Measurement of Liquid Flow in Remote Locations With Portable Flow Meters

When working to control processes and effluents, it is sometimes necessary to measure flow though pipes in remote locations. There are times that the location isn't so much remote as it might be difficult to reach, or somewhere even within the building, but with no power source near the place that flow must be checked on. Mag Flow Meters

Portable flow meters are used in various circumstances and can provide many benefits over fixed flow meters. While there are circumstances where a fixed unit will be better suited (such as when data logging is necessary), the portable instruments are often be put into play to bring cost savings and flexibility.

The usual devices used for flow measurement are fixed flow meters that are inline, meaning the fluid actually flows thought the flow meter itself. This can be impractical in many instances. These instruments require power continuously and require significant downtime for installation. There are circumstances where a fixed flow meter is more appropriate, of course. When readings must be taken frequently, it is best to have a meter that is always there, set up and running. If the situation is such that logging the data is required, then a fixed until will be required.

There are some processes that must occasionally monitor flow in point far from a building or power source. An example of this would be checking on the amount of (hopefully processed and clean) wastewater exiting the processing facility at the very end of the process. This might be as it exits into a municipal system, or into an outdoor reservoir. Another example would be the flow from the top of an indoor column, where there is no power.

The solutions to those problems (and other problems) is with portable flow meters. These instruments are hand-help and powered with long-lasting batteries. They can be manually transported to the location where flow must be measured. Readings can be taken wherever needed. This is also true of the places indoors where power is not available.

Another advantage is the smaller size of the units. Often, flow must be measured in places where there is little room for equipment. A portable flow meter is much easier to squeeze into those tight spaces. There are also fewer wires to deal with in an installation process.

Many portable flow meters are also non-invasive. They can measure liquid flow though ultrasonic means. There can be great advantages to this. Flow measurement is very accurate, and as the pipes do not have to be cut into in order to install the device, there is no need for downtime in the process to begin measuring. The cost savings, in terms of the manpower to handle all the plumbing and electrical work involved in a fixed meter installation, can be significant considering the cost of stopping production of a product for an extended period of time.

You can find further examples in which portable clamp-on flow meters have been utilised at online. You'll learn about the use of ultrasonic, portable flow meters as there are numerous case studies and examples of successful use. For example, they've been used successfully at a school in Dagenham, which was having an extension built. As a government-funded project, it was required to do a full evaluation on the building's energy use, in order to minimise the environmental impact. There were numerous locations where measurement of the heating system were required. The energy consultants opted for a portable flow meter to save all the costs of multiple installations and devices.