Measure compressed air flow rate?

by Dave Hinder
(St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada)

Trying to determine consumption into various lines.
Are there any portable "quick-disconnect" type flow meters?

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Bill answers...

Hello Dave. Welcome to you and the other folks that visit from St. Carharines.

Any in-line flow meter can be set up as a quick connect.

You will want to install it where an existing air line enters a fitting. Perhaps on the valve power line etc.

Add an instant fitting to both sides of your flow meter. To the upstream fitting add a length of poly tube that's the same diameter as the existing line.

Then, when you disconnect the existing air line from the valve or other air using appliance, you simply insert the tube from the flow meter into that fitting, and insert the existing disconnected line into the downstream fitting on the flow meter.

With this rig you can insert the flow meter into the feed line anywhere you wish and monitor the flow to a specific use.

If it's a probe type compressed air flow meter, the test rig will include a Tee, a line running up out of the Tee into which the probe would be inserted, a length of tube from the upstream side of the Tee to plug into the air source fitting, and an instant fitting on the downstream side into which the line to the air using device can be inserted.

Where to get compressed air flow meters?

I know these guys have a pretty slick series: http://www.vpinstruments.com.

Or, use your browser to search for "buy compressed air flow meter" and you will turn up lots.

Cheers,

Bill