At one of our sites, the flow meters on the central cooling water loop started showing gradual drift over a few weeks, with flow readings slowly creeping higher even though plant water consumption and pump runtimes were steady. What caught my attention was that the drift wasn’t sudden or linked to pump performance changes but seemed linked to seasonal water temperature variations affecting meter electronics.After cross-checking with manual readings and temperature sensors, it turned out the meter electronics weren’t fully compensating for temperature-induced changes in water density and conductivity, causing overestimation in flow. We’re now considering either upgrading to newer sensors with better temperature compensation or adjusting operation staff monitoring practices.Has anyone else seen more subtle, seasonal impacts on flow measurement accuracy? How do you approach identifying and correcting these slower-developing measurement drifts in plant water systems?
That’s an interesting situation regarding the drift. We’ve seen similar subtle impacts, particularly with magnetic flow meters where changing water conductivity can cause readings to deviate, though usually it’s more sporadic than a clear seasonal trend. Have you considered checking the meter calibration certificates for their stated operating temperature range and accuracy at those extremes? It might also be worth investigating if any upstream or downstream pipework vibrations, even minor ones, could be exacerbated by seasonal temperature-induced expansion or contraction, potentially affecting ultrasonic or turbine meters if those are in use elsewhere. Sometimes a simple physical inspection of the sensor housing and connections can reveal unexpected buildup or minor leaks that might interact with temperature changes.