Product category:
Ultrasonic and Clamp-on liquid flowmeters
News Release from: Katronic Technologies | Subject: KATflow 140 in Panama
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 22 December 2006
Ultrasonic flowmeter proves "Precise and
Reliable"
For a major water and wastewater management and engineering company installation in South America, Biwater turned to Katronic Technologies to supply clamp-on equipment for a 60 inch line
When one of the world's largest water and wastewater management and engineering companies needed to find a flow measurement system for one of its installations in South America, they turned to Katronic Technologies to supply the equipment Biwater International was awarded a contract by the Panamanian Water Authority (IDAAN) to build a new 130 MGD water treatment plant and to refurbish an existing 130 MGD plant at the same location
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 10 Jan 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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As part of the package the customer indicated that they required a non-invasive flowmeter to be installed in order to measure the flow of raw water pumped into each of the two plants.
The decision to use clamp-on flowmeters had been made, as the existing plant is the main source of potable water to the capital, Panama City.
The plant could therefore not be shut down for maintenance or the installation of an invasive flow measurement device.
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The engineers responsible for the project knew the difficulty of the measurements that they needed to take.
The two feed pipelines are 60inches (1,500 mm) in diameter and made of carbon steel.
Furthermore, both of the pipelines are lined with cement mortar, with one of them having been in operation, feeding the original plant with raw water, for over 27 years.
This meant that the situation was less than ideal with a high risk of signal attenuation and the distinct possibility of a failed measurement.
Having elected to install a clamp-on flowmeter it was important to choose the best possible instrument.
Mr.Juan Severino, Operations Manager for Biwater International in Panama explains how the decision about which supplier to use was taken: "After reading and evaluating the technical literature and specifications of several flowmeter manufacturers, we considered that the KATflow 140 flowmeter met all of our client's requirements with respect to size of pipe, flow rate and precision".
The decision to use the Katronic flow meter was justified as the instrument proved extremely useful at each stage of the project, "The flowmeter has performed very well and in fact, was the instrument used to test the volume capacity of the new plant".
As Mr.Severino points out, the Katronic flowmeter has proven so reliable that it is now used for critical applications on the site.
In spite of the fact that an old 60inch pipeline could prove difficult to measure, with a clamp-on flowmeter, (* this is possibly even an under-statement - comment from Nick Denbow) the instrument from Katronic Technologies has been shown to be "of great benefit to our client as it is precise and reliable".
Mr.Severino goes on to say that, "These two characteristics are needed because the data from the flowmeters will be transmitted to a SCADA system located in the administrative building of the plant 1.6 km from the meter.
This data will be used to control the dosing rate of the treatment process chemicals such as aluminum sulphate, anionic and cationic polymers, chlorine and carbon".
Given the nature of the work for which the flowmeters are being used the reliability of the instruments is paramount.
Additionally, the flowmeters have proved popular owing to "their ease of installation and programming".
All of the flowmeters in the KATflow range are designed to be simple and easy to use, as well as the advantages of being non-invasive, the operator interface is designed to be clear and straightforward allowing trouble-free installation.
As with any project there were some initial teething problems, however this enabled the technical support team at Katronic Technologies to prove that it is not just their flowmeters that are reliable.
"The customer service while commissioning the flowmeter was excellent.
The assistance provided went well beyond our expectations".
As Mr.Severino shows, the project team was just as impressed with the after sales support that was available as with the instruments themselves.
In spite of the distances and time difference involved, Katronic were able to evaluate, identify and solve all of the commissioning issues raised by Biwater without even attending the site.
According to Mr Severino the building and upgrade of the treatment plant was essential to the well-being of the people of Panama City.
The new plant on which the Katronic flowmeter was installed was commissioned and was handed over in December.
These new facilities will guarantee the water supply to the 1.8 million people who live in and around the City whereas before they had to deal with constant water shortages.
Furthermore, the refurbishment project for the existing plant, which is due for completion in 2008, will ensure the capacity of the water supplies to the city up to 2020.
For more information on this application, or any other details on the KATflow range of flowmeters, please contact Katronic Technologies. Request a free brochure from Katronic Technologies ...
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