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What Is the Flow Rate? Velocity vs Flow
What Is the Flow Rate? Is the flow rate the same as Flow?
When we choose a flowmeter, we often know the fluid parameters of the pipeline. Including flow range, pressure, pipe diameter, etc. Flow rates and flow ranges are different. Flow is divided into volume flow and mass flow. So what is the relationship and difference between them? Let’s take a look.
What is Flow Rate?
Flow rate refers to the velocity of fluid flow.
When the actual fluid flows in the pipe, due to the internal friction of the fluid itself and the friction between the fluid and the pipe wall, the flow velocity of the fluid particle is different in each place of the pipe. That is, the flow velocity along the pipe wall is the lowest, and the flow velocity in the center of the pipe is the lowest. Highest.
Usually, when calculating the flow velocity in engineering, the average flow velocity is used.
Gases and liquids are collectively referred to as fluids. Velocity is the distance flowed per unit of time, usually represented by the symbol v, and the unit is m/s.
The amount of fluid flowing through the effective cross-sectional area of the pipe in unit time is called flow. The flow rate is expressed by the volume of the fluid flowing through it, which is called volume flow. The flow rate is expressed by the mass of the fluid flowing through it, which is called mass flow.
Generally used volume flow.
The volumetric flow rate is equal to the cross-sectional average velocity multiplied by the cross-sectional area (the area corresponding to the inner diameter of the water pipe outlet). Expressed by the formula, that is, Qv=VxA The unit of Qv is m³/s The unit of V is m/s The unit of A is square meters. It should be noted that the velocity here is the average velocity of the section.
The mass flow is equal to the density of the fluid times the volumetric flow rate. Qm=pQv The unit of Qm is kg/s The unit of p is kg/m³
Volume Flow vs Mass Flow
In the general industry, flow is divided into volume flow and mass flow. They are as follows: Volume flow (Qv): The flow rate changes with pressure and temperature. Mass flow (Qm): The flow rate will not change due to pressure and temperature.
The two have the following relationship: Qm=pQv
where p is the density of the fluid.
Common units of volume flow are m³/s, m³/h, m³/d, L/s, L/min, etc.
The units of mass flow are: kg/s, kg/min, kg/h, g/s, g/min.
There are two types of mass flow measurement: direct measurement and indirect calculation using parameters.
Direct Mass Flow Measurement
Direct mass flow measurement directly measures and reads the mass flow rate without requiring temperature, pressure, or density compensation. Examples include our Coriolis mass flow meter and thermal mass flow meter. The Coriolis mass flow meter utilizes the Coriolis effect, directly measuring the fluid’s mass flow rate by measuring the torsion of the fluid in a vibrating tube. The thermal mass flow meter directly measures the gas mass flow rate by detecting the heat exchange relationship between the fluid and a heat source.
Indirect Mass Flow Measurement
In some operating conditions, mass flow rate is not directly measured but calculated using parameters such as volumetric flow meter and density. The density of a medium generally changes with temperature and pressure, so density or temperature and pressure measurements are needed as supplementary data for calculation. For example, our GF gear flow meter can typically display instantaneous volumetric flow rate and cumulative volumetric flow rate; inputting a density value will display the mass flow rate.
Indirect mass flow meter measurements rely on the accurate measurement of density and volumetric flow rate. Therefore, in most cases, the accuracy of indirect mass flow rate measurements is not as high as that of direct mass flow rate measurements.
Featured volume flow meters
SI-3103 Magnetic Water Flow Meter
SI-3104 Split Type Magnetic Flow Meter
SI-3202 Liquid Turbine Flow Meter
SI-3303 Steam Vortex Flow Meter
GF Series Gear Flow Meter
Featured Mass flow meters
SI-3501 Thermal Mass Flow Meter
SI-3502 Air Mass Flow Meter
SI-3503 Gas Mass Flow Meter
SI-3504 Coriolis Liquid Mass Flow Meter
SI-3505 Coriolis Mass Flow Meter
11 Types of Flow Measurement Methods
There are 11 types of flow meters commonly used to measure flow and flow rate. These include:
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Sino-Inst is a Professional flowmeter manufacturer and supplier.
About 30% of these are magnetic flow meters, and others are turbine, vortex, ultrasonic, and mass flow meters. Differential pressure flow meters are most widely used.
A wide variety of flow meter options are available to you, such as free samples, paid samples.
Sino-Inst’s flow meters service for industrial applications, like: Cooling water, industrial gas, corrosives and brine, chemical processing, mining, Wastewater, energy, electronics, laboratories, medical, and many other industries.
Sino-Inst sells through a mature distribution network, that reaches all 50 states and 30 countries worldwide.
Flow meter products are most popular in Domestic Market, Southeast Asia, Europe,and America.
Zhang Wei, possesses 20 years of experience as an automation instrumentation engineer, specializing in the research, design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of automation instruments.
Face to various instrument communication protocols (such as Modbus, Profibus, etc.), with solid hardware circuit design and software programming skills (proficient in C language and PLC programming). Has extensive project experience; projects he has led and participated in have all achieved outstanding results, improving product accuracy, reducing costs, and increasing production efficiency.
Possesses excellent communication and coordination skills and a strong team spirit, enabling him to quickly respond to customer needs and provide high-quality automation instrumentation solutions.
