Ultrasonic flow meters are crucial in practically every industry that relies on pressurized fluids, gases, and steam. This includes the most powerful manufacturing machinery, the systems that transport resources, and more.
Understanding how ultrasonic flow meters work can help you choose the right model for your specific application.
Let’s take a closer look.
An ultrasonic flow meter is a high-precision measurement tool used to measure the flow inside something.
Let’s say that you’re operating a piece of equipment that transports natural gas through a pipe to another location. You want to make sure that the gas is moving at a consistent velocity and there are no pressure drops or potential issues going on that cause hiccups.
In that situation, you would use an ultrasonic flow meter to measure the flow of the natural gas.
However, this tool can be used to measure the flow of most things. In steam-based technology, various gases and liquids of all kinds can be measured as they move through pipes, tubes, and systems.
An ultrasonic flow meter uses sound waves. Sound penetrates the machine in highly calculated bursts, and it can tell how fast the substance inside is moving over a period of time.
If there are any fluctuations in speed while the reading is taking place, the machine picks it up.
That information can be used to determine whether settings need to be changed, troubleshooting measures need to be taken, or if immediate maintenance action is required.
This is an incredibly precise measurement device that can record very accurate readings reliably, and it’s perfect for applications with low tolerances.
Also, it’s an incredibly versatile piece of equipment. An ultrasonic flow meter can measure the flow of gases and liquids of various types. Not just one thing, like many other measurement devices are meant for.
There are two types of ultrasonic flow meters you’ll likely come across whenever you’re shopping for one.
The first is a clamp-on model, such as the RS485 Modbus TDS-100F. These are extremely accurate, and they’re great for leaving on a pipe for a while for long-term monitoring. They’re also non-invasive. They won’t damage the equipment or require you to do anything to the pipes before you can start monitoring. However, it takes up more space, and it takes a little more time to install.
A portable unit, like the handheld DN15-100 model, is meant to be taken on the go. Whether you need to move from facility to facility performing readings, need a monitor that you can take to a job site, use, and take with you back to HQ, or otherwise don’t need to continuously monitor something, this is great.
It’s also a good option for getting into difficult-to-reach spaces, because it’s smaller. The drawback of using a portable unit is that it isn’t quite as accurate. However, it’s still enough for most applications.
If you require an ultrasonic flow meter, you need the best.
AQ Measurement supplies industry leaders from practically all industries with the precision instruments they need. Contact us today and get a free consultation!
