Leading Water Flow Meter Manufacturers

Mechanical Water Meters

Mechanical water meters measure the flow rate by placing a mechanical mechanism in the flow stream, which can be a paddlewheel, displacement mechanism, or turbine. As the water flow passes through the water flow meter, the paddlewheel or turbine rotates. Its rotation determines the flow rate. Mechanical water flow meters are the most common and oldest water meters. They are highly accurate but wear down over time due to impurities in the water.

Positive Displacement Mechanical Water Flow Meters

Positive displacement mechanical flow meters have a chamber that stops water flow. In the chamber is a revolving mechanism that rotates due to the force of the flow. The rate of the rotation of the mechanism determines the flow rate. Several types of positive displacement water flow meters include pistons, disks, vanes, and gears.

• Piston – Piston-type flow meters have a piston connected to a fill cylinder that fills with water. Once the cylinder is full, it is removed by a stroke of the piston. The various strokes provide an analysis of the water's flow rate.
• Gear – As the flow of water passes through, it rotates a gear to provide a flow rate.
• Oval Gear – In an oval flow meter, the chamber contains two oval gears that trap the flow of water and rotate under the force of the flow. As the flow rate increases, the gears rotate faster.
• Helical Gear – Helical gears have a spiral shape but function like an oval gear mechanical water flow meter where the water flow turns the gears. The rotation of the gears increases as the rate of the flow increases.
• Nutating Disk – A nutating disk flow meter has a ball in its center with a disk placed through the middle of the ball. The flow of water fills the chamber with the ball and disk. Each time the chamber fills and empties determines the flow rate.
• Rotary vane – An impeller holds two or more vanes that divide the area between the vanes into distinct sizes. Each rotation of the impeller determines the flow rate.
• Diaphragm – For a diaphragm flow meter, the flow rate is determined by filling and emptying an oscillating diaphragm.

  

Magnetic Water Flow Meters

Magnetic water flow meters, unlike mechanical flow meters, do not have moving parts but use a magnetic field to determine the flow rate. The principle of magnetic flow meters is that a fluid produces voltage as it passes through a magnetic field. The faster the fluid's movement, the greater the voltage produced. Therefore, the voltage produced is directly related to the movement of the water. There are certain restrictions regarding the use of magnetic flow meters. They have average accuracy and cannot be used for transfer purposes. In addition, magnetic water flow meters will not work with pure water.

Ultrasonic Water Flow Meters

Ultrasonic water flow meters use sound waves to calculate the flow rate of water. A power supply is necessary to power the ultrasonic waves used to measure the flow rate. They operate on the principle that a frequency shift of an ultrasonic signal is reflected by particles suspended in water while it is in motion, known as the doppler effect.

When water is not in motion, the reflected signal from the fluid is the same. However, the frequency changes under flowing conditions as the water moves faster and grows linearly. The increased frequency of the transmitted waves determines the flow rate.

In a non-doppler ultrasonic water flow meter, the ultrasonic waves are transmitted between transducers located upstream and downstream of the flow. During water flowing conditions, the upstream flow will move gradually and take longer than the downstream wave. As the water moves faster, a noticeable distinction develops between the upstream and downstream times. The variation in times is the flow rate.

Choosing the Correct Water Flow Meter Supplier

To ensure the most beneficial outcome when purchasing water flow meters from a water flow meter supplier, it is important to compare several companies using our directory of water flow meter suppliers. Each water flow meter supplier has a business profile page that highlights their areas of experience and capabilities, along with a contact form to directly communicate with each supplier for more information or request a quote. Review each water flow meter business website using our patented website previewer to quickly learn what each business specializes in. Then, use our simple RFQ form to contact multiple water flow meter companies with the same form.