
Did you know that all meters work with the same end goal but in a varied way? The working law of a meter is to calculate the amount of liquid or gas. Flow sensors give precise and repeatable flow gauging for various uses such as process control, processing, etc.
Types of Flow Meters and their Applications
Flow devices are divided into several classes based on their uses. Such classes include; optical, open channel, and mechanical. Each type has its merits and demerits. Below info is all you need to know about the classes.
Mechanical Flow Meters
Fixed meters gauge the flow of liquids with moving parts trims and known liquid volumes via a sequence of gears or chambers. These devices are further divided into four types that are as follows:
Positive Displacement (PD) Flow Meter
A PD flow sensor works by counting or isolating known volumes of a liquid or gas. The flow gauging is got by counting the number of accepted remote volumes.
These devices give high accuracy and do not need any power supply to run. They are candid about fixing. Each meter has a unique way of counting liquid volumes in a specific number of cycles.
Mass Flow Sensor
The mass flow sensor gives an estimated flow rate to the user by gauging the volume of an element flowing. It is ideal in sectors where weight is given a priority, such as in a chemical firm. Mass meters mark the force that leads from the speed mass. Some of these tool’s uses are power, pharma, gas sectors, dirty water, drug sectors, and mining.
Differential Pressure Flow Meter
This device works by barring the flow of liquids in a tube to create a variation in the tool’s static force. The flow rate is gauged by knowing the gulf force of a fluid. Most firms use this meter to calculate many fluids, such as highly thick liquids and gases.
These devices are trendy due to their design and lower cost. Gulf force devices gauge the force across an orifice where the flow is the same as the square root of gulf force created. There are prime and secondary elements in this meter.
Typically, the first part changes kinetic energy using a venturi flow meter, pilot tube, flow nozzle, or an orifice plate. The secondary traits gauge the gulf force and give alerts. These meters are mostly found in gas and oil firms, mining, chemical sectors, pharma, water, beverage, and paper sectors.
Velocity Flow Meter
A velocity flow sensor measures a stream’s speed to analyze the volumetric rate of a liquid flow. They have many designs such as vortex shedding, sonic and ultrasonic meters, paddle wheel, turbine meters, to cite but a few. These meters are receptive when the inner liquid motion is very high.
Optical Flow Meter
This device is a result of new designs in the industry. It regulates the speed of a liquid in a tube.
These tools use two laser rays for knowing the light spread bits carried by the moving liquid.
Open Channel Flow Sensor
Open channel flow sensor adds a liquid flow free to the scene at the end in the fluid flow gauge lane.
The liquid can even be entirely open for the air or held in a closed pipe with partly filled liquid. It can also unlock the air at the apt end of the device itself.
Typically, an open channel flow occurs when the liquid flows in a channel or conduit with a free surface. Some of the best cites of this flow are canals, streams, ditches, irrigation, and rivers. The gauging of liquid in open channels include flumes, v-notch, and weirs.
These overflows or dam-like structures help get a limited or flow of liquids based on each structure’s unique shape and size. Open channel sensor allows for a reading of the flow rate to be gauged. You can get this kind of flow sensor in flowing liquids such as rivers, sewers, channels, and irrigation systems.
Final Thoughts
As you can note above, a flowmeter is a device used to gauge a fluid’s flow. Various flow meters have varied uses depending on their designs. Some sensors focus on counting the flow of liquids while others estimate the gas flow. In all types of flow meters, accuracy is very crucial for the victorious running of a project. Go through all meter types to know which one fits your project.
Author’s BIO:
Naman Modi is a Professional Blogger, SEO Expert & Guest blogger at proteusind.com, He is an Award-Winning Freelancer & Web Entrepreneur helping new entrepreneur’s launches their first successful online business.
