Choosing An Alicat Portable Flow Meter

Alicat provides a comprehensive range of portable flow meters and flow calibration meters designed for quick, accurate, and reliable on-site flow validation, verification, and calibration. These portable instruments include models from Alicat’s differential pressure series, portable liquid flow meters, and complete mobile calibration systems. In this guide, we compare the main options and highlight their most suitable applications.

Portable flow meter comparison overview

All Alicat portable flow meters feature rapid response times of under 10 milliseconds, require no warm-up period, and run on long-lasting rechargeable Li-ion batteries that provide up to 18 hours of use. Each device also includes a backlit LCD with a touchpad interface and is engineered to resist impact from drops—ideal for field environments.

	Non-corrosive gases	Corrosive gases	Liquids	Low pressure drop
MB	✓
MBS	✓	✓
MWB	✓			✓
MBQ	✓
LB			✓
FP-25	✓			✓

MB-Series: Standard portable gas flow calibration meter

The MB-Series is the portable adaptation of Alicat’s M-Series gas flow calibration meter. These meters are popular for fast and dependable process checks, enabling validation, verification, and calibration directly on-site. Because they have no warm-up requirement, users can move easily between test points and obtain instant readings.
The built-in display provides mass flow, volumetric flow, pressure, and temperature data simultaneously, removing the need for an external computer. Analogue and digital outputs are available, and a convenient battery indicator signal is provided when a recharge is required.

Flow range: 0.5 SCCM to 5,000 SLPM
Compatible gases: 98+ preloaded calibrations and 20 user-defined mixtures
Measurement range:01% – 100% of full scale
Accuracy: ±0.5% of reading or ±0.1% of full scale
Operating pressure: Min 11.5 PSIA / 1 PSID; Max 175 PSIA / 75 PSID

MBS-Series portable flow meter for corrosive gases

The MBS-Series is the corrosion-resistant version of the MB-Series flow calibration meter. Constructed with 316L stainless steel and FFKM seals, it is suited to demanding gases such as SO₂, H₂S, and NH₃. This enhanced chemical resistance extends the range to over 128 selectable gases, including many refrigerants and custom blends.

Flow range: 0.5 SCCM to 5,000 SLPM
Compatible gases: 128+ calibrations, including corrosive and refrigerant gases, plus 20 custom mixtures
Measurement range: 1% – 100% of full scale
Accuracy: ±(0.4% of reading + 0.2% of full scale)
Operating pressure: Min 11.5 PSIA / 1 PSID; Max 175 PSIA / 75 PSID

MWB-Series portable flow meter for low-pressure drops

The MWB-Series is derived from Alicat’s MW-Series flow calibration meter and is optimised for systems that require minimal pressure loss—down to just 0.07 PSID. This makes it ideal for flow calibration or verification in low-pressure or near-atmospheric setups.

Flow range: 0.5 SCCM to 1,000 SLPM
Compatible gases: 98+ preloaded calibrations and 20 custom gas mixtures
Measurement range:01% – 100% of full scale
Accuracy: ±0.6% of reading or ±0.1% of full scale
Operating pressure: Min 11.5 PSIA / 0.07 PSID; Max 76.8 PSIA / 10 PSID

MBQ-Series portable flow meter for high pressures

The MBQ-Series offers a portable version of the MQ-Series gas flow calibration meter, capable of handling pressures up to 320 PSIA. It is well-suited to applications involving mid-to-high flow rates and demanding operating conditions.

Flow range: 10 SCCM to 3,000 SLPM
Compatible gases: 98+ preloaded calibrations and 20 custom mixtures
Measurement range:1% – 100% of full scale
Accuracy: ±0.6% of reading or ±0.1% of full scale
Operating pressure: Min 11.5 PSIA / 1 PSID; Max 320 PSIA / 75 PSID

LB-Series portable flow meter for liquids

The LB-Series is Alicat’s dedicated portable flow meter for liquid media. It provides precise calibration of water and other low-viscosity fluids with a NIST-traceable accuracy of 2% of full scale. Optional calibrations are available for methanol, ethanol, iso-propanol, and similar process liquids. Like its gas-based counterparts, it can be used for leak testing, flow validation, and portable calibration work.

Flow range: 0.5 CCM to 10 LPM
Liquid calibrations: Water (default), methanol, iso-propanol, ethanol, ammonia, dimethyl ether, iso-pentane, thiophene, iso-octane, or heptane (upon request)
Measurement range: 2% – 100% of full scale
Accuracy: ±2% of full scale
Operating pressure: Min 11.5 PSIA / 2 PSID; Max 200 PSIA / 75 PSID

FP-25 flow calibration meter for air quality monitoring

The FP-25 flow calibration meter was specifically developed for environmental and air monitoring calibration. It automatically compensates for variations in temperature, relative humidity, and pressure by continuously adjusting gas viscosity in real time. Its multiple sensors measure both ambient barometric and internal flow pressures, ensuring accuracy across conditions ranging from -30°C to 60°C and up to 95% relative humidity.

PCU portable flow calibration unit

The PCU portable calibration unit integrates three flow calibration meters into one rugged case, powered by either 4 AA batteries or a supplied AC adaptor. The overlapping flow ranges (e.g., 5 SCCM–5000 SLPM) allow for highly accurate, NIST-traceable calibration across a dynamic range of up to 100,000:1. This all-in-one configuration makes the PCU an excellent choice for engineers needing quick, reliable verification and calibration across multiple flow rates or systems. It can also be tailored for high-pressure, low-pressure, or corrosive gas environments.

Lab Unlimited is a trusted distributor of Alicat portable flow meters and flow calibration meters, providing reliable solutions for laboratories, research, and industry worldwide. If you would like to learn more about these products or need advice on choosing the right model for your application, our team is here to help. Contact us today to discuss your requirements and explore the best Alicat solution for you.

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