Flowmeter trends, applications

Control Engineering International: Control Engineering China (CEC) polled its online visitors about flowmeter trends, application, and use; 82% of respondents’ companies are buying flowmeters this year; better stability was the primary consideration. Next most important factors were...

By Mark T. Hoske June 20, 2012

The 2012 CEC Trend Analysis of Flow Meter Applications: In January 2012, the Control Engineering China website launched a survey to analyze flowmeter applications and trends. Among 255 respondents, 82% of companies represented plans to purchase flowmeters in 2012. The primary consideration in purchasing the product, for 66% of respondents, was “better stability.” The next two most important requirements were low maintenance costs and higher measurement accuracy. Other factors are equally distributed and less focused than the above three.

Main factors of concern when purchasing a new flowmeter

66% Better stability

46% Low maintenance costs 

32% Higher measurement accuracy

28% Digital display (none-point display) 

28% Low purchasing cost

24% Easy installation, less need for process leak-proof protection

22% Online setting and debugging function

20% Noncontact measurement

16% Digital communication function

14% No calibration

14% Wide range

12% Replaced online

10% Removable transfer

Source: January 2012 Control Engineering China flowmeter survey, 255 respondents

Among respondents, 90% affirmed the significance of after-sales service, indicating that users are very concerned with after-sales service quality of flowmeter products.

Thirdly, beyond CEC expectations, 27% of the companies where the respondents work have experience using wireless instrumentation. Wireless technologies are quickly becoming popular for instrumentation applications in China.

System integrators and staff from design institutes comprise 28% and 6% of respondents, respectively. Other respondents are end users of flowmeter products. Furthermore, about one-fourth work in petrochemical enterprises, which implies that flowmeter procurement will be more active in this field.

See bar chart on communications methods, protocols, and fieldbuses desired for flowmeters.

For more details, please visit the following website and download the report after login.

https://bbs.cechina.cn/thread-184136.html 

Online extra: High-precision liquid ultrasonic flow meter applied in petrochemical industry — see link at bottom.

Control Engineering China January 2012 article edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager CFE Media, Control Engineering, Plant Engineering, and Consulting-Specifying Engineer, mhoske@cfemedia.com.


Author Bio: Mark Hoske has been Control Engineering editor/content manager since 1994 and in a leadership role since 1999, covering all major areas: control systems, networking and information systems, control equipment and energy, and system integration, everything that comprises or facilitates the control loop. He has been writing about technology since 1987, writing professionally since 1982, and has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree from UW-Madison.