Flow Meters for Cryogenic Fluids Flow Measurement

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Cryogenic-mass-flowmeter-measures-Mass-Flow-Rate-of-liquid-nitrogen

Cryogenic Flow Meter can be used to monitor the flow rate of cryogenic fluids. Liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen, liquid nitrogen, liquid argon, liquid ammonia, and liquefied gas (LNG) are Common industrial cryogenic fluids.

To handle fluid temperatures down to 328°F (-200°C), Sino-Inst manufactures high quality Cryogenic Flow Meters. Turbine flowmeter is the most widely used cryogenic flow meter. Coriolis Mass, Gear and DP Flow Meters are also good choice for cryogenic fluids.

Please feel free to contact Sino-Inst for Free Technical Support.

RFQ

Featured Cryogenic Flow Meters

At Sino-Inst, we possess a variety of technologies for monitoring the flow rate of cryogenic fluids, and we manufacture and supply a range of flow meters for cryogenic fluids.

Low Temperature Turbine Flowmeter
Low Temperature Turbine Flowmeter

SI-3302 Liquid Vortex Flow Meter
SI-3302 Liquid Vortex Flow Meter

Target Flow Meters
SI-3706 Target Flow Meter
U Series Coriolis Flow Meters
U Series Coriolis Flow Meter
GF Series Gear Flow Meter
GF Series Gear Flow Meter
SI-3705 V-Cone Flow Meter
SI-3705 V-Cone Flow Meter

Common Cryogenic Fluids We Handle

We aren’t dealing with standard liquids here. These are high-value, volatile resources that power industries from healthcare to rocket launches. The most common fluids requiring specialized cryogenic flow measurement include:

  • Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG): The backbone of modern energy transport.
  • Liquid Nitrogen (LN2): Essential for food freezing and medical cooling.
  • Liquid Oxygen (LOX): Critical for medical use and aerospace propulsion.
  • Liquid Argon (LAR): Used heavily in welding and industrial processes.
  • Liquid Hydrogen (LH2): The future of clean energy fuel cells.
  • Liquid Helium: Vital for MRI machines and superconductors.

Technologies for Cryogenic Flow Measurement

The main technologies for cryogenic fluid flow measurement include: Turbine flow measurement, Coriolis mass flow measurement, differential pressure flow measurement, gear flow meters, vortex flow measurement, and target flow measurement. Each has its own advantages and should be selected based on the fluid parameters and budget.

For decades, the cryogenic turbine flow meter has been the workhorse for tanker trucks and offloading skids. Inside the meter, a rotor spins in proportion to the flow velocity.

  • Best for: Liquid nitrogen flow meters and bulk LNG flow meters.
  • Pros: Very cost-effective and compact.
  • Accuracy: Typically around ±0.5%.
  • Note: Because it has moving parts, the bearings are the critical weak point. We use specialized ceramic or hybrid bearings to withstand the lack of lubrication in fluids like liquid nitrogen.

When you need to know exactly how much product you are selling, this is the go-to solution. A Coriolis mass flow meter cryogenic measures mass directly, unaffected by the density changes that happen when fluids boil off or change temperature.

  • Best for: Liquid hydrogen flow meters, high-value custody transfer cryogenic meters, and dispensing systems.
  • Pros: Highest cryogenic flow meter accuracy (±0.1% to ±0.2%) and handles two-phase flow better than most.
  • Cons: Higher initial cost and pressure drop considerations.

If you need to measure very small flow rates, the GF gear flow meter is an excellent choice. Customized versions for cryogenic temperatures down to -200℃ and high pressures up to 40MPa are available. Furthermore, the GF gear flow meter requires no straight pipe sections for installation.

  • Best for: Small pipe diameters and low flow rate measurements, such as liquid ammonia and liquid helium.
  • Pros: High accuracy up to 0.5%. Customizable for high pressure up to 40MPa.
  • Cons: Requires the measured medium to be free of impurities. Improper use can easily cause the gears to jam.

Using V-cone flow meter or Orifice plates, the differential pressure cryogenic flow meter relies on Bernoulli’s principle. It is incredibly robust because there are no sensitive electronics in the flow path.

  • Best for: LOX flow meters (Liquid Oxygen) and storage tank management.
  • Pros: Simple, rugged, and easy to understand.
  • Cons: Limited turndown ratio compared to electronic meters.

The target flow meter for cryogenic liquids measures flow by sensing the drag force on a target suspended in the stream. It acts like a strain gauge.

Best for: Liquid argon flow meters and applications with high vibration or low flow rates.
Pros: Excellent resistance to vibration and handles dirty fluids well.

Applications of Cryogenic Flow Meters

At Sino-Inst, we don’t just provide sensors; we are dedicated to creating solutions for our customers’ extreme measurement conditions. We offer a comprehensive range of flow meters capable of reliably handling various media, from liquid nitrogen to liquid hydrogen.

Energy Sector (LNG and Hydrogen): LNG flow meters are crucial for liquefaction plants, storage tanks, and loading/unloading terminals, where the accuracy of trade transactions directly impacts profitability. With the rise of the hydrogen economy, we are also seeing explosive growth in the application of liquid hydrogen flow meters in hydrogen refueling stations and fuel cells.

Aerospace: Rocket propulsion relies on liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX). LOX flow meters in this field must withstand severe vibrations and rapid flow changes to ensure safe refueling and engine performance.

Industrial Gas Distribution: Accurate metering is essential whether filling tankers or managing on-site storage at customer locations. We offer robust liquid nitrogen and liquid argon flow meter solutions that can withstand the daily wear and tear of high-flow transfer processes.

Medical and Pharmaceutical: Hospitals use these meters to monitor liquid oxygen supplies for respiratory support. In the pharmaceutical sector, precise cryogenic flow control is critical for the freezing processes of vaccines and biological samples.

Manufacturing: In semiconductor manufacturing, high-purity cryogenic liquids are used for cooling equipment and cleaning wafers.

Flow Meters for Cryogenic Fluids Flow Measurement
Coriolis mass flow meter measures cryogenic liquid nitrogen

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Sino-Inst has successfully deployed these cryogenic fluid measurement solutions to LNG receiving terminals, industrial gas filling stations, and international energy projects. Whether you need a liquid oxygen flow meter or a liquid argon system, our equipment features the necessary explosion-proof certifications to ensure safe operation in hazardous areas.

Our cryogenic turbine flow meter is our flagship product for cryogenic fluid volume measurement. It is cost-effective, highly accurate, and ideal for liquid nitrogen flow measurement and tanker truck metering applications. Of course, other cryogenic flow meters also have their own advantages.

We also offer customizable designs to meet your specific piping constraints and output requirements (4-20mA, RS485, HART). With our comprehensive global shipping support, we can quickly and conveniently deliver precision cryogenic flow meters to your facility, no matter where it is located. Please feel free to contact our sales engineers!

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