The Comprehensive Flowmeters Resource

Why do we measure flow?

Most folks will be familiar with meters. Meters are a part of everyday life. Most families have some kind of meters installed in their home to measure household water consumption, natural gas and electricity.

A meter is measuring something that flows. It is literally counting how much or how fast a substance and/or it’s energy is moving from one place to another.  Equipment operators normally consider flow meters as devices that measure the movement of fluids.

What is a fluid?

A fluid is something that can take the form of a liquid, gas or steam. Surprisingly, even air itself is considered to be a fluid. 

Introduction to Flow Meters

Common domestic types of flow meters and meters designed for industrial purpose often use similar principles of measurement. The differences between the meters have to do with their functionality and of course the price. Domestic meters often function as either a device to gauge flow or total consumption of a fluid internally or for simple billing. These have to be low cost mass produced items while industrial types of flow meters are normally associated with the requirement for process control , monitoring and alarms. 

What is an Industrial Flowmeter?

There are many differences between domestic-type flowmeters and industrial versions. Most of these differences are due to the application. In a manufacturing environment, a flowmeter is going to face a wide range of process conditions as opposed to simpler devices which operate under more normal conditions. Some of these conditions could be higher/lower inline temperatures, pressures, varying ambient conditions, corrosive chemicals, high/low velocities, pipe sizes and the need for greater accuracy, repeatability and often some compliance to a regulation depending on the industry involved e.g. the local regulations and internationally accepted norms.

What is the Best Flowmeter?

Some might imagine this to be a malformed question but it is a question asked on a regular basis by consultants, engineers, technicians and businessmen. From a business perspective, a flowmeter should be expected to have some sort of return – often financial. If a flowmeter is expected to fulfill  a measurement requirement but the expected costs associated with the product and it’s installation exceed a point where there is no financial return, then it should not be considered an economically viable choice. However, some technologies are expensive but they might improve the efficiency of a system or the quality of a product. 

Often a particular flowmeter type is mandated because of local or international regulations. Some of the requirements in these cases may involve issues to do with safety, security or because the particular technology meets an accuracy requirement not met by other technologies. 

There are a myriad of flowmeter types to suit all ranges of applications in different industrial environments, locations and applications. Since there exists no universal flow solution met by only one product, it justifies the need for experienced individuals familiar with such a wide range of scenarios to offer and provide services  

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Learn About Volume Flowmeters

Volumetric Flowmeters are often classified as either technologies using a direct volume measurement or an inferential measurement which first of all measures the fluid velocity and then calculates the volumetric flow by using the formula Q = v · A

Calculation Example For Velocity Rate to Volumetric Flow in a Pipe 

What flowmeter will perform direct volume measurements?

Positive Displacement flow meters are the only flow measuring technology to directly measure the volume of fluid that passes though a flow meter. How is this achieved? An oval gear meter is an example of a positive displacement flowmeter. 

This type of meter is a common solution for hydrocarbon based liquids and is widely adopted because of it’s ability to self-lubricate with the added advantage of a high accuracy and repeatability within certain ranges.

Featured Company

Leading through innovation… right from the start
It began in 1946: the first full year of peace after World War II; ENIAC, the first computer was unveiled; the word “automation” came into use. And Brooks Rotameter Company, founded by Stephen A. Brooks, opened for business in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.

The new company was built on the strength of an innovative side-plate, dowel-pin principle of rotameter construction. It was a better instrument that delivered more reliable results — and from the start, that commitment to technology that helps transform how industries measure and control essential processes has been our heritage.

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