This is a book about flow measurement and flowmeters written for all in the industry who specify and apply, design and manufacture, research and develop, maintain and calibrate flowmeters. It provides a source of information both on the published research, design and performance of flowmeters, and also on the claims of flowmeter manufacturers. It will be of use to engineers, particularly mechanical and process engineers, and also to instrument companies’ marketing, manufacturing and management personnel as they seek to identify future products.

I have concentrated on the mechanical and fluid engineering aspects and have given only as much of the electrical engineering details as is necessary for a proper understanding of how and why the meters work. I am not an electrical engineer and so have not attempted detailed explanations of modern electrical signal processing. I am also aware of the speed with which developments in signal processing would render out of date any descriptions that I might give.

I make the assumption that the flowmeter engineer will automatically turn to the appropriate standard and I have, therefore, tried to minimise reproducing information which should be obtained from those excellent documents. I recommend that those involved in new developments should keep a watching brief on the regular conferences which carry much of the latest developments in the business, and are illustrated by the papers in the reference list.

I hope, therefore, that this book will provide a signpost to the essential information required by all involved in the development and use of flowmeters, from the field engineer to the chief executive of the entrepreneurial company which is developing its product range in this technology.

In this book, following introductory chapters on accuracy, flow, selection and calibration, I have attempted a clear explanation of each type of flowmeter so that the reader can easily understand the workings of the various meters. I have, then, attempted to bring together a significant amount of the published information which enlightens us on the performance and applications of flowmeters. The two sources for this are the open literature and the manufacturers’ brochures. I have also introduced, to a varying extent, the mathematics behind the meter operations, but to avoid disrupting the text, I have consigned some of this to the appendices at the end of the chapters.