HOW TO SELECT A FLOW METER | Flow Knowledge

&#;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

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When selecting a flow meter, follow the steps below:

&#;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.

COMPARISON OF EACH FLOW METER DETECTION METHOD [REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE]

  Electromagnetic
type Karman vortex
type Paddle wheel
type Floating element
type Liquid Available Available Available Available Gas N/A Available N/A Available Vapor N/A Available N/A Available High temperature support Available Available Available Available Micro flow Conditional N/A Available N/A Medium flow Available Available Conditional Available Large flow Available Available Conditional Available Viscosity Available N/A N/A Conditional Slurry Available Conditional N/A Conditional Oil N/A N/A Available Available Accuracy Available Available Conditional Conditional Maintainability Available Available N/A N/A Pressure loss Available Conditional N/A Conditional Air bubbles Conditional Conditional Conditional Conditional   Thermal type Differential pressure type Ultrasonic type Coriolis type Liquid N/A Available Available Available Gas Available Available Available Conditional Vapor N/A Available Conditional N/A High temperature support Available Available Available Available Micro flow Available Conditional N/A Available Medium flow Available Available Conditional Available Large flow Available Available Available Conditional Viscosity N/A N/A Available Conditional Slurry N/A Available Available Available Oil N/A Available Available Available Accuracy Available N/A Available Available Maintainability N/A N/A Available Available Pressure loss N/A N/A Available N/A Air bubbles N/A N/A N/A Available   Electromagnetic type Karman vortex type Liquid Available Available Gas N/A Available Vapor N/A Available High temperature support Available Available Micro flow Conditional N/A Medium flow Available Available Large flow Available Available Viscosity Available N/A Slurry Available Conditional Oil N/A N/A Accuracy Available Available Maintainability Available Available Pressure loss Available Conditional Air bubbles Conditional Conditional   Paddle wheel type Floating element type Liquid Available Available Gas N/A Available Vapor N/A Available High temperature support Available Available Micro flow Available N/A Medium flow Conditional Available Large flow Conditional Available Viscosity N/A Conditional Slurry N/A Conditional Oil Available Available Accuracy Conditional Conditional Maintainability N/A N/A Pressure loss N/A Conditional Air bubbles Conditional Conditional   Thermal type Differential pressure type Liquid N/A Available Gas Available Available Vapor N/A Available High temperature support Available Available Micro flow Available Conditional Medium flow Available Available Large flow Available Available Viscosity N/A N/A Slurry N/A Available Oil N/A Available Accuracy Available N/A Maintainability N/A N/A Pressure loss N/A N/A Air bubbles N/A N/A   Ultrasonic type Coriolis type Liquid Available Available Gas Available Conditional Vapor Conditional N/A High temperature support Available Available Micro flow N/A Available Medium flow Conditional Available Large flow Available Conditional Viscosity Available Conditional Slurry Available Available Oil Available Available Accuracy Available Available Maintainability Available Available Pressure loss Available N/A Air bubbles N/A Available

Accurate gas flow measurement begins when selecting the correct gas flow meter for an application. Here are four steps to help choose a natural gas flow meter, along with a flow meter comparison and a flowmeter selection guide.

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1. Understand the Application.

Before selecting your flowmeter technology, understand the application. In a recent post, we provided tips to consider when choosing a gas flow meter technology. To paraphrase, better understand the application by determining:

1. What is the purpose? Why do you need the meter? Is it for custody transfer, submetering, monitoring, or industrial process gas? Do you need mass flow or volumetric flow? What is your budget?
2. What is the gas type? Single gas or a mixture? What is the operating flow range, accuracy requirement, process temperature, and pressure? Is the gas dry and clean? Alternatively, wet, corrosive, or dirty?
3. Where is the meter intended to be installed? What are the environmental conditions? Will there be extreme temperatures? Is there good straight run? Are there regulations to consider? Noise or vibration concerns?
4. What do you need from the meter? Do you need a totalizer or a local display? What are your calibration expectations? Do you need to be able to upgrade the meter to advanced electronics? What are your maintenance requirements?

Gathering this information will help you make an intelligent selection to measure your natural gas.

2. Review our Natural Gas Flow Meter Selection Guide.

After understanding the application, review our cheat sheet to help guide which technology to consider. Click on the image to view this guide. Additionally, keep in mind that there are four different natural gas flow meter types:

• mass flow
• volumetric flow
• velocity meters
• inferential flowmeters

3. Flow Meter Comparison and Selecting the Correct Technology

After reviewing the selection guide, you likely have honed in on one or two meter types. Compare these technologies to understand each flowmeter type&#;s operation principle, advantages, and disadvantages. Here are convenient links to the different meter types to guide your review.

4. Still unclear? Have questions? Call 303 697-.

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Our dedicated staff is happy to walk you through the selection process and may have recommendations on some natural gas meters for your application.

Bonus Video &#; Selection of Flow Meters

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Gas Flow Measurement Instruments.