Flowmeter Selection Guide - 10 Flow Meter Types

Bobby Brown

Post 2025-04-30

Flowmeter Selection Guide - 10 Flow Meter Types

1. What Is a Flow Meter and Why Do You Need One?
2. Flow Meter Types and Application Suitability Quick Comparison
3. How to Choose a Flow Meter
4. How to Select a Flow Meter - Case Study
5. Evaluate Cost and Certifications

1. What Is a Flow Meter and Why Do You Need One?

Flow meters are instruments used to measure the flow of fluids (liquids or gases). Flow refers to the volume or mass of fluid passing through a pipeline over a certain period of time[Note 1]. Common units include liters per minute (LPM) or kilograms per hour (kg/h). A common example in daily life is the water meter, which is essentially a flow meter specifically used to measure tap water usage.

There are many purposes for using flow meters. In industrial production, flow meters are used to monitor the flow of liquids or gases in pipelines, allowing manufacturers to precisely control raw material dosing ratios, monitor the circulation of cooling water, or track the output of products during production processes. In recent years, with the rise of environmental awareness, and in accordance with the Energy Management Act, small and medium-sized enterprises, office buildings, medical facilities, and other non-industrial sectors are also required to report energy usage. Flow meters have become indispensable tools for collecting energy consumption data.
➤Learn more: How flow meters assist in energy reporting for building chiller systems

2. Flow Meter Types and Application Suitability Quick Comparison

To meet a wide range of application needs, flow meters come in many types. However, they are typically categorized based on their measurement principles. Below is a comparison of 10 common types of flow meters and their suitability across different application scenarios.

➤ Legend: ★★★ – Recommended / ★★ – Acceptable / ★ – Not Recommended

| comparison of 10 common types of flow meters

3. How to Choose a Flow Meter

1 ) Flow Meter Fluid Medium

Start by identifying whether the fluid is a liquid, gas, or steam. Other important factors to consider include the fluid’s pH level (acidic or alkaline), whether the pipe is fully filled, the presence of air bubbles, and the fluid's viscosity.

When selecting a flow meter, it's recommended to allow at least a 10-unit safety margin for both temperature and pressure. For example, if the fluid temperature is 50°C and pressure is 20 kg/cm², it’s safer to choose a flow meter rated for at least 60°C and 30 kg/cm².

Common flow meters suitable for high-pressure applications include ultrasonic, differential pressure, and Coriolis flow meters. For applications with wide temperature ranges, differential pressure, electromagnetic, and vortex flow meters are often used.

2 ) Determine the Flow Range

When selecting a flow meter, one critical consideration is that its measurable flow range must exceed the full variation range of the fluid flow in the pipeline. In other words, the flow meter should be capable of accurately capturing both the minimum and maximum expected flow rates to ensure stable and reliable readings across all operating conditions.

| Flow Meter Measurement Range

For applications with relatively stable flow rates, smaller-scale flow meters such as variable area (rotameter), turbine, vortex, or differential pressure types may be considered. In cases where both very low and very high flow rates need to be measured (wide turndown ratio), ultrasonic or Coriolis flow meters are recommended.

3 ) Accuracy Requirements

The higher the accuracy, the smaller the measurement error — but also the higher the price. When selecting a flow meter, it’s important to balance accuracy with budget based on application needs. If you only need a rough idea of how much water is flowing through a pipe, a low-cost, low-accuracy variable area (rotameter) flow meter may suffice.
For general industrial equipment, paddle wheel, positive displacement, and vortex flow meters (mid-level accuracy) are commonly used. For high-precision applications that demand strict monitoring, ultrasonic, Coriolis, or electromagnetic flow meters are recommended.
➤ Learn more: Flow Meter Accuracy

4 ) Consider the Installation Environment

Make sure to check the pipe diameter: for large-diameter pipelines, clamp-on ultrasonic or electromagnetic flow meters are commonly used; for smaller diameters, rotameters or compact mass flow meters are more suitable. When it comes to vibration interference, it's recommended to avoid Coriolis flow meters, which are more sensitive to vibration. Electromagnetic or ultrasonic flow meters are less affected by mechanical vibration and are thus better alternatives.
If pipe cutting is not feasible on-site, ultrasonic flow meters are the best option. However, be mindful of the liquid conditions—these meters may not work properly if there are too many bubbles or if the pipe is not fully filled. For outdoor and waterproof applications, choose flow meters with an IP65 rating or higher, and ensure the connection interfaces are sealed or come with outdoor-rated junction boxes. Additional factors such as fluid temperature, pressure, and ambient temperature should also be considered before purchase if the application has specific requirements.
➤ Learn more:
How to Install a Paddle Wheel Flow Meter
How to Install a Rotameter
How to Install Ultrasonic Flow Meter Sensors

5 ) Evaluate Cost and Certifications

Compare overall performance, pricing, and whether the product has the necessary certifications to meet safety or regulatory requirements. If on-site staffing is limited and you prefer maintenance-free operation, flow meters without mechanical wear—such as electromagnetic or ultrasonic types—are more suitable than other models.

6 ) Signal Transmission Requirements

In some applications, there is a need to store and transmit flow data. Additionally, due to recent regulations under the Energy Management Act, facilities such as buildings and workplaces are required to submit annual energy reports. This makes it essential to choose flow meters with data collection capabilities. When purchasing a flow meter, be sure to check whether its communication interface and protocol are compatible with your system. Refer to each manufacturer’s catalog to confirm supported communication modes.
➤ Learn more about communication modes:
• How Ultrasonic Flow Meters Simplify Energy Reporting
• What Is Analog Current Output?
• What Is RS485?
• What Is Modbus?
• What Are Switch Signals?

4. How to Select a Flow Meter - Case Study

In the ultrapure water process of this semiconductor plant, a flow meter was required on the RO (Reverse Osmosis) system to monitor the concentrate flow. This ensures precise control of the concentration ratio and helps prevent membrane scaling. The customer noted that the installation space was limited and shutting down the equipment was not feasible. Based on these requirements, we guided the customer through a six-step flow meter selection process to identify the best-fit solution for the on-site conditions.

➊ Step 1: Analyze the Fluid Properties
The RO system handles "ultrapure water," which is non-conductive, low-temperature, and low-pressure, but corrosive.
✖︎ Electromagnetic flow meters (suitable for conductive liquids) and glass tube rotameters (poor chemical resistance) can be excluded.
➋ Step 2: Confirm the Flow Range
The RO concentrate flow rate typically falls within a medium to low range with slight fluctuations. The flow meter must respond sensitively to small changes.
✖︎ Turbine, vortex, and differential pressure flow meters are not recommended due to lower sensitivity to small flow variations or suitability for larger flow rates.
➌ Step 3: Precision Requirements
High measurement accuracy is essential to precisely control the concentration ratio and avoid impacting the process.
✖︎ Low-accuracy options such as rotameters, thermal mass, vortex, and turbine flow meters are excluded.
✔ Ultrasonic and Coriolis mass flow meters are generally high-accuracy options, typically achieving ±0.1% to ±0.3%.
➍ Step 4: Consider the Installation Environment
The customer noted that on-site shutdown and pipe cutting are not possible, and space is limited.
✖︎ High-accuracy Coriolis meters usually require insertion or flange-type installations, which are bulky and complex to install.
✔ Only clamp-on ultrasonic flow meters allow for non-intrusive installation and have a compact footprint.
➎ Step 5: Cost and Certification Evaluation
If cost control is important, a mid-range, high-functionality clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter—priced around TWD 10,000–20,000—is recommended. Typically, recalibration is only needed every 1–2 years.
➏ Step 6: Signal Transmission Requirements
The customer requires PLC integration for real-time flow monitoring. The chosen electronic flow meter must support communication protocols such as 4–20mA, Modbus, or Pulse. It's crucial to confirm compatibility with the existing system.
✦ Final Recommendation: Clamp-on Ultrasonic Flow Meter ✦
Clamp-on ultrasonic flow meters offer high accuracy, quick installation, chemical resistance, and digital communication capabilities. They are ideal for measuring non-conductive ultrapure water and can be installed without shutting down the system—perfectly meeting the customer’s requirements.
➤ Learn more: Product used in this case study – LORRIC Ultrasonic Flow Meter

5. Evaluate Cost and Certifications

Q1: What are the types of flow meters? How are they classified?
A: Common types of flow meters include ultrasonic, variable area (rotameter), paddle wheel, turbine, mass, and electromagnetic flow meters. They mainly differ in measurement principles and application scope. When selecting a flow meter, it's recommended to consider the actual application needs, such as fluid type, temperature, pressure range, and budget.
➤ Learn more: Flow Meter Principles

Q2: Why might a flow meter deliver inaccurate readings?
A: Common causes of inaccuracy include improper installation location, air bubbles or impurities in the fluid, unstable flow rates, lack of periodic calibration, or sensor aging. Another frequent reason is selecting a flow meter type that does not match the application. To avoid inaccurate measurements, ensure proper installation and perform regular inspection and calibration.

Q3: Do different types of flow meters vary in accuracy?
A: Yes, the accuracy of flow meters can vary significantly. Mass, electromagnetic, and ultrasonic flow meters generally offer higher precision and are suitable for demanding applications such as semiconductor manufacturing or pharmaceuticals. Rotameters, while less accurate, are more cost-effective and suitable for general-purpose monitoring. Choose the accuracy level based on your application requirements.

Q4: Do flow meters require regular calibration? How is it done?
A: Yes, flow meters should be calibrated regularly—typically every 1 to 2 years. Calibration should be carried out by certified organizations (e.g., labs accredited by TAF or ISO 17025). Some flow meter manufacturers also provide calibration services.
➤ Learn more: LORRIC Flow Meter Calibration

Q5: What should I pay attention to when installing a flow meter?
• Reserve sufficient straight pipe sections before and after the meter, avoiding bends or valves nearby
• Follow the indicated flow direction for correct installation
• Ensure stable power wiring and proper grounding
• Avoid high-vibration environments, air pockets, or negative pressure zones