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.
The Benefits of Flow Measurement
- You can rely on the ability to customize products that suit your individual requirements, whether you need a single measuring point or a high-level control system
- You can enjoy an automated process control and modern communication interfaces that are improving due to new technology
- There is a variety of measuring options available, including electromagnetic measuring of volume flow and mass based flow measurements
When measuring the flow of a liquid or gas, it is important to realize that it’s one of the most critical aspects in many manufacturing industries. Knowing what fluid has to be in place at a certain time is the first step in determining that you are likely to get the outcome that you desire. For some industries, a flowmeter is used to keep gas or fluid in motion or to keep them balanced as part of an overall process.
In terms of industries that have high health and safety risks, flowmeters are an essential ingredient in making sure that their production is safe and follows the correct procedures and guidelines. Industries not only need to look at health and safety aspects of investing in flowmeters but also the business impacts. An operation that is not working effectively is losing money and simply winging results, could lead to major brand damage down the line.
You obviously do not want to put yourself or your company in that position for the sake of the relatively small amount of money that a flowmeter costs.
How are Liquids and Gases Measured?
The majority of liquid and gas flow measurements are determined inferentially by looking at the kinetic energy or change in velocity. In terms of velocity, the flow rate measurements are dependent on the pressure that is forcing the liquid or glass through a line or pipe.
What is a Magnetic Flowmeter
A magnetic flowmeter is one of the most common types of measuring tool across a variety of industry operations. Electromagnetic induction is the fundamental principle of a flowmeters function, with results indicating the difference between the velocity of the flow and the flux lines. An applied magnetic field is placed on a metering tube to complete the data recording process, which changes in accordance with the between the fields.
Magnetic Particles
The field indicator uses magnetic particles, which can be wet or dry mixtures, to detect the composition of a liquid or gas and its flow rate. When reactive particles are added to a substance being measured, they alert the measuring tool of any inconsistencies in the process.
The field indicator is a small component of your flowmeter but is plays a big part when it comes to accuracy and effective operations. Understanding how the field indicator affects your operations will go a long way into understanding how the larger component of the equipment works.
The Role of the Field indicator
The magnetic field must be monitored on a continuous basis to ensure that the magnetic flowmeter is working in an ever-changing environment. Continuous monitoring will ensure that data is accurate and that the magnetic fields are working at the desired rate. For multi-directional machines, like a magnetic flowmeter, precision can be make-or-break when it comes to the output that your machine delivers on each day. The ability to directly intercept the field line can be strengthened by an additional hole in the line, depending on the field strength.
Different Styles of Flowmeters
There are many different styles of flowmeters on the market, including velocity flowmeters, positive displacement flowmeters and open channel flowmeters.
Each style of flowmeter has different design features, including:
- Metaglass for strength and durability
- A half to 6-inch size
- Up to 300°C operating temperature
- Over 64 bar operating pressure
- Easy and safe to use
- Tighten bolts that stop leaks and prevents damage
- CE Marked under the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED)
- BSP/NPT threaded
- A variety of materials including stainless steel
- Sizes range from 1/2″ to 8″
- Internal Flap for flow indication
- NACE MR0 175 conformance
- Up to 40 bar pressure
- Full 360° views that use a tri-clamp or orbital weld ends
- Over 8 bar operating pressure
One of the most popular types of field indicator is the Hall Effect Gage that is used to measure the strength of a magnetic field in the surrounding area of the gas or liquid being measured. This process is perfect for assessing quantitative measurements on a constant basis, but they will need to be calibrated frequently.
A pie gauge is another popular style of field indicator as it is very durable, which makes it great value for money. The results are not the most reliable, but they will be suitable for industries that are not looking for precision. Choosing the best field indicator for your business will mean talking to professional installation and calibration teams that know the industry inside out.
Quantitative Indicators
Quantitative Quality Indicators are used when multi-directional flows are in place, which means that they are commonly used across different industries. This type of indicator is ideal for a magnetic flowmeter, despite some of its limitations. Reliable data is generally a given when it comes to this style of the flowmeter, but they do require extensive maintenance that involves heavy cleaning on a regular basis. With this in mind, calibration needs to take place frequently to ensure your business is performing as effectively as it can be.