Mechanical Water Flow Meters

Mechanical water flow meters refer to a type of flow meter suitable for clean water processes or applications. The working principle of a mechanical water flow meter is to measure the speed of water flowing through a pipe. This causes the piston or turbine to rotate. The volume flow of water is proportional to the rotation speed of the blades. Compared with electronic water flow meters, mechanical water flow meters may become clogged when the water is dirty or contains large particles. When the water flow is low, the mechanical water meter does not work well.

Mechanical Water Flow Meters

Mechanical Water Flow Meters VS Mechanical Water Meters

Water meter and flow meter are two products with different standards. The focus of the two is also different.

The water meter implements the national standard, and the flow meter implements the industry standard. Water meters require higher requirements than flow meters. Water meters focus on wide-range measurement. And flow meters are suitable for fluid measurement with stable flow rates. Water meters are only used in the water industry, while flow meters are used in major industrial and civil industries. In terms of application range, electromagnetic flowmeters have a wider application range than water meters. However, because the upper and lower limits of flowmeters are relatively narrower than water meters. Water meters are often used in the water industry.

Extended reading: non contact flow meter

Mechanical flow meters are a type of flow meters that use arrangement moving parts to measure flow. The fluid passes through a series of gears or chambers (positive displacement or PD) or through a rotating turbine or rotor. The mechanical flowmeter is different from electromagnetic and ultrasonic in principle. Mechanical flow meters easily monitor liquid flow rates for water, fuels, viscous fluids and more.

Extended Reading: Collection of Industrial Insertion Flowmeter Type

Mechanical water meters have been used by us to measure water consumption for decades. In recent years, with the introduction of smart water, smart city policies. Relevant departments and the water department advocate the use of smart water meters. Smart water meters are widely used. There are still many areas using machinery. Water meters need to be replaced. Smart water meters still have a lot of room for the replacement.

The working principle of the mechanical water meter is that the water flow is driven by the impeller to drive the electromechanical water meter quantitatively. Its function and performance are far from being able to meet the growing technological construction. The disadvantages of the mechanical water meter:

Must use water of similar quality to tap water. And the liquid must not contain rust, gravel, aquatic plants, and other impurities;
It is more difficult to manufacture products with a high range ratio. The range ratio of traditional mechanical water meters is usually less than 80;
Mechanical water meters use impeller gears and other mechanical rotating parts for measurement. The longer the use time, the lower the measurement accuracy;
The pressure loss is great.
Single installation must be strictly horizontal or vertical installation.

For users, the “intelligent water meter” is a tap water meter with remote transmission function.

Extended Reading: Chilled Water Flow Meter

Water flow meters are flow meters that can diaplay the flow rate of industrial water pipe.

A water flow meter measures the amount of water flowing through a pipe. We have several kinds to choose from, depending on the application, maintenance needs, and budget.

Extended reading: 2 inch Water Flow Meter

There are four common water flow meter types:

Turbine (also called mechanical), Vortex, Ultrasonic, and Magnetic. We will tell you everything you need to know about them and help you choose one for your application.

First, you should know the flow meter working principles.

Extended reading: Ultrasonic Flow Meters Types & Technical Guide

Compared with other flow meters, the mechanical flowmeter relies on the rotation and displacement of mechanical parts to measure the flow rate. Common mechanical flow meters have the following categories.

Tool: Volumetric Flow Rate & Pipe Diameter to Flow Speed Calculator

A positive displacement flowmeter as a mechanical flow meter is a common type of Volumetric Flow Meter. It can measure the volume flow of high viscosity and corrosive fluids.

Volumetric flow meter working principle

The positive displacement flow meter is a flow meter that uses mechanical measuring elements to continuously divide the fluid into a single known volume, and repeatedly fill and discharge the volume of fluid to accumulate the total amount of fluid.

Read more about: positive displacement flowmeter

A Rotameter flow meter is a variable area flow meter based on float position measurement. It is suitable for liquid and gas volumetric flow measurement and control.

Rotameter flow meter working principle

When the measured fluid passes through the annulus formed by the cone and floats from the bottom to the top. The differential pressure produced at the upper and lower ends of the float forms the force for the float to rise. Until the rising force equals the weight of the float immersed in the fluid, the float will stabilize at a certain height.
The height of the float in the tapered tube and the flow rate through it correspond to each other.

Read more about Rotameter flow meter-Variable Area Flow Meters

Extended reading: Beginner’s Guide: Variable area flow meter

Turbine flow meters are velocity flow meters, also called impeller flow meters. Can be used to measure the instantaneous flow and cumulative flow of liquids and gases.

Turbine Flow Meter Working Principle

The fluid flows through the sensor housing. Because the blades of the impeller have a certain angle with the flow direction. The impulse of the fluid makes the blades have a rotational torque. After the friction torque and fluid resistance are overcome, the blades rotate. The speed is stable after the torque is balanced.
Under certain conditions, the speed is proportional to the flow rate.

Read more about Turbine Flow Meter Working Principle

The gear flow meter is a micro digital positive displacement flow meter. Can measure very small flow rates and quantify small volumes of liquid. High and low-temperature resistance (-196℃-200℃).

Gear flow meter working principle

With the flow of the medium, the gears mesh and rotate. Under the action of the fluid flow, a pressure difference is formed at both ends of the instrument inlet and outlet. There is no need for power supply. A pair of gears rotate freely. The cavity between the gears is filled with liquid. Discharge and measure the number of revolutions of the gear to know the flow of liquid and liquid flowing through the instrument.

Read more about Gear flow meter for Microflow

A common mechanical flow meter is inserted into the pipe and uses a turbine, wheel, or paddle to measure the speed. Then calculate the volume flow by knowing the cross-sectional area of the pipe in which they are installed. A common type of the above-mentioned mechanical flow meter uses a turbine. It rotates as the water flow applies force to the blades. The rotation of the turbine is proportional to the speed of the fluid flowing through it. Once the speed is known, the flow rate can be calculated.

Other mechanical watches use the same basic mechanical principles to measure flow. They operate effectively in full pipelines and when used in areas with the stable flow and almost no turbulence. Mechanical flow meters will operate in all types of liquids. However, it is prone to clogging and performance degradation due to the accumulation of solids on the turbine blades. They also block part of the flow and require regular maintenance of gears and moving parts.

The most common mechanical water flow meter is the turbine flow meter.

Extended reading: Insertion Ultrasonic Water Flow Meter – Designed for Agricultural Irrigation, Garden Management

Read more about: Flow Meter Selection Guide

More Featured Water Flow Meters

Frequently
Asked
Questions

Mechanical Type Flow Meter is a type of flow meter. The mechanical flowmeter is a purely mechanical measuring component. Such as turbine flowmeter, rotameter, etc.

Extended reading: water meter installation details

Compared with other flow meters, the mechanical flowmeter relies on the rotation and displacement of mechanical parts to measure the flow rate. Common mechanical flow meters are Positive displacement flow meter; Variable area flowmeter; Turbine flowmeter; Gear flow meter.

Extended Reading: Metal Tube Flow Meter Applications

The two instruments also measure the flow of liquid in the pipeline, so what is the difference between them?

Many users ask why it is so expensive when they ask about the flowmeter. So let’s first talk about the difference in price. The price of flow meters is much higher than that of water meters. The price with high precision and large-diameter are higher. The price of a water meter is much lower, basically, you can buy it for tens of dollars. The higher price is only three to four hundred yuan.

Of course, the price difference between them is so big, the function is definitely very different. In addition to measuring the instantaneous flow of liquid, the flow meter. It can also measure the cumulative flow. And the flow data can be output to the secondary meter. Convenient statistics and management. These are things that water meters cannot do.

The water meter is in cubic units, while the flow meter can be in cubic or liter units. The unit of liters means that the flowmeter is more accurate and detailed, and is more suitable for factory production and trade requirements.

Extended reading: Advantages and disadvantages of ultrasonic water meters

Sino-Inst offers over 3mechanical water flow meter products. About 50% of these are differential pressure flow meters. 40% are water meters (like the Insertion Turbine Flow Meter), and 40% are water treatment (like the Annubar flow meter ).

A wide variety of mechanical water flow meter options are available to you, such as free samples, paid samples.

Extended Reading: Rotameter vs Flow meter

Sino-Inst is a globally recognized supplier and manufacturer of mechanical water flow meters, located in China.

The top supplying country is China (Mainland), which supply 100% of the mechanical water flow meter respectively.

Sino-Inst sells through a mature distribution network that reaches all 50 states and 30 countries worldwide. Mechanical water flow meter products are most popular in Domestic Market, Southeast Asia, and Mid East.

You can ensure product safety by selecting from certified suppliers, with ISO9001, ISO14001 certification.

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About KimGuo11

Wu Peng, born in 1980, is a highly respected and accomplished male engineer with extensive experience in the field of automation. With over 20 years of industry experience, Wu has made significant contributions to both academia and engineering projects. Throughout his career, Wu Peng has participated in numerous national and international engineering projects. Some of his most notable projects include the development of an intelligent control system for oil refineries, the design of a cutting-edge distributed control system for petrochemical plants, and the optimization of control algorithms for natural gas pipelines.