How Do Flow Meters Work - Flowmeter Types And Operation

How Do Flow Meters Work - Flowmeter Types And Operation

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The need to measure the flow rate in a pipe or tube has many aaplications for individuals and in business. Generally, gases and liquids need to be measured. there are two ways to do this. The volumetric flow rate is a measure of the volume of the medium by time. The mass flow rate is a measure of the mass of the medium by time.

Flow meters can be used in many ways. Some of these ways apply to individuals, like the peak flow meter that measures lung capacity and can help asthmatics to know if an attack is likely to occur.

However the most varied applications are in the manufacturing industries or water management processes where precise measurements are vital for successful operations. This article will touch on how flow meters work in industry and for individuals.

Flow meters are generally classified by the principal that governs their operation or possibly by their applications. For instance, mass flow meters measure the flow rate of a medium in terms of it's mass.

The Coriolis flow meter in an example of the principle determining the name. The Coriolis effect is the force that a liquid experiences in a circular motion. In the flow meter, vibrating pipes cause the liquid to move in a circular motion. If the wave motion of the vibrating pipes is known before the liquid passes through the pipes then the flow rate of the liquid can be determined.

Two other examples of flow meters that analyze and calculate changes in waves to reach a measure for a flow rate are the ultrasonic flow meter and the Doppler shift flow meter.

In the case of the ultrasonic flow meter, two transmitters of ultrasonic sound waves are placed at the ends of a pipe where the measure is to take place. Each transmitter sends a pulse of sound.

Receivers at opposite ends of the pipe record the sound waves. One pulse of ultrasonic wave is sent off in the direction of the flow while the other is in the opposite direction.

The flow rate can be determined by the difference in the timings of each ultrasonic wave provided information on the material of the pipe and some details on the medium being measured are known.

Doppler shift meters use a sound wave that bounces off matter in the medium passing through the pipe. Due to the Doppler effect, the frequency of the waves changes when it strikes a moving object. This change in the frequency can be used to determine the flow rate of the medium passing through the pipe.

A variable area flow meter is a more standard type of meter. It uses a float that is moved by the force of the substance passing through a calibrated tube.

The float indicates a measurement on the calibrated tube. This is a correlation of the flow rate of the substance that has just passed through the tube. An example of such a device is the peak flow meter that is used to measure lung capacity. Peak flow meters help people with asthma determine if they are likely to have an asthma attack.


About the Author:
Learn more about flowmeters, specifically on peak flow meters at http://www.flowmetermatters.com.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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