Types of Flow Meters - Which One is Right for Your Application?

Saeed Lanjekar

12 Jun, 2025

6 Minutes

Types of Flow Meters - Which One is Right for Your Application?

Flow meters play a vital role in measuring and monitoring the flow of liquids, gases, and steam across various industries. Selecting the right flow meter depends on factors such as fluid type, operating conditions, required accuracy, and industry-specific needs.

As a leading flow meter manufacturer, Burak Metering provides high-quality flow measurement solutions for diverse industrial applications. In this guide, we will explore the most common types of flow meters and their key uses in different sectors.

1. Differential Pressure (DP) Flow Meters

Differential pressure flow meters operate by creating a pressure drop across a restriction (such as an orifice plate or venturi tube) and calculating flow rate based on the pressure difference.

Key Industries & Applications:

Oil & Gas: Used in pipelines for crude oil and natural gas measurement.
Water Treatment: Monitors flow in treatment plants and distribution systems.
Power Plants: Measures steam flow in boilers and turbines.
Chemical Processing: Suitable for non-corrosive liquid and gas flow monitoring.

Burak Metering’s Expertise: Our DP flow meters are designed for reliability in harsh industrial environments.

2. Ultrasonic Flow Meters

Ultrasonic flow meters measure flow velocity using sound waves, with two main types: transit-time (for clean liquids) and Doppler (for slurries or dirty fluids).

Key Industries & Applications:

Water & Wastewater: Provides accurate flow measurement without pipe intrusion.
HVAC Systems: Monitors chilled and hot water flow in heating/cooling systems.
Petrochemicals: Measures hydrocarbon liquids in refineries.
Food & Beverage: Sanitary designs for liquid food products like milk and juices.

Burak Metering’s Solutions: Our clamp-on ultrasonic meters allow easy installation without process interruption.

3. Electromagnetic (Mag) Flow Meters

Electromagnetic flow meters use Faraday’s Law to measure conductive liquids by detecting the voltage induced by fluid movement through a magnetic field.

Key Industries & Applications:

Municipal Water: Widely used in drinking water and wastewater systems.
Mining & Minerals: Handles abrasive slurries in mineral processing.
Pharmaceuticals: Measures conductive liquids in hygienic processes.
Pulp & Paper: Monitors chemical flows in paper production.

Burak Metering’s Advantage: Our mag meters offer high accuracy with minimal maintenance.

4. Coriolis Flow Meters

Coriolis flow meters directly measure mass flow by detecting the deflection of vibrating tubes caused by fluid movement.

Key Industries & Applications:

Oil & Gas Custody Transfer: Ensures precise measurement for fiscal transactions.
Chemical Industry: Used for batching and dosing of aggressive chemicals.
Food & Beverage: Measures viscous liquids like syrup and chocolate.
Pharmaceuticals: Critical for high-precision drug formulation.

Burak Metering’s Technology: Our Coriolis meters provide unmatched accuracy in mass flow measurement.

5. Turbine Flow Meters

Turbine flow meters measure flow by counting the rotations of a rotor placed in the fluid stream.

Key Industries & Applications:

Fuel Monitoring: Measures gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel in transport and storage.
Aerospace: Tracks hydraulic fluids in aircraft systems.
Agriculture: Monitors irrigation water flow.
Industrial Lubricants: Measures oil flow in machinery.

Burak Metering’s Turbine Meters: Designed for durability in high-flow liquid applications.

Choosing the Right Flow Meter for Your Industry

Selecting the best flow meter depends on:

Fluid Characteristics (conductivity, viscosity, cleanliness)
Process Conditions (pressure, temperature, flow rate)
Industry Standards (hygienic, explosion-proof, high-precision needs)

Burak Metering’s Approach: We help industries select the optimal flow meter through expert consultation and customized solutions.

Future Trends in Flow Measurement

Smart Flow Meters: IoT-enabled devices for remote monitoring and predictive maintenance.
Non-Intrusive Technologies: Increased use of ultrasonic and clamp-on meters.
Sustainability Focus: Flow meters aiding in water and energy conservation.

Burak Metering’s Innovation: We integrate advanced technologies to meet evolving industry demands.

Conclusion

Flow meters are essential for efficiency, safety, and compliance across industries. Whether you need DP meters for oil & gas, ultrasonic for water, mag meters for chemicals, Coriolis for custody transfer, or turbine meters for fuels, Burak Metering offers reliable and high-performance solutions.

Contact Burak Metering today to find the perfect flow meter for your application!