FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the principle of operation of Bowman Industry and Manufacturing's Flow Meters and Flow Controllers?

Essentially, the technique is differential pressure across an orifice. This technique is time tested, true and well understood for developing Flow information. Bowman technology expands on the technique in that the orifices are linear and designed to be 'laminar flow elements'. LFE's allow the flow meter or flow controller products to have a much wider range of full scale flow.

Why can Bowman Industry Flow Meter and Flow Controller product handle so many different aggressive chemicals and media?

Bowman has trademarked a series of proprietary advanced material coating processes under the trade name Corroperm™. These individual techniques are application specific but include polymeric, passivation and plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition (PACVD). Acid, base and slurry media are in most cases acceptable to be metered and/or controlled.

What are the "wetted" parts of Bowman Industry and Manufacturing's liquid and chemical volumetric, and gas mass and gas volumetric flow meters and flow controllers constructed of?

Standard materials of construction for all makes and models are PVC, Viton® and Corroperm™. Optional materials of construction are CPVC, Teflon ® and Stainless Steel.

What engineering units are available to be displayed on Bowman Industry and Manufacturing's Flow Meter and Flow Controller products?

Standard engineering units are GPH (Gallons per Hour), GPM (Gallons per Minute), ccm (cubic centimeters per minute) and LPM (Liters per Minute). Mass instruments will substitute sccm (standard cubic centimeters per minute) and SLPM (Standard Liters per Minute). Custom engineering units are available from the factory. Go the link below called Convert Engineering Units for a wide range of engineering unit equivalents.

Conversion Program (Convert units from one type to another. Over 250 units in more than 20 categories. ZIP 153KB)

What is the pressure drop through the Bowman Industry and Manufacturing Flow Meter? Flow Controller?

Standard CI, CIC and BI Flow Meter and Flow Controller series ideally drop 20psi through the meter to affect a very large dynamic full scale flow range. The product needs a pressure drop to develop Flow information. However, each Bowman Industry and Manufacturing Flow Meter or Flow Controller can be customized to applications requiring a much lower pressure drop through each device. Less than 1 psi is reasonable. A low pressure drop device will be as accurate and repeatable as standard pressure drop Flow Meters or Flow Controllers however the full scale dynamic range will be less and the maximum pressure the device can withstand will also be less. The standard max pressure rating of the Flow Meters and Flow Controllers for both liquids and gases is 250psig. Consult the factory for low pressure applications.

Can the Flow Meter or Flow Controller electronics be separated from the Flow Body?

Yes. It may be desirable due to space limitations and or OEM machinery design to mount the Flow Meter or Flow Controller electronics, displays, and human interface touch pads away from the Flow Body. The Bowman Industry and Manufacturing 'Board Sets' are populated with ample connectors to make separation not only possible but quite easy to implement.

Can the Bowman Industry and Manufacturing Flow Meter and Flow Controller products be powered by AC (line) power?

Yes. All of the Flow Meter and Flow Controller models have AC to DC power adapters for use in domestic and international applications (110vac and 230vac). Bowman Industry and Manufacturing's Flow Meters and Flow Controllers require internal DC voltage for power. The customer can provide DC power or use the AC to DC power adapter supplied. Consult the factory for details.

Does Bowman Industry and Manufacturing have a Quality Control Policy?

Yes. All products are designed to meet the requirements of ISO. All products are marked CE for international distribution. All Bowman Industry and Manufacturing products are designed to be intrinsically safe (IS) with the addition of an approved "IS barrier". The Bowman Industry Quality Manual is available upon request.

What is the difference between Gas Mass Flow Meters/ Gas Mass Flow Controllers and Gas Volumetric Flow Meters/Gas Volumetric Controllers?

Bowman Industry and Manufacturing offers several models of Gas Mass Flow Meters, Gas Volumetric Flow Meters, Gas Mass Flow Controllers and Gas Volumetric Flow Controllers. Gasses are compressible under pressure thus the weight and density (mass) of a gas can be different in the same volumetric area. A volume of gas flowing to vent (atmospheric conditions) is equivalent to the mass of the same gas flowing to vent. In flow metering and flow control application where the device is 'in line' and subject to changes of pressure (backpressure is the most common event) it is often desireable to use mass engineering units to measure flow. Pressure based Flow Meters and Flow Controllers developed by Bowman take the inherent advantage of pressure differential and add an absolute pressure sensor and temperature sensor to the flow measurement system. Signals from the absolute pressure, differential pressure and temperature sensors are corrected within the Flow Meter or Flow Controller device to Standard Conditions of Pressure and Temperature of 1 atmosphere (14.67 psi) and 25 degrees C, the national standard for "Mass Engineering Units". The advantage of Bowman Industry and Manufacturing's Gas Mass Flow Meters and Gas Mass Flow Controllers is that absolute pressure and temperature information is available at the device for customer use. Mass Flow is presented in units with an "S" preceding the volumetric unit. Thus 1 Liter per Minute (LPM) in volumetric units is 1 Standard Liter per Minute (SLPM) in mass units.

Can proportional valves used in Bowman Industry Mass Gas Flow Controllers and Volumetric Gas Flow Controllers be mounted at the inlet or the outlet side of the device?

Yes. The Bowman Industry and Manufacturing BI series 'flow body' is convertible. Thus the valve body assembly can be at the inlet or the outlet. These mounting configurations can be important when considering flow measurement before or after the pressure drop through the valve, or if flow is going to vent, or in-line with changing back pressures. Consult the factory with application details

Can Bowman Industry and Manufacturing Mass Gas Flow Meters, Volumetric Gas Flow Meters, Mass Gas Flow Controllers and Volumetric Gas Flow Controllers be used with inert gases and air?

Yes. In fact these products cost somewhat less money because the proprietary Corroperm™ coating process is not needed.