Oil flow-meter using PING))?

Capt.Kerry

While searching for an affordable oil flow meter for my central heating I came across a page about ultrasonic flow meters http://www.shenitech.com/flow-meas-ultrasonic-transit-time-flowmeter.htm. Wondering if this would be something a PING)) sensor could do.... any feedback?

Franklin

Probably not with the ping unless you wanted to gut it for the parts but the idea would work if you bought transducers and built your own. I think there are better ways to measure the flow rate you need for a home heating systems. Something like a paddlewheel sensor for liquid.

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- Stephen

kf4ixm

alot of higher end industrial flow meters for liquids use magnetic displacement type sensors for pretty high accurate readings. it's basically two rings placed a certain distance apart, separated by ptfe, ceramic·or other non-metallic substance, both wound with a coil, one is fed with a current upstream, the one downstream is then read for the magnetic current induced onto it by the flowing liquid through the center of both rings, the higher the flow, the greater the magnetic current is induced on the downstream coil ring. the beauty about these is the have no moving parts, but you have calibration factors that have to be known and adjusted for, viscosity being just one of them. these sensors made for industrial use usually run in the $3-8,000 range, so not for the hobbyist budget. but the technology behind them are relativly simple. ones made for industry are designed to work for many types of liquids, so they have many different calibration and configuration parameters to set before use. but i would think with a little testing of your own with your own design. something home-made wouldn't be hard to calibrate and achieve a fairly accurate system.

Post Edited (kf4ixm) : 1/15/2010 5:19:01 PM GMT

Capt.Kerry

Thanks, guys, maybe the 125 euro analog meter is the way to go! Go with the flow!

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

The transducers in the Ping are acoustic-impedance-matched to air. They would be worthless with a liquid medium. There are transducers that are acoustic-impedance-matched to liquids, and these are the type used in flow sensors.

-Phil

AJM

Mag flow meters are the way to go but as mentioned earlier, they aren't practical.

I would look using pressure to make the measurement.

Still expensive but accurate are venturi meters.

I would look at possibly an orifice plate for your needs. If you have a decent length of pipe, laminar flow and viscosity isn't a big issue, the orifice plates can work well.