Different types of gas and liquid flow meters
Flow monitoring is an important part of any industrial process. For this reason, most industries have been doing their best to adopt some of the most reliable and effective methods to control these processes.
This can be achieved by using various flow meters and switches. For example, most flow switches on the market today tend to use thermal diffusion technology.
What is thermal dispersion flowmeter technology?
Currently, thermal diffusion technology is used to monitor gas and air flow in many pipelines. This technique is based on the fact that as the fluid velocity increases, the amount of heat taken away from the heating probe also increases.
Quite a few switches have adopted this technology. In these switches, the presence of a large temperature difference indicates a no-flow state. This temperature difference decreases as the flow rate increases. The most commonly used heating element is a resistance temperature detector (RTD). The rate at which it dissipates heat is proportional to the rate of fluid flow.
The signal obtained from the RTD is converted into an electrical signal by an electronic adjustment circuit. The electrical signal is then used to adjust other set point circuits. Compared with traditional switches, most of these devices are rugged and reliable. They are also very durable and completely eliminate other problems such as clogging. Switches using this technology can monitor all types of fluids and respond quickly to changes in flow rate.
Purpose of flow switch
Monitor the flow rate; from the temperature detected by the RTD, it is easier to determine the flow rate of the fluid. This is because the heat dissipated is proportional to the flow rate.
Trigger an alarm; assuming that the flow rate of the fluid is set to not exceed a given level, any increase over the set point will be detected by the switch, and then the switch will turn on the alarm to take the necessary action. This can also protect other equipment such as pumps from overloading.
Simplify the industrial control process; most switches using thermal diffusion technology can be easily integrated with the control system (such as PLC). This is because the temperature from the RTD is converted into an electrical signal by the signal conditioner. Remember, when it comes to any control process, it is easier to handle electrical signals.
A wide range of applications; these switches, especially liquid types, can be used in a wide range of applications, including liquid pipelines, swimming pools, and seawater. As long as the liquid does not react with the materials that make up the switch. Therefore, material considerations are important when choosing these switches. It will also determine its lifespan.
There are many switches on the market today, some of which have optical display systems. Therefore, it is important to define the application that the switch aims to obtain the correct application.
