Editor’s choice
5. Cost-Effective Installation: Because there is no need to alter the pipeline, the installation costs are generally lower compared to in-line flowmeters.
Disadvantages:
1. Accuracy Limitations: Clamp-on flowmeters typically have lower accuracy compared to in-line flowmeters. The actual dimension of the pipe wall thickness and pipe bore are very important when calculating flow measurement accuracy. Factors such as pipe material, wall thickness, internal surface deposits and flow profile, will affect flowmeter accuracy.
2. Calibration: Supplier calibration can only be done on a representative piped system and not on the final installed device, compromising the accuracy attainable.
3. Limited Application Range: They might not be suitable for very small or very large pipes and can be less effective for measuring certain types of fluids, particularly those with low fluid velocity or high levels of aeration.
4. Dependency on Pipe Condition: The condition and material of the pipe can significantly impact the performance of clamp-on flowmeters. For example, pipes with heavy insulation or thick walls might pose challenges to acoustic conductivity, causing signal degradation. Pipeline material may also be an issue.
5. Potential for Signal Interference: They can be susceptible to signal interference from nearby electronic equipment or from the pipe material itself, which can affect measurement reliability.
6. Location: The choice of site for locating the clamp-on device is critical as the usual installation caveats, such as away from values and bends, still apply. Turbulence can be reduced by ensuring at a minimum, 10 diameters of straight pipe upstream and 5 diameters downstream. These factors would be closely monitored in a permanent situation by default.
Clamp-on flowmeters are ideal for non-invasive, flexible, and portable applications where ease of installation and low installation costs are priorities, even though they may offer lower accuracy and are influenced by the pipe and fluid characteristics. They are used across all industries due to their inherent flexibility.
The choice between ultrasonic in-line and clamp-on flowmeters depends on the specific needs of the application, including factors such as required accuracy, ease of installation, maintenance considerations, and the nature of the fluid and pipeline.
Titan’s range of in-line ultrasonic flowmeters utilise our patented ‘time-of-flight’ ultrasonic technology, operating with excellent accuracy over wide liquid flow ranges from 2ml/min to 20l/min.
Titan Enterprises
flowmeters.co.uk T: 01935 812790
E:
sales@flowmeters.co.uk
Instrumentation Monthly March 2025
15
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