In the critical aspect of flow measurement, the use of flow meters is not deniable. These are efficient devices that work to measure the flow rate of liquids and gases. These tools are embedded with modern features to sense the speed, pressure, and temperature of fluids. Therefore, they are also referred to as flow sensors. Many small and large industries invest in these devices due to their specialization for accurate fluid measuring. Regardless of their sizes and standards, they are easy to use, maintain, and highly durable.
In today’s world, there are many types of flow sensors. So, it is good to describe them one by one for your explicit knowledge.
Velocity sensors
It is the most popular type of this device that measures the speed of the fluid. Velocity is another name for speed, so these sensors are known by this name. In order to determine the rate at which the fluid is flowing inside the pipes, these meters consider velocity. The further classifications of these flow sensors are:
Vortex
It works to measure flow rate by obstructing the flow of fluid that causes the fluid to move faster. The obstruction causes vortices, and the sensor measures pressure variations to output the flow rate.
Electromagnetic
It is the sensor that uses a magnetic field to cause voltage generation. When the liquid passes through its magnetic induction, it generates a voltage that represents the flow rate.
Turbine
This further classification of velocity flow sensor measures the speed of liquid such as water. It has rotational curators that move with the speed of the liquid.
Differential pressure sensors
Another main category for flow sensors is differential pressure. These sensors work to measure the flow on the basis of changes in pressure. They have wide and narrow-spaced pipes that cause fluids to move faster. When the speed of liquids increases, the pressure decreases. The difference between the pressure changes indicates the flow rate of the liquids. It has further classifications as:
Orifice plate
It causes pressure variance when the flow travels from up to down and is partly blocked in the pipe.
Venturi tube
It has a narrower cross-sectional area that causes the flow to change in pressure to compute the flow rate.
Open channel sensors
It is another chief category of a flow sensor that measures the flow rate for water and other liquids exposed to open air.
Mass sensors
These sensors usually work to measure the mass of the fluid flowing inside the pipes. These sensors work with the heat introduction to the liquid that causes heat loss in the liquid. It is further divided into thermal and Coriolis mass meters.
The Final Say
The above-defined flow sensors are really useful in industries. However, their working criterion is different, but they deliver accurate results. Mining, oil and gas, food processing, power generation, manufacturing, and petroleum industries make use of these sensors.
