Assure The Best Calibration of Flow Meter

Flow meters measure the flow rate of liquids or fluids and gas. These are essential in various applications where flow measurement accuracy is vital. So, these industries include agriculture, aerospace, water management, energy, pharmaceutical, etc.

To assure the best calibration of these meters, professionals have to do a regular calibration. And this also ensures the flowmeter’s measurements are as accurate as specified.

Why Calibration is Critical

What is Calibration? It’s a process used to check the accuracy of the meter. And gas flow calibration checks the accuracy of the flow.

Calibration is the process of adjusting the accuracy of a measuring device to match its reading with a known standard. It is important because the flow meter cannot measure accurately without calibration.

Below are some of the reasons why this procedure is critical:

• Most meter performance degrades after prolonged use or wears out.
• Rugged meters can also fall out of calibration.
• Corrosion or dirt can affect the flowmeters.
• Improper installation may also impact the functioning of flowmeters.

Calibration is essential as it ensures traceability of the measurement is well-maintained.

How Often Should a Flow Meter be Calibrated? 

No rule of thumb defines how frequently a flow meter must be calibrated. It will all be determined by several things. The flow meter type and the flow meter workload are the two most important. Flow meters with moving parts should be calibrated regularly, whereas those without moving parts can go for years without calibration. The flow meter’s workload will also affect how frequently it has to be calibrated. Because flow meters wear and break readily, they must be calibrated regularly if they are used for a long time.

There Are Three Methods Used To Calibrate Flow Measurement

1. Wet calibration by using actual fluid flow

2. Dry calibration using flow simulation through electronic or mechanical.

3. Physical dimensions measurement and also checks the empirical gables relating to flow rate.

Wet calibration is the most common practice for a flowmeter with a transmitter and an indicator. Then you can dry calibrate separately.

It’s critical to maintain adequate accuracy rations for every calibration as separately calibrates a portion of a system. Also, calculate the overall system accuracy.

Precision flow meters can see wet calibration during manufacturing time. When using actual fluid flow, Wet calibration usually provides high accuracy for a flowmeter. It can tell where accuracy is a significant concern or when the form of the meter fails to lend itself to other methods.

Then after service, a user can recalibrate these flow meters. At the same time, the actual spacing between the calibrations will depend on how important is the measurement and the user’s experience with the device.

Master Flowmeters 

One of the most common methods used in wet calibration is comparing the output of the meter testing with one or more flowmeters. These are certified against high-accuracy standards. But you can build a small Master Meter comparison test stand at a lower price than other wet calibration methods.

Liquid flow meter calibration involves the comparison against standard. So, this could be a primary reference or secondary, depending on the accuracy level needed.

Fluid Flowmeter Calibration Uses Three Principles

• Gravimetric
• Volume
• Transfer standard calibration methods.

In Conclusion

Wearing out the meter’s performance, corrosion, and improper installation affects the flow meter’s performance. By using the mentioned methods of meter flow calibration, you can assure the user is using a device that will serve him well. However, the type of liquid used also matters, considering the calibration method to use.