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FLOW SWITCH
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AND SENSOR
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CONTENTS:
• What is Flow
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Switch?
• What is Fow
Sensor?
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What is a Flow
Switch?
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FLOW SWITCH
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A flow switch, like all switches, is a device

designed to make and break an electric
current in a circuit. In an industrial
system, a flow switch is essential in
monitoring and controlling the flow rate
of process media – such as steam, liquids,
and gases. Flow switches help maintain
safe and manageable rates of flow by
triggering actions in various machines
within a system to provide on/off flow
control of process media.
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What is Flow?
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• In industrial processing, flow is the movement of

liquids, steam, and gases through a processing
system. Flow rate measurement is used to
measure the volume of fluid process media
passing through a specific cross-sectional area per
unit of time. Monitoring flow rate measurements
is essential in controlling the safe movement of
fluid within an industrial system. The monitoring
and control of flow is a requirement for all
industries that process fluid media.
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What is a Flow
9
Switch Used For?
8 As previously stated, flow switches are used to
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monitor and control the flow rate of fluid within
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5 an industrial process system. Automated
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industrial systems that process fluid media rely
2 heavily on flow switches to ensure safe and
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0 optimal flow rates. Flow switches respond to
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
pre-set flow rate levels and perform two
functions when those levels are reached:
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec namely, closing its contacts and turning a
specific piece of equipment ON, or opening its
contacts and turning a specific piece of
equipment OFF.
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How Does a Flow Switch Work?

• There are a variety of different types of flow switches on the market today – functioning in a
variety of different ways – but what all flow switches have in common is that when the flow
rate reaches a switch’s set-point, it can either open or close the circuit which triggers an action:
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whether it’s turning a pump on or off or it’s actuating an alarm.

Flow switches are either configured to be Normally Open (NO) or Normally Closed (NC). This
refers to the default state of the switch. With a NO switch, the circuit is open (OFF) until
triggered otherwise. With a NC switch, the circuit is closed (ON) until triggered otherwise.
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Types of
Large Photo
Flow
Slide
Switches
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Paddle Flow Switches

• The paddle design flow switch is
constructed with a hinged or spring-
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mounted paddle, which makes direct

contact with the media flowing
through the pipe. The paddle is held
in position when the media is
flowing at the target rate (or
setpoint). An increase or a decrease
in the flow rate will move the paddle
from its setpoint, which, in turn,
throws a small switch triggering the
specified action.
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Piston or Shuttle
Flow Switches
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• Shuttle or piston flow switches are

sensors with an electrical contact
output at a specific flow rate. Models
are used with oil, air, water and
gases. Applications include oil flow
control, low flow detection in
cooling lines, and high pressure
lubrication systems.
 What is a flow sensor? 11

• A flow sensor (more commonly referred to • Flow sensors can be divided into two groups:
as a “flow meter”) is an electronic device contact and non-contact flow sensors.
that measures or regulates the flow rate of Contact flow sensors are used in applications
liquids and gasses within pipes and tubes. where the liquid or gas measured is not
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Flow sensors are generally connected to expected to become clogged in the pipe when
gauges to render their measurements, but it comes into contact with the sensor’s
they can also be connected to computers moving parts. In contrast, non-contact flow
and digital interfaces. They are commonly sensors have no moving parts, and they are
used in HVAC systems, medical devices, generally used when the liquid or gas
chemical factories, and septic systems. (generally a food product) being monitored
Flow sensors are able to detect leaks, would be otherwise contaminated or
blockages, pipe bursts, and changes in physically altered by coming into contact with
liquid concentration due to contamination moving parts.
or pollution.
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Vortex flow sensor.

(Automation Forum)
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Types of Flow Sensors

The different types of flow sensors generally fall into one of three categories:
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• Positive displacement flow sensors

• Mass flow sensors
• Velocity flow sensors
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displacement flow
sensors

Positive displacement flow

sensors are unique among flow
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sensors in that they perform a

direct measurement of the
volume of fluid passing through
the device. All other types of flow
sensors do not directly measure
flow rate but instead, measure a
different parameter (such as
pressure) and then use that
information to derive or infer the
flow rate from the measurement
taken.
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Mass flow
sensors
Mass flow sensors, sometimes
called mass air flow sensors, are
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commonly found in automotive

applications where they are used
to measure the mass of air
entering the air intake system of
an internal combustion engine.
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Velocity flow
sensors
Velocity flow sensors are ones in
which the sensor derives the flow
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rate by performing a
measurement of the fluid’s
velocity through the sensor.
These type of flow sensors come
in several varieties, which
include:

• Mechanical (e.g. Turbine,

Propeller, and Paddle Wheel)
• Electromagnetic
• Ultrasonic
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How does a flow detector work?

• The electrodes, which are embedded on opposite sides of

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the surface through which liquid flows, create a magnetic

field. By sensing the voltage generated by water as it
passes through the magnetic field, electromagnetic flow
meters can track flow rates with a high degree of accuracy
 Why are flow sensors 18

important in the industry?

Another crucial application of
liquid flow sensors is in the
detection and change of leakage
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rate, which can heavily impact

water bills and overall cost.
Accurate industrial liquid flow
measurement needs can be met
through insertion of ultrasonic
liquid flow meters, featuring
accurate sensing elements or vortex
meters
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How do you read

a flow sensor?
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Simply locate the arrow, flap, or the digital

terminus for the indicator and reference it
against the scale printed on the
flowmeter, paying mind to the scale's
units of measurement.
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What is the importance and

need of sensors?
A sensor is a device, module,
machine, or subsystem that detects
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events or changes in its

environment and relays the
information to other electronics,
most commonly a computer
processor. A sensor converts
physical phenomena into a
measurable digital signal, which
can then be displayed, read, or
processed further.
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GROUP MEMBERS:
ENCISO, JUDE
ESPERANZA,
ESTRELLA, JANUA ROSE
FABIA, ROSE ANN
FERNANDEZ, ANGEL