How to Select the Best Thermal Mass Flow Meter?

This article will show you how to select a flow meter or flow sensor. There are many different types of flow meters and flow sensors, and the desired results can only be reached by choosing the right equipment for the job based on the fluid and purpose. When selecting a device, it's critical to understand what's being monitored and why a thermal mass flow meter is being used.

Information on Flow Switches

Flow switches monitor flow and give a trip signal to other devices for protection, such as a pump. Gases, liquids, and steam can all be measured with these switches. If necessary, flow switches can also be utilized to generate an alarm and protect a system. While all flow switches also flow meters, not all flow meters are flow switches since not all flow meters can change the flow rate. A valve body, a sensing device, and a switching unit connected to a pipeline make up the switch.

Flow switches detect the thermal mass flow meter or air through a valve within the control. To increase or reduce the electrical signal, a switching device reads a password supplied by the valve. To maintain proper system flow, the switching unit can turn a pump or valve on or off. Flow switches can monitor and alter flow properties, including volume, speed, and pressure as they change. These gadgets can also be utilized to assist in the detection of system faults.

Types of Flow Switches

The flowing media or the measuring type are used to categorize flow switches. This means that different kinds of switches, such as volumetric liquid flow switches, can be mixed.
Gas flow switches are used to control the flow of media such as air and steam. They're frequently employed in the thermal mass flow meter.

Water, lubricants, chemicals, and slurries are all examples of liquid flow switches. They're used in a wide range of business settings.
The flow of liquids or gases is measured using volumetric flow switches. This calculation is based on volume per unit of time (i.e., cubic feet per minute).

The flow rate of moving media is measured using velocity flow switches. This calculation is made in terms of velocity (i.e., feet per minute).

Specifications for Flow Switches

The following are essential operational and performance considerations:

When choosing a flow switch, it's crucial to think about the type of media the flow switch will expose. Brass or bronze are commonly used in water system devices due to their resistance to corrosion, rusting, and disintegrating. Plastic can be employed in applications that aren't susceptible to freezing or expanding in scorching temperatures. Plastic is a lightweight material that is also incredibly robust and rust-resistant.
Because the flow switch must fit snugly over the pipe, knowing the pipe diameter is crucial when choosing a flow switch.

The maximum head pressure of the process media that the device can withstand is known as the operating pressure. When choosing the material for the flow switch, this element should be taken into account for the thermal mass flow meter.

The maximum media temperature that can be monitored is known as the media temperature range. It is usually determined by the materials used in the construction and lining.

Features of a Flow Switch

Flow switches can be customized to include extra functionalities such as:

Functions of the recorder and totalizer

The totalizer functions add up the amount of material, media, or process variable that has been controlled. A data logger that logs system or process variables and control commands for later viewing or analysis is an example of a recorder function. There may also be a chart recorder available to plot (chart) flow history or provide total flow for a specific unit of time.

Final thoughts

Thermal dispersion flow switches have various advantages over mechanical flow switches because they don't have any moving elements like paddles or vanes. The above are some of the important things to know about the thermal mass flow meter when selecting.