Here the differences between the technologies used within each flow meter - the well-established Beverage Turbine Meter and the newly released Ultrasonic Beverage Meter are described:
The Turbine Meter operates on a mechanical principle using a Pelton wheel turbine and sapphire bearings. This design provides consistent repeatability and has 1.5% Full Scale Accuracy but introduces moving parts into the system.
The Ultrasonic Meter uses the ‘time of flight’ principle to measure flow, with no moving parts. This eliminates mechanical wear and contamination risk, while offering a completely clean, straight bore, and accuracy better than 2% of reading.
Materials & Design
Turbine Meters are constructed from PVDF with sapphire bearings and Viton™ seals, it is robust and resistant to a wide temperature range. This device is NSF-approved under the NSF standard 169 as ‘Special Purpose Food Equipment and Devices’.
Built from food approved ABS/PC polymer with Viton™ seals the Ultrasonic Meters offera lightweight design with a straight 6 mm bore. The absence of internal obstructions makes it easy to clean using sponge balls. All parts are to FDA / EU food approved standards and NSF-approval will be sought for this product when it reaches full commercialisation.
Performance Comparison
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Granularity:
Beverage Turbine(BT): 1400 pulses per litre (lower resolution).
Ultrasonic Beverage(UB): 5000 pulses per litre (higher resolution). -
Flow Range:
BT: 0.6–10 l/min - limited low-end capability.
UB: 0.2–10 l/min - better for low flow applications. -
Linearity & Repeatability:
BT: ±1.0% FSD linearity, excellent ±0.1% repeatability.
UT: ±2% of reading linearity, ±0.5% repeatability. - Temperature Range:
BT: 0–125 °C, suitable for hot and cold beverages.
UT: 3–15 °C, restricted primarily to chilled beverages.
Installation & Operation
Both beverage meters use John Guest 3/8” push-fit connections, ensuring compatibility with standard tubing. The pressure drop is minimized in both designs, though the ultrasonic’s straight 6mm bore gives it a lower overall pressure drop. Power requirements differ slightly: the beverage turbine meter runs from 5–24 VDC, whereas the ultrasonic models require 7–24 VDC. Both types are calibrated in-situ by the customer to suit the system requirements. As the ultrasonic meter has no contact of medium and moving parts it eliminates contamination issues and allows easy cleaning.
When the costs are considered the Beverage Turbine offers a budget-friendly and reliable solution, particularly for high-temperature or mixed-use applications. While the ultrasonic meter nearly has five times the cost initially, it is justifiable for hygienic, low-maintenance, and high-resolution needs in the long run.
The turbine technology offers a low-cost, robust, highly repeatable flowmeter, and capable of handling hot beverages. But the moving parts within the meter require cleaning and can cause blockages if not maintained. In comparison the ultrasonic meters offer higher resolution, factory-settable K factor, potential for both NPN and PNP outputs, and easy cleaning. Good linearity enables effective use of the device in variable flow rates. But the narrow temperature range limits use to cold beverages and comes with higher upfront cost.
The comparison shows that both technologies are up to date. Ultimately, the decision comes down to the application's specific requirements: whether economy and temperature versatility or hygienic design and precision at low flows are the deciding factors.
