Water Meter VS. Flow Meter

Both water meters and flow meters are commonly used in homes and factories. However, there are many people think that water meters and flow meters are the same, and even use the two words interchangeably. In fact, they have many differences. Specifically, the water meter is a type of flow meter, but not all flow meters are water meters. Therefore, this article will introduce the differences between water meters and flow meters, so that you can better distinguish them.

Both water meters and flow meters are commonly used in homes and factories. However, there are many people think that water meters and flow meters are the same, and even use the two words interchangeably. In fact, they have many differences. Specifically, the water meter is a type of flow meter, but not all flow meters are water meters. Therefore, this article will introduce the differences between water meters and flow meters, so that you can better distinguish them.

Both water meters and flow meters are commonly used in homes and factories. However, there are many people think that water meters and flow meters are the same, and even use the two words interchangeably. In fact, they have many differences. Specifically, the water meter is a type of flow meter, but not all flow meters are water meters. Therefore, this article will introduce the differences between water meters and flow meters, so that you can better distinguish them.

Both water meters and flow meters are commonly used in homes and factories. However, there are many people think that water meters and flow meters are the same, and even use the two words interchangeably. In fact, they have many differences. Specifically, the water meter is a type of flow meter, but not all flow meters are water meters. Therefore, this article will introduce the differences between water meters and flow meters, so that you can better distinguish them.

What are water meters and flow meters?

A water meter is an instrument for measuring water flow, most of which are cumulative flow measurement of water.

Flow meters are used to measure the volume or mass of gases or liquids.

Types of Water Meters and Flow Meters

Both water meters and flow meters can be divided into three types:

Mechanical - This type of instrument is installed in a closed pipe, consists of a moving element, usually a piston or impeller, and it obtained a power velocity directly by the velocity of the medium moving.

Electromagnetic - This type uses electromagnetic waves to measure the speed or the volume of the medium. The electromagnetic water meter has the advantages of no obstruction in the pipeline, low initial flow, high measurement accuracy, not easy to wear and stable performance, which can improve the accuracy of medium measurement.

Ultrasonic - This type is a new type of instrument. That calculates the flow rate of the medium by detecting the time difference caused by the speed change when the ultrasonic sound beam propagates in the medium upstream and downstream.

The differences between a water meter and a flow meter

1. Function. The flow meter mainly measures the instantaneous flow, which is an instant state, and it can understand the usage of each site; while the water meter is mainly used for the cumulative flow measurement of water, and the instantaneous flow cannot be seen.

2. Cost. The manufacturing cost of water meters is lower than flow meter, and the cost of flow meters is generally high.

3. Quality. Relatively speaking, water meters have poor accuracy, cannot withstand high pressure and high temperature, cannot output linear signals, so they cannot participate in the automatic control of modern industries. They can only provide billing services for power companies and customers, while flow meters have high precision, high temperature resistance and high pressure resistance, etc. Therefore, the flow meter is widely used in the measurement of various media.

4. Usage. The water meter basically only measures water, not gas, and is mainly used for non-corrosive and single-phase medium measurement; the flow meter can measure gas, liquid (include water, oil, turbid liquid, etc.) and other media, including water meters.

Types of Water Meters and Flow Meters

Both water meters and flow meters can be divided into three types:

Mechanical - This type of instrument is installed in a closed pipe, consists of a moving element, usually a piston or impeller, and it obtained a power velocity directly by the velocity of the medium moving.

Electromagnetic - This type uses electromagnetic waves to measure the speed or the volume of the medium. The electromagnetic water meter has the advantages of no obstruction in the pipeline, low initial flow, high measurement accuracy, not easy to wear and stable performance, which can improve the accuracy of medium measurement.

Ultrasonic - This type is a new type of instrument. That calculates the flow rate of the medium by detecting the time difference caused by the speed change when the ultrasonic sound beam propagates in the medium upstream and downstream.

The differences between a water meter and a flow meter

1. Function. The flow meter mainly measures the instantaneous flow, which is an instant state, and it can understand the usage of each site; while the water meter is mainly used for the cumulative flow measurement of water, and the instantaneous flow cannot be seen.

2. Cost. The manufacturing cost of water meters is lower than flow meter, and the cost of flow meters is generally high.

3. Quality. Relatively speaking, water meters have poor accuracy, cannot withstand high pressure and high temperature, cannot output linear signals, so they cannot participate in the automatic control of modern industries. They can only provide billing services for power companies and customers, while flow meters have high precision, high temperature resistance and high pressure resistance, etc. Therefore, the flow meter is widely used in the measurement of various media.

4. Usage. The water meter basically only measures water, not gas, and is mainly used for non-corrosive and single-phase medium measurement; the flow meter can measure gas, liquid (include water, oil, turbid liquid, etc.) and other media, including water meters.

How to choose the most suitable water meter?

Mechanical water meter:

1. The water must be used quality similar to tap-to-tap water, and the liquid must not contain impurities such as rust, gravel, water plants, etc.;

2. It uses mechanical rotating parts such as impeller gears to measure, so there is wear and tear. And the longer the use time, the lower the measurement accuracy

3. The installation method is single and must be installed strictly horizontally or vertically

4. No power supply required

5. Unable to output data

Electromagnetic water meter:

1. Not affected by impurities and chemical substances in the medium such as sand, gravel, weeds, etc. but will be disturbed by magnetic substances;

2. There are no mechanical moving parts, never wear and tear, the accuracy has little relationship with the use time, and the general verification period is more than 3 years;

3. Horizontal or vertical, the electrodes must be on the same level

4. The principle of electromagnetic induction determines that the power consumption is relatively large, so it generally takes 15s to measure a flow, and the battery life is 3-5 years;

Ultrasonic water meter:（链接）

1. Not interfered by impurities such as sand, gravel, weeds, chemical substances and magnetic substances in the medium;

2. There are no mechanical moving parts, never wear and tear, the accuracy has little relationship with the use time, and the general verification period is more than 3 years;

3. According to the site conditions, it can be freely installed by horizontal, vertical or inclined method;

4. Qualified products can guarantee battery life of more than 10 years under the current measurement cycle of at least 1s;

After understanding the different characteristics of different types of water meters and combining the application conditions of the water meters, you can choose the most suitable water meter for the application.

How to choose the most suitable flow meter?

Mechanical flow meter:

1. Suitable for various types of liquid measurement, such as crude oil, diesel oil, gasoline, etc.

2. It has the characteristics of large measuring range, high precision, convenient to use and maintenance, etc.

3. It can be installed horizontally or vertically, but the oval gear shaft should be installed in a horizontal position

4. In order to prevent debris in the measured medium from sticking to the flow meter, a filter must be installed in front of the meter to be used together

Electromagnetic Flow meter:

1. Used to measure various acids, alkalis, salts and other corrosive liquids; flammable and explosive media; various industrial sewage, pulp, mud, etc.

2. It cannot be used to measure gas, steam and liquids containing a large amount of gas, and cannot be used to measure liquid media with very low conductivity, high temperature and high pressure fluids

3. There are no mechanical parts in the measuring pipe diameter, which is easy to maintain and has a long service life

4. General vertical installation

5. High measurement accuracy

Ultrasonic flow meter:

1. For the measurement of strong corrosive, non-conductive, radioactive and flammable and explosive media

2. The accuracy is slightly worse than the electromagnetic flow meter, but it is easy to install

3. Mono has low cost

4. There are no mechanical parts in the measuring pipe diameter, so it is easy to maintenance, has long service life, no pressure loss and flow loss

5. High requirements for the cleanliness of the medium, and a lot of impurities will lead to a decrease in the measurement accuracy

write at the end

The appearance and use of water meters and flow meters are very similar, so that many people are confused about whether they should use water meters or flow meters, or consider water meters and flow meters as the same product. Therefore, how do we distinguish them? First, if you need to measure water, and you need to accumulate measurements, it must be a water meter. If you need to measure gas or liquid (but not water), it must be a flow meter. However, there are different types of water meters and flow meters, so we need to choose the appropriate water meter or flow meter according to the specific application. If you need water meter or flow meter, please contect us.

WESDOM is a group company which specializing in the production, sales and development of valves, pipe fittings, flow meters and other pipeline accessories. We’ve been in valve industry for more than 25 years, These products can be used for construction, petroleum, chemical, power, water supply and drainage, municipal, medical and others filed.

The appearance and use of water meters and flow meters are very similar, so that many people are confused about whether they should use water meters or flow meters, or consider water meters and flow meters as the same product. Therefore, how do we distinguish them? First, if you need to measure water, and you need to accumulate measurements, it must be a water meter. If you need to measure gas or liquid (but not water), it must be a flow meter. However, there are different types of water meters and flow meters, so we need to choose the appropriate water meter or flow meter according to the specific application. If you need water meter or flow meter, please contect us.

WESDOM is a group company which specializing in the production, sales and development of valves, pipe fittings, flow meters and other pipeline accessories. We’ve been in valve industry for more than 25 years, These products can be used for construction, petroleum, chemical, power, water supply and drainage, municipal, medical and others filed.

The appearance and use of water meters and flow meters are very similar, so that many people are confused about whether they should use water meters or flow meters, or consider water meters and flow meters as the same product. Therefore, how do we distinguish them? First, if you need to measure water, and you need to accumulate measurements, it must be a water meter. If you need to measure gas or liquid (but not water), it must be a flow meter. However, there are different types of water meters and flow meters, so we need to choose the appropriate water meter or flow meter according to the specific application. If you need water meter or flow meter, please contect us.

WESDOM is a group company which specializing in the production, sales and development of valves, pipe fittings, flow meters and other pipeline accessories. We’ve been in valve industry for more than 25 years, These products can be used for construction, petroleum, chemical, power, water supply and drainage, municipal, medical and others filed.

The appearance and use of water meters and flow meters are very similar, so that many people are confused about whether they should use water meters or flow meters, or consider water meters and flow meters as the same product. Therefore, how do we distinguish them? First, if you need to measure water, and you need to accumulate measurements, it must be a water meter. If you need to measure gas or liquid (but not water), it must be a flow meter. However, there are different types of water meters and flow meters, so we need to choose the appropriate water meter or flow meter according to the specific application. If you need water meter or flow meter, please contect us.

WESDOM is a group company which specializing in the production, sales and development of valves, pipe fittings, flow meters and other pipeline accessories. We’ve been in valve industry for more than 25 years, These products can be used for construction, petroleum, chemical, power, water supply and drainage, municipal, medical and others filed.

The appearance and use of water meters and flow meters are very similar, so that many people are confused about whether they should use water meters or flow meters, or consider water meters and flow meters as the same product. Therefore, how do we distinguish them? First, if you need to measure water, and you need to accumulate measurements, it must be a water meter. If you need to measure gas or liquid (but not water), it must be a flow meter. However, there are different types of water meters and flow meters, so we need to choose the appropriate water meter or flow meter according to the specific application. If you need water meter or flow meter, please contect us.

WESDOM is a group company which specializing in the production, sales and development of valves, pipe fittings, flow meters and other pipeline accessories. We’ve been in valve industry for more than 25 years, These products can be used for construction, petroleum, chemical, power, water supply and drainage, municipal, medical and others filed.

The appearance and use of water meters and flow meters are very similar, so that many people are confused about whether they should use water meters or flow meters, or consider water meters and flow meters as the same product. Therefore, how do we distinguish them? First, if you need to measure water, and you need to accumulate measurements, it must be a water meter. If you need to measure gas or liquid (but not water), it must be a flow meter. However, there are different types of water meters and flow meters, so we need to choose the appropriate water meter or flow meter according to the specific application. If you need water meter or flow meter, please contect us.

WESDOM is a group company which specializing in the production, sales and development of valves, pipe fittings, flow meters and other pipeline accessories. We’ve been in valve industry for more than 25 years, These products can be used for construction, petroleum, chemical, power, water supply and drainage, municipal, medical and others filed.