Industrial Flow Meter Selection

Flow meter selection chart. Click on image for larger view.

Many industrial process control operations require fluid flow measurement as an essential element in the design of the process. The proper application and installation of a flow meter as part of the fluid transfer system will provide accurate flow measurement.

Industrial flow meters use different technologies to measure fluid flow rates directly or indirectly. Some of the most common technologies for fluid flow measurement are vortex flow meters, magnetic flow meters, Coriolis flow meters and rotameters.

Each separate technology has attributes that can make it more suitable for certain applications. The selection of the most appropriate flow measurement technology for an application is an initial and crucial step in the design of a functioning fluid measurement system.

Selection criteria such as fluid temperature, pressure and velocity will be included in the selection process. Further considerations include whether the fluid may be abrasive, corrosive, clean or dirty. The state of the fluid, liquid or gas, must also be taken into account.

The table above provides general guidance on which technologies to consider, based on the above mentioned factors. This will help you to focus further research on product selection.

Contact Classic Controls with any industrial flow application you may have. Their application engineers will provide guidance and advice to assure the proper flow meter is chosen.

Classic Controls
https://classiccontrols.com
863-644-3642

Magnetic Level Indicators (MLIs) and Bridle Combination Units

Magnetic level indicators provide highly visible indication of level with or without signal outputs monitoring tail and vessel level. The term bridle is used to describe a vertical pipe connected to the side of a storage tank or process vessel, most often with side-to-side or side-to-bottom connections. Because the fluid inside the bridle rises and falls equally with the level of fluid inside the tank or vessel, bridles have been adapted for level measurement use on a broad scale.

Below is a good instructional reference document (courtesy of VEGA) on how magnetic level indicators (MLIs) are installed and how they work.

Download the "Magnetic Level Indicators and Bridles for Level Measurement and Visualization" document here.

Magnetic Level Indicators (MLIs) and Bridle Combination Units from Classic Controls, Inc.

Yokogawa SENCOM™ for SMART Liquid Analyzer Communications

SENCOM™ technology allows sensors to transmit and receive data when connected to a FLXA202 or FLXA21 transmitter or to any PC with the SPS24 software installed. Yokogawa SENCOM™ SMART is digital communication designed to optimize your process. Digital or SMART sensors maintain specific measurement and calibration data on an integrated chip and an integral part of the sensor. This data can be exchanged between the sensor and either a process transmitter or a laboratory PC using a data management software, like the SPS24.

For more information, contact Classic Controls by calling 863-644-3642 of visit https://classiccontrols.com.

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Wireless Remote Monitoring and Control Systems Offers Cost Effective Solution for Tank Level Monitoring System

APPLICATION:

When a chemical plant wanted to add level and temperature monitoring to a set of tanks on the edge of their property, the initial proposition was to run a HART cable from the control room to the tank site and, then, branch out to each tank and wire in the level and temperature sensors. The wire length would be several thousand feet between the two points and, then, more to wire sensors to each tank.

PRODUCT SUPPLIED:

• HART Wireless Nodes
• Gateway

CHALLENGE:

The cost and time associated with this wiring effort, however, was found to be enormous. In addition to the cost of expensive wire, trenching and running conduit was another large added cost. The proposed budget for this upgrade was close to $100K for just the connection costs.

SOLUTION:

Taking a more cost effective route, the chemical plant decided to use a wireless solution offered by Signal Fire remote monitoring products. Multi-drop HART wireless nodes were installed on the top of each tank and connected – locally – to the sensors associated with each tank. (Nodes serve as the wireless, long-distance communication link in the remote monitoring and control of assets such as tank levels. The nodes extract then transmit data from sensors via a wireless mesh network to a Gateway where data is available via a Modbus RTU or TCP interface.) The total cost of the equipment and installation was a small fraction of the cost of running cable alone and the start-up time was a few hours as opposed to weeks. Additionally, because it was so easy to add additional wireless measurement points, other monitoring points can be easily added to the network in the future.

Reprinted with permission from SignalFire.

Tunable Diode Laser Spectrometers Improve Combustion and Heating Process Performance

Yokogawa TDLS 8000

Manufacturing facilities continue to explore ways to optimize processes by saving energy, reducing CO2 emissions, and improving safety. An area of plant investment that generally pays great dividends is in the optimization of combustion. By precisely controlling the air-fuel ratio, positive outcomes in fuel savings, emissions, regulatory issues, and safety are realized.

The implementation of a process instrument called a "tunable diode laser spectrometer" (TDLS) gives plant operators an excellent advantage in the management of combustion gases.

Yokogawa TDLS 220

Tunable diode laser spectrometers are laser-based gas analyzer which provide a quickly updating optical analysis. The TDLS line offers measurements for process gas, flue gas, impurity analysis, custody transfer, and safety with in-situ and extractive methods supported. They utilize laser absorption spectroscopy to detect and measure the concentration of O2, CO, CH4, NH3, H2O (and many more NIR absorbing gases) in combustion and heating processes.

Tunable diode laser spectrometers non-contact sensors are are optimal for use in corrosive, abrasive and condensing applications in the oil, petrochemical, electric power, iron and steel, and other industries.

For more information on tunable diode laser spectrometers, contact Classic Controls by calling 863-644-3642 or visit https://classiccontrols.com.