Electromagnetic Flow Meters Working Principle

Magnetic flow meter, simply known as mag flow meter is a volumetric flow meter which is ideally used for wastewater applications and other applications that experience low pressure drop and with appropriate liquid conductivity required. The device doesn’t have any moving parts and cannot work with hydrocarbons and distilled water. Mag flow meters are also easy to maintain. 

Mag Flow Meter

Principle of Magnetic Flow Meter Based on Faraday’s Law 

Magnetic flow meters works based on Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction. According to this principle, when a conductive medium passes through a magnetic field B, a voltage E is generated which is proportional to the velocity v of the medium, the density of the magnetic field and the length of the conductor.

Also See: Magnetic Flow Meter Working Animation

In a magnetic flow meter, a current is applied to wire coils mounted within or outside the meter body to generate a magnetic field. The liquid flowing through the pipe acts as the conductor and this induces a voltage which is proportional to the average flow velocity. This voltage is detected by sensing electrodes mounted in the Magflow meter body and sent to a transmitter which calculates the volumetric flow rate based on the pipe dimensions.

Mathematically, we can state Faraday's law as

E is proportional to V x B x L

[E is the voltage generated in a conductor, V is the velocity of the conductor, B is the magnetic field strength and L is the length of the conductor]. 

Also Read: Variable Area Flowmeters Working Principle

Working of ElectroMagnetic Flow Meters

It is very important that the liquid flow that is to be measured using the magnetic flow meter must be electrically conductive. The Faraday’s Law indicates that the signal voltage (E) is dependent on the average liquid velocity (V), the length of the conductor (D) and the magnetic field strength (B). The magnetic field will thus be established in the cross-section of the tube. 

Electromagnetic Flow Meters

Basically when the conductive liquid flows through the magnetic field, voltage is induced. To measure this generated voltage (which is proportional to the velocity of the flowing liquid), two stainless steel electrodes are used which are mounted opposite each other. The two electrodes which are placed inside the flow meter are then connected to an advanced electronic circuit that has the ability to process the signal. The processed signal is fed into the microprocessor that calculates the volumetric flow of the liquid.

Electromagnetic Flow Meters Formulas:

Electromagnetic flow meters use Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction for making a flow measurement. Faraday’s law states that, whenever a conductor of length ‘l’ moves with a velocity ‘v’ perpendicular to a magnetic field ‘B’, an emf ‘e’ is induced in a mutually perpendicular direction which is given by

Electromagnetic Flow Meters Working Principle

e = Blv ...(eq1)

where 

B = Magnetic flux density (Wb/m2)

l = length of conductor (m)

v = Velocity of the conductor (m/s)

The volume flow rate Q is given by

Q = (πd2/4) v ...(eq2)

where

d = diameter of the pipe

v = average velocity of flow (conductor velocity in this case)

From equation (eq1)

v = e/Bl

Q = πd2e/4Bl

Q = Ke

where K is a meter constant.

Thus the volume flow rate is proportional to the induced emf. In Practical applications we have to enter the meter constant 'K' value in magnetic flowmeter which is available in vendor catalogue/manual.

Also Read: Vortex Flow Meter Working Principle

Limitations of electromagnetic Flow Meters

(i) The substance being measured must be conductive. Therefore, it can’t be employed for metering the flow rate of gases and steam, petroleum products and similar liquids having very low conductivity.

(ii) To render the meter insensitive to variations in the resistance of liquid, the effective resistance of the liquid between the electrodes should not exceed 1% of the impedance of the external circuit.

(iii) It is a very expensive device.

(iv) As the meter always measures the volume rate, the volume of any suspended matter in the liquid will be included.

(v) To avoid any trouble which would be caused by entrained air, when the flow tube is installed in a horizontal pipe-line, the electrodes should be on the horizontal diameter.

(vi) As a zero check on the installation can be performed only by stopping the flow, isolating valves are required and a bypass may also be necessary through which the flow may be directed during a zero check.

(vii) The pipe must run full, in case regulating valves are installed upstream of the meter.

Advantages of Electromagnetic Flow Meter

(i) The obstruction to the flow is almost nil and therefore this type of meters can be used for measuring heavy suspensions, including mud, sewage and wood pulp.

ii) There is no pressure head loss in this type of flow meter other than that of the length of straight pipe which the meter occupies.

(iii) They are not very much affected by upstream flow disturbances.

(iv) They are practically unaffected by variation in density, viscosity, pressure and temperature.

(v) Electric power requirements can be low (15 or 20 W), particularly with pulsed DCtypes.

(vi) These meters can be used as bidirectional meters.

(vii) The meters are suitable for most acids, bases, water and aqueous solutions because the lining materials selected are not only good electrical insulators but also are corrosion resistant.

(viii) The meters are widely used for slurry services not only because they are obstruction less but also because some of the liners such as polyurethane, neoprene and rubber have good abrasion or erosion resistance.

(ix) They are capable of handling extremely low flows.

Disadvantages of EM Flow Meter

(i) These meters can be used only for fluids which have reasonable electrical conductivity.

(ii) Accuracy is only in the range of ± 1% over a flow rate range of 5%.

(iii) The size and cost of the field coils and circuitry do not increase in proportion to their size of pipe bore. Consequently small size meters are bulky and expensive.

Applications of EM Flow Meters

This electromagnetic flow meter being non intrusive type, can be used in general for any fluid which is having a reasonable electrical conductivity above 10 microsiemens/cm. Fluids like sand water slurry, coal powder, slurry, sewage, wood pulp, chemicals, water other than distilled water in large pipe lines, hot fluids, high viscous fluids specially in food processing industries, cryogenic fluids can be metered by the electromagnetic flow meter.

How to Use Magnetic Flow Meters

Magnetic flowmeters measure the velocity of conductive liquids in pipes, such as water, acids, caustic, and slurries. Magnetic flowmeters can measure properly when the electrical conductivity of the liquid is greater than approximately 5μS/cm. Be careful because using magnetic flowmeters on fluids with low conductivity, such as deionized water, boiler feed water, or hydrocarbons, can cause the flowmeter to turn off and measure zero flow.

This flowmeter does not obstruct flow, so it can be applied to clean, sanitary, dirty, corrosive and abrasive liquids. Magnetic flowmeters can be applied to the flow of liquids that are conductive, so hydrocarbons and gases cannot be measured with this technology due to their non-conductive nature and gaseous state, respectively.

Magnetic flowmeters do not require much upstream and downstream straight run so they can be installed in relatively short meter runs. Magnetic flowmeters typically require 3-5 diameters of upstream straight run and 0-3 diameters of downstream straight run measured from the plane of the magnetic flowmeter electrodes.

Applications for dirty liquids are found in the water, wastewater, mining, mineral processing, power, pulp and paper, and chemical industries. Water and wastewater applications include custody transfer of liquids in force mains between water/wastewater districts. Magnetic flowmeters are used in water treatment plants to measure treated and untreated sewage, process water, water and chemicals. Mining and mineral process industry applications include process water and process slurry flows and heavy media flows.

With proper attention to materials of construction, the flow of highly corrosive liquids (such as acid and caustic) and abrasive slurries can be measured. Corrosive liquid applications are commonly found in the chemical industry processes, and in chemical feed systems used in most industries. Slurry applications are commonly found in the mining, mineral processing, pulp and paper, and wastewater industries.

Magnetic flowmeters are often used where the liquid is fed using gravity. Be sure that the orientation of the flowmeter is such that the flowmeter is completely filled with liquid. Failure to ensure that the flowmeter is completely filled with liquid can significantly affect the flow measurement.

Be especially careful when operating magnetic flowmeters in vacuum service because some magnetic flowmeter liners can collapse and be sucked into the pipeline in vacuum service, catastrophically damaging the flowmeter. Note that vacuum conditions can occur in pipes that seemingly are not exposed to vacuum service such as pipes in which a gas can condense (often under abnormal conditions). Similarly, excessive temperature in magnetic flowmeters (even briefly under abnormal conditions) can result in permanent flowmeter damage.

Also Read: Flow Measurement Interview Questions