Flow Meter Options
Published on 10 12, 2021 in Category: GENERAL
Flow Meter Options
If you work in water or wastewater, oil or chemicals, power or refuse, or other industrial sectors, you probably have a need for an accurate, reliable flow meter. Just as there are many applications for flow meters, there are many options to choose from. Detailed below are some of the applications and features for three of Keco’s high quality flow meters: the Rosemount Magnetic Flow Meter, the Rosemount Vortex Flow Meter, and the Micro Motion Coriolis Meter.
The Rosemount Magnetic Flow Meter
The magnetic flow meter is a combination of a sensor tube, which the liquid to be measured flows through, and a transmitter which calculates the flow rate and total flow. The sensor contains two coils which the transmitter energizes with a current to create a magnetic field. A conductive liquid flowing through the field generates a voltage at each of two electrodes in contact with the liquid in the sensor. That voltage is proportional to the flow velocity, more flow produces more voltage The transmitter then converts the voltage to a flow rate.
Magnetic flow meters don’t have any moving parts or obstructions inside the sensor, which makes the meters very resistant to clogging. For this reason, they are often used in situations that involve liquids like waste water which contain materials that could clog a meter with rotating parts. The sensors are typically lined with a slippery material like teflon or rubber. Since they rely on conduction to generate a voltage, the meters need to be used in applications that measure conductive liquids. The non-clogging features make the Rosemount Magnetic Flow Meter a superior choice for applications in the water and wastewater industry.
The Rosemount Vortex Flow Meter
The Rosemount Vortex Flow Meter is a versatile, low maintenance flow meter that is perfect for heavy industrial applications. Vortex flow meters operate using a v-shaped obstruction that creates vortices in the fluid as it flows around the obstruction. The faster the fluid flows, the more vortices are created. Vibrations from the vortices create a frequency that is used by the vortex flow transmitter to calculate an electronic flow signal which represents the flow rate of the fluid. Unlike magnetic flow meters, vortex flow meters do not use conduction to operate. As a result they can be used for applications that involve low conductivity petroleum based fluids or other fluids with low conductivity.
The Micro Motion Coriolis Meter
The Micro Motion Coriolis Meter is extremely popular in the petroleum industry. Coriolis flow meters measure flow rate using vibrations that are created when liquid flowing through their open tubes causes the tubes to flex. Like magnetic flow meters, they don’t contain any rotating parts which results in very low maintenance costs. In addition to measuring the flow rate, coriolis flow meters can measure a liquid’s density. This is very useful for flow applications in the petroleum industry. Since oil and water have very different densities the coriolis meter can be used to determine how much water is in the oil that is being pumped through the tubes. As a result the coriolis meter can provide a total for oil only which can provide significant cost savings as the buyer pays only for the oil delivered, not the water!
Flow meters are used in all kinds of industries, but it is important to choose the right type of flow meter for your specific application. If you want to learn more about your flow meter options, email sales@kecocontrols.com or give us a call at 732-902-5900.
