
Spirax Sarco steam flowmeters and flowmetering solutions help industrial sites measure saturated steam, superheated steam, gases and liquids with the accuracy and operating visibility needed for process control, energy management and system optimisation.
This product family brings together three practical selection paths: target flowmeters for steam-focused duties, Gilflo and ILVA variable area meters for wide load variation, and flow computers or transmitters for installations that need mass flow, totalisation or energy data.
In simple terms, choose TFA when you need economical saturated steam metering in smaller line sizes, TVA when you need broader steam visibility in constrained pipework, and Gilflo or ILVA when wide turndown and low-flow performance matter more than a basic point reading.
Industrial flowmetering matters because a better meter does more than report flow. It helps teams verify process demand, allocate utility cost, identify waste and make steam-system optimisation work easier to defend internally. The first selection question is the fluid. This range covers saturated steam, superheated steam, gases and liquids, but each technology is stronger in different operating conditions. If the duty is saturated steam in smaller line sizes, TFA offers a compact point-of-use solution with pressure-compensated measurement and no moving parts. If the site needs saturated or superheated steam visibility with limited straight pipe length, TVA provides integrated temperature sensing and can fit constrained installations. If the application sees large load variation, Gilflo and ILVA are usually the better fit. Their variable area principle supports strong low-flow performance, compact wafer installation and turndown up to 100:1, which is valuable when systems spend significant time below peak demand. The next selection question is what the plant needs from the signal. A local indication may be enough for some duties, but many sites also need totalisation, mass flow awareness, remote outputs or energy calculations. That is where Spirax Sarco flow computers, indicators and transmitters become part of the metering package. For decarbonisation, cost control and operational improvement programmes, the most useful flowmeter is usually the one that best fits the duty, the installed space and the quality of performance data the site needs to act on.

Add flow computers, indicators, temperature sensors and differential pressure transmitters when the installation needs mass flow calculation, totalisation, remote indication or broader energy measurement support.

Gilflo and ILVA variable area flowmeters provide compact wafer installation, strong low-flow performance and turndown up to 100:1 for steam, gases and liquids where operating load changes significantly.

Spirax Sarco target flowmeters cover compact saturated steam metering with TFA and broader saturated or superheated steam monitoring with TVA, helping improve steam-use visibility and identify energy-saving opportunities across the plant.
Flowmeter selection is easier when the project starts with fluid type, load profile and the quality of data the plant needs to act on. The real decision is not just which meter fits the line, but which technology remains useful across the operating range and whether the site also needs energy or mass-flow outputs.
| Route | Best fit when | Main strength | Next route |
|---|---|---|---|
| TFA and TVA target flowmeters | The duty is focused on saturated or superheated steam and installation space may be restricted | Compact steam metering with no moving parts | Browse target flowmeters |
| Gilflo and ILVA flowmeters | Load variation is large and strong low-flow performance matters | Wide turndown for steam, gas and liquid duties | Browse Gilflo and ILVA flowmeters |
| Flow computers and transmitters | The installation needs totalisation, remote outputs or energy measurement | Turns meter readings into actionable plant data | Browse flow computers and transmitters |
Flowmeter research often starts with hardware, but the strongest project outcomes usually depend on how the meter fits plant efficiency goals, engineering knowledge and wider steam-system improvement.
Use this route when you want to connect flow measurement with energy reduction, plant efficiency and broader steam system performance improvement.
Move into the engineering tutorials when you need background on flowmetering principles, accuracy, turndown, installation and meter selection terminology.
Explore steam system audits when the next step is turning better data into site-wide action on efficiency, reliability and operational improvement.