Product category:
Ultrasonic and Clamp-on liquid flowmeters
News Release from: Katronic Technologies | Subject: WSA at high temperatures
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 16 May 2005
New measurement system 'Too Hot to
Handle'
The new Waveguide Sensor Assembly from Katronic allows ultrasonic flow measurements to be taken on liquids at temperatures from -190C to + 500C, not possible with any other metering system
Continuing its reputation for supplying measurement solutions for unusual or difficult applications, Katronic Technologies of Leamington Spa announce the latest development for clamp-on measurement technologies The new Waveguide Sensor Assembly (WSA) allows flow measurements to be taken on liquids with a temperature range of -190C to + 500C, something not possible with any other metering system
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 10 Jan 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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The WSA comes as a result of research undertaken to find a method of using a clamp-on flow measurement device for high temperatures.
There have always been many advantages for using a non-invasive system including avoiding process shutdown, being independent of pressure and avoiding the problems associated with toxic or caustic liquids, however a solution was not available for the obvious issue of liquid flowing at very high temperatures.
The Waveguide system is a novel clamping arrangement that ensures that the surface temperature of the sensors remains within the normal operating range whilst ensuring that the excellent measurement capability of the flowmeter does not suffer as a consequence.
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This is a difficult process as it is essential to ensure the optimal conditions for the transmission of the ultrasonic signal.
By conducting tests on a system of pipelines with varying temperatures the waveguide assembly has been proved to be highly efficient.
Thermal camera images have been use to test the temperature gradient, and it can be seen that on a pipeline with a surface temperature of 250C there is a difference of over 200C between the temperature of the pipeline and that of the sensor body.
This new measurement system is particularly useful as it can be combined with Katronic ATEX certified sensors for Zone 1 applications thus allowing the measurement of hot chemical and petroleum products in hazardous areas, something that previously would have been impossible.
An example of this is an application carried out for Dow chemicals.
The engineers at Dow needed to replace a flowmeter for the measurement of chemicals used in the production of aromatic isocyanates in one of their MDI plants.
The problem was to measure the flow of the chemicals in a 300 mm diameter pipe at a temperature of 250C.
Under normal circumstances a standard M3N sensor could have been used for this application, but the area where the measurement needed to be taken is classified as ATEX Zone 1.
It was therefore decided that the best solution was to use the KATflow 160 hazardous area flowmeter and sensors and the WSA sensor assembly in order to obtain the necessary flow measurements.
The application at Dow chemicals represents a relatively low temperature operation of the WSA system: however Katronic have also been involved in applications where the temperature range was far more demanding.
KATflow flowmeters have been installed on several systems in the power generation industry including the measurement of flow in primary circuits in the nuclear industry and the monitoring of hot oil and water in conventional power stations, where the operating temperatures were far higher.
Measurements have also been carried out on molten sodium in a chemical plant where the pipe surface temperature was nearing 500C.
As well as looking at applications where there is a demand for the measurement of very high temperatures, investigation has been carried out at the opposite end of the scale.
Research has shown that the technology could also be applied to flow of liquids in cryogenic systems where the possible operating temperature could be as low as -190C.
The issue here is the problems of ice formation and potential damage to the measurement sensors if applied directly to a pipeline as cold as this. Request a free brochure from Katronic Technologies ...
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