With the broad selection of mass flow meters on the market, comparing the options can seem difficult. Understanding what to look for when comparing meters makes it easier.
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Primarily, flow meters differ in the way they measure flow. A meter either measures flow directly or indirectly, and this measurement may or may not depend on fluid properties. For example, one meter calculates mass flow indirectly using a differential pressure measurement and known gas properties, while another meter calculates mass flow directly and independently of gas properties.
There is also considerable variation between the meters when it comes to fluid compatibility, operating range, measurement specifications, and price. This article presents the basic operating principles of four common meter technologies and 10 parameters to consider when choosing the optimal flow meter for an application.
Laminar mass flow meters measure mass flow indirectly from differential pressure. These meters contain flow elements that convert turbulent flow into laminar flow. A sensor measures the pressure drop across these flow elements, and the meter uses this data along with the Poiseuille equation to calculate a volumetric flow rate.
The meter then converts this volumetric measurement to standardized mass flow with the help of preloaded tables of gas properties that take temperature and pressure into account. Although there are several variables involved, high accuracy sensors ensure accurate readings. Since the mass flow calculation is different for each gas, it is important that the correct gas is selected.
There are two primary thermal flow meter technologies, and each measures flow directly using temperature sensors. Additionally, thermal meter measurements depend on gas properties, which change with temperature, so they have gas tables loaded into them.
The first technology is the thermal bypass flow meter. It operates by directing a small portion of the fluid to flow through a capillary tube wrapped in a heated element with temperature sensors on either side. When there is no flow, there is no temperature difference between the sensors. But the incoming cool flow passes the first sensor, and the temperature drops. The flow is then heated as it passes the heating element, and it raises the temperature of the second sensor. The temperature difference between the sensors is directly proportional to the flow.
The second technology is the thermal MEMS or CMOS flow meter. It operates by maintaining a temperature differential across a heated sensor and a flow temperature sensor. When there is no flow, the differential temperature across the sensors is constant. A flow causes the flow temperature sensor to cool, and a heating current is added to compensate for the change. This current is directly proportional to the mass flow rate. The largest benefits of MEMS meters over thermal bypass meters are the speed of response and small package size.
Coriolis mass flow meters utilize the Coriolis principle to measure mass flow directly and independently of fluid properties. These meters contain one or two tubes that are electromagnetically oscillated at the tube’s resonant frequency. This oscillation is measured by sensors at different points along the length of the tube. When there is no flow, the tube oscillates symmetrically, and there is no phase difference between the points.
As flow passes through, the tube twists, inducing a phase shift between the points that is directly proportional to the fluid mass flow rate. This measurement has no pressure dependence, and the only temperature effects are mechanical or electronic, resulting in zero shifts, which are an order of magnitude smaller than other technologies.
It is important to first ensure the flow meter is compatible with the flow rates, gas choices and temperatures of the application, and these ranges for the various technologies are shown in Figure 1.
The Coriolis meter operates across the largest range of flow rates and temperatures, and it is a viable option for certain extreme high-flow, high-temperature applications. For extremely low-flow applications, the laminar and thermal bypass meters are better choices. In terms of gas compatibility, all meters work with common gases. But the Coriolis is the only meter compatible with some of the more difficult gases like NO2, which exists in equilibrium of unknown proportion with N2O4.
The next parameters to consider are operating pressure and pressure drop. Since pressure regulators and pumps are generally inexpensive, pressure control is easily adjustable in most applications. Although, there are some applications that require tight regulation of operating pressure such as chemical reactions or minimal pressure drops such as volumetric meter calibration.
Figure 2 shows that the thermal bypass and Coriolis meters have the advantage in high-pressure applications, and the Coriolis meter actually becomes incompatible in low pressure drop applications.
Higher accuracy meters cost more, and depending on meter type and flow rate, even slightly increasing accuracy can be expensive, as shown in Figure 3. For example, at the low end of flow rates, a laminar flow meter costs around $1,000, while the higher accuracy Coriolis flow meter costs around $5,000. However, at the high end of flow rates, the meters are comparably priced.
For some applications, high accuracy is not negotiable. Take for example an application where someone is working in a small-scale biopharmaceutical lab that plans to scale up for mass production and wants to minimize scaling up of inaccuracies. But in other applications, a lower accuracy meter will suffice, and this can save a lot of money.
Response times can vary significantly between meters, and improving this can also be expensive, as shown in Figure 4. The Coriolis meter has response times that vary from 1 ms to 500 ms, depending on size, processor and firmware. The larger flow tubes typically oscillate at lower frequencies and have longer response times.
Laminar meters have the best response times in the middle range of flow rates. For extremely low flows, the laminar meter takes longer to detect small changes in differential pressure due to the large size of the flow body. For larger flows, the laminar meter software performs averaging to eliminate measurement noise, and this, too, slows response time.
Now, imagine working in a fiber optic cable manufacturing plant where there are typically multiple preforms being purified and multiple fibers being drawn at a single time, all off the same pressure source. During a long run, there may be several pressure dips and spikes caused by other runs stopping and starting, and these changes in pressure can cause delays and wasted batches. Fast response times here allow for pressure changes to be corrected quickly, minimizing wasted time and resources.
The warm-up time for a device can vary from a few seconds to several minutes. For some applications, a longer warm-up time may be nothing more than a small inconvenience. But imagine a device is used to calibrate outdoor air samplers in locations that experience harsh weather. In this case, a fast warm-up time can be crucial as it means less time at each site.
Here, the thermal MEMS and laminar flow meters are strong choices as they have warm-up times in seconds rather than minutes. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the MEMS is less expensive and is an ideal choice if it meets all other application needs.
The exact meaning of the turndown may vary slightly between manufacturers, but it is essentially the operational range of a meter. As shown in Figure 6, the ratio will differ depending on the device and gas choice. For example, some manufacturers may have a meter with a 10,000:1 turndown ratio for standard gases, but the anti-corrosive version may only have a turndown ratio of 100:1. If an application operates across a large range of flows or uses uncommon gases, a meter with a large turndown ratio, or even two separate meters, may be required, whichever is least expensive.
Selecting the mass flow meter that is optimal for an application can seem complicated, but knowing what parameters are important to consider and in what order makes the decision much simpler.
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The choices can be narrowed significantly by first ensuring requirements for flow rate, temperature and gases are met. Then, take into account the reasonably adjustable parameters like operating pressure and pressure drop. After this, consider budget and application-specific parameters, such as accuracy, response time, warm-up time and turndown ratio.
Armed with these guidelines, choosing the right mass flow solution based on the unique requirements of a given application should prove to be much simpler.
ReferencesThis article was originally published in Process Instrumentation on January 8, 2021. Read the original article here.
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With so many flow meters on the market, it may be difficult to choose the correct one for your specific business requirements. Becoming more informed on flow measurement devices will help you make the correct decision when it comes to your unique needs.
Learn more about the types of flow meters to decide which is best for your business needs.
Mass Flow Meter
A mass flow meter measures the flow rate of a fluid traveling through a tube during a decided period. It is important to remember that the mass flow rate is different from the volumetric flow rate. The latter measures volume in a specific time frame.
There are two types of mass flow meters: thermal mass flow meters and Coriolis mass flow meters.
Thermal Mass Flow Meter
Thermal mass flow meters directly measure the flow rate by introducing a specified amount of heat to the flowing fluids. The heat is applied to a sensor, which is simultaneously being cooled, and the ambient flowing temperature is measured from the second sensor.
The differential measurement between the sensors is the mass flow rate, which makes thermal mass flow meters very accurate.
Coriolis Mass Flow Meter
As the name suggests, Coriolis mass flow meters use instruments that rely on the Coriolis effect, which is the pattern of mass moving in a rotating system that experiences a force. This means Coriolis mass flow meters measure mass through inertia.
Essentially, this type of flow meter is made up of a tube that creates a fixed vibration via a small actuator. This creates a man-made Coriolis effect that produces a twisting force from the inertia. The detectors in this mass flow meter detect the phase shift, which allows you to measure mass flow.
Ultrasonic Flow Meter
An ultrasonic flow meter measures the velocity of a fluid using ultrasonic waves to calculate the volumetric flow. They come in in-line and clamp-on variations. Ultrasonic flow meters measure this velocity in two ways: transit time and Doppler
A transit time flow meter is used when the fluid contains zero solids. Multiple transmitters and receivers are attached to a tube. The transmitter produces an ultrasonic wave, and the receiver receives that wave. The flowing fluid forces the wave to go in the same direction as the flow, thus, reaching sooner than the wave heading in the opposite direction. From this, the transit time can be calculated.
A Doppler flow meter is necessary when there are bubbles or particles in the fluid. The flow rate of the liquid is determined using the Doppler effect, which is the change in frequency of a wave relative to an observer moving toward (or away from) the wave source.
Unlike other mechanical flow meters, ultrasonic flow meters do not have any moving parts. They offer additional benefits by being easier to install with minimal maintenance, especially when compared to other flow meter types.
Gas Flow Meter
A gas flow meter measures gas flow by either volume or mass. Gas flow meters are used in a variety of industries, such as natural or petroleum gasses, or attached to buildings, such as residential or commercial buildings, to measure gas for utilities.
One such measurement application for gas flow meters is flare measurement. Accurate flare measurement allows you to improve your plant’s efficiency even leading to cost savings. Flare flow meters are first and foremost safety devices that allow you to identify problems before they become crises.
Portable Flow Meter
A portable flow meter measures the flow rate of various materials (liquids, gasses, or vapors) as they travel through the tubing. Portable flow meters use ultrasonic waves to measure speed and pressure. This type of flow meter is used in a wide variety of fluid and gas applications, from wastewater and various fuels to natural gas and compressed air.
Once you know more about the types of flow meters on the market, you will need to ask yourself some questions to find the flow meter for your specific application. Some questions include:
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