Flow meters measure the amount of liquid, gas or vapor passing through a piping system. Most flow meters are designed to measure the velocity, or speed at which the fluid flows through a pipe. They use that information along with the pipe’s inner cross sectional area to calculate volume, or the amount of fluid passing […]
Not All Flow Meters Are Created Equal! Part 2
Now that we have established why the flow meter is the most inaccurate component of the energy measurement system, what does this accuracy/inaccuracy really mean and how does it impact the measurement? Let’s start by defining measurement. What kind of accuracy is required to make a legitimate flow measurement? Let’s break this down into three […]
Not All Flow Meters Are Created Equal!
As energy usage has become a lightning rod for conversation and studies regarding efficiency, the ability to measure and quantify energy consumption has become forefront in the battle to get a handle on what is being used and how efficient or inefficient that use may be. However, before we can truly measure consumption, we really […]
What Your Mother Never Told You About Measuring Steam Flow
Ok, I’m sure your mother never said word one to you about measuring steam flow, but if she had, I’m sure she would have mentioned that setting up your steam system for precise measurement and minimal losses can be a toughy. The issue boils down (see what I did there?) to the measurement technology available […]
Truth in Specsmanship, Part 3
This time I will review the specsmanship of a single turbine insertion style meter. Its manufacturer infers the meter’s performance by once again mixing and matching information in an attempt to project its capabilities beyond what is possible, with regard to the meter’s accuracy specifications. On the product’s specifications document the manufacturer lists the meter’s […]
Truth in Specsmanship, Part 2
This installment of “Truth In Specsmanship” will examine the insertion magmeter technology as it relates to turndown. Turndown is the operating range of a given meter, based on the maximum operating velocity, divided by the turndown factor. For example, suppose a meter has a maximum operating range of 30 ft/s and a turndown of 100:1. […]
Truth in Specsmanship, Part 1
Most of today’s flow technologies (paddle wheel, turbines, orifice plates, variable area, pitot tube, vortex, and magnetic) are volumetric, meaning that these devices measure velocity and then calculate volume by using a known cross section area (Velocity (feet/second) x Area (Ft2) = Volumetric flow rate (ft3/s)). In all cases, the higher the velocity the easier […]
Mechanical Flow Meters vs Magnetic Flow Meters
Magnetic flow meters are increasingly 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. The most common mechanical flow meters are inserted into a pipe and use a turbine, wheel or paddle to measure velocity and then […]
Why You’re Probably Overspending on Energy
You’re an engineer for a big company, university campus, or government agency. Your job is to identify and implement the best energy solutions for a pretty large geographic area. This means you need the right tools. Unfortunately, accuracy when it comes to billing is pretty subjective in this field. A number of factors weigh in […]
The Truth About Flow Meter Accuracy Statements
Flow meter accuracy versus Flow meter turndown is a subject that gets very little attention, but has a huge impact on true measurement accuracy, especially under low flow conditions. Typically accuracy statements are established under lab test conditions with NIST traceable instruments. These measurements are made under very controlled conditions and in most cases do […]