Ultrasonic flow meters are a type of instrumentation used to measure the flow rate of liquid by monitoring the acoustic vibrations emitted by the flow. While ultrasonic flow meters are useful in a wide range of applications, one of the most common applications is in the wastewater industry to measure the flow rate of “dirty” or conductive water, as ultrasonic flow meters do not work well with distilled water or drinking water. There are two main types of ultrasonic flow meters which employ different principles to measure flow rate (Doppler and transit time), both of which can be installed in two different ways (inline and clamp-on). Inline ultrasonic flow meters are installed within the process piping, while clamp-on ultrasonic flow meters are attached to the outside of the process piping, making the latter more portable and easier to install. Below, we’ll talk about the differences between Doppler and transit time ultrasonic flow meters, how they work, and the applications they are used in! To learn more about how ultrasonic flow meters can be useful in your application or for assistance selecting the flow meter that is right for your application, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at Sentrol Inc. today!
Doppler Ultrasonic Flow Meters & Their Applications
Doppler ultrasonic flow meters use the Doppler effect principle to measure the flow rate of liquid within a pipe. The Doppler effect (named after physicist Christian Doppler, who described the phenomenon in 1842) is the change in frequency of a sound as the observer moves closer or further away from the source of the sound. Doppler ultrasonics flow meters have a transducer that emits an ultrasonic signal which bounces off particles within the media that is being measured, causing a frequency change that is then received and measured by a second transducer. This data is then processed through a formula to produce a flow rate reading. Doppler ultrasonic flow meters are used in sewage & wastewater treatment plants, the oil industry, the food & beverage industry, and more.
Transit Time Ultrasonic Flow Meters & Their Applications
Transit time ultrasonic flow meters use the transit-time difference method to measure the flow rate of a liquid moving within a pipe. Transit time ultrasonic flow meters employ two transducers on opposite sides of the pipe. These transducers send and receive signals to and from each other simultaneously, and the difference in time that it takes for the signals to reach the opposite transducer can be used to calculate flow rate of the liquid within the pipe. If the liquid in the pipe is not moving, the signals will reach the opposite transducer at the exact same time, but if the liquid is moving, it will take the signal that is working back against the flow longer to reach the opposite transducer than the signal that is traveling downstream. The readings taken by the transit time ultrasonic flowmeter will be automatically calculated in a microprocessor to produce a flow rate reading. Transit time ultrasonic flow meters are commonly used in the HVAC, cryogenics, waterwater, oil, and gas industries.
Shop Ultrasonic Flow Meters Online or Contact Sentrol Inc!
Contact our team at Sentrol Inc. today to learn more about how ultrasonic flow meters can be used in your application, or shop for them online today on our website! Our licensed, trained, and highly experienced engineers provide recommendation, sales, installation, calibration, maintenance, & repair services for a wide range of sensor and control instrumentation, including ultrasonic flow meters, to companies in the manufacturing markets of New England, the Mid-Atlantic, & Eastern Canada! Give us a call today at (888) 877-1778 or fill out the contact form on our website, and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible!