Flow Measurement¶
Precision ultrasonic flow measurement solutions for industrial and utility applications.
Overview¶
Ultrasonic flow meters provide accurate, reliable flow measurement without moving parts or pressure drop. They're ideal for a wide range of liquids and gases in pipes from small to very large diameters.
Flow Measurement Technologies¶
Transit-Time Flow Meters¶
Measuring time difference of sound propagation:
Principle: Sound travels faster downstream than upstream. The time difference is proportional to flow velocity.
Applications:
- Clean liquids
- Custody transfer
- Water and wastewater
- Chemical processing
- Food and beverage
Advantages:
- High accuracy (±0.5% or better)
- Wide turndown ratio
- No pressure drop
- No moving parts
- Bidirectional measurement
Doppler Flow Meters¶
Measuring frequency shift from moving particles:
Principle: Sound reflected from particles or bubbles in the flow is frequency-shifted proportional to velocity.
Applications:
- Liquids with suspended solids
- Wastewater and slurries
- Mining and mineral processing
- Pulp and paper
- Food processing
Advantages:
- Works with opaque liquids
- Handles entrained air/gas
- Non-invasive installation
- Cost-effective
- Rugged and reliable
Installation Types¶
Clamp-On Flow Meters¶
Non-invasive installation:
Key Benefit
Installation without process interruption or pipe modification.
Features:
- External mounting
- No process contact
- Portable or permanent
- Quick installation
- Easy maintenance
Best For:
- Large pipes
- Corrosive fluids
- High-pressure systems
- Temporary measurement
- Difficult fluids
Wetted Sensors¶
Direct fluid contact:
When to Use
Applications requiring maximum accuracy or where clamp-on is not feasible.
Features:
- Highest accuracy
- Better signal quality
- Smaller pipe sizes
- Challenging fluids
- Precise mounting
Best For:
- Custody transfer
- Small pipes
- Very clean liquids
- Critical applications
- Optimal performance
Insertion Meters¶
Sensors inserted through pipe wall:
Features:
- Hot-tap installation
- Large pipe applications
- Single or multiple paths
- Adjustable depth
- Economical for large pipes
Best For:
- Very large pipes
- Retrofit applications
- Cost-sensitive projects
- Temporary installations
Key Performance Factors¶
Accuracy & Repeatability¶
Factors affecting measurement quality:
- Pipe Condition - Wall thickness, material, liner
- Fluid Properties - Viscosity, temperature, particle content
- Flow Profile - Straight pipe requirements, flow disturbances
- Installation Quality - Sensor alignment, coupling, mounting
- Calibration - Initial and periodic calibration
Operating Range¶
Understanding measurement capabilities:
Turndown Ratio
The ratio of maximum to minimum measurable flow. Transit-time meters typically offer 100:1 or greater.
- Minimum flow velocity
- Maximum flow velocity
- Accuracy vs flow rate
- Reynolds number effects
Environmental Considerations¶
Operating conditions matter:
- Temperature range (fluid and ambient)
- Pressure rating
- Hazardous area classification
- Vibration and shock
- EMI/RFI immunity
Applications by Industry¶
Water & Wastewater
Potable water distribution, wastewater treatment, irrigation
Chemical Processing
Process control, batch measurement, custody transfer
Oil & Gas
Pipeline flow, allocation, leak detection
Energy
Cooling water, steam condensate, thermal efficiency
Specific Applications¶
Custody Transfer¶
Revenue measurement requiring highest accuracy:
- Fiscal metering
- Allocation measurement
- Regulatory compliance
- Traceable calibration
- Audit trail
Requirements:
- ±0.5% accuracy or better
- Certified calibration
- Redundant measurement
- Data logging
- Standards compliance (API, ISO)
Leak Detection¶
Identifying pipeline losses:
- Balance flow measurement
- Multiple measurement points
- Statistical analysis
- Alarm generation
- System integration
Energy Management¶
Measuring thermal energy transfer:
- Heating systems
- Cooling systems
- Combined heat and power
- Process efficiency
- BTU metering
Water Management¶
Municipal and industrial water systems:
- Distribution monitoring
- Zone metering
- Pump station flow
- Treatment plant flow
- Conservation programs
System Components¶
Flow Computer¶
Advanced measurement and control:
- Multi-path averaging
- Compensation for temperature, pressure
- Flow totalization
- Data logging
- Communication interfaces
Communication & Integration¶
Connecting to control systems:
- Analog Outputs - 4-20mA current loops
- Digital Protocols - Modbus, HART, Profibus
- Industrial Ethernet - Ethernet/IP, Profinet
- Wireless - WiFi, cellular, LoRaWAN
- Cloud Connectivity - Remote monitoring and analytics
Selection Criteria¶
Choosing the Right Technology¶
Key factors to consider:
- Fluid Type
- Clean or particle-laden
- Viscosity
- Corrosiveness
Gas content
Pipe Characteristics
- Diameter and material
- Wall thickness
- Liner type
Access for installation
Accuracy Requirements
- Billing/custody transfer
- Process control
- Monitoring
Regulatory compliance
Installation Constraints
- Shutdown availability
- Straight pipe length
- Access and maintenance
Environmental conditions
Budget
- Capital cost
- Installation cost
- Operating cost
- Lifecycle cost
Calibration & Verification¶
Ensuring measurement accuracy:
Initial Calibration¶
- Factory calibration
- In-situ calibration
- Reference standard comparison
- Uncertainty analysis
Periodic Verification¶
- Zero flow verification
- Flow profile check
- Sensor condition inspection
- Performance trending
Traceability¶
- Calibration certificates
- NIST traceable standards
- Accredited laboratories
- Documentation
Troubleshooting¶
Common issues and solutions:
Signal Quality
Poor signal can indicate pipe coating, scaling, or sensor coupling issues.
Measurement Instability
Flow profile disturbances, entrained air, or installation issues may cause unstable readings.
Zero Offset
Drift in zero reading may require re-zeroing or sensor inspection.
Our Flow Measurement Services¶
System Design¶
- Technology selection
- Sizing and specification
- Installation design
- Accuracy prediction
Integration Support¶
- Installation supervision
- Commissioning
- Calibration
- System optimization
Consulting¶
- Feasibility studies
- Performance assessment
- Troubleshooting
- Upgrade recommendations
Get Started¶
Discuss your flow measurement requirements:
Accurate, reliable ultrasonic flow measurement for critical applications.