What is a flow meter?
A flow meter is a device that measures the amount of liquid or gas that flows through a pipeline in a given amount of time.
Flow meters provide critical visibility into what’s flowing where within pipes, drainage systems, and other types of infrastructure by measuring flow rates. As a result, they assist operators in determining whether systems are properly balanced, ensuring that each endpoint receives adequate supply, identifying excessive flow rates that may damage pipes, and so on.
What is a water flow meter?
A water flow meter is a type of flow meter that is specifically designed to measure the flow of water, as opposed to other types of liquids (such as oil or gasoline) or gases.
Water flow meters can be used to track the flow of water within a variety of applications. They can:
- Measure usage by individual households or communities within municipal drinking water systems.
- Track sewage flow to help municipalities ensure that their wastewater systems adequately meet demand.
- Help factory operators assess the amount of water being used to cool an industrial plant.
Types of Flow Meters and How They Work
- Coriolis Flow Meters
The Coriolis flowmeter is extremely accurate and is commonly used to measure a wide range of products such as natural gas and crude oil. The main advantage of this flow meter is that it measures mass flow rate rather than volume flow rate. The Coriolis flowmeter is typically used with pipes of varying diameters. This flow meter is more expensive than other metering systems, but it requires less maintenance than other flow meters.
- Positive Displacement Flow Meters
Positive displacement meters are used to measure gas flow and are suitable for a wide range of applications, including industrial, commercial, and residential. There are two types of flow meters: diaphragm-based and rotary-based. One of its advantages is that it works best with a steady flow rate in a pipeline with a diameter of 10 inches or less. It is ideal for use in the oil and gas industry due to its accuracy and suitability.
- Vortex Flow Meters
The vortex flow meter is one of the most versatile flow meters, capable of measuring liquid, gas, and steam flows. This flow meter has many advantages for flow determination, such as being easy to install without the use of impulse lines, having no moving parts, requiring less maintenance, and having a lower leak potential. It has low power consumption and is simple to use in remote areas. These flow meters are distinctive in that they are suitable for use in liquids, gases, steam, and caustic applications. These are suitable for use in high process pressures and temperatures, making them useful in the oil and gas industry.
- Turbine Flow Meters
The turbine flow meter consists of a mechanical rotor attached to a shaft inside the pipe. It can be used to calculate the volume of a fluid, gas, or vapor. It indicated the volume of material passing through the pope using signals, sensors, and transmitters. When the material is gas or another substance with no debris, these flow meters provide more accurate results. Because of their accuracy, turbine flow meters are reasonable and widely used in the oil and gas industry.
- Ultrasonic Flow Meters
The velocity of a fluid is calculated using sound waves by an ultrasonic flow meter. This flow meter measures the velocity of fluid both inside and outside the pipe. The ultrasonic flow meters are designed specifically for crude oil and are suitable for use in line for pipes with a diameter of 20 inches. It also requires little upkeep.
- Thermal Flow Meters
As it is inserted directly into a gas flow stream, a thermal flow meter computes the rate of heat dissipation. These thermal flow meters are ideal for gas measurements. These flow meters are best suited when the composition or temperature is low and a high level of accuracy in acceptable parameters is required.
- Differential Flow Meters
Differential flow meters determine the volume of flow that flows through a pipe. These low-cost flow meters provide accurate measurements of any fluid. To obtain precise readings of any liquid or gas, differential flow meters must be combined with additional sensors for temperature, pressure, gas composition, and density. Because of the additional sensors, this type of flow meter is not ideal for use in the oil and gas industry; measurements can vary.
