Ultrasonic Flow Meter Types
Permanent install clamp-on ultrasonic meters are indispensable in manufacturing plants and large-scale processing facilities. Their ability to provide long-term, dependable flow measurement without interrupting the process flow makes them a preferred choice for continuous monitoring and process optimization.
Applications
Continuous process monitoring, permanent flow measurement in pipelines, and long-term water and fluid management systems. These meters are crucial for facilities requiring consistent and reliable monitoring without the need for regular meter removal or system shutdown.
Benefits
They offer non-intrusive flow measurement with minimal maintenance, providing a reliable solution for monitoring large volume flows over an extended period.
Industry Usage
Predominantly used in fixed installations within industrial and manufacturing settings, utilities, and large facilities.
Portable clamp-on ultrasonic transit time flowmeters shine in environmental monitoring and field diagnostics, where temporary and detailed analysis of fluid flow is required. Their portability, coupled with advanced data logging capabilities, allows for comprehensive assessment and troubleshooting in challenging fluid dynamics scenarios.
Applications
Temporary flow measurement tasks, system diagnostics, spot checks, and field-based flow analysis. Ideal for applications requiring mobility and flexibility, such as auditing existing systems, troubleshooting, and research projects.
Benefits
Their portability allows for easy transportation and application across multiple sites or in hard-to-reach locations, offering versatility without the need for permanent installation.
Industry Usage
Serves a wide range of industries, from environmental monitoring to facility management and field services.
Recognizing the diverse demands of open channel flow measurement, our range includes ultrasonic meters for every budget and accuracy requirement. Our Doppler technology meters provide a cost-effective solution for straightforward installations, while our multi-path transit time area-velocity meters are designed for scenarios where high accuracy is paramount. These meters are widely used in applications like irrigation management and stormwater monitoring, where precise flow data is crucial.
Applications
Continuous process monitoring, permanent flow measurement in pipelines, and long-term water and fluid management systems. These meters are crucial for facilities requiring consistent and reliable monitoring without the need for regular meter removal or system shutdown.
Benefits
They offer non-intrusive flow measurement with minimal maintenance, providing a reliable solution for monitoring large volume flows over an extended period.
Industry Usage
Predominantly used in fixed installations within industrial and manufacturing settings, utilities, and large facilities.
Reflecting the shift towards more efficient and sustainable technologies, our selection of ultrasonic flow meters for municipal/residential water flow and BTU/energy measurement is expanding. As these ultrasonic solutions become more cost-effective, they are increasingly replacing traditional mechanical water meters, offering superior efficiency and a maintenance-free experience. This range is particularly relevant for water utilities and energy management systems looking to upgrade their measurement infrastructure.
Applications
Temporary flow measurement tasks, system diagnostics, spot checks, and field-based flow analysis. Ideal for applications requiring mobility and flexibility, such as auditing existing systems, troubleshooting, and research projects.
Benefits
Their portability allows for easy transportation and application across multiple sites or in hard-to-reach locations, offering versatility without the need for permanent installation.
Industry Usage
Serves a wide range of industries, from environmental monitoring to facility management and field services.
Ultrasonic Flow Meter Overview
Today, ultrasonic flowmeters have become one of the most widely used flow technologies in industry. Their main advantage over other technologies is the non-intrusive clamp-on installation method which dramatically reduces installation costs by negating the need for costly pipe modifications. The non-invasive nature of this technology also allows for fewer process interruptions, ability to measure up to 30% particles/bubbles, more maintenance free operation, lower pressure differential and greater longevity versus other flow measurement technologies.Smart Measurement offers the most comprehensive array of ultrasonic flow meters in industry offering, transit-time, microwave radar, doppler etc.
How To Choose an Ultrasonic Flow Meter
When it comes to choosing the right ultrasonic flow meter, understanding the unique characteristics of the fluid in your application is crucial. This includes considering factors like the presence of suspended solids or gas bubbles. At Smart Measurement, we’ve developed a range of ultrasonic flow meters tailored to meet the specific demands of various industrial environments, ensuring that you find the perfect match for your unique scenario.
Permanent Install Clamp-On Ultrasonic Meters
Smart Measurement offers non-intrusive clamp-on ultrasonic flow meters for permanent (wall-mount)installation applications utilizing Transit time or Doppler technologies.
These flowmeters are available with industry standard electronic outputs and both explosion proof and non-EX transmitter configurations.
Portable Clamp-on Ultrasonic Meters
Smart Measurement offers a diverse line of portable clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters to accommodate virtually any situation. Solutions employing both Transit-time and Doppler technologies are available with options for SD data card and USB-based data logging as well as multi-path transducer configurations for difficult-to-measure fluids.
Open Channel / Area-velocity Ultrasonic Meters
Smart Measurement offers multiple Area Velocity Measurement (AVM) solutions to fit any budget for open channel flow measurement applications. For applications calling for non-intrusive installation, we have our Microwaved Radar to multipath high accuracy wetted transit time solutions and for portable, lower cost solutions we have our ultrasonic Doppler AVM flow meters.
Water & Energy Ultrasonic Flow Meters
Smart Measurement offers a comprehensive selection of ultrasonic flow measurement technologies for municipal/residential water flow and BTU/energy measurement. As ultrasonic techniques become more cost-effective, water utilities are replacing mechanical water meters with more efficient and maintenance-free ultrasonic measurement options.
Innovative Features of Ultrasonic Flow Meters
Ultrasonic flow meters offer a range of advanced features that make them a preferred choice in various industrial applications. These meters are distinguished by their non-intrusive, clamp-on installation, which significantly reduces installation costs and minimizes process disruptions by eliminating the need for pipe modifications. Utilizing either Transit time, Doppler or for open channel applications Microwave radar technologies, ultrasonic flow meters provide precise flow measurements without direct contact with the fluid, thereby avoiding pressure drops and mechanical wear. This non-invasive method ensures maintenance-free operation and extended longevity.
The versatility of ultrasonic flow meters allows them to accommodate a wide range of applications, from clean water to particle-rich fluids. They are available in both portable and permanent configurations, making them suitable for diverse industrial environments. For instance, portable models are ideal for field monitoring and temporary system checks, offering flexibility and precision on the go. Permanent installations benefit from options like multi-path transducer setups, which enhance measurement accuracy in complex flow conditions.
Moreover, ultrasonic flow meters come equipped with data logging capabilities, such as SD card and USB-based options, enabling comprehensive data collection and analysis. This feature is particularly useful for applications requiring detailed flow monitoring and reporting. Additionally, the availability of industry-standard electronic outputs and explosion-proof transmitter configurations ensures that these meters can be safely and effectively integrated into a variety of industrial settings.
Overall, the advanced features of ultrasonic flow meters, including their non-intrusive installation, versatile application range, and robust data management options, make them an indispensable tool for accurate and reliable flow measurement in modern industrial environments.
Smart Measurement’s ultrasonic flow meters deliver accuracy and efficiency in every application.
Ultrasonic Flow Meter Applications
The following are some general applications for ultrasonic flow meters
Clear Water Applications
The ALSONIC-FX shines in scenarios involving clean water with minimal solids or aeration (≤ 1-2%). This meter is a fusion of superior performance and affordability, making it an ideal choice for applications requiring a clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter. It’s particularly effective in municipal water treatment facilities, where its precision and cost-effectiveness ensure optimal operation.
Handling Higher Particle Counts
In environments where fluids contain a higher concentration of particles (up to 30%), the ALSONIC-DSP is your go-to solution. Available in both single and dual-path configurations, this meter is engineered to deliver accurate flow measurements in more challenging, particle-rich fluids. It’s a popular choice in industries like mining and wastewater management, where its robust design and precise measurement capabilities are invaluable.
Portable Metering Solutions
For applications that demand mobility, such as field monitoring or temporary system checks, the ALSONIC-HL is perfect for clean liquids, while the ALSONIC-DSPPL adeptly handles fluids with up to 30% solids content. These portable meters offer the ultimate in flexibility, providing accurate measurements on the go without sacrificing precision.
Energy Measurement
The ALSONIC-EG is a standout in our lineup, specifically engineered as a clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter for BTU/energy measurement. Its design focuses on providing accurate readings essential for energy management applications, combining ease of installation with precision. This meter is particularly beneficial in facilities where energy usage monitoring and conservation are crucial, such as in large commercial buildings or industrial plants.
Building Sub-Metering and Municipal Applications
The ALSONIC-BAWM offers an efficient and cost-effective solution for inline flow measurement, particularly suited for building sub-metering and municipal applications. Its affordability and reliability make it a preferred choice for local governments and property managers looking to monitor water usage accurately.
Open Channel Flow Measurement
For applications involving open channels, such as irrigation systems or wastewater channels, the ALSONIC-AVM excels. These AVM flowmeters use up to four wetted transducer paths coupled with a level transmitter offering the highest accuracies in open channel markets. Transducers are able to measure very clean water or water/waste water of up to 30% solids or bubbles..
Non Intrusive Solutions for Open Channel Measurement
Open channel Area Velocity Measurement (AVM) can pose great challenges when it comes to installation. Our ALSONIC-RAVM microwave radar open channel flow meter combines both velocity and level measurement in one package, mounted on top or on the side of any open channel offering a perfect non-intrusive solution.
Economical Solutions for Open Channels
Addressing the need for budget-friendly options in open channel flow measurement, our ALSONIC-DAVM Doppler flow meters come both in portable or wall mount installation and offer reliable performance without a hefty price tag.
Each model in our ultrasonic flow meter lineup is designed with precision and reliability at its core, ensuring that you have the most suitable tool for your specific flow measurement challenges. Whether it’s for a permanent installation in a controlled environment or a portable solution for on-site assessments, Smart Measurement’s ultrasonic flow meters deliver accuracy and efficiency in every application.
Advantages of Using Ultrasonic Flow Meters
The clamp-on installation method, unique among flow metering technologies, allows ultrasonic flow meters to be used in applications where the process cannot be shut down and/or the pipe cannot be cut for installation. Clamp-on flow meters also cause no pressure drop, suffer no mechanical wear and tear, allow for bidirectional measurement, and provide the ability to pass unlimited solids past the meter without damage.
Ultrasonic flow meters offer a number of advantages over other flow measurement technologies. The most distinct of these advantages is the non-invasive nature of the ultrasonic flow measurement technique: fluid flow can be measured by clamping a pair of transducers onto the outside of the pipe wall without contacting the measured fluid.Ultrasonic flow meters use either transit time technology, which is used in over 90% of ultrasonic flow measurement applications, or a Doppler technique. Transit time flow meter technologies are constantly being enhanced with better scan time, advances in microprocessor technology, and improved algorithms. More and more applications that could once only be measured using Doppler techniques are now being monitored with transit time technology due to these ongoing advancements. Today, there does still exist a number of applications that only a Doppler technique can measure, although this is becoming less common over time. Smart Measurement’s flow meter application portal has a wide variety of flow meter applications including examples making use of ultrasonic flow techniques for each industry. We hope you can refer to this section to view some successful ultrasonic flow applications.
Theories of Operation
Shigeo Satomura
Shigeo Satomura was a Japanese physicist who was credited with introducing the ultrasonic Doppler techniques to practical medical diagnostics in the 1950s. These techniques made possible non-invasive monitoring of blood flow in the human body.
Fluid velocity is measured by sending ultrasonic pulses from an upstream transducer to a downstream transducer and back again. These signals are emitted alternately in the flow direction and against it. As the fluid in which the signals propagate is flowing, the transit time of the ultrasonic signals in the flow direction is shorter than against the flow direction. The resulting difference in transit time, ∆t, is measured and allows the flowmeter to determine the average fluid velocity along the propagation path of the ultrasonic signal. A flow profile correction is then performed in order to obtain the area-averaged flow velocity, which is proportional to the volumetric flow rate based on user-entered information about the process application.
Smart Measurement’s Transit time techniques offer the widest range of prices and capabilities in the industry from liquids having 30% suspended solids or less with our AlsonicDSP product line with the highest accuracies to low-cost techniques capable of measuring a few percent of bubbles or particles in the flow stream. With transit time techniques Smart Measurement is able to offer low-cost water or BTU (energy) flow meters, to more complicated open channel flow measurement techniques.
- Ultrasound pulses are propagated slanted both from the upstream and downstream, and flow rate is measured by detecting the time difference generated with the flow.
- Suitable for clean fluid
Doppler ultrasonic flow meters measure velocity by sending sonic signals into the flow stream and then receiving signals reflected back from particles or bubbles entrained in the fluid. The velocity is measured as a function of the frequency shift due to the motion of these reflective materials. A pair of transducers outside the pipe, or one transducer inside of the pipe, transmits an ultrasonic signal into the moving fluid. A portion of this signal is reflected by suspended solids, entrained gases or flow turbulence back toward the transducer. Electronic circuitry compares the transmitted frequency with the received frequency. The difference, or frequency shift, is proportional to fluid velocity. When the liquid is not moving (a zero-flow condition) the transmitted and received frequencies are identical.
The SmartMeasurement family of clamp-on Doppler ultrasonic flow meters may be used in pipes containing liquids having up to 40% particles or solids and in open-channel sewer applications. Clamp-on, insertion, and inline installation methods are available for closed pipe applications. For open-channel applications, the transducer is installed at the bottom of the channel and used in conjunction with level a transmitter to measure the complete area-velocity flow profile.
- Ultrasound pulses are transmitted into a liquid, and flow velocity profile is found and the flow rate is measured by using the characteristics that Doppler frequency of the echo from reflectors such as air bubbles and particles in the liquid changes according to flow velocity.
- Suitable for opaque fluid
