Compressed air insertion flow meter

Insertion flowmeter for measuring compressed air: a convenient and cost-effective choice

When installing a flow meter in a compressed air system, many people's first reaction is to cut a section of the pipeline and install an in-line one with flange connection or screw connection. But in recent years, more and more factories have started using insertion flow meters, especially for measuring compressed air. Why is this?

Why do customers want to buy insertion flow meter for compressed air ? 

customers prefer use insertion flow meter for compressed air because easy installation

A characteristic of compressed air systems is that the pipelines are often already laid and production cannot be stopped. If the pipeline is cut and re welded just to install a compressed air flow sensor at this time, the losses from production stoppage will be much more expensive than the flow meter. The biggest advantage of insertable flow meters is that they can be installed online - by drilling a hole in the pipeline and inserting the probe, the screw can be tightened and used without affecting production. Especially suitable for renovation projects, or for sites with old pipelines that dare not make major changes.

Why do people prefer insertion air flow meter over in-line probes?

The first is cheap, which not only saves the cost of total air flow transmitter, but also saves a lot of installation costs. No need to cut pipes, no need to pair flanges, no need for cranes, two workers can handle it in half a day. 
The second is low pressure loss, with only one probe and almost no wind blocking, making it particularly friendly to compressed air systems that are already "short of air". 
The third is flexibility. If installed in this tube today and the system is renovated tomorrow, it can still be used by removing and replacing the tube. 
Please note:
However, not all pipelines can be used for insertion air flow meters, such as 1/2 ", 3/4 inch, and 1 "which cannot be used for plug-in air flow meters. If an insertion thermal flow meter is selected, pipes with a diameter of 2 inches or more can be chosen,such as 3 inches or 4 inches compresed air pipeline ; if a vortex flowmeter is selected, an inserted vortex probe can only be used for large pipe sections of 6 inches or more.

Two commonly used insertion flow meters for compressed air

There are currently two mainstream methods for measuring compressed air:

Insertion thermal mass flowmeter: 

Insertion thermal mass flow meter

Thermal mass flow meter calculates flow rate by heating and measuring temperature with a probe. Its advantage is its wide range, which can accurately measure from light to strong winds, and the probe is not afraid of vibration, making it suitable for situations where the airflow at the outlet of the air compression station is unstable. The disadvantage is that it is sensitive to dust and oil stains, and if the back of the air compressor is not properly treated, the probe is prone to getting dirty. Good news is that insertion thermal mass flow meter and in-line thermal mass flow meter has the same accuracy. 

Insertion vortex flowmeter: 

    Insertion vortex flow meter

The flow rate is calculated based on the vortex frequency behind the probe. It is sturdy and resistant to dirt, with some oil stains and water vapor not affecting it much. Its price is usually one level lower than that of traditional heat pumps. But they are afraid of vibration. If the air compressor vibrates greatly or the pipeline vibrates severely, the measurement may show a jump. The range is also narrower than that of the heat type, and it can measure well in strong winds, but it may "mute" in small winds. But insertion vortex type flow meter has poorer accuracy than in-line type vortex flow meter .

What's the insertion compressed air flow meter price? 

You get what you pay for. The China produced insertion vortex flow sensor can be obtained with around 1,000~ 2,000 USD depends on the material, air pipeline size and flow meter function ;

While for insertion thermal mass flow meter , the cost starts from $900 .

In general, in the compressed air scenario, unless it is a brand new pipeline or a cost-effective project, insertion compressed air flow meters are often a more practical choice. It is like a stethoscope for a "pipe doctor", which can diagnose system problems without surgery. For most factories, it is sufficient, easy to use, and worry free.