Why Select a Thermal Mass Flowmeter ?

Thermal mass flowmeters work on the principle that the rate of dissipation of a heat source is proportional to the mass flow of a particular substance that passes or comes into contact with the heat source. A Thermal mass flowmeter can be used to determine the mass flow of liquids and gases. They have uses in a variety of industries from food processing, water management to chemical and medicine manufacture.Here are some of the reason to select a thermal mass flow meter.

At the simplest level, the basic components of such a meter is a heat source and a sensor that detects the change in heat over time. This provides a reading which is the mass flow rate of the particular substance that is being measured.

Thermal Mass Flowmeters are very accurate devices that also have high repeatability. They can come in analog and digital. They can also be designed to withstand high extremes of temperature and pressure to the extent that there are explosion proof indoor or outdoor varieties. 

Your heavy duty flowmeters will likely have few or no moving parts which mean fewer things to break and maintain.  Most offer an alarm system to notify you in the event of emergency which helps to eliminate any downtime which you might experience because of the alarm.  This type of flowmeter can also be used with liquid or gas.

Elastomer seals provide excellent leak protection and wards off pressure drop.  If you need a seal for a flow stream where contamination is unacceptable invest in a thermal mass flowmeter with metal seals or ultra-high purity seals which are great for use in clean environments such as the pharmaceutical industry.

If you are working with a configuration of pipes that does not offer straight sections of notable length invest in a thermal mass flowmeter that offers a conditioning element as an option.  By taking advantage of a conditioning element you can eliminate issues with velocity and temperature distortions which will cause inaccurate readings from your gauge while maintaining little pressure drop.

There is now a line of compact thermal mass flowmeters for use in those crammed areas where large flowmeters can't be installed. While the size is compact the products still boast exceptional reliability and fast response times.

Another type of flowmeter called an ultrasonic flow meter is also compact in size and is great when used as a backup for meters that are already in place. A feature of this type of meter is that it can be fairly easy to install and can be portable if required.

Depending on which company you choose to purchase your thermal mass flowmeter from you will likely be able to customize your gauge exactly the way you need it. If your pipes are larger than normal or the gas you are measuring is specific, you should be able to find the right gauge for the job.

For flexibility, purchase a thermal mass flow meter with an advanced electronics package.  If you are in the field and need to adjust a setting this type of package will simplify the job on the fly.  You can even password protect the package for increased security when utilizing the product in the field.

When it comes to selecting a thermal mass flowmeter, you really need to understand your needs. This means the type of substance or substances that you will be using the device with. If you intend to measure the flow rate of more than one substance, is it easy to calibrate the meter ? It also means understanding where it will be used. Will it be installed or need to be portable ? What sort of environmental conditions will it be working in. All these questions need to be determined before making a selection.