Importance of Mass Flow Measurement

Constant reading of flow rate to monitor, control, or make sense of plant processes is vital if the company wants to meet its goals. Many brands and plants fail to invest in proper flow measurement tools, which leads to losses and waste of resources. How many factors can hinder a flow reading system works. Among them is a poor setup process. Other factors include contamination that may cause mechanical wear, deposition or corrosion, erosion, and many other things. 

In mass flow rate reading and control, factors that decide or affect flow rate are either ignored or misunderstood altogether. All it takes to ensure that flow measurement tools work well is proper setup processes, using the right device for the right application, constant calibration, and proper maintenance. By doing all these simple things, you will not only get an accurate flow rate, but you will also make the tool long-lasting.

Importance of Accurate Flow Measurement 

Product Safety 

Let’s use the pharmaceuticals sector, for instance. A flow controller is used in this sector to control several complex chemical processes. Flow reading here is critical in the production of lifesaving products or drugs. The most commonly used flow meters in this industry include Coriolis, ultrasonic, and turbine flow meters. In such an application, fluid reading is a matter of life and death. To assure that there is consistency in product quality, you need to understand accurate reading.

Legal and Taxation 

In the food and beverage industry, flow measurement accuracy also plays a big role. Most countries in the world use flow reading records for taxation and legal purposes. This is applied in the production of alcoholic beverages. This requirement also applies in the gas and oil industries for custody transfer readings. Authorities want to ensure that all flow rate needs are met since alcohol is a big player in annual revenue turnover. 

Regulatory frameworks are created in many countries to ensure that all flow reading tools work well. In the UK, we have a body that described the National Measurement System (NMS), which works under the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). A funding of £65 million is set aside annually to facilitate BEIS activities. 

Traceability  

Another benefit of ensuring accurate reading is traceability. In national reading infrastructure, traceability plays an important role in achieving confidence and flow rate reading accuracy. The purpose of tracing is to ensure that flow reading tools are traced with ease through calibration. When flow meters are used for a while, they tend to lose accuracy. That is why they need frequent checks and calibration, which is the process of comparing and resetting tools to ensure they meet the set flow rate reading standards. 

Uncertainty is low when moving up the traceability chain. Investing more in maintenance and capital cost makes it easier to lower uncertainty in flow rate reading tools. Before deciding to buy a flow controller, it is always good to have in mind the kind of system you want to use it for. Most of the time, inaccuracy is brought about by poor installation, wrong application, and failure to carry out proper maintenance. 

Reading technology has undergone tremendous advancements in recent years. Some of the circumstances contributing to this growth include advanced diagnostics and electronics, powerful data processing, and wireless communications. 

Most companies refrain from investing in powerful flow rate reading tools because they don’t understand the impact these devices have on the production quality. When it comes to gas and oil, accuracy is the number one priority because they are hazardous, and safety needs to be prioritized. These products are also expensive, and wastage due to leaks or inaccurate flow readings may lead to huge losses. This is the reason why such industries have dedicated metering departments. Another reason why the oil and gas industries are regulated more strictly is the cost of their metering devices. 

No matter the industry you are working with, it is critical to focus on proper flow reading. You first need to know the uncertainty needs and also the uncertainty of a certain flow reading system. Other factors that the user needs to look into are how the device works overtime, how long it takes to reset it, and whether there is a record of how it has worked in the past. 

Conclusion

Proper flow measurement is always vital no matter the system used. However, some need more accuracy than others when it comes to mass flow rate reading. Sectors that deal in oil & gas and medical care require more flow rate accuracy because of safety, taxation, and legal needs.