Flowmeters feature RS485 Modbus communications

A major feature of the meters is their low pressure drop. Featuring a revised inner tube design, the meters offer up to a 90 percent lower pressure drop than other devices, helping to save up to 25 percent on pump energy costs. By offering a wide measurement span, just one meter can be used in applications where two meters might previously have been needed, reducing the need for spares and cutting the costs involved in installation.

The inclusion of RS485Modbus enables the flowmeters to be directly integrated with a range of third party control, supervision and recording devices. Two digital outputs offer a choice of pulse, frequency or binary output, which can be used together or individually to handle separate functions, such as opening or closing valves or setting and resetting totalisers. Operating at 115k Baud, the outputs offer a fast response, making them suitable for small dosing applications and filling applications requiring high precision.

Cost of ownership is reduced by on-board diagnostics, which provide a continuous online check of the sensor and transmitter. Any faults are automatically recorded and time stamped, together with details about the fault itself and the time it lasted. All error messages are displayed in clear text, enabling any problems to be quickly identified and resolved.

A trending analysis function also enables the performance of the meters to be monitored over time. By highlighting when the meter is exceeding its calibration range, this function can help to minimise the time and disruption associated with maintenance by ensuring that the meter is only removed when necessary. As well as checking the calibration, this software can also be used to configure the meter for batch filling processes.

Extra performance can be achieved with the FCB and FCH150 versions, which include integrated FillMass and Densimass concentration functions. Suited to filling processes lasting three seconds or longer, the FillMass function ensures accurate filling. The valve is triggered by a digital output and is closed once the preset filling quantity is achieved. The filling quantity is given via a totaliser which can be easily configured and controlled by the device's Modbus interface.

The Densimass concentration function allows the transmitter to calculate the concentration of a mixture based on the measured density and temperature using a set of pre-set concentration matrices. In addition, users can also enter two of their own defined matrices containing up to 100 values.

Both the FCH 130 and 150 are EHEDG and FDA certified, enabling them to be used in food and beverage and pharmaceutical applications.