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[December 2006]
Economy & Performance From New Flow Meter
With the cost of energy skyrocketing, the ST75 Flow Meter from Fluid Components International (San Marcos, CA, USA) is described as the ideal solution for the measurement and monitoring of fuel gases, such as natural gas, methane, and bio-gases, as well as air flows required for the efficient operation of a wide range of small line size fed process equipment and plant-wide systems.
Process, instrument and plant engineers looking for a way to measure, monitor or control fuel gases or air flow to reduce their company’s energy operating costs will, according to the company, find that the ST75 Flow Meter offers economy, performance, low maintenance and long life. The ST75 Flow Meter is an accurate, no-moving parts, direct mass flow instrument that is designed for easy, direct in-line installation in line sizes from 6mm to 51mm. It is said to be ideal for use in fuel gas and air feed lines.
Its rugged design and accuracy can help reduce the cost of operating the furnaces, burners, industrial ovens, heat treating systems, boilers, natural gas powered back-up power systems and power co-gen equipment that are commonly found in a wide variety of manufacturing and process industries. Relying on FCI’s proven thermal dispersion technology, the ST75 Flow Meter’s direct mass flow measurement also eliminates the cost, complexity and installation space necessary for the additional sensors required of alternative flow measuring technologies that merely infer mass flow.
The ST75 is precision calibrated for the specific gas and under actual installation conditions to ensure the highest accuracy and repeatability for its intended application. The meter services a wide flow range from 0.008 to 839 SCFM (0.013 to 1425 NCMH), depending on line size, and up to 100:1 turndown ratio, which makes it equally well suited for low flow and high flow applications. The ST75 provides ±2% of reading accuracy with ±0.5% repeatability and includes media temperature compensation to ensure continuous performance in industrial environments.
Standard outputs are fully scaleable 4-20mA and 0-10V that are user assignable to flow rate and/or temperature and a 0-1kHz pulse output of total flow. It is available in a blind transmitter or with an integral, large character LCD digital display. The instrument can be ordered for powering by 24Vdc or 115/230VAC.
It is further described as an excellent choice to replace older differential pressure, orifice plate, turbine and mechanical technology flow meters in rugged or dirty plant environments. It is enclosed in a rugged, all-metal, dust and water resistant, NEMA Type 4X (IP66) rated package that is designed for hazardous area installations.
Using a wireless IR technology built–in to the ST75 Flow Meter and a standard low-cost PDA, process engineers can remotely obtain measurements, make setting changes and read trouble-shooting codes without ever having to open the instrument. This industry unique feature is especially helpful when flow meters are installed in hard-to-reach locations or where opening the instruments are inconvenient or labour intensive.
Furthermore, this exclusive wireless IR link eliminates the need for expensive proprietary programmers to simplify maintenance and reduces the overall cost of use. To complete the system, FCI also supplies the easy-to-use, user interface software for downloading into any Palm-OS based PDA.
www.fluidcomponents.com
ENDS