Liquid flow sensors and flow meters are essential for many industries and applications such as petroleum, chemical industries, HVAC and energy management, water management, pump monitoring, wastewater management, mining, agriculture, fuel and lubricant flow, and more.
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What do Liquid Flow Meters Do?
Liquid flow meters measure the rate (defined as volume or area per unit of time, for instance, 1 liter per minute) at which a fluid travels through a given point, such as the discharge end of a pipe or aqueduct. This measurement is called “flow.” Flow can be measured in a variety of different ways (discussed below) and is often crucial for regulating performance and ensuring the safety of many different processes.
Types of Sensors
- Differential Pressure – Differential pressure sensors measure flow by gauging pressure, based on the principle that the liquid pressure surrounding the meter is proportional to the square of the flow rate (Bernoulli’s principle).
- Direct Force – Examples of direct force flow meters include rotameters, which use floats to measure flow (different flow rates correspond to different float positions), and turbine meters, which use turbine wheels that rotate at a speed proportional to fluid flow rate.
- Ultrasonic Flow Meters – Ultrasonic meters measure ultrasonic waves and principals such as a Doppler effect to measure fluid flow rate.
- Others – Other types of fluid flow meters include magnetic flow meters, gear flow meters, and calorimetric flow meters.