The modern flow meter
used in industries today may look a lot different from its predecessors, but
the basics of the design
date back to the 1700s. In their simplest application, flow meters allow
scientists and engineers in various sectors to quantify large-scale fluid
movement.
By Emily Newton
Hygienic flow meters
play a vital role in the pharmaceutical industry, and advancements are
happening every day that are paving the way for future progress.
Flow Meter Uses in
Pharmaceuticals
There are many uses for
hygienic flow meters in the pharmaceutical industry, including:
● Raw
materials handling: There are
situations where pharmaceutical companies may need to bring in large quantities of raw materials in liquid from various vendors. Flow metering makes
measuring possible as they move into the production facility or the next step
for chemical synthesis.
● Production: Materials may need to be kept in liquid form
throughout the process, depending on the parameters of the production method.
Flow metering can also be applied during the chemical synthesis stage.
● Additional
steps: Flow metering can also be
used during various processing, fermentation, extraction or purification steps
during production.
Types of Flow Meters
Understanding the role
flow meters play in the pharmaceutical industry begins with learning about the
different types of flow meters the industry might employ.
Turbine or Inferential
Flow Meters
Turbine flow meters,
also known as inferential flow meters, use a bladed turbine rotor to measure the speed and velocity of a fluid. They're
commonly used in pharmaceutical and biotech applications. Turbine flow meters
are easily customizable and can be programmed to recognize variables like
viscosity, temperature resistance and fluid density.
Turbine flow meters are
beneficial and easily recognizable, but they do have some limitations. They're
only safe to use with noncorrosive gases and liquids. Corrosive fluids can
damage the turbines and impact the flow meter's accuracy. Changes in fluidity
and bubbles in the fluids can affect measurement accuracy. A filter may be
needed to catch particulates that could impact reading accuracy, and it may not
function properly for particularly viscous fluids.
Coriolis or Mass Flow
Meters
Coriolis flow meters,
also called mass flow meters, work by measuring the inertia caused by the
liquid or gas flowing through a tube. This inertia causes the tube to twist,
which can be measured and cataloged. Traditionally, these flow meters use one
of two different setups.
Bent-tube flow meters
are better suited when precise and consistent measurements are necessary.
Straight-tube flow meters are ideal for situations that require the highest
level of cleaning and sanitation. Upwards of 50%
of waterborne illnesses are caused by
viral pathogens, and in a pharmaceutical setting, this type of disease becomes
even more dangerous.
Coriolis flow meters are
essential to the pharmaceutical industry, especially where caustic chemicals
are concerned. The all-metal surface has no parts that might be susceptible to
corrosion, and there aren’t any crevices where components or chemicals could
get stuck during the transfer process.
Thermal Mass Flow
Meters
Thermal mass flow meters
are the tool of choice for measuring gas quantities. They combine other forms
of flow meter technology, such as what can be found in ultrasound and Coriolis
meters. Probes in the gas stream register the substance's temperature, while a
second probe contains a heating unit that increases the nearby temperature. The
differences in gas flow between the two temperature zones allow the system to
measure the movement of the gases being transmitted.
Unlike turbines, thermal
mass flow meters have a very small footprint within the gas flow, so they don't
cause any interference. Thermal mass flow meters are ideal for situations such
as nitrogen blanketing and purging or tablet and pill coating on the
manufacturing floor.
Benefits of Hygienic
Flow Meters in Pharmaceutical Work
There are several
benefits to employing hygienic flow meters in pharmaceutical work:
● Improved
product consistency:
Interruptions or fluctuations in the flow of liquid or gas components can
interfere with product consistency and quality control. A high-quality flow
meter can prevent these problems before they ever occur.
● Accurate
monitoring: Operations in the
pharmaceutical industry often track gases like oxygen, nitrogen and carbon
dioxide. Flow meters can provide accurate monitoring and information that could
indicate a leak if one occurs.
● Waste
reduction: Variation in gas or
liquid flow could lead to waste, which can be costly in the long run. Flow
meters with high sensitivity can detect variations quickly and may even make
remote adjustments to fix problems before they impact inventory.
● Lower
measurement costs: Calibrations
and maintenance can be costly but necessary. Sensitive flow meters can often
double as calibration tools in various circumstances.
Flow Meters and Their
Impact on the Pharmaceutical Industry
The pharmaceutical
industry utilizes various fluids and gases in manufacturing. Flow meters offer
a great variety of applications within this sector, from monitoring pressures
to measuring the volume and viscosity of the products flowing through them.
They will continue to play a vital role as time goes on and the field continues
to advance.
Pharmaceutical Microbiology Resources (http://www.pharmamicroresources.com/)
