Argon FAQs
I know my flowmeter tells me that I have a certain gas flow rate, but how can I be sure?
Flowmeters must be sized properly for each particular application, type of gas, gas pressure, and operating range. First, make sure that your flowmeter is calibrated for the specific gravity of the gas that you are metering. Check the label or the glass tube of the flowmeter or call the manufacturer to be sure. Second, operate the flowmeter only at the pressure for which it was calibrated. As an example, a variable-area flowmeter calibrated for 5,5 bar and reading 28,3 m³/h will really only be delivering 21,5 m³/h if it is operated at 2,8 bar. This is a 24% error! Third, for best accuracy and to allow room for adjustment, size the flowmeter so that your normal flow rate falls within 30%–70% of full scale. These three steps will help ensure that you have good control over your gas flows and, ultimately, your process.
Guido Plicht
Commercial Technology Manager – Europa