Engineers who need to reduce the energy cost of air compressor systems will find the precision ST50 Air Flow Meter, from Fluid Components International (FCI), will accurately measure compressed air and detect system inefficiencies and expensive leaks.
Plants that depend on point-of-use compressors will find the ST50 Flow Meter a cost effective mass flow monitoring solution ideal for compressed air flow measurement.
It provides precision flow measurement to reduce the consumption of pneumatic air, helping manufacturing, assembly and process plants reduce air consumables and the energy required to support compressed air systems.
The installation of ST50 Flow Meters in large facilities with multiple air compressors allows the operators to compare compressor usage and adjust them for optimum efficiencies. In addition, the use of mass flow meters at the point of compressed air output helps to ensure peak performance at a given flow rate.
Comparing the performance of multiple air compressors is also useful in predictive maintenance applications where higher flow rates may indicate leaking valves or seals in one unit versus other units operating under similar conditions.
The ST50 Flow Meter utilises FCI’s highly accurate thermal dispersion mass flow sensing technology to provide highly effective direct mass flow measurement at a lower cost.
With the ST50, there is no need for the temperature sensors, flow computers or other devices required with orifice plates, Venturis, Vortex shedding and other meters.
The ST50’s unique design also provides built-in temperature compensation for reliable measurement over a wide temperature range with almost no pressure drop. The ST50 Flow Meter features a wide flow range from 0.23 to 122 NMPS for air, compressed air or nitrogen. Flow meter accuracy is +1 per cent of reading, +0.5 per cent of full scale, with repeatability of +0.5 per cent of reading. The meter operates at temperatures from 4 to 38°C.
Flow range can be field-configured in either standard mass flow or volumetric engineering units. It features dual analogue outputs, 4-20 mA and 0-10 Vdc, which are field assignable as flow rate or temperature and an RS232C I/O port.
A 0-1kHz pulse output for totalising flow is also available as an option. All configurations are easily user set in the field with any standard laptop to the RS232C port and/or via the wireless IR link/PDA.
The ST50, featuring a rugged stainless steel sensing element with Hastelloy-C tips, is designed for endurance and maximum performance in outdoor and field installation conditions. Its electronics are housed in an all-aluminium, epoxy-coated enclosure that is NEMA 4X (IP66) rated and withstands operational pressures of up to 34 bar (g).
For details, visit www.ams-ic.com.au.