What is flow rate and why is it important for instrument calibration and measurement?

The flow rate is the rate of fluid flowing through the optical cavity. Flow rate is important for instrument calibration and measurement, and typically doesn’t change. Operators must know the instrument’s flow rate limits in order to determine the accuracy of results.

Particles passing through the sensing zone too quickly do not give the electronics enough time to fully develop the electrical signal and may be undersized. Conversely, particles moving too slowly may be indistinguishable from the background or incorrectly sized as particles move through the sensing zone. In either case, significant errors may occur.