The Sonic-Pro S3c hybrid ultrasonic flowmeter from Blue-White Industries combines selectable Doppler technology and Transit Time in a single device, so that operators can use just one meter to suit the application.
Ultrasonic flowmeters send sound waves through the external surface of a pipe, into the flow stream, and back, says Bill McDowell, sales engineer. Those waves are then analyzed to determine flow. Typically, meters use either Doppler-type or Transit Time technology.
A Doppler-style meter requires particles of some type to be in the flow stream — bubbles, sand, dirt or some other particulate. Sound waves bounce off the particles and a receiver records the echoes to measure the flow.
“These meters are used extensively in wastewater because other types of meters can get clogged by particles,” McDowell says. “With a Doppler meter, you can clamp the sensor on the outside of the pipe and determine flow rate without cutting into the pipe.” However, Doppler-type meters don’t work well when fluid is clear or no particles are present.
To measure relatively clear liquids, a meter needs to use Transit Time technology.
“Here, the meter times how long it takes for a sound beam to go from one sensor to the other and back again,” says McDowell. “But that technology must be used on relatively clean fluids.”
With both technologies in the same device operators don’t have to choose which to buy. The Sonic-Pro can be used on 2- to 100-inch metal pipe or on plastic pipe as small as 1 1/2 inches. It comes with carrying case, or can be installed permanently. Each meter has a data logging system with 10,000-event internal memory. Data is also saved to an SD card (the included 32 MB card holds 500,000 entries).
Other features include fully configurable 4-20 mA and 0-1,000 Hz output and three levels of security: no display or touchpad, display with no local touchpad, or full-featured display along with five-button menu on the meter that accepts programmable changes.
All three versions can be linked to a computer via RS232, RS485 or USB connections, as well as Ethernet for remote access. Process control relays enable the meter to be configured for high/low/range rate alarm or to flow total for either manual-triggered batch operations or flow-triggered batch operations. The meter has a NEMA 4X (IP66) wash-down enclosure. It accepts AC (96 to 264 V) or DC (15 to 30 V) current, automatically adjusting to the voltage. 714/893-8529; www.blue-white.com.
