What Are Flow Meters

From the earliest days of human society there has been a need to measure things. It is how people buy and sell things or how resources are assigned. The measuring of liquid flow dates back to these early days when irrigated water was metered out to various farming operations or other places that required water. This water was usually divided by some community governing force to ensure all received water as was available and appropriate.

Even the measuring flow of gasses became important when navigators had to monitor wind conditions to steer their ship. History also has shown that gas was measured for lamp fuels through a system of pipes and measuring the pressure of these gasses became important.

Flow meters have been around for many years but in today’s world they have so many other very important uses. Use of flow measuring devices are still used to measure water to farming communities using the same methods as before but often up the line the newer technology is at work to ensure a steady supply. Other places you may see flow meters at work is the gasoline pumps, water meter for your home, gas meter, electric meter.

Flow meters are also used in manufacturing and other industrial operations for a number of purposes. Some of these include monitoring coolants to various components such as drill bits, milling bits and other manufacturing tools that can overheat. Industrial flow meters can also be used to monitor lubricants to gears or other moving parts.

Flow meters are often used as complex systems where the flowmeter reports to other electronic components that are attached to switches, monitors or other equipment. A good example of flow meter use in complex systems is the modern automobile that uses a cooling system, lubricant delivery system and a fuel delivery system. Each of these systems employ flow measurement and even have warning systems in the dash such as the oil light, fuel gauge and temperature gauge. In the past few years all these system tie into a complex computer system.

The Internet provides a great way to find more information about flow meters. It used to be that to find out product specs a person would have to order spec sheets and other literature from manufacturers or distributors. Today most companies selling flow meters, sensors and other measuring tools, such as LKI, have websites where you can easily access any specifications you might need.