Another name for flow Sensors is flow meters. They are instruments used to determine the flow of liquids, gases, and steam in a flow channel. Flow sensors are essential in the flow industry. This is because they regulate the flow of many industrial processes, enabling machines to operate at optimum levels and efficiency. These devices come in different types, and their working principle is different as well. In this article, you will learn about different types of flow sensors and their working principle.

Orifice Plate Sensors

The orifice flow sensor is another flow measurement device that you can easily use for your application. This sensor has a plate with a circular orifice given concentrically with the tube across the pipe, and it is fixed to the line by a flanged joint. The orifice has the same working principle as the venturi meter.

Coriolis Flow Sensors

These flow sensors are known to be the most reputable and accurate ones in the market. They are perfect for almost any application that requires high accuracy levels. You can use these meters on applications that require consistent product quality, like custody transfer applications. Coriolis flowmeters are easy to install and maintain as well.

Differential Pressure Sensors

DP is the oldest flow sensor that exists today, and it is popular due to its accuracy levels. This meter measures and controls natural gas custody transfer and other applications.

Magnetic Sensors

These sensors are also called electromagnetic meters, and they are the second-largest meters in the flow measurement industry. Magnetic Sensors are popularly used to measure the volume of conductive fluids, which is because they are excellent in measuring flow in many processes. 

Magnetic meters use Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction in that when liquids pass through the pipe, the energy created is proportional to the flow. These meters are exceptional because they measure flow regardless of their density, thickness, or turbulence. Therefore, it makes them accurate and reliable in measuring a wide range of applications.

Turbine Flow Sensors

These meters have a multi-bladed rotor that is mounted inline to the flow of fluids. The flow sensor is attached to one or more blades which transmits the number of revolutions the turbine makes. They are best in measuring natural gas, custody transfer, and petrochemicals due to their accuracy. Turbine meters are not best for measuring dirty or thick fluids because the soil can foul them quickly.

Vortex Sensors

Vortex meters measure gases and fluids that have low viscosity in several conditions. They have also been modified to output referred Units like gas standard volume, standard liquid volume, mass volume, and energy index values.

Ultrasonic Flow Sensors

These meters are mainly used for custody transfer applications due to their high accuracy levels. They determine the velocity of fluids using ultrasonic waves, and the best ultrasonic design will depend on the process conditions.

Final Thought

Flow sensors above are proven to be accurate, and you can easily use them for your applications. As said earlier, these sensors work differently, and their accuracy levels differ. Therefore, make sure to find the meter that fits your application. Your meter will also need maintenance and calibration once in a while to ensure accuracy and reliability.