Flow Measurement Instruments
- Low Flow Liquid Meters
- Low Flow Gas Meters
- Duct Flow Meters for Air & Gas
- Low Flow Controller
- MaxExtractor Extraction Monitor
- Multi-Variable Process Meter
- Bidirectional Flow Meters
- RheoVac ® Multisensor Flow Monitors
- Flow Switches
- Custom Process Measurement
- Instruments for Hazardous Locations
- Electronics Options
Low Flow Gas Meters
Rheotherm low-flow gas flow meters provide an easy-to-use technology for measuring gas flow 
in small lines—typically 1” or smaller at flow rates from a few hundred SCFM down to 25 SCCM. (For flow measurement in larger pipes and ducts, check out our Duct Flow Meters.) These flow meters give a repeatable reading in mass or standard volume with no external temperature or pressure correction needed. With no mechanical parts, they are reliable and easy to maintain. For hazardous environments, intrinsically safe and NEMA 7 explosion-proof options are available (to learn more, go to our Instruments for Hazardous Locations page).
What Can Our Gas Flow Meters Measure?
Continuous flow of most gases, including corrosive and explosive gases. These low-volume flow meters have been used to measure everything from hydrogen to uranium hexafluoride. A partial listing of the gases that are being measured by our flow instruments is presented here:
- Ammonia
- Argon
- Butane
- Carbon Dioxide
- Carbon Monoxide
- Chlorine Gas (Dry)
- Coal Gas
- Coke Gas
- Diesel Exhaust
- Digester Gas
- Ethane
- Ethanol Vapor
- Ethylene
- Flare Gas
- Flue Gas
- Fluorine Gas
- Fuel Gas
- HC Fuel Gas
- Helium
- Hydrocarbon Gas
- Methane
- Methanol Formaldehyde Vapor
- Natural Gas
- Oxygen
- Propane Vapor
- Propylene Gas
- Sulfur Dioxide
- Tungsten Hexafluoride (WF6)
Electropolished sensors are available for ultrahigh purity gases. Bionetics has 50 years of experience measuring complex fluids in complex situations. Check out our complete list of fluids in our applications section.
Rheotherm flow meters have been used in literally thousands of installations since we began manufacturing them in 1978. Industries that currently use our fluid flow measurement meters include:
- Chemical and Petrochemical
- Aerospace
- Wastewater Treatment
- Natural Gas
- Oil and Gas Production
- Nuclear
- Pulp and Paper
Visit our Industries Served page for more information about many of the industries and applications that Bionetics has served.
How Are They Installed?
These are inline air flow sensors that are typically installed with standard tube fittings, but also available with optional flanges, sanitary fittings, etc. They can be installed in any orientation except vertical with downward flow.
With some models the electronics are integral to the sensor, while other models have a separate electronics enclosure that can be installed as far as 200 feet from the sensor. The separate enclosure is especially useful for locations with limited space where it is impossible or impractical to place the electronics in the same spot as the sensor, or in hazardous environments where the electronics can be located in a non-hazardous area.
What Is the Turndown Ratio?
Typical calibration ranges for our inline flow meters are 10:1 (options up to 200:1), with excellent accuracy over the entire range. The sensors cannot be damaged by over-ranging or liquid carryover. Four calibration channels are available.
How Do They Work?
Bionetics’ low flow meters use either a straight-through or looped flow tube with a heated and an unheated Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) attached to the outside of the tube.
The temperature differential between the two RTDs generates the primary flow signal. At high flow rates the differential is low because heat is easily removed from the fluid. At low flow rates the differential is higher, because less heat is removed. Nothing touches the fluid except the flow tube wall, and there are no mechanical parts that can wear, stick, or break.
Due to the absence of moving parts, maintenance requirements are minimal. Volume flow and mass flow of gases can be measured without the need for pressure or temperature correction. All these features and capabilities add up to a thermal low flow measurement meter that cannot be surpassed for accuracy and ease of use.
Our optional 2 x 16 backlit LCD display shows mass/volume flow rate, temperature (Celsius or Fahrenheit), and total accumulated flow stats. Our flow instruments also come with a self-diagnostic feature that detects system problems—from damaged sensors to corrupted data—and generates appropriate status codes which can be viewed by the user. Flow output data can be transmitted in analog or digital form.
How Do I Get One?
Contact one of our flow application specialists using the form on this page to configure a Rheotherm flow meter tailored to your application, low flow gas meters RFQ. You can also download and complete the Flow Application Data Sheet and email it to us at sales-flow@bionetics.com.
For other questions and ways to reach us, visit our Contact Us page for telephone, fax and email information.
- No moving parts
- Exclusive inline TU sensor
- Advanced signal processing electronics
- Field adjustable
- Maintenance-free
- Easy installation
- Choice of wetted materials
- Long-term reliability
| Standard | Options | |
| Temperature | Process: 0 – 140°F (-18 – 60°C) Environment: 0 – 120°F (-18 – 50°C) | -20 – 350°F (-30 – 175°C) |
| Pressure | 0 – 1,000 PSI | Up to 30,000 PSI |
| Calibration Ranges | 10:1 Turndown; | – Up to 200:1 turndown – Four calibration channels available (for multiple flow ranges or different fluids using the same sensor) |
| Calibration Accuracy | ± 1% of reading typical | |
| Response Time | 1 sec. ; 3 – 5 sec. typ. (63% of range); | Time constant/delay option |
| Repeatability | ± 0.5% of reading | |
| Standard | Options | |
| Line Sizes (flow range dependent) | Capillary; 1/16”; 1/8”; 3/16”; 1/4” 3/8”; 1/2”; 5/8”; 3/4”; 1” | Other sizes via fittings/adapters |
| Process Connection | Plain tube stubs suitable for compression fittings | – MNPT; – Tri-Clover (Sanitary); – SS Flange (1/2” – 2”): Most other fittings available |
| Wetted Material | 316 SS | – Hastelloy C-276®; – Monel®; – Alloy 20; – Titanium; – Tantalum; – Inconel |
| Display | 2 X16 backlit LCD with selectable display of: – Mass/volume flow rate – Temperature – Total accumulated flow | |
| Standard | Options | |
| Enclosure | Sensor: PVC Integrated Electronics: NEMA 4X Cast Aluminum Remote Electronics: NEMA 4 | Sensor: Stainless steel Remote electronics: – Stainless steel – NEMA 7 Explosion-proof |
| Hazardous Environment | Integrated electronics: FM-Approved for: – Class I, Div. 1, Groups B,C,D – Class I, Zone 1, IIB+H2 (US) – Class II, Div. 1, Groups E, F, G – Class III, Div. 1 Remote electronics: Same as above except addition of Group A using ISB | |
| Outputs | 4 – 20 mA (flow rate) or Serial Burst with Flow Rate, Totalizer, and Fluid Temperature | – 0 – 10 or 0 – 5 VDC; – Pulse (5 VDC open collector); – HART (4-20 mA); – SPDT relay; – 4 to 20 mA temp |
| Input Power | 24 VDC ±4V (200 mA; 300 mA w/display option) | 110/230 VAC ±10V |
Inline Sensor Flow Capacities for Gases
| TUBE SIZE | ||||||||||
| FLOW RATE LIMITS | C | 1/16 | 1/8 | 3/16 | 1/4 | 3/8 | 1/2 | 5/8 | 3/4 | 1 |
| Extended Maximum | 0.027 | 1.25 | 5 | 11 | 20 | 45 | 80 | 125 | 180 | 320 |
| Normal Maximum | 0.017 | 0.75 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 34 | 70 | 109 | 160 | 280 |
| Normal Minimum | 0.0017 | 0.02 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 6.4 |
| Extended Minimum | 0.0009 | 0.0017 | 0.05 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 2 | 3.2 |
| SCFM | ||||||||||
Contact Bionetics