Introduction to Three Common Ultrasonic Flowmeters

2025-08-07 16:27:09

Ultrasonic flowmeter is a device that measures fluid velocity information by detecting the influence of fluid flow on ultrasonic waves. According to the signal detection methods, it can be divided into propagation velocity difference method, Doppler method, beam offset method, noise method, and correlation method. Ultrasonic FLOW METERs can be divided into three types: external installation, insertion, and pipe section.

(1) External clip type

The external clamp type ultrasonic flowmeter is an early production, user familiar and applied ultrasonic flowmeter. The installation of the transducer does not require interruption of the pipeline, and can be used immediately, fully reflecting the characteristics of simple installation and convenient use of ultrasonic flowmeters.

(2) Pipe section type

Some pipelines have poor material, poor sound transmission, or severe corrosion, with gaps between the lining and the interior space of the pipeline, resulting in severe attenuation of ultrasonic signals. The external mounted ultrasonic flowmeter cannot measure normally, so a pipe section ultrasonic flowmeter is produced. The pipe section ultrasonic flowmeter integrates the transducer and the measuring tube, solving a difficult problem in the measurement of the external clamp ultrasonic flowmeter. And the measurement accuracy is also higher than other ultrasonic flow meters, but at the same time, it sacrifices the advantage of continuous flow installation of external mounted ultrasonic flow meters, requiring the installation of transducers by cutting open the pipeline.  

(3) Insertion type

The plug-in ultrasonic flowmeter is located in the middle of the above two. During installation, it can flow continuously. A special tool is used to drill holes in the pipeline with water, and the transducer is inserted into the pipeline to complete the installation. Due to the fact that the transducer is located in the pipeline, its signal transmission and reception only pass through the measured medium and not through the pipe wall and lining, so its measurement is not limited by the quality of the pipeline and the material of the pipeline lining.