Collection:Thermal compressed air flow meters

Thermal compressed air flow meters from IFM measure the flow, the total consumption and the temperature of compressed air with a heated sensor: the air flow cools the sensor, and the amount of cooling gives the flow rate. This principle has no moving parts and causes almost no pressure loss.

A color display shows current, total and peak use, which helps to find leaks and to assign air use to individual machines and processes. Four sizes cover R 1/2" to R 2" pipes, each with its own range in Nl/min (normal liters per minute), from 4 Nl/min on the smallest size up to 11670 Nl/min on R 2". The meters are rated to 16 bar (≈230 psi) and air temperatures from -10 to +60 °C (≈14 to 140 °F).

Two switching outputs, each PNP or NPN, switch at set limits. Output 1 can also send all values via IO-Link, and output 2 a 4 to 20 mA or pulse signal. The meter takes 18 to 30 V DC through its M12 connector; without a control system, the power supply under flow accessories lets it run stand-alone as a display-only unit.

Before the meter, keep a straight inlet pipe of at least 5 pipe diameters after a bend, 15 after two bends and 35 after a valve. For limit monitoring and alarms, the same meters are listed under thermal compressed air flow switches.