Precision instrumentation for next-generation data center cooling
Product · Flow Measurement

Coolant Flow Meters

Electromagnetic & Coriolis flow meters engineered for the precise, repeatable measurement required by modern liquid-cooled data center infrastructure.

L/min INLET OUTLET ELECTROMAGNETIC FLOW METER

Why It Matters in Data Center Liquid Cooling

Coolant flow rate is the single most critical variable in liquid cooling control — directly linking compute thermal load to chiller and CDU capacity. Under- or over-reported flow leads to thermal alarms, pump cavitation, or wasted pumping energy.

Supmea's SUP-LDG electromagnetic and SUP-DMF Coriolis flow meters deliver the accuracy, media compatibility, and communication interfaces that data center BMS/DCIM platforms require — from primary facility water loops down to rack-level technology cooling system (TCS) manifolds.

Typical Specifications — SUP-LDG Electromagnetic Flow Meter
Measurement principleElectromagnetic induction (Faraday's law)
Pipe size rangeDN10 – DN2000 (3/8" – 80")
Flow velocity range0.1 – 15 m/s
Accuracy±0.2% of reading (standard), ±0.5% (economy)
Repeatability≤ 0.1% of reading
Media conductivity≥ 5 µS/cm (standard); ≥ 1 µS/cm (high-sensitivity)
Process temperature−20 °C to +120 °C (PTFE lining)
Process pressureUp to 4.0 MPa (PN40) standard; PN63/PN100 available
Liner materialPTFE, PFA, rubber, polyurethane
Electrode material316L SS, Hastelloy B/C, titanium, tantalum, platinum
Output signal4–20 mA (HART), pulse/frequency, RS-485 Modbus RTU
Digital integrationModbus TCP, BACnet MS/TP, BACnet IP, SNMP (via gateway)
Enclosure ratingIP65 (standard), IP68 (submersible option)
Power supply85–265 VAC, 50/60 Hz; 24 VDC option
ApprovalsCE, RoHS; ATEX/IECEx Ex d IIC T6 (Ex variant)
Typical Specifications — SUP-DMF Coriolis Mass Flow Meter
Measurement principleCoriolis force / mass-flow direct measurement
Pipe size rangeDN6 – DN250
Mass flow accuracy±0.1% of reading
Density accuracy±0.001 g/cm³
Process temperature−50 °C to +200 °C
Process pressureUp to 40 MPa
Output4–20 mA, pulse, RS-485 Modbus, HART, PROFIBUS DP
Media suitabilityDielectric fluids (GRC, EC-100), glycol-water, refrigerants

Where This Product Fits in the Cooling Loop

Typical deployment points in data center liquid cooling architectures — from facility water through to rack-level manifolds.

CDU Primary & Secondary Loops

Monitors facility water loop flow (primary) and technology cooling system flow (secondary) across coolant distribution units. Critical for PUE measurement and per-rack thermal allocation.

Direct-to-Chip (Cold Plate) Manifolds

Measures low-flow PG25 / PG30 glycol-water mixtures distributed to cold plate arrays. Coriolis variants handle flow rates from 0.5 L/min up to 200 L/min with sub-1% uncertainty.

Single- & Two-Phase Immersion Cooling

Coriolis mass flow meters track dielectric fluid (GRC ElectroSafe, 3M Novec equivalents) circulation in immersion tank loops, unaffected by fluid conductivity.

Rear-Door Heat Exchanger (RDHx) Loops

Compact electromagnetic meters measure per-door chilled-water flow for thermal balancing in retrofitted air-cooled rooms adopting RDHx technology.

Makeup Water & Blowdown Lines

Tracks cumulative makeup water consumption on open cooling towers and filtration blowdown lines for water-use reporting and leak detection.

Leak-Detection Differential Flow

Paired supply/return flow meters with differential comparison logic trigger alarms on imbalance thresholds — the first line of defense for liquid leak detection in white space.

Need help selecting the right configuration?

Send us a P&ID or a short description of your cooling loop. Our application engineers respond with a specification recommendation and quote within one business day.

Engineering & Specification FAQ

The questions we hear most often from specifying engineers, system integrators, and facility operators.

Electromagnetic vs. Coriolis — which should I choose for my cooling loop?

Electromagnetic meters are the cost-effective choice for conductive fluids (water, water-glycol blends) in primary and secondary facility loops, typically DN50 and above. Coriolis meters are required when you need direct mass flow, when measuring dielectric immersion fluids (which are non-conductive), when accuracy below ±0.2% matters, or when pipe diameters are below DN25. For most CDU deployments on water-glycol, electromagnetic is sufficient and significantly less expensive.

Will your flow meters work with PG25 and PG30 glycol-water mixtures?

Yes. Both the SUP-LDG electromagnetic and SUP-DMF Coriolis lines are compatible with propylene glycol and ethylene glycol mixtures up to 50% concentration. For electromagnetic meters, ensure the liner material (PTFE standard) is chemically compatible — glycol-water mixtures are non-aggressive and PTFE is suitable across the full temperature range typical of data center loops.

What output protocols do you support for BMS/DCIM integration?

Standard outputs include 4–20 mA analog (with HART overlay), pulse/frequency, and RS-485 Modbus RTU. For Ethernet-native integration we offer Modbus TCP and BACnet IP variants. BACnet MS/TP is available on the RS-485 variant. For SNMP (typical for DCIM platforms), we recommend a protocol gateway rather than embedding SNMP in the meter itself, for better firmware maintainability.

How accurate are your flow meters in real-world data center conditions?

Published accuracy figures (±0.2% for electromagnetic, ±0.1% for Coriolis) are achieved under reference conditions with the recommended 10D upstream / 5D downstream straight-pipe runs. In real installations, common error sources are insufficient straight run, entrained air, and under-filled pipes. We provide application engineering support to review P&IDs before quoting, which typically keeps installed accuracy within 0.3–0.5% of reading for electromagnetic meters.

Do you provide hazardous-area (ATEX/IECEx) variants?

Yes. Both electromagnetic and Coriolis lines have Ex d IIC T6 Gb versions certified under ATEX and IECEx schemes. These are occasionally specified for battery backup rooms and diesel generator plant rooms adjacent to data center white space.

What is the typical lead time and calibration traceability?

Standard configurations ship in 3–4 weeks. Each meter is wet-calibrated on an accredited flow loop with calibration certificates traceable to national standards (e.g., NIM in China, which cross-references to NIST and PTB). Third-party calibration reports (e.g., ILAC-MRA accredited lab) are available on request.

Can the meter survive a sudden pressure spike from a pump trip?

Yes, within the rated pressure class. Standard PN40 meters tolerate transient spikes up to approximately 1.4× nominal pressure for short durations. For loops with known high water-hammer exposure, we recommend specifying PN63 or higher and installing upstream surge arrestors — this is particularly relevant for large CDU primary loops with VFD-driven pumps.

Ready to Instrument Your Cooling Infrastructure?

Whether you're designing a new liquid-cooled data center or retrofitting existing air-cooled facilities, our engineers can help you select the right instrumentation package.