We were recently approached by a customer with a few questions so we thought we would share our answers for others who might find themselves in similar situations. The questions had to do with pipe sizes, flowmeter configurations and the fluid in the pipes. See the Q&A below…
What is the largest diameter that we can go while still being able to read a 2” pipe? (I see in the brochure a model T310 that can read between 2” and 24”)
In general, it is best to select a model from the table located on the last page of the specification sheet, or the sales brochure. You can also find the table in this blog. The table lists the compatible pipe sizes, pipe materials and length of the flowmeter for each model.
The transducer is limited by the enclosure it is placed within. For example, the -T310 can be used on pipes from 2” to 24”. However, the maximum transducer spacing can be limited by the enclosure it is placed in because it is not physically long enough.
The enclosure size is defined by the “-Cxx” options. The “xx” is the length of the ruler located on the flowmeter and is the maximum possible transducer spacing. So, as the flowmeter gets physically longer, the transducer may be spaced further apart to accommodate larger pipes. The reason we do this is that some customers don’t work with large pipes and prefer to keep the flowmeter short so that it fits in tight spaces and is more easily transported.
Does that unit come in two pieces or one?
The two piece model (“direct mount”) is designated by the -CM option. Single part designs (“reflect mode”) use -C2/5/7/11. The -CM option is best when dealing with internal pipe wall corrosion, or bigger pipes, or tight spaces.
Will these units be able to read on copper/brass or are there similar models that can?
See the aforementioned table which also lists the compatible pipe materials. T410 is the most flexible transducer option, and may be used for most pipe materials including copper/brass and stainless.
Can these units still read the flow if the water is dirty / has particulates in it?
Yes. SoundWater works with clean and dirty fluids all the time (river/lake water, raw sewage, sand, etc). In general, what matters here is
power,
fidelity in signal processing and
correct model selection.
We design for efficient power transfer to maximize the amount of ultrasound punching through the pipe and fluid. We also design to work with small signals so we can keep measuring more often when things get tough.
Typically, the problem isn’t the fluid, it is the internal pipe wall (corroded/scaled). In these cases, you may want to consider the direct mount type flowmeter (so you do not reflect sound off corrosion, or you don’t traverse the pipe more than once). You may also want to consider a lower frequency transducer (T305 which operates at 500kHz, or T302 which operates at 380 kHz) which will penetrate much better in particulates.
In conclusion, we recommend consulting these tables (also located in spec sheets and product brochure) when choosing your SoundWater ultrasonic flowmeter. Or, contact us directly and we can help answer any questions you might have!
