A mass air flow meter is usually used for measuring the flow rate or quantity of a moving gas. This mass air meter, which is also sometimes known as mass flow sensor, responds to the amount of the gas flowing through a specified chamber. Usually this meter or sensor is not influenced by the density of the gas, but merely the quantity only.

Commercially found around the country, this meter comes in four basic categories of devices. This would include differential pressure, positive displacement, velocity, and true mass. These four categories of meters have different method or mechanism or working, but as a whole, they all are intended for one function; measure the quantity of moving gas.

The Different Types

Differential pressure meters basically work by obtaining pressure differential in the movement and extracting the square root. This type of mass air meter would include cone-type devices, elbow tap meters, nozzles, laminar elements, orifice plates, Pitot tubes, rotameters, target meters, variable area meters, Venturi tubes, and others.

Positive displacement meter is the second type of meter. This flow meter works by dividing the air or specifically gas into specific increment. This would be then counted by means of mechanical or electronic calculation methods. Some of this type of mass air meter would include nutating disc devices, oval gear meters, piston-based designs, and others.

Velocity meters basically works in line with the flow rate. There is no square-root relationship involved here, so usually this type of meter is more commonly found everywhere in the country. Some common ones that can be found would include electromagnetic meters, paddlewheels, sonar-based devices, turbine meters, ultrasonic meters, vortex or shedding meters, and many more.

True mass meters, as the name suggests, is a type of mass air flow meter which is used to directly measure the mass rate of the flow. The technique used is very simple, so it's pretty much easy to understand. Some common ones under this type would include thermal meters, Coriolis meters, and others.

A common mass air flow meter under any of these categories does not go beyond $500, and most of them are made in China. You can basically order from anywhere around the country, and they would be delivered to your house direct by the sellers. Most of them are made for multi purpose usage, although commonly meant for automobile use primarily.

More information on this topic can be found in a number of different locations:

1) The Internet - A favorite search engine can be a very helpful tool

2) A Bookstore - Don't forget books; and bookstores are full of them

3) A Library - Yet another location for books; and the nice thing about the library is that they are free