Everything You Should Know About Flow Meter Calibration

Every channel needs flow calibration. The calibrations differ for different industries due to fluid traits, channel size, and needs. Calibrations ensure you get accurate flow readings at all times. It would help if you planned to recalibrate schedules to keep the flow meter in its best conditions. Here. We will check all you need to know about flow calibration.

What is Flowmeter Calibration ?

Flow calibration is the process you take to standardize flow meter readings. In most cases, the calibrators will use the known fluid traits and flow channel to calculate the ideal flow readings. Then, they will set the flow meter to match those readings. The first flow calibration happens before or immediately after meter installation. Then, you can recalibrate again after some time. The wait duration depends on the fluid properties, the fluctuations of flow rate, and the quality of the flow meter.

Importance of Flow Calibration

Flow calibration has a central role in all flow operations. In some industries, it’s a life-and-death affair. Precise readings mean that you will get the correct doses in the medical industry. Thus, it would help if you calibrated the flow meters every month. Food and beverage industries use chemicals to process and preserve foods. Although the chemicals are good for human consumption, you should not ingest more than the needed amount. An excess of the chemicals could lead to food poisoning. Thus, it would help if you calibrated the flow meters constantly. The oil and gas industry is another sector that needs precise measurements. First, it can lead to huge losses if you get the wrong readings. Thus, it would help if you were keen on the accuracy of your meters. Also, the flow readings help to detect leakages when they happen. Undetected leakages can lead to environmental pollution. You can calibrate a flow meter to target certain requirements. Examples include the amount of gas passing through a healing system. From the examples above, you can see you need flow calibration to get defensible accuracy.

Flow Meter Calibration Standards

You need flow readings that you can compare to other readings in the same industries. That’s why each industry has its standard flow meter that they use to calibrate all other meters. It would help if you strived to have readings that match the standard flow meter. It would help if you used a reputable firm to standardize your flow meters. Also, ensure that their standards are acceptable and match with the recognized standards. You’ll get the standards in two classes. The primary standards include the mass, length, time, and other vital components. Once these are set, it’s easy to proceed to the secondary standards. The secondary standards apply when the master meter matches the primary standards and the industry’s needs. The secondary standards have a variance. Ensure your readings fall within the variance range.

How Often is Flow Calibration Needed

There’s no standard duration to wait for the next calibration. However, each industry has some rules you should follow. The needs will depend on the sensitivity of the industry. If the outcomes can lead to health hazards and poisoning, you should calibrate several times a year. Some firms need annual calibration, while others can have half-yearly or quarterly calibrations.

Conclusion

Flow calibration is vital in all industries. Ensure you get meter readings that you can defend in your industry. Also, it would help if you were mindful of public health when you are scheduling your flow calibrations.