Flowmeter and Flow Meters Controller Application Table

Cole-Parmer Technical Library

Flowmeter Selection Guide

When selecting a flow meter consideration must be given to:

Flow measurement type - momentum (velocity), volumetric or mass flow measurement
Media - type of media (liquid, gas or slurry) and any special condition such as particulates in the media and viscosity of the media
Media conditions - pressure and temperature of media and whether media conditions are likely to remain constant or vary
Flow range - required flow range of media (min and max readings required)
Accuracy - required accuracy of the readings
Environmental considerations - special installation considerations such as hygienic installation, installing in to an ATEX zone or requiring tamper proof readings

For special or unique flow control applications use the helpful flow meter application table below to narrow your selection.

Application Parameter	Gases	Liquids	Flow meter type
Low-flow measurement/control (some types as low as 1 sccm air and 0.1 mL/min water, max of range)	• • • • • •	• • • • • • • • •	Mechanical orifice (flow controller) Thermal dispersion flow meters Differential pressure flow meters Flow Indicators/sensors/switches Turbine (Pelton wheel) flow meters Variable area flow meters Gear flow meters Propeller type (impeller/paddle wheel) flow meters Magnetic flow meter Ultrasonic flow meter Vortex flow meter
High-flow measurement/control (some types as high as 65,000 LPM gas and 10,000 LPM liquid)	• • • • •	• • • • • • • •	Thermal dispersion flow meters Differential pressure flow meters Flow Indicators/switches Variable area flow meters Vortex flow meter Propeller type (paddle wheel) flow meters Magnetic flow meter Turbine (Pelton wheel) flow meters Ultrasonic flow meter
High pressure (34 bar and up)	• • • •	• • • • • • •	Mechanical orifice (flow controller) Thermal dispersion flow meters Flow Indicators/switches Vortex flow meter Differential pressure flow meters Gear flow meters Magnetic flow meter Turbine flow meters Ultrasonic flow meter
High temperature (100°C and up)	• • •	• • • • • • • • •	Mechanical orifice (flow controller) Vortex flow meter (including steam) Variable area flow meters Ultrasonic flow meter Turbine flow meters Magnetic flow meter Flow Indicators/sensors Propeller type (paddle wheel) flow meters Gear flow meters Differential pressure flow meters
High-accuracy measurement (error at or below 1%)	• • •	• • • • •	Differential pressure flow meters Thermal dispersion flow meters Vortex flow meter Gear flow meters Propeller type (impeller/paddle wheel) flow meters Magnetic flow meter Turbine (Pelton wheel) flow meters
Aggressive or pure fluids	• • • •	• • • • •	Mechanical orifice (flow controller) Thermal dispersion flow meters Turbine flow meters Variable area flow meters Gear flow meters Propeller type (paddle wheel) flow meters Flow Indicators/switches
Fluids with heavy particulates or slurries		• •	Magnetic flow meter Ultrasonic flow meter
High-viscosity fluids		• • •	Vortex flow meter Gear flow meters Magnetic Ultrasonic flow meter
No wired power available	• • • • • •	• • • • • • • •	Magnetic flow meter Mechanical orifice (flow controller) Differential pressure flow meters Flow Indicators Turbine flow meters Variable area flow meters Gear flow meters Propeller type (impeller/paddle wheel) flow meters Ultrasonic flow meter
Intrinsically safe	• •	• • • • • •	Mechanical orifice (flow controller) Variable area flow meters Differential pressure flow meters Gear flow meters Propeller type (impeller/paddle wheel) flow meters Flow Indicators Turbine flow meters
Large pipe sizes (3" or larger)	•	• • • •	Vortex flow meter Ultrasonic flow meter Turbine (insertion) flow meters Magnetic flow meter
Sanitary (meets 3A standards)		• •	Propeller type (paddle wheel) flow meters Magnetic Turbine flow meters

	Chemical Compatibility

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