Piping techniques for flowmeters
April 10, 2017
When selecting a flow meter, follow the steps below:
【1】Confirm the properties of the detection fluid
【2】Confirm the purpose of measurement and determine the detection method
【3】Confirm product specifications
【4】Consider cost
【1】First, it is necessary to confirm the properties of detection fluids.
Fluid types |
Gas, Liquid, Vapor, etc. |
Density |
Can be calculated from fluid name, temperature and pressure |
Viscosity |
Required for liquids |
Electrical conductivity |
Required for electromagnetic type flow meters |
Contaminants |
Air bubbles, mixed-in foreign objects, slurry, etc. |
Flow range |
Minimum and maximum flow |
Fluid temperature |
Measured in response to the fluid |
Fluid pressure |
For pressure-resistance confirmation |
Pressure loss |
Measured as necessary |
【2】Next, clarify the purpose of measurement. At this point, determine a selectable detection system along with properties such as accuracy and flow range
【3】Once the detection method has been determined, make a decision while confirming detailed model specifications.
【4】Finally, compare costs. Because removing a flow meter also takes time, you must make a decision that not only considers the unit price of the product, but also considers maintenance time after installation as well as the cost of set-up or troubleshooting. Generally when the product unit price is low, frequent maintenance or failure replacement may be required.
OMPARISON OF EACH FLOW METER DETECTION METHOD [REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE]
Media |
Electromagnetic type |
Karman vortex |
Paddle wheel |
Floating element |
Thermal type |
Diaphragm type |
Ultrasonic type |
Coriolis type |
Liquid |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Available |
N/A |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Gas |
N/A |
Available |
N/A |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Conditional |
Vapor |
N/A |
Available |
N/A |
Available |
N/A |
Available |
Conditional |
N/A |
High temperature support |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Micro flow |
Conditional |
N/A |
Available |
N/A |
Available |
Conditional |
N/A |
Available |
Medium flow |
Available |
Available |
Conditional |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Conditional |
Available |
Large flow |
Available |
Available |
Conditional |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Conditional |
Viscosity |
Available |
N/A |
N/A |
Conditional |
N/A |
N/A |
Available |
Conditional |
Slurry |
Available |
Conditional |
N/A |
Conditional |
N/A |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Oil |
N/A |
N/A |
Available |
Available |
N/A |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Accuracy |
Available |
Available |
Conditional |
Conditional |
Available |
N/A |
Available |
Available |
Maintainability |
Available |
Available |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Available |
Available |
Pressure loss |
Available |
Conditional |
N/A |
Conditional |
N/A |
N/A |
Available |
N/A |
Air bubbles |
Conditional |
Conditional |
Conditional |
Conditional |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Available |