Flow is a commonly used process control parameter in industrial production processes, flow meters are quite common in various industries. Currently there are approximately over 100 different kinds of flow meters on the market. How should users choose a right product with good performance and reasonable price?

1. Reducing costs

We can reduce costs by choosing the accuracy and IP rating. High accuracy/IP rating chosen for flow meters parts where they are required, while using less precise/lower IP rating for non-critical functions. Usually, the accuracy/IP rating of the equipment and the cost are proportional. For critical functions, such as adding ingredients to pharmaceutical formulations, precision is critical. However, not all process applications require such accuracy. For example, less accurate sensors are often used to monitor flow in cooling water lines, pneumatic filtration and lubrication systems to ensure that pumps do not dry out. If the sensor is not used underground or in the water for a long time, IP65/IP67 can be used rather than IP68.

2. Choosing right flow meter

Different flow meters are designed for different applications. While they are priced differently. Mass flow meters cost more than magnetic flow meters(based on the same specification) currently.

3. Using the suitable material

Actually, some types of flow meters can be made of different materials. For example, magnetic flow meters are generally consisted of sensor, transmitter, liner, electrode and so on. Liner and electrodes can be made of different materials. For liners, PTFE, soft rubber, PFA, ceramics and others are available. 304, 316, Hastelloy, titanium, tantalum and others are available for electrodes.

Different flow meters work fine in different applications. Consult with our engineers for recommending you the most suitable product.