Type of Sensors to Measure Flow of a Fluid

Hi,

In measuring flow of a fluid, flowmeters is needed. Until now so many type of sensors of flowmeters which can be used. Every sensors have advantages and disadvantages. As instrument engineer to know its advantages and disadvantages is a must so we are able to know which type suitable with project needs. Some points we should take into consideration to choose a sensor of flowmeters are:

• Type of fluid (clean, viscous, slurry, gas, solid)
• Ability to measure mass flow and volume flow
• Ability to measure flow rate
• Ability to calculate totalizer
• Transmitter availability
• Rangeability
• Pressure loss thru sensor
• Accuracy
• Flow range

Instrument engineer also able to refer into data sheet manufacturer of flowmeters to make sure every points mentioned above because every products of flowmeters have different ability and application. Type of sensors to measure flow as follow:

• Elbow taps
• Jet deflection
• Laminar flowmeters
• Magnetic flowmeters
• Mass flowmeters, misc.
• Coriolis
• Metering pumps
• Orifice (plate / integral cell)
• Pitot tubes
• Positive displacement gas meters
• Positive displacement liquid meters
• Segmental wedge
• Solids flowmeters
• Target meters
• Thermal meters (mass flow)
• Turbine flowmeters (dual turbine)
• V-cone flowmeters
• Transit ultrasonic flowmeters
• Doppler ultrasonic flowmeters
• Variable area flowmeters (dual float)
• Venturi tubes
• Flow nozzels
• Vortex shedding
• Fluidic
• Oscillating
• Weirs, flumes

That’s all.

Resource:

1. Liptak, Bela G., Instrument Engineers’ Handbook 4th Edition Volume I: Process Measurement and Analysis, pp. 158-159, Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2003.