Ways to install flowmeters
According to factors such as the on-site status, working environment, fluid, material of pipes...and etc, there are three (3) ways to install a flowmeter.
1. Inline
The inline installation means to cut the pipe and install the flowmeter in between. This method is a very common way in the industry with lower cost.
2. Insertion
The Insertion installation is to drill a hole on the pipe and insert and fix the flowmeter into the hole.
3. Clamp on
In some cases, cutting pipe may cost a lot due to need of temporary shutdown or too high pipe cutting costs of a too large pipe diameter. For these cases, the clamp-on installation is the most preferred way to install a flowmeter outside the pipe without cutting pipes which is a better way to save these pipe cutting costs.
The connector between flowmeter and pipe
For inline installation, the flowmeter will be installed between both ends of the cutting pipe. If the size of the connector is different from the pipe which leads to incomplete connection, it is necessary to set a connector in between for a more solid installation.
Generally speaking, you may see lots of different pipe materials in the market, such as PP, PVDF, SS (Stainless steel), UPVC, and etc. It is important to note that only the UPVC pipe could be fixed with the connector by glue.
1. Union with other connectors
It is the method to connect two different pipe systems. Through an O-ring and a nut, the female thread of the nut is set outside the connector and the male thread of the connector provides pulling force to connect the two different pipe systems. The variable area flowmeter is composed by both sides unions,middle body for measurement and connectors. Even if one of the parts changes, as long as the middle body for measurement is still there, it is still a variable area flowmeter.
2. Spigot (The common usage is for connecting with UPVC pipe)
For spigots with unified specification, the outer diameter is the same as the inner diameter. Any flowmeter with a spigot could be installed by insertion installation. It is suitable for large sizes, such as 2½" flowmeters. Due to its large size, it is difficult to connect with pipe by the union connectors. Both ends of large size flowmeters, like 2½" will be made as Spigot style which has an advantage that could be adapted to flange or union joints depending on the environment it is under. For LORRIC’s large size paddle wheel flowmeter, we designed it with a Spigot joint for adapting its large size.
3. Socket (The common usage is for connecting with UPVC pipe)
Commonly, users have to use glue to connect UPVC pipe with the connector. Generally, the glue will be spread inside the connector and the corresponding pipe will be inserted into it which means the outer diameter of the corresponding pipe should be equal to the inner diameter of the connector. Socket installation is a proper way for small size flowmeters and includes 2 parts which are fixed by a thread system with a nut. It makes maintenance easy without cutting the pipe. Users can just loosen the nut and take off the flowmeter for repair or replacement.
4. Thread
There are 2 thread standards, NPT and PT in the world. The thread system includes male and female thread. The difference between male and female thread is that male thread is outer thread and female thread is inner thread.
5. Welded socket
It is one of the welding type connections. The way it works is heating up the outer surface of the pipe and inner surface of another until melted which then needs to be connected. When they are still hot and melted, connect the one with melted outer surface into the one with melted inner surface. It will be solidly fixed when the connections of both pipes are cooled down. This way is applicable to pipes withPP and PVDF material.
6. Butt Welding
Heating up both butts of both pipes need to be connected to be melted. When both are still very hot and melted, connect both butts while cooling down. This way is applicable to PP and PVDF materials. Especially for PVDF, due to its higher cost, but welding has less material waste which creates better material efficiency.
7. Metal welding
It is a process to quickly heat and cool down. Through heating by high temperature or high pressure with a welding rod or other thermoplastic material, it is able to connect two pipes.
8. Flange
Flange is applicable to pipes with large diameter (up to 2"). Both flanges from the flowmeter and pipe are connected and fixed by several screws and a gasket in between. Both flanges could be in different materials. This connection provides very good strength and resistance to high pressure. Flange is also easily removable and provides high stability of installation.
9. Sanitary Clamp Union
The sanitary clamp union is applicable for metal pipes made of stainless steel which consists of two funnel shape parts, an O-ring, and a clamp. The way it works is that the two funnel shape parts are connected to the side of the pipe and flowmeter which then needs to be connected with an O-ring in between of both funnel shape parts. Then, replacing the clamp and tightening the screw on the clamp to make the whole structure fixed.