Differential Pressure Flow Meters

Low Pressure Loss Flow Measurement

Differential pressure flow meters operate by measuring the pressure drop across a constriction in the flow path, which correlates to flow rate. Common types include Venturi tubes, orifice plates, and wedge-type meters. Venturi meters offer high accuracy and low energy loss, making them ideal for varying viscosities. Orifice plates are simple, cost-effective, and widely used. Wedge-type meters are well-suited for slurry, viscous, or dirty fluids due to their robust design. These flow meters are versatile and reliable, making them valuable in various industrial and process control applications.

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Venturi Flow Meters

Differential Pressure

Venturi flow meters offer high accuracy and reliability for flow measurement of pressurized line fluids, including liquids, gases, and steam, as well as high-viscosity line fluids, solids-bearing line fluids, and harsh or contaminated line fluids.

Wedge Type Flow Meters

Differential Pressure

Wedge flow meters are designed for highly viscous, slurry type, or contaminated line fluid applications, including difficult-to-meter, air entrained liquids, as well as particulate entrained, high viscosity, or slurry solutions. Examples of these applications include: raw sewage, sludge, tar sands, pulp mash, cement, liquid asphalt, and molten sulfur.

Orifice Flow Meters

Differential Pressure

Orifice primary flow elements, flange unions, and holding block technologies offer optimum flexibility for applications with diverse piping schemes, ease of replacement, and a low capital investment. The orifice plate is one of the most common differential elements for measuring clean liquids, gases, and vapor (steam) flow.

Frequently Asked Questions

A differential pressure flow meter measures flow by calculating the pressure drop across a constriction (like an orifice plate, venturi tube, or flow nozzle) in the flow path. The pressure difference is proportional to the square of the flow rate.

The main types include orifice plates, venturi tubes, flow nozzles, and pitot tubes. Each type has specific advantages depending on the application, fluid type, and required accuracy.

DP flow meters can handle a wide range of fluids including gases, liquids, and steam. They are commonly used in water, air, natural gas, steam, and chemical processing applications.

DP flow meters are known for their reliability, simplicity, wide range of applications, and relatively low cost. They are also well understood and standardized in many industries.

Limitations include potential pressure loss due to the flow restriction, sensitivity to installation and flow profile, and the need for periodic calibration or maintenance of transmitters and impulse lines.

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