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What do you have to look for when purchasing flowmeters? These instruments measure a gas or liquid's mass or volumetric flow rate. They come in different ranges, so you need to find the one that suits your application. And by the way, some people might understand this device as a mass flow controller, a flow regulator, or a flow sensor. So, familiarize yourself with these terms. 

Most chemical and industrial processes require delivering accurate quantities of gas or liquid products. So, they can measure the delivery rates in either mass or volume. But choosing between them will depend on the application. 

In most cases, volumetric flow measurement is usually sufficient if the pressure and temperature are stable and known. But as mass flow measurement indicates the quantity of molecules present, it gets immune to density variation.

While these come in a wide range, Coriolis, differential pressure, and thermal mass are the most extensively used flow meters.

What are some of the essential elements you should consider when selecting an appropriate flow mass meter? These are many, and we'll dive right in:

Ask yourself if your application needs a low-pressure drop or high? The pressure drop represents a variation between the inlet and the outlet pressure. So, you need to know that flow meters have a maximum operating pressure. You must check the pressure rating of the device into consideration.

Different variations in the fluid temperature are likely to affect the accuracy of your measurement. You could go for flow meters with temperature compensation to be safe when temperature fluctuations occur. Ensure to check the temperature specifications of a meter provided by the manufacturer before purchasing. 

The flow rate indicates the quantity of the fluid flowing through a measuring instrument per unit time. The display of the fluid quantity can show in volume or standardized volume and true mass units. And this is a vital specification to look out for when selecting a flow meter. 

While price and performance are critical criteria for selecting a flow meter, you must also consider what you would like to achieve.

Other than the component pricing, what are the likely expenses you might incur later? So, you are looking at the installation charges, maintenance and repairs, and electrical consumption.  

These two are critical specs to look at when selecting your device. You must understand that not all flow meters will provide the same accuracy. And not all applications require higher accuracy. And a flow meter must give the same readings when operated under the same variables.

Use this guide if you plan to purchase a flow mass meter for your application. And whenever you're unsure, check what the supplier has indicated on the product series. Reading these yourself will help you understand which meter meets your application requirement.  

Before we check out why you need to invest in flow switches, what are these? It would be great first to understand what we’re talking about. Right? Sometimes you’ll hear other words such as flow sensors or flow indicators. But all these cite the same thing. 

Generally, the ultimate goal for these water flow switches is to control the movement of liquid or gas. You can set them at a particular time to monitor this or let it flow continuously. 

One may be wondering about the science behind the flow sensors. That’s what we need to address first to understand our device.

The primary product includes a magnetic trigger that connects to the circuit placed in the channel where the gas or liquid passes. And whatever substance that goes through rotates or displaces the paddle and sends the signal to a transducer-a secondary component.

How does the paddle water flow switch work? You mount it on the primary fire sprinkler rise (sometimes secondary). It has a paddle or plastic vane that must go through the wall pipe’s opening. And whenever the water streams through the tube, this paddle gets deflected by the running water.

These signals get converted into readings and actions. In essence, this switch detects if there is flow in a horizontal or vertical pipeline. As per the Principle of Operation, liquid flow in the valve directs the paddle to move towards the flow.

Paddle flow switches are excellent at measuring flow rates consistently. But they can be sensitive to foreign objects and residue build-up. They also require periodic maintenance as the moving parts tend to wear constantly. So, the solution is to avoid installing them on wet systems. And the impact from the high-speed surge of water could damage the flow switch when a dry valve trips.  

Water Pumps Water Flow Switches.

This type of flow switch makes an automatic adjustment to the speed or volume transfer of the electric pump attached to a liquid system. So, it senses the flow rate of water in the system, and if it’s high, it sends off the signals to lower the system’s internal water pressure. 

You can see how crucial this device is. When there is water supply failure, the pumps may run dry, causing damage to the pump. But this signals to prevent that from happening.  

Sprinkler Water Flow Switches

You’ll often find this type of switch in automatic fire sprinkler systems. It has the critical function of detecting when water flowing through the sprinkler valves exceeds a specific flow rate. So, it triggers the sprinkler system. 

Remember to install paddle-type flow switches in wet systems only. And that will serve their purpose effectively. It will be brilliant to consider these flow indicators, as they help detect water flow by sending signals.