Engineers carefully incorporate the monitoring of flow in the design of hydraulic systems. Variable area flowmeters offer plant engineers and maintenance staff the opportunity of monitoring flow under operating conditions. This type of flowmeter is ideal for plant applications because it is simple to install, has an acceptable level of accuracy and is not as costly as other types of flowmeters.
The design of a variable area flowmeter is simple and it is ideal for controlling and monitoring applications in industrial, hydraulic or engineering environments. The process of installing in pipes is easy and when carefully matched to the system, these units are economical to maintain and offer low-cost operation.
The variable orifice facilitates variable area flowmetering because as the flow rate increases, the orifice area formed between the piston and the metering cone also increases. This results in the flow indication being more nearly linear with the flow rate through the instrument.
The piston-type variable flowmeter produced by Hedland addresses some of the limitations of the rotameter type flowmeter. To minimise the sensitivity to viscosity, the sharp edged annular orifice is used between the piston and tapered metering cone. Instead of balancing fluid flow forces on the float against gravity, the piston assembly is held in a 'no flow' position by a calibrated spring. Flow through the meter creates a pressure differential proportional to the rate of flow which moves the piston along the tapered metering cone.
"For these reasons variable area meters are the choice for many applications," says Reg Pretorius of Hydrasales. His experience in the market indicates that this a practical diagnostic tool, especially on test benches or in the field. The test kits become portable options and diagnosing flow problems or loss of pressure becomes simpler for maintenance engineers.
Elvira Caripis cites the type of liquid, system flows, the required levels of accuracy and operating pressures as the important factors in determining the size and type of flowmeter. According to her, the Hedland flowmeter can monitor petroleum fluids, oil, water and water-based fluids with varying degrees of viscosity. The ease with which flow can be read off the meter is a distinct advantage. These types of meters are also available for transmitters and remote monitoring.
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