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SM flow meter technology overview

Magnetic flow meters, commonly known as magmeters, utilize the principles outlined in Faraday's law of induction to accurately measure the flow of conductive liquids in various industrial settings. 

Magnetic-inductive principle of operation

The magnetic-inductive, or magmeter, measuring principle operates according to Faraday's law of induction. Faraday's principle predicts how a magnetic field will react when a voltage is induced in the field.

Graphic of coil, electrodes and magnets showing the principle of operation of magmeters

When a conductive medium flows through a pipe in a magnetic field, the charged particles from the conductive media are directed to an electrode on one side based on the flow direction. Depending on the flow velocity, more or fewer charge carriers are led past the electrode, generating a voltage proportional to the flow velocity or volumetric flow quantity. The voltage is tapped via the measuring electrodes and converted in the evaluation electronics to a usable control signal. As the pipe cross-section is defined, the volumetric flow quantity can be determined exactly.

Farady's Law and magmeters

When a conductive fluid moves through the magmeter's magnetic field, it induces a voltage. This voltage can then be measured to determine the flow rate of the fluid. Electrodes within the magmeter tap into this voltage. It's then converted within the device's electronics to give a usable control signal which tells us the flow rate of the fluid.

Not every fluid can work with a magmeter. The fluid must be conductive for the device to measure its flow rate. The more conductive the medium, the clearer the reading. Thus, they work was as water flow meters among other liquids. 

Applications and benefits of magmeters and water flow meters

Magmeters and water flow meters are common in a variety industries ranging from wastewater treatment to food and beverage production. Unlike traditional flowmeters, magmeters don't have moving parts, meaning there's less wear and tear and fewer maintenance requirements. They're also non-invasive and offer more precise readings than other solutions, especially with highly conductive mediums.

ifm magmeters and water flow meters use IO-Link technology to provide actionable alerts and crucial data to facility and maintenance managers in real-time.