How to select the most appropriate flow meter

Flow meters are used in different industries, such as aerospace, petrochemical, mining and agriculture. These meters are use to measure the rate of volumetric flow or mass of a liquid or gas. There are many different types of flow meter available and easy model is designed with a specific application in mind. Hence, it is imperative to choose the right flow meter. If you are looking to measure the mass or volumetric flow of a liquid or gas, you should opt for an ultrasonic flow meter rather than a mechanical flow meter.

It is imperative that you choose the right flow meter for your industrial applications and this means having a thorough understanding of the use and working of flow meters. You would have to take into consideration calibration, maintenance, available of spare parts as well as cost of installing the meter before you zero onto one. This is where ultrasonic flow meters come in. They are designed to be cost-effective and do not have any moving parts. As a result, these meters are virtually maintenance-free. However, before you opt for an ultrasonic flow meter, there are certain points that you should take into consideration, since this meter can be used for a variety of applications.

Ascertain the size of the pipe, the minimal and optimal method, temperature pressure, the amount of particulate matter in the liquid or gas and what demands are put on the analog result are some of the points to consider before choosing the right ultrasonic flow meter, also referred to as non-intrusive Doppler flow meter.

Thankfully, you can get ultrasonic flow meters that are can be used for sealed piping and usually these are portable meters. Then there are ultrasonic flow meters that can used for cleanser liquid or one that can be used in applications where there are 100 PPM of 100 microns of particulate matter in the liquid or gas.

Doppler flow meters are ideal for wastewater programs, as they help to keep the pressure low. When low pressured is maintained, there is no need for maintenance. If you are using an ultrasonic flow meter in applications with clean liquids, you can expect a little bit of aeration. Nonetheless, Doppler flow meters are very effective, accurate and cost-effective. They can be used in any industry that is looking for a reasonably priced ultrasonic flow meter. You also can look to hire an ultrasonic flow meter which has its own advantages, such as getting a professional at your site to provide training to your plant employees and leaving the maintenance, if any, to the leasing company.

An ultrasonic flow meter not only allows you to reduce your operating costs, it also helps you stay within your budget and operate your plant in a more efficient manner. That is why it is important to choose the right ultrasonic flow meter for your industrial application. Take into consideration the different factors involved during the working of the meters and this will help you make the right choice. When you choose the right Doppler flow meter, you will have the perfect device for measurements that may be crucial to your application.

This post is contributed by SpireMT, a leading supplier of Portable Ultrasonic Flow Meter,Handheld Ultrasonic Flow Meter,water flow meter, Digital Flow Meters and many more. For more information visit at http://www.spiremt.com

Cut Energy Costs with a Smart Meter

The existing trend stands witness to numerous homes in the U.S. the UK and Canada switching over to smart meters. The change is taking place to give homeowners control over how they spend money on their energy. For instance, in the traditional meters, homeowners were charged by the month based on the energy they consumed during that period. When a house owner switches to a smart meter, he is charged by the hour.

Why Smart Meter?

It is claimed that a smart meter can help consumers save money during peak hours by allowing them to reduce their energy consumption. However, this is only possible if consumers become energy conscious and follows a restrictive plan to limit their energy usage during peak hours. This can be difficult and tough. You also have the option of forgetting about a smart meter and working with your electrical provider to reduce your energy costs, but more often than not, providers have highly restrictive contracts, which can be cumbersome.

The good news is you can save money when you use a smart meter. With a little bit of foresight and ingenuity you can make your home more energy efficient. Here are some tips to cut your energy costs with a smart meter.

Air Conditioning and Cooling

The U.S. Department of Energy states that heating and cooling forms about 54 percent of an average American household’s energy costs. If you adopt a smart meter, this is one cost you definitely would like to reduce. During the warm summer months, you should set the thermostat at a standard 77-degree Fahrenheit and ensure you switch off the air conditioner when you are leaving home. During peak hours, try using a fan to cool yourself down instead of using air conditioning.

The ideal way to save money on heating is to set the water heater at a lower temperature and lower the thermostat at nights. You also have the option of switching to a more energy efficient heating system by going into for a Energy Star rated boiler. Although an expensive investment, this will save you a lot of money in the long run.

Kitchen Appliances

Opt for kitchen appliance that are Energy Star rated. These appliances will use up to 54 percent less energy compared to your older appliances, according to Washington Post. In fact, if you opt for a refrigerator that has an Energy Star label you could end up saving as much as $100 a month on your electricity bill.

There are many other ways to save money on energy in your kitchen. Some of them are highlighted below:

  • Use pans and pots that fit precisely over the burner. If your pans and pots are too small, it is a waste of heat
  • Try and use a dishwasher to wash dishes, as most dishwashers are designed to save water. You also can use the "Economy" mode on the dishwasher to save even more water.
  • If you have a trash compactor, use it at nights once in for all rather than using it several times during the day.
Light Bulbs

If you have incandescent light bulbs in your house, your home is not energy efficient. So switch to CFL light bulbs, which not only use 75 percent less energy compared to incandescent light bulbs, but also tend to last much longer.

These are some of the ways you can cut your energy costs with a smart meter and enjoy savings. These simple but valuable tips will not restrict your daily life and you will not have to schedule a tight daily power usage.

This post is contributed by SpireMT, a leading supplier of Electrical Energy Meters,Handheld Ultrasonic Flow Meter, digital flow meters, water flow meter, Digital Flow Meters and many more. For more information visit at http://www.spiremt.com

Pointers to keep in mind while installing magnetic flow meters

What is a magnetic flow meter, and how it works?

As the name suggest it is a measuring instrument, used for determining the flow of any liquid in a pipe. Since, it is based on the Law of Electromagnetic Induction as incepted by Faraday; it is referred to as Magnetic or Mag Flow Meter. It generates a magnetic field and channels it into the liquid flowing through the pipe.

The flow of liquid creates voltage signals that are sensible for the electrodes integrated on the tube walls. When the flow of conductive liquid increases, it will instantly result in greater voltage, which also justifies the Faraday's law that says generated voltage is directly proportional to the speed of flowing liquid. Then there is an electronic transmitter also, which is integrated with the instrument to process the voltage signals for determination of liquid flow in a quantitative manner.

Consideration to be made while using magnetic flow meter

One can easily measure the velocity of any fluidic substance like water, caustic, slurries, acids etc by using Magnetic flow meter. However it should be a conductive liquid having electric conductive of more than 5 EC. On the other hand, liquids with lower electric conductivity, like hydrocarbons, de-ionized water, and boiler feed water should be used with a lot of care. Because of low conductivity, the flow meter can get turned off or show zero flow with these types of liquids.

There is an advantage with magnetic flow meter that you can use it to measure pure, corrosive, dirty, as well as abrasive liquids, because it doesn't offer any obstruction in the flow. However, if you are looking to use it with gases and hydrocarbon liquids, then it is totally worthless, as they are non-conductive in nature.

Mag flow meter can be mounted in the short meter run, as it doesn't require a great deal of upstream or downstream straight run. From the plane of electrodes, 3 to 5 times of dia. of up-stream and 0 to 3 times of dia. of down-stream straight run is enough for this instrument.

Usually, this flow meter is used, where the liquid is fed in the tube by the use of gravity. You have to make sure that the orientation of magnetic flow meter is managed in such a way that the instrument is completely filled with the liquid. In case, you failed to ensure these two important things, you must be ready to deal with inaccurate readings from the flow meter.

You have to be more attentive, while using the magnetic flow meter in the vacuum services. There are more possibilities of instrument collapse in such circumstances. If the instrument got sucked in the pipe during vacuum service it can easily cause catastrophic damaging of the flow meter. On the other hand, if the instrument is working with excessive temperature of the liquid, then there are very high chances of permanent damaging in the magnetic flow meter.

Cautions with the instrument
  • Magnetic flow meter is a volumetric measuring instrument; that's why you must ensure its proper placement, before using it.
  • Make sure about the conductivity of liquid whose flow has to be determined. The meter will not work with DE-ionized water and hydrocarbons, as it is compatible with liquids having conductivity of 5 EC or more.
  • Allowance should be given for the change in composition of liquid.
  • In typical cases the maximum flow measurable with this instrument is 2 or 3 m/sec. it’s essential to consider the points, which differential pressure restraints, as well as, states of flow-tube that can make the application of common guideline unacceptable.
This post is contributed by SpireMT, a leading supplier of Magnetic Flow meters,Handheld Ultrasonic Flow Meter, digital flow meters, water flow meter,wireless telemetry systems and many more. For more information visit at http://www.spiremt.com

What are the Benefits of Smart Meters over Traditional Electric Meters?

As energy bills are soaring around the world customers are looking for solutions to cut down on the power bills and use energy more efficiently. Energy efficient lighting solutions, heating solutions and appliances do help but you still have to use energy judiciously to cut down on your energy consumption. Smart Meters have offered some respite to the consumers as it allows them detailed information about their energy usage and helps conserve energy. These meters have many advantages over the traditional electric meters that we have used for decades. In fact traditional meters did nothing more than keeping track of how much energy you have consumed. Let us now take a look at some of the advantages that these Smart Meters have over the traditional electric meters.

  • Smart Tracking
  • Firstly they track our energy consumption smartly and give us insights into our energy consumption. These insights help us know our usual habits (which many of us aren't aware of) with energy consumption and help us in using this precious resource much more efficiently.

  • Prevents Overload
  • Overload was one of the major problems that all of us would have faced when using multiple electrical devices in our homes. Smart Meters come fitted with a kill switch that limits our energy consumption to the maximum amount of power that we are contracted for. This prevents overloading and damaging our expensive electrical appliances.

  • Fairer Bills
  • With these meters installed you will pay only for what you use. These meters directly communicate with our energy suppliers and give us real-time data on our energy consumption.

  • Preserve Privacy
  • There is no need for the service provider to visit your house and take the reading as your bills are calculated automatically based on your energy consumption. This helps is preserving privacy which is important for many consumers.

  • Efficient Usage Option
  • Another great advantage of using smart meters is that it provides you with greater control over your energy consumption. There are some suppliers who offer you time-based rates (peak and off-peak). This give you more options in managing your electricity consumption and bills.

  • Instant Alerts
  • On many occasions your energy consumptions soar as you aren't aware of how much electricity you are consuming. Suppliers are coming out with instant alerts via messages and email which will offer you intelligence on your energy consumption thus helping you use energy judiciously and cut down on consumption.

  • Inactive Consumption
  • There are some appliances which can actually consume a huge amount of electricity even when they are in inactive mode. Most of us weren't even aware of the energy consumption in such inactive mode but with Smart Meters we can be aware of such consumption and cut down on them.

These are some of the advantages that Smart Meters offer us over traditional electric meters. Engineers around the world are working on many more innovative solutions which will help customers cut down on the wastage of energy give respite to their pockets as well as to the environment.

This post is contributed by SpireMT, a leading supplier of Electrical Energy Meters, Handheld Ultrasonic Flow Meter, digital flow meters, water flow meter, wireless telemetry systems and many more. For more information visit at http://www.spiremt.com

How Smart Meters are Helpful for Saving Energy Consumption?

Our energy needs and dependence on electricity and gas has increased many folds in the last few decades. We depend on appliances for most of our daily chores. Energy bills and gas bills account for a major spending every month for households. Technically it is very difficult to cut down on energy usage but we can definitely reduce the bills by adopting smarter solutions. One of the easiest ways to do so is by using Smart Meters. These meters give us more control over our energy consumption allowing us to cut down on energy consumption substantially by avoiding wastage of energy.

It has been estimated that every household spends about 54% of the energy for heating and cooling alone and most of the energy wastage occurs in running these appliances. Thus one of the ways to consume lesser energy would be to ensure that our air conditioners and water heaters are used more efficiently. Smart Meters help us in consuming energy efficiently.

Why Are Smart Meters Smart?

The traditional household meters charge us based on the total energy consumption per month. What such meters cannot tell us is how much energy we are consuming during particular phases of a day for instance during the peak hours. Smart meters on the other hand the fees on a per-hour basis. They directly communicate with your energy supplier and ensure that the bills are more accurate helping you pay only for what you use. Let us now take a look at some of the advantages that these meters offer and how we can cut down on the energy consumption in our daily lives.

  • These meters give us near real-time information on energy use that is expressed in pounds and pence. When you are armed with this information you can easily cut down on the energy consumption during peak hours when some suppliers charge you a higher tariff.
  • Such meters have the ability to manage energy use. All the energy that comes from the supplier to our house in used in a much more efficient way by preventing any leakage. This means that you can save money and reduce emissions for a better future.
  • As we have discussed earlier Smarter Meters are bringing an end to estimated billing. The supplier doesn't need to come to your home to get the reading as the meter constantly communicates the same to your supplier. Thus you pay only for what you use.

However switching to Smart Meters alone won't help you reduce energy consumption as you need to adopt more energy efficient appliances and lighting solutions in your home. For example traditional halogen bulbs waste about 80% of the energy as heat and convert only 20% energy into light. Switching to CFLs and LED lights you can cut down on the consumption by about 75%. Maintaining your air conditioners at 77°F/25°C and turning them off before leaving home can also reduce the consumption of energy. You can also alternate between a fan and an AC to reduce energy consumption.

This post is contributed by SpireMT, a leading supplier of Electrical Energy Meters, Handheld Ultrasonic Flow Meter, digital flow meters, water flow meter, Handheld Ultrasonic Flow Meter and many more. For more information visit at http://www.spiremt.com

Various Types and Benefits Of Flow Meters in Small-Medium Industries

Various types of industries require measuring the flow of a liquid or gas. Several technological upgrades over the years have helped in efficient measurement of the same. For instance, a water flow meter is useful in measuring the flow of water in residential premises as well as in industries. This helps in accurate distribution of water in homes, industries and commercial establishments. In addition, it is quite useful in determining water leaks as well.

There are two major types of flow meters, which are specified below:

  1. Positive Displacement Meter
  2. Velocity Water Flow Meter

Positive Displacement Meter: The Positive Displacement Meter is perfect for low usage, such as in homes and apartments. This type of meter compares the flow of water by comparing the current amount of water held in the chamber with the previous quantity. It provides a fair idea of the total quantity of water consumed.

Velocity Flow Meter: The Velocity Flow Meter makes use of the velocity of water flow to determine the quantity of water consumed. Intricate mechanisms are made use of in measuring the velocity of water. Various types of velocity meters are used in different industries. The most common ones include multi-jet meters, venture meters, orifice meters, ultrasonic meters, magnetic meters and turbine meters.

The Velocity Flow Meters are perfect for measuring huge quantities of water accurately. Hence these are preferred in heavy industries where there is a substantial consumption of water daily. Certain industries make use of flaw detectors as well for accurate measurement of the water flow. One can choose among multiple varieties of water flow meters. These meters are capable of measuring even a small trickle of water accurately. In this way, accurate measurements can be obtained for billing purposes.

A Digital Water Meter is worth mentioning here. It measures the quantity of water consumed in cubic meters or cubic feet. Owing to its high accuracy, it is preferred for installation in homes and offices. Installing it is pretty easy and it has loads of interesting features. It makes use of high end technology to measure water flow accurately and display the reading in real time with an attractive digital meter that can be configured in myriad ways.

Water leakage at any point in the supply line can prove to be dangerous. If the problem is not addressed immediately, it can lead to severe accidents. High end water flow meters available in markets these days can indicate water leakage and pin point to the exact location. This essentially helps in fixing the issue well before it can cause severe structural damage and cause loss of life and property. When shopping for water meters, make it a point to discuss this aspect with your vendor.

Make sure that you spend sufficient time and effort in locating a water flow meter supplier that satisfies your requirements completely. If needed, check out the feedback given to it by its previous clients on various Internet portals. You would want to be completely sure about its quality to ensure accurate measurement of water flow.

This post is contributed by SpireMT, a leading supplier of Magnetic Flow Meters, Handheld Ultrasonic Flow Meter, digital flow meters, water flow meter, Ultrasonic Heat Meters and many more. For more information visit at http://www.spiremt.com

Quantify The Velocity of The Liquid Using Ultrasonic Flow Meters

When does the need of measuring the velocity of a liquid arise? Well, there are several such scenarios in which this may be needed. For instance, a big manufacturing industry may need continuous flow of water for cooling purpose. In addition, a chemical manufacturing company will need to measure the flow of a chemical in the liquid form to ensure that just the final product has just the right mix of ingredients. Ultrasonic flow meters happen to be extremely useful in such scenarios.

Another industry that needs water flow measurement is the waste water processing industry, where it is necessary to determine the flow of water accurately. Incorrect measurement of the water flow can lead to huge losses that can jeopardize its operating margins. An ultrasonic flow meter is perfect for usage in a wide variety of industries owing to the several benefits that it provides, including absence of moving parts and high accuracy.

Measuring the flow of liquids having high turbidity is extremely difficult owing to the fact that the moving parts cannot cut through them. Besides that, chemical compatibility is another important issue to address when measuring the flow of highly reactive liquids such as acids. These liquids can react with the material of the flow meter and eat it up in due course of time. On the other hand, there is absolutely no moving part in ultrasonic flow meters and hence there is no risk of destruction of the flow meter hardware.

Way of operation

Ultrasonic flow meters have an interesting way of operation. These meters make use of ultrasonic waves that are broadcast towards the moving liquid. When these waves strike anything, these return back. The speed with which these waves return to the transmitter/ receiver happens to indicate the flow of the liquid in question.

There are three main types of ultrasonic flow meters available in the market:

  1. Transmission Flow Meters
  2. Doppler Flow Meters
  3. Open Channel Flow Meters

Transmission Flow Meters: Transmission flow meters can be further classified as clamp-on (non intrusive) and in-line (intrusive) transmission flow meters. These meters work by measuring the rate at which ultrasonic beam is returned after hitting a particle.

Doppler Flow Meters: Doppler Flow Meters make use of Doppler Shift that emanates due to the reflection of an ultrasonic beam when it hits sonically reflective materials. These flow meters are perfect for measuring the flow of slurries, gases that have sound reflecting particles and liquids with bubbles. These meters can also be used for measuring the flow of blood. These meters, however, are not suitable for measuring the flow of clear drinking water.

Given the several advantages of these meters and the fact that there are no components that can get corroded after long time usage, these meters are perfect for usage in a variety of industries. These meters have an exceptionally long life and hence help in significant cost savings as well. If you are looking forward to installation of splendid quality meters for measuring flow of any liquid, consider the ultrasonic flow meters!

This post is contributed by SpireMT, a leading supplier of Ultrasonic Flow Meters, Handheld Ultrasonic Flow Meter, digital flow meters, water flow meter,Handheld Ultrasonic Flow Meter and many more. For more information visit at http://www.spiremt.com

The Usage and Significance of Flow Meters in Industries and Residential Purposes

Nowadays, flow meters have become a common sight at houses as well as industries. A flow meter is basically used for measuring the flow rate of gas or liquids. The different flow rates which can be read with the help of these devices are - linear, non linear, volumetric and mass flow rates.

Flow meters are available in many varieties to meet different purposes. Of them, gas flow meters are very common and crucial devices. Gas flow meter measures and regulates the quantity of gas that needs to be used for heating, cutting, welding and several other such purposes, industrially as well as residentially.

Why Flow Meters are Widely Used?

Everyone is aware of the fact that fuel prices are going up day by day because resources are drying up. It is our responsibility and liability to save these resources for the generations to come. This makes it essential that we have a controlled usage of fuel; and for this, proper measurement device is required to manage it. Flow meters exactly serve this purpose in a customized way. For instance, the fuel flow meter acts as an indicator to show the amount of fuel left in the storage and expected duration of usage etc. These meters are also helpful in identifying any potential hazards like a possible leakage of gas or low / high flow rates.

The users of flow meters certify to the fact that these devices have helped them save gas and in turn cut down their utility bills up to a significant extent. Going by the rate of increase in fuel usage and the scarcity of the availability, soon we can expect regulatory enactment in place to mandate the use of flow meters at all places where fuel energy is utilized.

Things to Know about Usage of Flow Meters

There are many types of flow meters available in the market. However, you have to make sure that you purchase and use only high-quality devices. Always check for the quality certification as well as the credibility of the manufacturer while purchasing flow meters. Do keep in mind that if the meters are tampered by any sources, it will not only just lead to increasing your utility bill, but can also cause severe safety hazards for your house or company.

The flow meters are expected to meet certain standardized specifications mentioned by the regulating authorities in order to be sold in the market. However, there are some improper channels which release several low-quality imitations in market from time to time. To make your purchase safe, remember that the original devices are equipped with a push fit box that is sealed to offer complete protection; and the box cannot be opened or manipulated unless you break it.

The flow meters are delicate instruments and may need some changes or corrections in a couple of years or three years' time. Hence, if you suspect any malfunctioning, submit it for proper servicing at an authorized service center. Do not try to repair it yourself or ignore the need for servicing, which may lead to dangerous after effects.

This post is contributed by SpireMT, a leading supplier of Ultrasonic Flow Meters, Handheld Ultrasonic Flow Meter, digital flow meters, water flow meter, Magnetic Flow Meters and many more. For more information visit at http://www.spiremt.com

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