What are the differences between different flow meters? How to choose a flow meter that suits you?

Consult online selection engineer     

No one measurement technology is suitable for every industry, so you can choose the right flow meter from our comprehensive product range to meet your process measurement and control needs. Next, let's comprehensively compare the differences between various flow meters:

1.Electromagnetic Flow Meter

Mature flow measurement technology for measuring various conductive liquids in various industries

Electromagnetic Flow Meter

Electromagnetic flow meters - or inductive flow meters - work with conductive fluids by measuring flow in a controlled magnetic field.

Suitable for: Clean and dirty viscous conductive liquids and slurries with high solid content, turbulent or laminar flow

Not suitable for: low conductivity hydrocarbons and fluids, partially filled pipes, gas streams

Accuracy: ±0.5-1% of accuracy

Range: Typical 40:1

Pressure drop: none

Upstream pipe required (diameter): 5

Relative cost: high

Viscosity effect: None

Moving parts: none

Pipe Sizes: Wide Range

Corrosion: Can be made with liners suitable for corrosive fluids

2.Coriolis Mass Flow Meter

Multivariable measurement sensors and high measurement accuracy are core

The Orley measuring principle is increasingly used...

Coriolis Mass Flow Meter

Mass flow meter based on Coriolis effect.

Suitable for: Clean and dirty liquids, gases and slurries - can be used to monitor concentration and solids content. Suitable for applications with fluctuating temperatures and pressures.

Not suitable for:

Accuracy: ±0.05-0.5%

Turndown ratio: typical 10:1

Pressure drop: low

Required upstream tubing (diameter): None

Relative cost: high

Viscosity effect: None

Moving parts: none

Pipe Size: Limited Range

Corrosion:

3.thermal mass flow meter

Thermal mass flow measurement - even at low flow rates and

Industrial operations can also be carried out directly under low pressure conditions...

Mass flow meter/thermal gas mass flow meter/air flow meter

Mass flow meters are based on the thermal cooling effect of the flowing fluid.

Suitable for: Clean and dirty liquids, even certain slurries

Not suitable for:

Accuracy: ±1%

Turndown ratio: typical 10:1

Pressure drop: low

Required upstream tubing (diameter): None

Relative cost: high

Viscosity effect: None

Moving parts: none

Pipe Size: Limited Range

Corrosion:

4.Porous balanced flow meter

Flow controllers offer a wide range of product options, almost

Ideal solution for any process control...

Orifice flow meter/porous balanced flow meter

Using an orifice flow meter, the pressure difference flowing through an orifice plate can be measured. The measured pressure difference is proportional to the square of the flow rate.

Suitable for: Clean and dirty liquids and certain slurries

Accuracy: ±2-4% of range

Adjustable range: typical 4:1

Pressure Drop: Medium - Measure the required pressure drop

Required upstream pipe (diameter): 10-30

Relative cost: low

Viscosity Effect: Reasonable

Moving parts: none

Pipe Sizes: Wide Range

Corrosion: adaptable to certain corrosive liquids

5.Turbine Flow Meter

Products commonly used for volumetric or quantitative control of liquids. Digital turbine transmitter is an industrial process...

Turbine flow meter/impeller flow meter

Turbine flow meter are made from a vane turbine rotor mounted axially in the flow meter. As fluid flows through the flow meter, the rotor rotates at a speed proportional to the velocity of the fluid. Spins are detected by a magnetic pickup, usually with a pulse output.

Ideal for: Cleaning viscous liquids and gases, turbulent flows

Not suitable for: corrosive liquids and liquids with solids

Accuracy: ±0.25%

Turndown ratio: typical 20:1

Pressure drop: high, back pressure is needed to avoid cavitation, bubbles in the liquid will affect accuracy

Required upstream pipe (diameter): 5-10

Relative cost: medium

Viscosity Effect: Reasonable

Moving parts: rotor

Pipe Sizes: Wide Range

Corrosion: Movable parts not suitable for corrosive fluids

6. Ultrasonic/ultrasonic flow meter

Ultrasonic flow meters are non-invasive volumetric flow meters based on propagation time (travel time) or Doppler effect technology. A time-of-flight flow meter measures the frequency offset (difference) between upstream and downstream ultrasonic pulses projected onto the entire pipe. The frequency shift is proportional to the flow rate. Doppler flow meter measure frequency shifts when ultrasonic signals are reflected by moving suspended particles or air bubbles. The frequency shift is proportional to the flow rate.

Suitable for: Clean (transmission time) and dirty (Doppler) liquids

Not suitable for: gas

Accuracy: ±1-5% of full scale

Measuring range: typical 10:1 (Doppler), 20:1 (emission time)

Pressure drop: low

Required upstream pipe (diameter): 5-30

Relative cost: medium

Viscosity effect: None

Moving parts: none

Pipe Sizes: Wide Range

Corrosion: Can be made with liners suitable for corrosive fluids

Vortex Flow Meter

Vortex flow measurement: rugged and durable, widely used. Reliable measurement of liquids, gases and vapors...

Vortex flow meter/Vortex flow meter

Vortex flow meter are made of obstacles installed in the flow. As the fluid flows through the instrument, an alternating Vortex is created downstream of the object. The eddy current frequency is proportional to the flow rate and is detected by a pressure sensor, thermistor or ultrasonic sensor.

Suitable for: Clean and dirty liquids and gases - including steam, turbulent flows

Not suitable for: high viscosity fluids

Accuracy: ±1%

Turndown ratio: typical 10:1

Pressure drop: medium

Required upstream pipe (diameter): 10-20

Relative cost: medium

Viscosity effect: suitable for high viscosity fluids

Moving parts: none

Pipe Sizes: Wide Range

Corrosion: No moving parts - accommodates corrosive fluids

Wedge flow meter

Based on the principle of differential pressure, wedges are used as the main element in liquid, gas and steam flow measurement.

Suitable for: slurry and viscous liquids

Accuracy: ±0.5-5% of scale

Measurable range: typical 3:1

Pressure Drop: Medium Low - Pressure drop is required for measurement

Required upstream pipe (diameter): 10-30

Relative cost: medium

Viscosity effect: low

Moving parts: none

Pipe Sizes: Wide Range

V-cone flow meter

A V-cone flow meter is a differential pressure instrument where the differential pressure is measured before and after the flow cone is located.

Suitable for pharmaceutical, oil, gas, chemical, food and beverage, plastics, regional HVAC, textile, power and water and wastewater applications

Can be used for liquids containing sand and dust

Can be used in high pressure and high temperature applications

Accuracy: ±0.5%

Repeat accuracy: ±0.1%

Low maintenance - no moving parts

long service life

Small footprint - suitable for renovation