Understanding Flowmeters And Their Pros And Cons

By Ron DiGiacomo, ABB Measurement Products

One of the most critical measurements in the processing industries is rate of flow. In 2010, the ARC Advisory Group estimated the total instrumentation market (not including process analytical devices) to be $13.4B. The chemical industry accounted for $2.5B of this figure. Flowmeters account for nearly 30% of the amount spent on these measurement products.

Flow metering technologies fall into four classifications: velocity, inferential, positive displacement, and mass. This article summarizes the considerations in selecting and applying these flowmeters, and provides examples of the kinds of flowmeters in each category.