A flow meter and a flow transmitter are two related components used in flow measurement applications, but they serve different purposes:

1. Flow Meter:

   • A flow meter is a device used to measure the flow rate of a fluid (liquid, gas, or steam) passing through a pipeline or conduit. It provides a direct indication of the quantity of fluid flowing in the system.
   • Flow meters come in various types, each employing different principles of operation to measure flow rate. Some common types of flow meters include orifice meters, magnetic flow meters, ultrasonic flow meters, vortex flow meters, turbine flow meters, and Coriolis flow meters.
   • Flow meters can measure flow rate in terms of volume per unit time (volumetric flow rate) or mass per unit time (mass flow rate), depending on the application requirements.

2. Flow Transmitter:

   • A flow transmitter is a device used to convert the flow measurement obtained from a flow meter into an electrical signal that can be transmitted to a control system, data logger, or other instrumentation for monitoring, control, or recording purposes.
   • The flow transmitter typically includes signal conditioning electronics that process the flow measurement signal from the flow meter and convert it into a standardized output signal, such as a 4-20 mA analog signal or a digital signal (e.g., HART, Modbus, PROFIBUS).
   • Flow transmitters often provide additional features, such as temperature compensation, linearization, damping, and diagnostics, to enhance the accuracy and reliability of the flow measurement.

In summary, a flow meter is the physical device that directly measures the flow rate of a fluid, while a flow transmitter is the electronic device that converts the flow measurement into an electrical signal for transmission and further processing. Together, they form a complete flow measurement system used in various industrial processes and applications.