Three things to ensure the best flow meter performance
Frequent inspections of the sensor, display device or flow computer, and ancillary equipment, together with thorough maintenance, are required to guarantee the flowmeter’s long-term proper performance. Any anomaly should be removed quickly.
1- Checking during Installation
- Verify that the fluid you’re measuring is one of two types: liquid or gas. If the fluid is two-phased, the flow meter must be chosen with the assumption of measuring under such circumstances.
- When installing a flow meter, make sure that it is always placed in a position where it is filled with fluid.
- Make sure that the flow direction mentioned on the flow meter indeed matches the flow direction of the fluid.
- Always be sure that the principal flow tube (the measuring earth) and the amplifier/transmitter are properly earthed (protection earth).
- Make sure there are no vibrations at the installation site when placing the flow meter tube (both, in case of an integral or a remote transmitter).
- The principal flow tube and transmitter should be installed as far away from large electrical loads as possible.
- Verify that the installed flow meter does not have any leaks on the intake side or outlet side. Leaks on the flow tube’s inlet side cause air to mix with the fluid being measured, which leads to measurement inaccuracies.
- Avoid exposing the remote or inbuilt amplifier/transmitter to the sun’s or rain’s direct rays.
2- Regular Maintenance
In reality, there is no ongoing maintenance required for the flow meter. The performance of flow meters must occasionally be compared to a standard, which is called calibration. By means of calibration, one can identify the meter’s divergence from the standard, and the same needs to be fixed.
Calibration is required for the majority of meter technologies as there are several faults that might cause inaccuracy, and which can frequently go unnoticed.
3-Preventive Maintenance
In the case of flowmeters like clamp-on ultrasonic flow meters, maintenance is as easy as tightening the component to the pipe because it might get loose over time.- One needs to examine the couplant gel that was applied to clamp-on-style ultrasonic flow meters during installation and commissioning. If it is dried, apply 2-3 mm of couplant gel to the transducer’s surface, then mount it on a pipe and secure it with a rope.
- The sensor alignment, in the case of a clamp-on-type Ultrasonic flow meter, is also important & needs to be frequently checked. A misalignment can result in inaccurate
- Electromagnetic flow meters hardly need any maintenance.
- Having an Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) with the manufacturer is one of the best strategies for preventive maintenance, as all the flow meters get periodically checked, often before any problem arises, thus preventing time and money.
These are the basic checklists for ensuring a healthy life and getting reliable results from flow meters.
Manas Microsystems is India’s leading Ultrasonic Flow Meter manufacturer and supplier company. A comprehensive range of ultrasonic flow meters is available from us, including Bulk Type Ultrasonic Flow Meters, Clamp-on Type Ultrasonic Flow Meters, Insertion Ultrasonic Flow Meters, Portable Ultrasonic Water Flow Meter and Handheld Ultrasonic Water Flow Meter.