Characteristics of Thermal Anemometers & Why They’re Well-Suited for Low Flow Applications

There are two common ways to measure air velocity: by using pressure-based instrumentation or by using temperature-based instrumentation. Before we discuss the different technologies available for measuring velocity pressure, it is important to understand the basics of air velocity.

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How the Dwyer Series IEF and IEFB Overcome Typical Sources of Error

There are a wide variety of technologies that can be used for fluid flow measurement, such as differential pressure, paddlewheel, electromagnetic, and ultrasonic. Furthermore, each technology has multiple installation configurations. It is important to understand the nuances of different technologies and installations in order to pick the right flowmeter for your application. 

When purchasing a flowmeter for an HVAC application, such as boiler feed water monitoring or chilled/condenser water monitoring, we found that our customers value the ability to hot-tap (or pressure tap) a pipe to install an insertion flowmeter. This is done by installing an isolation valve in a pipe, allowing an insertion flowmeter to be placed into and removed from a live system without having to drain it. Draining a system is time consuming, costly, and generally not a good option for HVAC systems in buildings because it requires the entire system to be shut down. Permanently installing a hot-tap valve followed by an insertion flowmeter (with hot-tap capability) is an ideal alternative to a costly inline meter. 

When considering an insertion flowmeter for an HVAC application, there are four key sources of error to be aware of:  Continue reading “How the Dwyer Series IEF and IEFB Overcome Typical Sources of Error”

Certificates of Calibration Explained

Dwyer Instruments, Inc. offers a variety of calibration services for new or previously purchased products. In 2019, the Dwyer Instruments, Inc. – Engineering Laboratory, located in Michigan City, IN, gained accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 through the ANSI National Accreditation Board. The Dwyer lab now offers two different types of calibration certificates for our products: a certificate of NIST calibration and an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited certificate of calibration. Now that accredited calibration services are available for select Dwyer products, it is important to know the differences between these two different calibration certificates. Knowing these differences will allow you to understand which calibration certificate will best suit your needs. Continue reading “Certificates of Calibration Explained”

Monitoring Air Flow of Hydrogen and Methane Gases

A system integrator in California recently needed to monitor air flow of hydrogen and methane gas, requiring threaded connections to a steel line that the gases flowed through, as well as from the flow sensing device to the transmitter reading flow for their system controller. Hydrogen and methane are difficult gases to deal with, requiring a robust solution to monitor flow through the exhaust line without potentially posing a hazard.  Continue reading “Monitoring Air Flow of Hydrogen and Methane Gases”

Decrypting Thermal Energy Meter Accuracy

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” – Leonardo da Vinci

These days, energy conservation is on everyone’s mind. From cost savings to environmental concerns, there are many well-known benefits to conserving energy. But understanding exactly how to do so can be confusing. In order to conserve energy, you must know precisely how much energy you are using.

There are many different methods and tools that can be used to measure your energy consumption, depending on your application. In this post, we will focus on thermal energy measurement and management in hydronic systems. In keeping true to Da Vinci’s quote, we will keep our explanation as simple and straightforward as possible.

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