Putting the Pressure On: Proven Flow Measurement Where Failure Is Not an Option

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In high pressure fluid systems, inaccuracy is more than a measurement problem. It is a performance, safety and cost risk. From hydraulic power units to oilfield chemical injection skids, reliable flow data under extreme pressure is essential to keeping critical systems running efficiently and safely.

Titan Enterprises designs its high pressure Oval Gear flow meters specifically for environments where operating conditions push components to their limits. These meters deliver stable and repeatable measurement across extreme pressures, fluctuating viscosities and chemically aggressive fluids. These are conditions that quickly expose the weaknesses of less robust flow measurement technologies.

Across industries where hydraulic systems and pressurised fluid handling are critical, reliable measurement provides the operational insight needed to maintain efficiency, protect equipment and meet increasingly strict safety and regulatory standards.

Why High Pressure Flow Measurement Demands More

Hydraulic and fluid power systems operate at pressures high enough to magnify even minor inefficiencies. In applications such as additive injection, lubrication monitoring or hydraulic actuation, inaccurate flow measurement can lead to overdosing, premature component wear, energy losses or unplanned shutdowns.

This is why positive displacement technologies, particularly oval gear flowmeters, continue to be widely specified in high pressure systems. Their ability to directly measure volume independent of flow profile or turbulence makes them especially effective where precision and repeatability are non negotiable.

Unlike some alternative flow technologies that rely on inferred measurements or velocity calculations, positive displacement meters physically capture and measure fixed volumes of fluid. This design ensures reliable performance even when flow conditions change or when fluid properties vary significantly.

Industries that rely on high pressure hydraulic systems include aerospace, offshore energy, marine propulsion, heavy equipment manufacturing and high performance automotive engineering. In these sectors, accurate flow measurement supports both operational performance and asset protection.

In oil and gas operations the requirement is even more stringent. Flow meters must perform reliably in continuous service while exposed to high pressure, high viscosity fluids and aggressive chemicals. Measurement errors in these environments can lead to chemical dosing problems, inefficient lubrication and costly operational disruption.

Designing for Pressure Starts with Testing

A component’s pressure rating is only meaningful if it has been proven in real operating conditions. Pressure testing plays a critical role in validating the mechanical integrity, safety and long term reliability of hydraulic components used in demanding industrial environments.

Titan Enterprises operates a dedicated in house pressure test facility to validate every aspect of its oval gear flow meter designs. By pressure testing during manufacturing and product development, Titan can identify potential failure points early, verify compliance with safety standards and ensure each product is fit for purpose before deployment.

This approach also provides valuable data on long term component durability. Continuous validation helps ensure that flow meters maintain measurement accuracy and structural integrity even when operating at the upper limits of pressure and temperature.

In House Capability That Goes Beyond Compliance

Titan’s Hydratron pressure test rig can test flow meters at pressures up to 1,400 Bar, exceeding the maximum operating pressure of its current product range. This capability allows Titan not only to qualify production meters, including models rated up to 950 Bar, but also to push designs beyond their nominal limits during development.

By testing beyond standard operating conditions, engineers can better understand how materials and internal components behave under extreme stress. This provides valuable insights that support ongoing product improvement.

The test capability has accelerated product refinement and innovation. It has enabled improvements in gear geometry, material selection and platform standardisation. The result is a more interchangeable and robust product range and the potential to increase the maximum operating pressure of Titan’s standard oval gear flow meters by approximately 50%.

The facility also supports advanced research and development work including cavitation simulation and the evaluation of new materials for future high pressure applications. As industries demand higher system pressures and more aggressive operating environments, this development capability ensures Titan can continue to meet evolving customer requirements.

Performance Where It Counts

Titan’s Oval Gear flowmeters are designed to improve accuracy as viscosity increases, achieving measurement performance from approximately ±1% down to ±0.1% of reading. This characteristic makes them particularly suited to high pressure additive injection and lubrication systems where fluids often fall outside the operating envelope of other meter technologies.

This performance advantage is particularly valuable in precision dosing applications where small measurement errors can have significant operational consequences. Accurate additive injection for example is essential in lubrication systems, fuel treatment processes and chemical dosing operations.

With pressure ratings from 10 bar to 950 bar, operating temperatures up to 150°C and intrinsically safe ATEX approved options, the meters are engineered for long service life in hazardous and demanding environments.

Their compact design and robust construction also make them well suited to integration within complex systems such as hydraulic power units, offshore equipment and chemical injection packages.

Built Around the Application

Beyond its standard flow measurement products, Titan works closely with OEM customers to develop customised flow measurement solutions tailored to specific pressure, viscosity and chemical compatibility requirements.

This collaborative engineering approach ensures flow meters integrate seamlessly into complex systems across oil and gas, petrochemical processing, marine operations and emerging energy sectors.

Customisation can include specialised materials for aggressive chemicals, specific pressure ratings for unique hydraulic applications and integration features designed to simplify installation within OEM equipment.

By working closely with system designers and engineers, Titan ensures that measurement performance aligns precisely with the operational demands of each application.

Reliable Measurement When Systems Are Under Pressure

High pressure fluid systems place extreme demands on every component. In these environments flow measurement must remain accurate, stable and dependable even when operating conditions are severe.

By combining proven positive displacement technology with rigorous pressure validation and extensive in house development capability, Titan Enterprises delivers flow measurement solutions that perform reliably when systems are operating under pressure and when there is no margin for error.

As hydraulic and process industries continue to demand higher efficiency, greater reliability and tighter process control, robust flow measurement technology will remain a critical part of maintaining safe and productive operations.

Technical Insight: Flow Measurement Under Extreme Pressure – Why oval gear technology excels in high-pressure systems

Direct Volume Measurement

Unlike inferential flow technologies, oval gear meters directly measure displaced volume. This makes them inherently insensitive to changes in flow profile, turbulence, or pulsation – common issues in high-pressure hydraulic circuits.

Accuracy Improves with Viscosity

As liquid viscosity increases, internal slip is reduced. Titan’s oval gear meters leverage this effect, improving accuracy from approximately ±1% to as low as ±0.1% of reading at higher viscosities – ideal for oils, additives, and lubricants.

Pressure-Proven Design

Standard operating range: 10 bar to 950 Bar
Pressure tested in-house up to 1,400 Bar
Design validation supports potential 50% increase in maximum operating pressure across standard platforms

Engineered for Harsh Media

Compatible with chemically aggressive fluids and additives used in oil and gas, petrochemical processing, and hydraulic power systems. Material options are selected and pressure-tested to ensure long-term chemical resistance and dimensional stability.

Repeatability Where Control Matters

With 0.1% repeatability, Titan’s proprietary oval gear design supports precise dosing, additive injection, and consumption monitoring – critical for closed-loop control systems.

Designed for Hazardous Environments

Available with ATEX compliant and intrinsically safe configurations for deployment in explosive or hazardous locations.

More information can be found at www.flowmeters.co.uk

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Titan Enterprises Limited

01935812790
sales@flowmeters.co.uk
http://www.flowmeters.co.uk
Unit 2 5a Coldharbour Business Park, Sherborne Dorset, DT9 4JW GB

About us

With over 40-years experience in flow meter innovation, Titan Enterprises Ltd are a UK-based manufacturer of high performance solutions such as the Atrato ultrasonic flowmeter, Oval Gear flow meters and the low flow Turbine flow meters and instrument range.

Our knowledgeable team can offer either an off-the-shelf meter or fully bespoke flow system designed for a particular application whether it is a low cost OEM solution or a specialist flowmeter in exotic materials. Titan supplies innovative flow measurement solutions into a broad range of sectors, including medical, industrial, food and drink, laboratory and pharmaceutical, offshire oil & gas industry, power, chemicals and mining.

For higher volume users we can custom design a flowmeter to match exact application requirements and thus not compromise achievable results with a less than ideal sensor.

At Titan we endeavour to produce devices that are inherently reliable as well as manufactured using the latest and most economical production technology. All flow meters produced by Titan are designed and manufactured to ISO9001 and calibrated to an uncertainty of ±0.25%.

We produce chemically resistant, high accuracy digital flow meters that are not only competitively priced but are engineered to give long-term reliable performance.

What we do in a nutshell

Titan Enterprises is a leading UK manufacturer and international supplier of high-performance liquid flow measurement solutions. We specialise in the design and production of small-bore, affordable off-the-shelf flow meters to bespoke flow sensors designed to customer specifications meeting specific flow ranges and environmental conditions.

Where we supply to

Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, North America

Industries we supply to

Automation, Chemicals, Consultants, Components Electronics, Energy and Power, Food and Beverage, Glass Ceramics Cement, Metals and Minerals, OEM, Paper and Pulp, Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Toiletries, Plastics and Rubber, Recycling, Textiles, Tobacco, Water and Wastewater

Something interesting you may not know about us:

Titan's R&D spend is 20% of our turnover where the industry norm is 8-10%.

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