Turbine flow meters for diverse applications

The Vision Series turbine flow meters, from Badger,  comply with lead-free provisions of the United States Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and are bisphenol A (BPA) free. The compact meters are designed for flow measurement of low-viscosity and non-aggressive liquids, including de-mineralised water, alkaline solutions, oils, fuel, beverages, water solutions and coolants.

The Vision turbine flow meter is intended for use in diverse applications found in the food, medical products, chemical, pharmaceutical, automotive and general industrial fields. Many of these applications are affected by the SDWA, which authorises the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set health-based standards to protect against both naturally occurring and man-made contaminants in the nation's drinking water supply.

The Vision Series consists of two turbine flow meter models: the V1000 for measuring liquid flow as low as 0.026 gallons per minute (gpm) and up to 0.65 gpm, and the V2000 for measuring liquid flow as low as 0.13 gpm and up to 9.2 gpm. The flow meters provide accuracy of ±3 percent with resolution up to 70,000 pulses per gallon (ppg), depending on the model. They have a temperature range of –4…212° F and withstand operating pressure up to 362.50 pounds per square inch (psi).

According to Peter Vander Grinten, marketing manager, Badger Meter, the Vision turbine flow meter provides an exceptionally robust and reliable flow measurement solution. "The simple mechanical construction of the Vision meter guarantees a long lifespan without any loss of accuracy. Pressure spikes less than burst pressure rating do not affect its measurements. This meter is especially suitable for washing machines, dishwashers, coffee machines, laser cooling plants, solar solutions, bakery machines, steam cooking machines in large kitchen plants, and CD or DVD cleaning."

The Vision turbine flow meter employs a volumetric operating principle, whereby liquid flow causes a bladed turbine inside the meter housing to turn at an angular velocity directly proportional to the velocity of the liquid measured. As the blades pass beneath a magnetic pickup coil, a frequency signal is generated. Each pulse is equivalent to a discrete volume of liquid. The frequency pulse is directly proportional to the turbine angular velocity and the flow rate.

The large number of pulses generated by the Vision meter ensures high resolution. The pulses can be used for digital or analog signal processing and specified as a K Factor. As the mass of the turbine is small, the response time is fast. It is not necessary to install a straight length of pipeline upstream of the meter.