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Flow Selection Guide

Introduction

Numerous principles of operation and design variations together with the consideration of installation parameters, location and the economies of operation can make it a daunting task when choosing the right flow meter for a particular application.

If you don’t know the difference between vortex flow, Magflow or mass flow technologies then you’re probably not going to make the right choice when it comes to selecting a flow meter.

iCenta is a UK flow meter specialist supplying some of the leading names in liquid, gas & vapour flow measurement with clients both large and small. To help you take the guesswork out of choosing a flow meter, please refer to the table below or just get in touch with our technical sales team.

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LiquidsGearTurbineMagneticCoriolisThermalVortexPaddlewheelUltrasonicV/A | Rotameter
CleanYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes
DirtyNoNoYesYesNoYesSpecial DesignYesYes
ConductiveYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes
ViscousYes, >10 (cst)Yes (Special Calibration)YesYesNoNoYesYesYes (Special Calibration)
SlurriesNoLimitedYesYesNoYesNoYes (Doppler)No
CorrosiveYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes
Reverse FlowYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesNo
Pulsating FlowYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes
Semi Filled PipesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNo
Open ChannelNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNo
GasesGearTurbineMagneticCoriolisThermalVortexPaddlewheelUltrasonicV/A | Rotameter
SteamNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesYes
CleanYesYesNoYesYesYesNoYesYes
WetYesYesNoYesNoYesNoYesYes
ContaminatedNoNoNoYesNoYesNoYesNo
CorrosiveNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesYes
Tech DataGearTurbineMagneticCoriolisThermalVortexPaddlewheelUltrasonicV/A | Rotameter
Accuracy ±0.1-0.5% of reading0.25-1% of reading0.5-1% of reading0.05-0.15% of reading1.5% full scale1% of reading1% (linearity)typically 1-5% of reading2-4% full scale
Repeatability ±0.1% of reading0.1% of reading0.1% of reading0.05-0.10% of reading0.5% full scale0.2% of readingN/AN/A0.25% full scale
Max Pressure Bar270 and up350 and up350 and up85 and up40 and up50 and up100 and upunlimited15 and up
Max Temp125 and up300 and up150 and up200 and up100 and up400100 and up100 and up300 and up
Pressure DropMediumMediumVirtually NoneLowLowLowVirtually NoneNoneMedium
Turndown Ratio25:110:1N/A100:150:1<10:1N/AN/A10:1
Average CostMediumMediumMediumHighMediumMediumLowMediumLow

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