Analysis of the Top 10 Misconceptions About Using Flow Meters

Thread Content

Top 10 Misconceptions About Using Flow Meters: 1. Blind faith in imported products – Many people assume that imported products must be the best. The author’s experience of over a decade working with flow meters confirms that domestically produced ones offer the best cost-performance ratio; those that cannot be manufactured domestically are exceptions. When choosing imported models, not only does one have to pay a high price, but it is also difficult to ensure adequate after-sales service – even for a small spare part, one may have to wait a month and pay prices that are dozens of times higher than those in the domestic market. Second, there is the belief that the more expensive a product is, the better it must be. There are generally two reasons for the high prices of flow meters: one is the manufacturers’ pricing strategy, and the other is that the total production volume is so low that they can only increase their profits by raising the price per unit. III. Blind faith in a flow meter manufacturer: Some people, after purchasing a flow meter from a certain manufacturer, assume that an obligation has been established between the two parties. What they don’t realize is that flow meters constitute a large family of nearly a hundred different types of products, and no domestic flow meter manufacturer dares to claim that it can produce any type of flow meter. This can be seen in their prices as well as in future after-sales service. IV. Do not choose new-type flow meters blindly; don’t be tricked by the salespeople from manufacturers, as they often use you as a test subject. Perhaps the calibration before leaving the factory was satisfactory, but is it reliable when operating for extended periods of time? Can it truly meet your needs? The upgrading of flow meters doesn’t happen as quickly as with smartphones or TVs; only the older models can stand up to market tests! It’s more reassuring to drive a Jetta than a QQ. V. Relying solely on pipeline selection is the simplest scenario; the results obtained in such cases often fail to achieve the desired measurement outcomes. It is not a quality issue with the flow meter itself; a flow meter is also a measuring device that has its own measurement range. VI. Selection not based on the type of medium: Although this situation does not occur very often, I have indeed seen vortex flowmeters being used to measure slurry. VII. A flow meter that can measure any type of flow: Some irresponsible manufacturers and salespeople will tell you that their flow meters can measure everything. If you hear this, you should ask them to leave your office, as they are talking nonsense! VIII. Installation not carried out in accordance with the requirements: Many flow meters require sufficient straight sections before and after them. Please read the operating instructions carefully before installing the flow meter to avoid unnecessary hassle. 9. Failing to set the parameters after installation is a common issue with battery-powered flowmeters; the parameters are pre-set by the manufacturer, and the device can be used right away. This can lead to significant measurement errors and unnecessary losses. 10. Failing to carry out maintenance on time will lead to a decrease in the accuracy of the flow meter. The manufacturer can tell you how to carry out such maintenance; it’s similar to how a car needs to be taken to a service center for maintenance after being driven for a certain period of time. Since the protection methods for various flowmeters vary, it is not appropriate for the author to list them all here.