Magnetic flow meters are rapidly taking the place of traditional mechanical flow meter designs. While they both measure the flow of a liquid in a pipe, they do so in different ways. You will find that the magnetic flow meter has many advantages over the mechanical flow meter. Though it is more costly, the value it gives its owner is better and reliable than that of the mechanical flow meter. But this is not to say that it does not have its own disadvantages. The most common mechanical flow meters are inserted into a pipe and use a turbine, wheel or paddle to measure the velocity of the fluid or gas flowing in the pipe and then calculate volumetric flow by knowing the cross section area of the pipe in which they are installed. The most common type of the above listed mechanical flow meters utilizes a turbine that rotates as the flow of water applies a force to the blades. The rotation of the turbine is proportional to the velocity of the fluid moving past it. Once the velocity is known, the flow can be calculated.
Other mechanical meters use the same basic mechanical principles to measure flow. They operate most effectively when used in a full pipe and in an area with stable flow and little-to-no turbulence. Mechanical flow meters will operate in all types of liquids, but are prone to clogging and deteriorating performance due to solids accumulating on the turbine blades. They also obstruct a portion of the flow and require regular maintenance of the gears and moving parts. This will in long term incur a lot of money spent on its maintenance and constant changing of worn out parts.
Magnetic flow meters calculate the velocity of a moving substance using Faraday's Law. The meter body consists of a coil system, which is external to the process, but encapsulated in the meter body wrapping around the outside of the internal pipe wall, and operate by creating a magnetic field across the section of pipe. As the fluid or gas flows through the magnetic field, conductive particles in the fluid or gas create changes in voltage across the magnetic field.
This variation can be measured and used to calculate the velocity of the material flowing through the pipe. Like a mechanical flow meters, magnetic flow meters operate effectively only if the pipe is full and in areas where the flow pattern is stable. Magnetic flow meters are effective when used with any concentration of wastewater such as slurry from factories and with other water-based liquids. However, magnetic flow meters are not designed for use in distilled water, oil and other hydrocarbons, and most non-water based substances.
Magnetic flow meters are superior to mechanical flow meters because they don't impede flow, don't become clogged with solids and have no moving parts to maintain or replace. They also support a variety of liners that allow them to be used for a range of specific applications like sanitary liners for hygienic applications and inert liners for corrosive liquids.
This post is contributed by SpireMT, a leading supplier of magnetic flow meters, digital flow meters, water flow meter, electrical energy meters, handheld ultrasonic flow meter and many more. For more information visit at www.spiremt.com