Ultrasonic Flow Meters

Meters that measure the difference in travel time of ultrasonic pulses sent with and against the flow to derive velocity. They are the standard choice for clean, single-phase liquids and gases and dominate custody and fiscal applications.

Meters that measure the frequency shift of ultrasound reflected from suspended particles or gas bubbles in the fluid. They suit dirty or aerated streams such as produced water and slurries where transit-time signals are degraded.

Non-intrusive meters whose transducers strap onto the outside of an existing pipe, measuring through the wall without cutting into the line. They allow installation and removal without shutdown and are used where penetrating the pipe is impractical.

Meters supplied as a flanged spool section with transducers in direct contact with the fluid, installed permanently in the pipeline. The fixed geometry and wetted path give higher and more repeatable accuracy, making them preferred for fiscal and custody-transfer duty.

Meters with a probe inserted through a pipe fitting or hot-tap so transducers sit inside the line without a full spool replacement. They serve large-diameter pipes and retrofits where a complete spool meter would be costly to install.

Battery-powered clamp-on units intended for temporary surveys, spot checks, and verification of fixed meters. They are carried between sites for diagnostics rather than permanent installation.

Inline meters using multiple acoustic paths across the pipe bore to sample the velocity profile and correct for flow disturbances. They are the principal technology for natural gas custody transfer under AGA Report No. 9.