Mass flow meters measure the amount of fluid that passes through it, regardless of pressure or temperature. These flow meters are commonly used in industrial settings to measure the flow of liquids and gasses in various applications, from hydropower plants to chemical refineries and beyond.
While various mass flow meters are available for flow measurement, not all are well-suited to every application due to their unique features and functions.
There are certain aspects of your application that you should consider when selecting the best mass flow meter for your needs, such as the operating temperature range, accuracy, pressure range, how much data you need, etc.
How do mass flow meters work?
A mass flow meter, a volumetric or gasometer, measures a particular flow rate through its components. Mass flow meters often used in industrial processes can accurately monitor different gasses and liquids, including steam, liquid nitrogen, ammonia, and many more.
Because of their versatility, mass flow meters are used in several applications. To make sure you choose an appropriate mass flow meter for your application, it’s important that you first understand how they work.
Factors to consider when choosing the correct mass flow meter
What is your application?
A mass flow meter is used in many industrial production lines for aerospace and military applications. So your first consideration should be what your specific application is. If you are trying to select a mass flow meter for liquid or gas, what are its properties – vapor pressure, flash point, and viscosity?
What is your flow range?
Next, you will need to select a mass flow meter that can handle your specific flow rate range, especially if you are trying to measure less than 1 liter per minute or greater than 10,000 liters per minute.
What is your pressure range?
If you are using a liquid mass flow meter in an application in flow measurement with high or low-pressure differences, you will want a meter that can operate in these conditions. You’ll also need to consider temperature, material compatibility, and level of cleanliness.
How much area do you need to monitor?
Only one point needs to be monitored; other times, a process may have multiple points with differing flows. You may want a linear array of meters to measure all points accurately.
Do you need custom engineering for your equipment?
Each installation is unique, so you must discuss with a vendor if they can accommodate your specific project needs or provide off-the-shelf equipment that requires standardization and little modification.
What level of accuracy do you require?
In some applications, like laboratory environments, high accuracy is not necessary; in others, such as manufacturing, low tolerances are vital to maintaining product quality standards.
Final Thought
While selecting mass flow meters for the flow measurement, you need first to know what kind of application you are looking for. There are three types: differential pressure (DP), hot wire, and laser. Each one has its application, and there is no universal mass flow meter that can be essential in all scenarios. For example, suppose you want to measure gas flows in automotive air conditioning applications. In that case, an optical mass flow meter is not suitable for that as it will be damaged by atmospheric corrosion.
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