In industrial air handling and filtration systems, precise flow rate measurement is critical. Without it, you risk inefficient processes, hidden system faults, and even dangerous conditions. That’s where our advanced air flow measurement units come in offering a reliable, automated way to monitor and manage airflow. Want to get an idea of your airflow then try our flow rate calculator.
What is flow rate and why should you measure it?
Flow rate is the amount of fluid: (product air, gas, or liquid) that passes through a specific point in a system over a given time. It is also known as volume flow rate, volumetric flow rate or volume velocity. If a pipeline is polluted, the flow rate will become lower than usual. That’s why measuring flow rate is a great way to detect pollution at an early stage and reduce the risk of explosion.
Calculate Volumetric flow rate
The volumetric flow rate measures how much volume of air passes through a point per unit time. It’s commonly expressed in units such as m³/s or L/min. Volumetric flow rate is used across ventilation, pneumatic conveying, and dust extraction systems.
How to Calculate Flow Rate
\[ Q = A \cdot v \]
- Q = Volumetric flow rate (m3/s)
- A = Cross-sectional area (m2)
- v = Air velocity (m/s)
Mass flow rate
Mass flow rate measures the actual mass of air (or gas) that flows, usually in kg/s. It is crucial when dealing with gases where pressure or temperature affects density. It’s calculated by multiplying the volumetric flow rate by the fluid’s density:
How to Calculate Mass Flow Rate:
\[ \dot{m} = \rho \cdot Q \]
- \(\dot{m}\) = Mass flow rate (kg/s)
- \(\rho\) = Air density (kg/m3)
- Q = Volumetric flow rate (m3/s)
What Happens if I don’t Measure?
Unpredicted downtime never comes at a convenient moment. The downtime from unexpected maintenance can lead to unwanted delays and significant losses in profit. But even planned maintenance isn’t ideal. Every minute your process isn’t running, money is lost, so you want to reduce maintenance to a minimum. Measuring flow rate can help you achieve this, by collecting data and by predicting the reach of the lower limit.
Risk of clogged pipes and explosions
Clogged pipes lead to buildup of explosive dust clouds. If ignited, these can cause catastrophic explosions. Monitoring flow rate allows early detection of abnormal resistance and airflow reduction, both indicators of dangerous dust accumulation. Therefore, transported dust needs to be monitored closely.
Cross-contamination
In some cases different kinds of product can be transported (batches) through the same pipe. Pipe clogging can cause the previous material to get stuck, which could cause unwanted cross-contamination. By preventing pipes from clogging, you will also reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Nobody likes the taste of garlic in their vanilla milkshake.
The Automated way of Measuring Air Flow
Easily put, Air Flow Measurement Units or ‘Flow Meters’ measure air or gas flows and volumes before and after an intervention. Flow Measurement Devices can go by many names, like flow meter, flow instrumentation, flow indicator, flow rate sensor, or flow gauge. This depends on the industry, product, and process. At JOA, we call them ‘Air Flow Measurement Units’.
Failing Methods of Air Flow Measurements
Many flow measurement methods, like Hydraulic Turbines and Pitot Tubes, are failing. These methods are commonly used, but know considerable downsides:
| Disadvantages of Pitot Tubes |
|---|
| ❌Highly sensitive to dust buildup |
| ❌Require frequent manual cleaning |
| ❌Poor performance in turbulent flow |
| ❌Susceptible to pressure drop and signal noise |
| Disadvantages of Aneroid gauges / mechanical gauges |
|---|
| ❌Low precision for dynamic flow environments |
| ❌No digital output for remote monitoring |
| ❌Manual readings required |
| Disadvantages of Turbine Anemometer |
|---|
| ❌Mechanical parts wear over time |
| ❌Prone to failure in dirty or particle-laden air |
| ❌Can generate sparks—non-ATEX compliant |
| Disadvantages of Hot Wire anemometer |
|---|
| ❌Fragile and expensive sensor elements |
| ❌Sensitive to contamination |
| ❌Limited to clean air applications |
Our new and improved way to measure air flow in industrial processes
JOA created a new and improved way to measure air flow, without the downsides of the solutions mentioned earlier. During manufacturing processes waste dust is emitted or conveyed. Our unit is attached to the extractor, in the middle of the piping, and measures the conveyed air. When too little powder or dust is being conveyed you’ll know something is wrong. That is a sign of pollution and clogging. Adding one or multiple units to your production line will enable you to detect pollution at an early stage and solve problems before they become a real threat to productivity or safety.
Our Air Flow Measurement Units have a lot of advantages compared to other solutions:
