Colección:Paddle wheel flow meters for clean and low-viscosity liquids

A paddle wheel flow meter is the most common way to measure clean, low-viscosity liquids such as water, coolant, and thin oils. A small wheel spins in the flow and a sensor measures how fast it turns, which gives the flow rate. The wheel has to spin freely, so this type suits clean liquids without solids or fibers. It measures both water-based and non-conductive liquids, which is the main reason to choose it over a magnetic meter.

How to choose a paddle wheel meter

A paddle wheel meter measures with an insertion probe: a small wheel on a stem that reaches into the flow through a single port. The faster the liquid moves, the faster the wheel turns. The probe always needs an insertion fitting in the pipe (Bürkert S020). The fitting gives the port, holds the probe in the right position, and carries the K-factor that turns the wheel's speed into a flow rate. The meter and the S020 are ordered separately.

• Compact or remote: a compact meter has the electronics and the probe in one unit and works on its own. A remote transmitter is electronics only, mounted on a wall or panel and wired to a separate sensor. For a meter that works on its own, choose compact.
• Flow meter or batch controller: a flow meter measures and reports; a batch controller doses a set amount and closes a valve when the target is reached.
• Why insertion suits large pipes: the probe stays small and low-cost whatever the pipe size, and only the fitting grows. For very small pipes an inline, full-bore meter is often the better choice.

Inline meter or insertion meter

A paddle wheel meter is available in two forms:

• Inline meter: two parts ordered together. An S030 fitting holds the paddle wheel in the pipe, and an SE30, SE32, or SE35 transmitter on top picks up its pulses and gives the output. Combine an S030 fitting and a separate SE transmitter for a complete flow meter, or order them ready-paired under a single number: the 8030, 8032, or 8035.
• Insertion meter: one unit with a built-in display. The 8025's probe is fitted into the pipe through a mounting fitting. The simpler choice when one device does everything.

Choosing the transmitter

Choose the S030 fitting for the pipe: connection, size, body material, and seal. The transmitter sets what the meter shows and sends:

• SE30: sends a pulse signal to a PLC, counter, or Bürkert controller. No display. The basic choice.
• SE32: has a display, plus a 4 to 20 mA output, switch outputs (relay or transistor), or both, depending on the version. It shows the flow, sends it to a control system, and switches a pump, valve, or alarm at a set point.
• SE35: has a display with two totalizers and a 4 to 20 mA output. It is also available as a batch controller for dosing set amounts, or as a battery unit that shows and totals the flow with no output. Choose it for running totals or dosing.

Frequently asked questions

Can a paddle wheel meter measure dirty water?

No. Solids and fibers foul the wheel and stop it spinning freely, so the reading drifts. For a conductive liquid with solids, choose a magnetic meter, which has no moving parts in the flow.

Does the 8025 use the same fitting as the inline meter?

No. The inline meter uses the S030, which holds the paddle wheel and takes the SE transmitter on top. The 8025 has its own probe, so it needs only a plain insertion fitting that gives the probe a way into the pipe. The fitting follows the meter: an S030 for an SE transmitter, a separate insertion fitting for the 8025.

Why is a Bürkert inline meter two parts?

The paddle wheel is inside the S030 fitting, and the SE transmitter is only the electronics on top. Neither measures flow on its own. Ordering them separately lets one transmitter suit different pipe sizes, and the transmitter can be swapped without touching the pipe.