Ultrasonic Flow Meters

20+ Years Manufacturing Experience

When should an insert-type ultrasonic flowmeter be used, and when is a clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeter more appropriate?

Application Suitability Determines Accuracy

When pipeline wall thickness, linings, or scaling cause severe signal attenuation in clamp-on types, the insert-type directly contacts the fluid, avoiding wall interference and achieving higher accuracy (e.g., thick-walled chemical pipelines, scaled sewage pipelines).

In ideal pipeline conditions (thin walls, smooth surface, uniform material), clamp-on types avoid flow field disturbance from probes by non-contact measurement, ensuring more stable results (e.g., clean water transmission pipelines).

Impact of Installation and Maintenance

Insertion type:

Requires hot tapping. Incorrect probe positioning (e.g., near elbows or valves) may cause errors due to turbulent flow.

Clamp-On Type: 

Easy to install, but unstable coupling or poor pipe surface treatment can lead to signal fluctuations.

Limitations of Fluid Characteristics

Insertion type:

Unsuitable for highly corrosive or high-viscosity fluids (probe corrosion/clogging risk). Clamp-on type is more reliable in such cases.

Clamp-On Type:

Unsuitable for fluids with high bubble/solid content (severe acoustic scattering). Insert-type is preferred here.

Selection Recommendations

Prioritize Insertion-Type:

For thick-walled pipes, complex linings/scaling, non-metal pipes, and stable fluids (non-corrosive, low-viscosity).

Prioritize Clamp-On Type:

For thin-walled pipes, clean fluids, and non-intrusive scenarios (e.g., temporary monitoring, drinking water pipelines).

Extremely High Precision Requirements:

Integrate pipeline conditions and fluid properties for comprehensive evaluation, or compare actual errors through on-site testing.

Accuracy depends on application suitability rather than the type itself. Key considerations include pipeline conditions, fluid characteristics, and installation feasibility.


Post time: Jun-04-2025

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