Ultrasonic flow meters offer a number of advantages over other flow measuring technologies. The most distinct of these advantages is the non-invasive nature of ultrasonic measuring technique: fluid flow can be measured by clamping a pair of transducers onto the outside of the pipe without contacting the measured fluid.
Ultrasonic flow meter install
This installation method, unique among flow metering technologies, allows ultrasonic flow meters to be used in applications where the process cannot be shut down and/or the pipe cannot be cut for installation. Clamp on flow meters also cause no pressure drop, suffer no mechanical wear and tear, allow for bidirectional measurement, and provide the ability to pass unlimited solids past the meter without damage.
Fluid velocity is measured by sending an ultrasonic pulse from an upstream transducer to a downstream transducer and back again. The measured difference in the amount of time that each pulse takes to traverse the pipe is directly proportional to the mean fluid velocity. SmartMeasurement’s ultrasonic flowmeters use this measured velocity to calculate the liquid flow rate based on user-entered information about the process application.
For a more detailed discussion of our ultrasonic flowmeter’s principles of operation, please visit our Ultrasonic Measuring Principle page.

SmartMeasurement’s Ultrasonic Flow Meters
SmartMeasurement offers a comprehensive line of ultrasonic flow meters with options for portable and fixed installation, in-line and clamp-on flow meter mounting, and multi-path transducers.
We also offer flow meters with advanced DSP technology and the industry’s best algorithm; the patented cross correlation technique has scan rates measuring picoseconds, allowing the meter to be used in applications with high solids/bubble content of up to 30%.
SmartMeasurement also offers a wide variety of ultrasonic energy/BTU consumption flowmeters with integrated temperature transducers.
These instruments can be used in a variety of applications in industries ranging from oil & gas and municipal/wastewater to building automation and factory automation to solar and semicon.
Request a quote on ultrasonic flow meters for your application, or contact SmartMeasurement to learn more.
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Alsonic Family | Liquids | Transducer Styles | Temperature | Comparison | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Technology | Model | Limitations | Clamp-on | Inline | Insertion | Range | Feature |
Graphic Permanent Ultrasonic Meter |
![]() |
< 30% particles or bubbles |
![]() 20~6000mm |
![]() 25-100mm |
![]() 100-3000mm |
(0.02-12mps) (-40 to +120℃) | High technology, any liquids |
Graphic Portable Ultrasonic Meter |
![]() |
< 30% particles or bubbles |
![]() 20~6000mm |
Not available | Not available | (0.02-12mps) (-40 to +120℃) | High technology, any liquids |
Open Channel Ultrasonic Meter |
![]() |
< 30% particles or bubbles |
![]() 20~6000mm |
Not available |
![]() unlimited |
(0.02-12mps) (-40 to +120℃) | High technology, any liquids |
Handheld Ultrasonic Meters |
![]() |
< 2% particles or bubbles |
![]() 15~6000mm |
Not available | Not available | (0.1 ~ +/- 12 m/s) (-40 to +160℃) | Low technology, clean liquids, data logger (2G SD card with DHL) |
Economical Permanent Ultrasonic Meter |
![]() |
< 2% particles or bubbles |
![]() 15~6000mm |
![]() 15~2000mm |
![]() 100-3000mm |
(0.1 ~ +/- 12 m/s) (-40 to +160℃) | Low technology, clean liquids |
Thermal Energy Ultrasonic Meter |
![]() Alsonic EG |
< 2% particles or bubbles |
![]() 15~6000mm |
![]() 15~2000mm |
![]() 100-3000mm |
(0.1 ~ +/- 12 m/s) (-40 to +160℃) | Low technology, clean liquids |
Inline Thermal Energy Ultrasonic Meter |
![]() |
< 2% particles or bubbles |
![]() 15~40mm |
![]() 15~300mm |
(0.1 ~ +/- 10 m/s) (-40 to +90℃) | Low technology, clean liquids |