Clamp-on meters are preferred by professionals working in the fields of building design and construction as well as HVAC. These professionals include engineers, installers, technicians, and facility managers. Clamp-on meters provide consistently accurate measurements for precise water management and have a low cost of ownership when used in common applications.

In the field of flow instrumentation and measurement, the three primary varieties of meters used are inline, insertion, and clamp-on meters. The speed of a fluid as it moves through a pipe can be measured with clamp-on flow meters by utilizing ultrasonic technology in either a transit time or Doppler configuration. clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters  are preferred by professionals working in the fields of building design and construction as well as HVAC. These professionals include engineers, installers, technicians, and facility managers. Clamp-on meters provide consistently accurate measurements for precise water management and have a low cost of ownership when used in common applications. Clamp-on meters continue to be the most popular option for the following four reasons:Installation that is simplified, measurements that are accurate, maintenance that is reduced, and a design that is portable.

Streamline the process of installation.

Because clamp-on meters simply attach themselves to the exterior of a pipe, their installation does not require the disruption of service, the cutting into of a pipe, or the stopping of operations. Because these ultrasonic flow meters completely eliminate downtime and pressure drops, they never come into contact with the fluid, and they can be installed and set up in under an hour, they are an ideal choice for both newly installed systems and retrofits to existing ones.

More Accurate

The Dynasonics® Ultrasonic clamp-on meters, for example, offer impressive measurement with an accuracy of up to +0.5% and cover a wide range of flow rates. Even when measuring liquids with small amounts of particulates, or with changes in temperature, viscosity, density, or pressure, clamp-on meters offer better accuracies than some traditional meters do. As a result, many HVAC professionals choose clamp-on meters as a long-term solution because they offer better accuracies than some traditional meters do.

Cut Back on Maintenance

Clamp-on ultrasonic water meters have a straightforward design that consists of transducers that clamp onto the pipe and an electronic converter. Because these meters do not contain any moving parts and do not come into contact with the internal fluid, the need for maintenance is greatly reduced, if not entirely eliminated. When compared to other types of in-line meters, they do not experience wear and tear over time and do not require frequent calibration, which contributes to a significant reduction in the total cost of ownership.

Portable Design

Since ultrasonic clamp-on flow meters have a design that makes them portable, they are an asset when verifying flow or troubleshooting another meter. This can be done without disrupting the flow of liquid or cutting into a pipe. Due to the fact that they are simple to install and configure and that they are compatible with a wide range of pipe sizes, you can use a single portable clamp-on meter to determine the accuracy of virtually any aging or malfunctioning meter. Facility managers also make use of them to assist in determining when another meter may be in need of preventative maintenance. Portable clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters   are frequently the most useful tool for determining the source of problems and cutting down on water loss.

How to Determine Which Flow Meter Is Ideal for Your Application

Flow meters are required for a wide variety of applications in the building design and construction industry as well as in the HVAC industry. These applications range from monitoring water usage for tenant cost allocation and sub-metering to measuring flow in cooling tower blowdown and make-up water applications. If you are in the market for a flow meter, it is in your best interest to work with an expert in flow instrumentation who is able to address the specific requirements of your application.

Although ultrasonic clamp-on meters are a popular choice for many applications, there may be another flow instrumentation technology that is more suited to ensuring the continued security, productivity, and profitability of the application. Review the various types that are offered, and then get in touch with an expert in flow instrumentation if you would like to talk about developing a bespoke solution.