In industries and now even for residential purposes, liquid flow meters have become an essential asset to track and measure the movement of liquids. These equipment working on principles such as differential pressures and positive displacement detect the flow of liquid in pipelines and other similar structures, along with measuring the pressure and volume of liquid flowing through them.
While there are several types of flow quantification devices, meters working on the principle of electromagnetism are preferred due to their high accuracy and less power consumption. Also referred as mag meter and electromag, these meters are often the first choice for monitoring and measuring liquid in pipeline infrastructures in industries as well as in commercial applications.
Working Principle of Electromagnetic Flow Meter
The electromagnetic flowmeter operates on the principle of Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction.
The meter generates a magnetic field that channels through the liquid flowing in pipelines or conduits. Ions and conductive constituents flowing in liquid through the magnetic field causes an increase in the voltage signal. This signal is sensed by electrodes of the meter, which is processed via electronic transmitter processes to determine the liquid flow.
Since voltage generated is directly proportional to the flow rate of liquid, the more generated voltage will mean a high fluid flow rate. Using this principle for determining the volume of fluid flowing through the meter is very advantageous since a very small portion of the meter comes in contact with the liquid tangibly.
Here is a list of some benefits of using electromagnetic flowmeters:
1) The accuracy of these meters is very high and is, therefore, best for applications where high precision is required.
2) Since there is no contact between the liquid and meter, this flow quantification device is suitable for measuring the flow of corrosive materials such as slurries, acids, bases, and wastewater along with explosive fluids such as crude and its refined products.
3) Electromagnetic flow meters are highly energy-efficient and are therefore perfect for applications where power is an issue.
4) These flow meters can effectively measure the flow of liquid in both upstream and downstream applications.
5) The meters are highly capable to measure very low as well as high flow rates and are hence perfect for most use cases.
These characteristics of electromagnetic flowmeter make it a suitable fit for most industries. They can be used in water-dependent industries to quantify the movement of water along with petrochemical industries to monitor the flow of combustible liquids in pipelines and measuring the flow of liquids like slurries, paints, and abrasives.
However, by using these meters with sensory devices connected with gateway configurations of a typical IoT system, new capabilities in terms of real-time liquid flow monitoring can be leveraged.
IoT as a Communication Medium for Electromagnetic Flow Meter:
Internet of Things technology allows multiple devices to connect with each other and share data. These meters (if having wireless capability) can continuously share data with a nearby gateway which in turn shoots the data to an online platform for visualization.
In case, the meter lacks wireless capabilities, then sensor nodes can collect the data from the meter and share it with the gateway. The data can then be analyzed on the dashboard (platform) and real-time insights can be derived from them.
Benefits of Using IoT With Electromagnetic Flow Meters:
1) Real-Time Liquid Flow Readings:
The measurement pertaining to the quantification of water flow can be gathered and transferred instantly to a desktop and mobile-enabled dashboard. These readings can be further analyzed to determine liquid consumption, detect leaks, and predict future consumption needs.
Real-time reading can also be used to remotely determine the live flow rate of liquid through conduits and the pressure through which the liquid is flowing in them. Additionally, parameters that affect the flow of liquid can also be supervised by installing several other sensors on or around these meters.
Hence, by using these meters with IoT technology, companies can leverage live information to improve their operations and efficiency.
2) Predictive Maintenance:
High value comes at a high price. A standard electromagnetic flow meter along with all the capabilities it offers can cost anywhere in a range of $350 to $3k. Keeping them in a tip-top condition is therefore very essential to extract their value to the full extent.
By analyzing data points associated with the working and performance of these meters, their condition and health can be analyzed. Furthermore, these data points can also be used to determine the future possibilities of meter failure. Hence, companies will be able to take proactive measures to conduct inspection procedures and make necessary repairs to the meter. This insightful maintenance procedures help companies to ensure the optimum working of their meters and reduce unwanted failures.
CONCLUSION:
Electromagnetic flow meters are costly pieces of equipment, which have become a necessary part of companies dealing with liquids. Especially in oil companies, water, and beverage industry, which deals with explosive and conductive liquids; these meters are essential hardware that can measure the flow rate of these liquids in corrosive and conductive environments.
In order to use them to the utmost potential and ensure that they don’t depreciate before their expected life, the technology of IoT can be utilized. By integrating meters with this technology, better capabilities in terms of increased efficiency, real-time readings, and predictive maintenance can be leveraged.
