Turbine Flow Meter Overview:
A turbine flow meter is a volume sensing device. As liquid or gas passes through the turbine housing, it causes the freely suspended turbine blades to rotate. The velocity of the turbine rotor is directly proportional to the velocity of the fluid passing through the flow meter.
The external pickoff mounted on the body of the flow meter, senses each rotor blade passing, causing the sensor to generate a frequency output. The frequency is directly proportional to the volume of the liquid or gas.
Either a magnetic or modulated carrier (RF) pickup can be used to sense the rotational speed of the turbine rotor.
Depending on your flow meter application, there are many types of turbine flow meters to choose from. And after understanding the application several factors come into effect when choosing a flow meter, such as:
- Fluid Type
- Viscosity
- Connection
- Pipe Sizing
- Process Temperature (min & max)
- Flow Range (min & max)
- Pressure Range (min & max)
- Accuracy Range
- Specific Application
If you need volumetric total flow and/or flow rate measurement, a turbine flow meter is the ideal device. Turbine flow meters are used in a wide variety of liquid and gas flow sensing applications. They can be built to endure high pressure, and high and low temperatures. They offer a high turn-down with minimum uncertainty and excellent repeatability. Turbine flowmeters are also simple to install and maintain only requiring periodic recalibration and service.
Specifications:
Accuracy is generally expressed as a percentage of true volume, measuring how close the instrument indicates actual flow.
Repeatability is determined on how well the flow meter can indicate the same reading whenever the same flow conditions exist. It also ensures quality measurement of fluids over a wide range of flow rates, temperatures, compositions and viscosities.
Depending on the type of turbine flow meter, the specifications vary.
Turbine Meter – (FM Series)
Tangential Turbine Flowmeter – (FMT Series) capable of measuring extremely low flow rates.
Insertion Turbine Flow Meter – (FMP Series) used economically usually in pipes 6” and larger in diameter
Liquid Service
Flow Range: 0.03 – 15,000 GPM
Accuracy:
±0.5% Linearity over Normal Range 10:1 Turndown
±0.05% Repeatability
Sizes: 1/4″ to 72″
Gas Service
Flow Range: 0.25 – 1500 ACFM
Accuracy:
±0.1% Linearity over Normal Range 10:1 Turndown
±1% Repeatability
Sizes: 1/4″ to 72″
Industries:
- Oil & Gas
- Water injection
- Test and production separators
- Disposal wells
- Hydraulic fracturing
- Chemical injection
- Natural gas pipelines
- Aerospace/Defense
- Engine Testing
- Fuel flow measurement
- Shipboard reverse osmosis systems
- Monitor fuel supply to ship engines
- Pharma-Bio Tech, Food & Beverage
- Sanitary measurement
- Pill coating
- Power Generation
- Custody transfer
- Industrial & Municipal
- Building automation
- HVAC
- Water metering
- Cryogenics
- Liquids measurement for plant applications and truck deliveries
Flowmeters are an essential tool in a number of industries throughout the country, with chemical, food, aerospace and pharmaceutical companies relying on them to function. In order to determine the chemical make-up and the flow-rate, it is essential that a flowmeter is used to provide accurate recordings. Magnetic particle testing is an integral part of the flowmeter, making a field indicator a very significant part of this piece of equipment. In order to understand the effectiveness of a flowmeter, once must fully understand the role of the field indicator and how this important component benefits your business.
