DID YOU KNOW?

“Stainless steel” doesn’t always mean every internal part is stainless.

"Did You Know?"
“Stainless steel” doesn’t always mean every internal part is stainless.

Did you know that when you look at a stainless steel flow meter, the entire meter isn’t always stainless steel? Flow meters are made up of multiple internal components like seals, bearings, bushings, gears, liners, rotors and more. That’s why checking the list of wetted materials (the parts that come into contact with the fluid) is so important. You can usually find this list on product data sheets or in the owner’s manual.

A Real Example: FLOMEC® G2 Stainless Steel Turbine Flow Meter The FLOMEC G2 series stainless steel turbine meter uses a combination of materials to balance durability, performance, and cost-effectiveness. Its wetted materials include:

• Housing: 316 Stainless Steel
• Retaining Rings: 316 Stainless Steel
• Thrust Bearings: 96% Alumina Oxide Ceramic
• Turbine Shaft: Tungsten Carbide
• Turbine Rotor: PVDF

Even though the housing is stainless steel, components like the Tungsten Carbide shaft play a key role. Tungsten Carbide is dramatically harder and more wear resistant than stainless steel. Because turbine meters rely on a spinning rotor, shaft wear is a common maintenance point, but Tungsten Carbide’s hardness significantly slows this wear.

This means:

• Longer life
• More consistent accuracy
• Fewer internal rebuilds over time
• Reduced maintenance costs

Material Choice Reflects Application Needs

This particular FLOMEC meter doesn’t need to be 100% stainless steel. It’s built for durability across a wide range of industrial applications, where strength and wear resistance matter more than uniform material construction.

Compatibility Matters, Inside and Out

Before choosing a meter, think beyond the fluid itself:

• Fluid Compatibility:
  
  Every fluid whether water, chemicals, fuels, adhesives, or solvents interacts differently with different materials. A meter that works flawlessly on one product may corrode, swell, bind, or wear prematurely when exposed to another.
• Environmental Compatibility: 
  
  Even if the internals are compatible, the outside can still be at risk. Consider:
  Corrosive environments
  Outdoor exposure
  High-pressure washdowns
  Occasional submersion
  

Making sure the entire meter, not just the internal components, can handle its environment is just as important.

Did You Know? You Might Not Need Stainless Steel at All

The stainless steel G2 Series turbine flow meter is one of our most popular models. But did you know there’s an aluminum version too?

• Stainless Steel G2
  Pressure rating: 1500 psi
  
• Aluminum G2
  Pressure rating: 300 psi
  Can be a more cost-effective option
  Excellent for fuels, solvents, and many other compatible fluids

If your application doesn’t require high pressure or stainless construction, the aluminum G2 could save you money without sacrificing performance.

The Bottom Line: Material Knowledge Saves Money

Choosing a flow meter is more than selecting a size or flow range, it's about choosing the right materials for both the fluid and the environment.

By understanding how different wetted parts contribute to durability, compatibility, cost, and longevity, you can:

• Reduce maintenance cycles
• Avoid compatibility failures
• Select the right product for the application
• Lower total ownership cost
• Improve long-term term reliability