Electromagnetic Flow Meters
Magnetic Flow Meters for Conductive Liquids
Accuracy ±0.5 % of rate
Low-flow detection from 0.3 m/s
Short straight-pipe footprint: 5D upstream, 2D downstream typical
- Bi-directional measurement, forward and reverse totalizers
- Multiple liner and electrode material options for medium chemistry
- Models on the LEA Series
The LEA Electromagnetic Flow Meter family measures volumetric flow of conductive liquids by Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction. A pair of magnetic-field coils generates a stable field across the pipe bore, and two electrodes detect the induced EMF as conductive fluid flows through. The LEA Series delivers ±0.5 % typical measurement accuracy with a 0.3 m/s low-flow detection.
Models cover water and wastewater utility service, slurry and mining process, corrosive acid and chemical liquids, and sanitary food / pharmaceutical applications. Multiple liner and electrode combinations match medium chemistry, and the full-bore design adds zero permanent pressure loss.
LEA-INS insertion models add live-pipe hot-tap retrofit on DN200 to DN3000 mains: a new District Metered Area (DMA) meter, or measurement on legacy cast-iron and cement-lined distribution mains without a shutdown. Lead time is 5–7 business days, factory direct.
Electromagnetic flow meter models
Models on the LEA Series. Click through for spec, configurator, and pricing.
Water Flow Meter
Municipal water supply, distribution mains, industrial process water, and HVAC chilled-water service. The default electromagnetic build for clean conductive water.
View configuration →Wastewater Flow Meter
Municipal sewage, industrial effluent, lift-station discharge, and treatment-plant influent / effluent metering with submersible IP68 option.
View configuration →Slurry Flow Meter
Mining ore slurry, cement raw-meal feed, paper-pulp stock, and sand transport with polyurethane standard (DN6–DN300) or hard rubber alternate (DN300–DN1200) for moderate-abrasion service.
View configuration →Corrosive Liquid (Acid) Flow Meter
Strong-acid and oxidising-chemical service on petrochemical, electroplating, and pickle-line applications with chemical-resistant liner and electrode.
View configuration →Sanitary Flow Meter
Food, beverage, dairy, brewery, and pharmaceutical process service with PFA liner (FDA-compliant) and Tri-clamp connection option for cleanable / CIP / SIP loops.
View configuration →Mining Process Flow Meter
Tailings, ore concentrate, coal-prep wash, and hydrometallurgical acid-leach service across DN10–DN300 with ceramic (Al₂O₃) liner standard and tungsten carbide / Stellite electrode for sharp-grit service.
View configuration →Insertion Electromagnetic Flow Meter
Live-pipe retrofit through a ball-valve insert under process pressure. 304 housing with PTFE-lined 316L electrode, calibrated single-point velocity by Nikuradse correction, no shutdown required for large-diameter and legacy-host-pipe metering.
View configuration →Hot-Tap Water Flow Meter
Municipal water-main retrofit for DMA addition, trunk-main consumption, and legacy cast-iron / cement-lined / HDPE distribution measurement. Ball-valve insert installs under live pressure without service interruption.
View configuration →How electromagnetic flow meters work
The LEA Electromagnetic Flow Meter applies Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction. A pair of magnetic-field coils generates a stable field across the pipe bore. As conductive fluid (≥ 5 µS/cm conductivity) flows through, two electrodes mounted in the pipe wall detect the induced electromotive force across the bore.
The induced EMF is proportional to the average flow velocity across the bore, independent of fluid density, viscosity, temperature, and pressure within the design range.
The full bore is wetted: no obstruction, no bluff body, zero pressure loss. Because the LEA reads the cross-sectional average, it needs only a short 5D / 2D straight-pipe run, far less than vortex or orifice meters.
When to specify electromagnetic
Choose electromagnetic for conductive liquid service where the medium has at least 5 µS/cm conductivity. For non-conductive liquids, dry gas, or steam, see the alternative meter types.
| Service | Electromagnetic (LEA); pick when | Alternative meter type |
|---|---|---|
| Water and wastewater utility | Standard pick; full-bore, zero pressure loss, IP68 option | — |
| Slurry, ore concentrate, tailings | Polyurethane liner, no obstruction to clog | Coriolis tubes clog on coarse particulate |
| Strong acid, chloride chemistry | PTFE / PFA liner, Tantalum or Hastelloy C electrode | Vortex bluff body corrodes |
| Sanitary food / pharma | PFA liner, Tri-clamp connection option | Vortex bluff body fouls CIP |
| Tight retrofit, < 10D upstream pipe | Short 5D/2D straight-pipe footprint; key advantage | Vortex needs 10D / 5D, swirl 3D / 2D |
| Bi-directional flow (return mains) | EMF polarity reverses with direction, dual totalizer standard | Vortex / orifice direction-aware add-on |
| Non-conductive liquid (thermal oil, glycol, hydrocarbon) | Below 5 µS/cm conductivity floor | Vortex (LUGB) liquid build |
| Steam, dry gas, low-density gas | EMF only measures conductive liquid | Vortex / Swirl / Thermal Mass families |
| Custody transfer fiscal primary | Approved on water utility, not on hydrocarbons | Coriolis (ZLMFM) or AGA 9 ultrasonic |
Liner & electrode selection by chemistry
Match the wetted-parts combination to the medium chemistry. The choice drives both model selection and lifecycle cost.
| Service chemistry | Liner | Electrode | Model page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean water (municipal, HVAC, process) | Hard rubber (D) | 316L | Water Flow Meter |
| Municipal sewage, lift-station discharge | Soft rubber (E) | 316L | Wastewater Flow Meter |
| Mining ore slurry (DN6–DN300) | Polyurethane (F) | 316L or tungsten | Slurry Flow Meter |
| Mining slurry larger DN (DN300–DN1200) | Hard rubber (D) | 316L or tungsten | Slurry Flow Meter |
| Heavy mining (tailings, ore concentrate > 30 % solids) | Ceramic (Al₂O₃) | Tungsten / Stellite | Mining Process Flow Meter |
| Strong acid (HCl, H₂SO₄, HNO₃ general) | PTFE (C) | Hastelloy C | Corrosive Liquid Flow Meter |
| Hot strong acid (hot HCl, hot conc. H₂SO₄ above 80 °C) | PTFE (C) | Tantalum | Corrosive Liquid Flow Meter |
| High-purity chemical service (electronic / fine chemical) | PFA (p) | Hastelloy C / Tantalum | Corrosive Liquid Flow Meter |
| Food, dairy, brewery, pharmaceutical (CIP / SIP) | PFA (p) | 316L | Sanitary Flow Meter |
| Hydrometallurgical acid-leach (Cu, Zn, Ni, Au) | Ceramic + PTFE option | Stellite | Mining Process Flow Meter |
PFA is FDA-compliant. Send chemistry by name and concentration / temperature window at quote stage; the engineering team confirms the matched liner-electrode pair within 4 business hours.
Model specification comparison
Side-by-side spec across the eight LEA models; six inline models and two LEA-INS hot-tap insertion models.
| Model | DN range | Liner standard | Electrode standard | Medium temp | Typical service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | DN10–DN3000 | Hard rubber | 316L | 0 to +80 °C | Municipal & industrial water utility default |
| Wastewater | DN10–DN3000 | Soft rubber | 316L | 0 to +80 °C | Sewage + lift-station + WWTP, IP68 buried option |
| Slurry | DN6–DN1200 | PU + hard rubber | 316L / Tungsten | −10 to +80 °C | General industrial slurry, multi-liner build |
| Corrosive Liquid | DN6–DN600 | PTFE + PFA | Hastelloy C / Tantalum | −25 to +180 °C | Strong acid + oxidising chemical |
| Sanitary | DN6–DN200 | PFA | 316L | 0 to +180 °C (SIP +135 °C) | Food / dairy / brewery / pharma, Tri-clamp option |
| Mining Process | DN10–DN300 | Ceramic + PU alternate | Tungsten / Stellite | −10 to +120 °C | Heavy mining: tailings, ore concentrate, acid leach |
| Insertion EMF | DN100–DN3000 | PTFE-lined 316L probe | 316L (probe-integrated) | ≤ 70 °C one-piece / ≤ 120 °C split | Hot-tap retrofit, large-DN, legacy host pipe |
| Hot-Tap Water | DN200–DN3000 | PTFE-lined 316L probe | 316L (probe-integrated) | 0 to +70 °C municipal water | DMA addition, trunk-main, cast-iron retrofit |
All eight models share the LEA Series: Faraday induction, ≥ 5 µS/cm conductivity threshold, multiple liner and electrode options, 4-20 mA + RS485 + pulse + 4G IoT outputs, EMC 2014/30/EU compliance, 5–7 business days lead time. Inline models achieve ±0.5 % of rate across 0.3 to 15 m/s; LEA-INS insertion models achieve ±1.0 % of rate calibrated 0.5 to 10 m/s via Nikuradse single-point velocity correction.
Universal install requirements
The LEA Series shares one install baseline across its six inline models. Model-specific variations live on each model page; this baseline applies to every inline electromagnetic flow meter. LEA-INS insertion models follow a separate hot-tap procedure documented on each insertion model page.
- Vertical mounting preferred, electrodes 3 and 9 o’clock if horizontalVertical bottom-to-top guarantees full-bore wetting (mandatory for liquid-solid two-phase service). Horizontal install only with electrodes on the same horizontal plane.
- Install valves and bypass loop at both ends of sensorAllows sensor isolation for inspection, cleaning, or replacement without shutting down the process line.
- Ground sensor + pipe + converter to ≤10 Ω, separate from other equipment groundThe few-millivolt EMF references internal sensor potential. On non-metallic pipe (HDPE, GRP, PTFE-lined), install metallic grounding rings between meter and pipe flanges.
- Use shielded signal cable ≤30 m, never parallel with power in same conduitSensor-to-converter signal must use the supplied shielded cable (max 30 m standard). Maintain 300 mm separation from VFD and motor-drive cables.
- Do NOT install on the pump suction side; place regulating valves downstreamVacuum-induced negative pressure breaks the EMF measurement. Always install on pump discharge; place regulating valves downstream of sensor (never upstream).
- Straight-pipe ≥10D upstream / ≥5D downstream for larger DN; 5D/3D minimum in harsh conditionsSmall-bore meters do not require upstream straight pipe (electrode-to-inlet distance equals several diameters). Larger DN meters need ≥10D / ≥5D; harsh-environment minimum is ≥5D / ≥3D.
Model-specific install rules (IP68 buried for wastewater, vertical mandatory for slurry, grounding rings for chemical PTFE/PFA, Tri-clamp specifics for sanitary, electrode wear monitoring for heavy mining) live on each model page. The six rules above are the universal baseline.
Frequently asked questions
Need help selecting an electromagnetic flow meter?
Send the line size, design pressure, medium (water, wastewater, slurry, acid, sanitary), and conductivity. The engineering team returns a sized model code, an estimated unit price, and a ship window within one business day. Lead time stays 5–7 business days from the factory.