A Comparison Of Different Gas & Liquid Flow Meters

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Flow monitoring is an essential part of any industrial process, so most industries have been striving to adopt some of the most reliable and efficient methods to control flow.

Most flow switches on the market today are designed to utilize thermal dispersion technology. This has been possible through the use of various flow meters and switches.

How do thermal dispersion flow meters work?

The thermal dispersion technology is being used to monitor the flow meters for gas and air in many pipelines. This technology is based on the principle that heat is carried away from heated probes as fluid velocity increases.

There are quite a few switches which feature this technology. In these switches, a greater difference in temperature indicates a no-flow condition. As the flow rate increases, the temperature difference decreases. A resistance temperature detector is commonly used as a heated element. Depending on the flow rate, it dissipates heat at a different rate.

By using the electronic conditioning circuit, the signal obtained from the RTD can be converted into an electrical signal, which can then be used to adjust other set point circuits. It is also durable and does not cause problems like clogging like traditional switches. Switches that feature this technology can monitor all types of fluids and react quickly to changes in flow velocity.

Flow switches: their uses

Since the amount of heat dissipated is proportional to the rate of flow, it is much easier to measure the flow rate from the temperature that is detected by the RTD.

Trigger alarm; assuming that the flow rate of a fluid was set not to go past a given level, any increase past the set point will be detected by the switch which will then switch on the alarm for necessary action to be taken. This can also protect other devices such as pumps from being overloaded.

With thermal dispersion technology, most switches can be easily integrated with control systems, such as PLCs, easing industrial control processes. A signal conditioner converts the temperature from the RTD into an electrical signal. When it comes to controlling any process, it is easier to deal with electrical signals.

Liquid switches, especially those that are made from polymer, can be used in a wide variety of applications, including water lines, swimming pools and the sea. As long as the liquid does not react with the material from which the switch was constructed. Therefore, material consideration is important while choosing these switches. They will also determine their lifespan.

Flow meters for gases and liquids

For this reason, most industries have devoted themselves to adopting some of the most reliable and efficient ways to monitor flow in industrial processes.

Thermal dispersion technology is used in most flow switches available today. For instance, most flow meters for gas use thermal dispersion technology.

Many pipelines use thermal dispersion technology to monitor flow of gases and liquids, which works by transferring heat from a heated probe to the fluid as its velocity increases.

The existence of a greater difference in temperature indicates a no-flow condition in a number of switches that feature this technology. With an increase in flow rate, this temperature difference decreases. Resistance temperature detectors (RTD) are the most commonly used heated elements. Their heat dissipation rate is directly proportional to their fluid flow rate.

By using the electronic conditioning circuit, the RTD signal is converted into an electrical signal that can then be adjusted by other set point circuits. In comparison to traditional switches, these devices are typically rugged and reliable. This technology allows switches to monitor all types of fluids and respond rapidly to changes in flow velocity. These switches are durable and eliminate other problems such as clogging.