Combustion optimization oxygen gas analyzer.

N.B.
This product is only available in the U.S.

A new, compact process, in-situ gas analyzer from Process Insights, measuring both combustibles (COe) and oxygen (O2), provides fast, optimal combustion control for many applications like refining and petrochemical, power, and steam generation, and in furnace and kilns.

Jim Belanger, VP Sales and Marketing - Americas, Process Insights said "Enabling engineers and plant operators to access these previously unachievable air levels is a significant benefit. Combined with improved sensors, superior design and better combustion performance, the COSA Xentaur O2CX gives our customers continuous, reliable gas measurements with greater accuracy and lower maintenance costs."

The COSA Xentaur O2CX allows the process to operate safely with a lower excess air ratio, which translates into higher fuel efficiencies. With greater accuracy and sensitivity below 10% O2, the O2CX doesn?t require dilution air, unlike others. Measuring combustible gas components, oxygen and COe, reliably minimizes safety issues. Measuring in-situ directly has many advantages and is ideal for process heaters, steam boilers, thermal oxidizers, and furnace optimization.

In addition, installation and service is easy, as the flow guidance tube design allows the sensors to be located near to the back of the transmitter, making for service and maintenance without the need to remove the entire assembly from the stack. The probe provides for both direct and continuous dual readings of oxygen and COe.

The COSA Xentaur O2CX is also versatile for various mounting requirements or difficult applications, including high temperature, dust, or hazardous installations.

@ProcessInsights @codacomms #Pauto #USA

Safety with steam valves.

Many machines run at full steam - but with compressed air this statement takes on a completely different meaning. Machines that are operated with compressed air require special protection in order to absorb high pressure surges and protect the system from damage. In this case also, we are your reliable partner when it comes to safety.

With the flange safety valves 355 and 455, Goetze offers a wide range of options for almost every steam application. Operating the systems efficiently and boosting profitability is becoming more and more important. Producing steam is very expensive. This makes it all the more important to operate plants with a high degree of efficiency and minimal steam loss. Examples of how it should not be done include dry cleaners and laundries, where you can almost always see safety valves blowing off. This blowing-off steam represents a financial loss. Efficiency begins with the treatment of the water used for generating steam and continues with the steam generators, heat exchangers, condensate drainage, piping, insulation and protection of the steam system. The correct configuration and use of suitable safety valves play a key role in system efficiency.

The spheroidal graphite cast iron model 355 offers reliable protection at pressures from 0.2 to 40 bar in a temperature range from -10°C to +350°C. The full lift safety valve protects pressure vessels, systems and steam boiler plants. They are used primarily in fire extinguisher technology, pump protection and industrial plants.

Depending on the version, the valve is gastight or double gastight and can therefore be used for flammable, toxic or hazardous media or in cases where counter pressure prevail. In addition, the double gastight version is now also available with stainless steel bellows or with D/G/H approval and elastomer diaphragm.

Our full lift safety valve (455) made of stainless steel provides protection in all sizes, ranging from small applications requiring a nominal diameter of only DN 15 up to large applications up to large applications where our DN100 safety valve weighing approx. 100 kg is called for. Although particularly suitable for steam applications, this valve can also be used to safeguard biogas plants, shipbuilding applications and systems in the chemical and petrochemical industry.

The opening and closing function of the safety valve, remains stable for a long period of time, even under the influence of a possible external or intrusive back pressure in the outlet pipe and despite a high discharge coefficient.

Extensive 3D flow simulation test on functional samples on the test bench proved that the increase in volume and a flow-optimized contour of the outlet housing best meet this requirement. Even with back pressures that exceed 35% of the safety valve set pressure, it makes sense to use a stainless steel bellows that acts on the set pressure independently of the back pressure.

 #PAuto @GoetzeArmaturen

Acquisition strengthens final control portfolio.

Emerson has acquired the Spence and Nicholson product lines from Circor International. The acquisition complements Emerson’s broad portfolio of steam system solutions for process industries and commercial buildings.

The Spence and Nicholson lines are established industry-leading products that include steam regulators, control valves, safety relief valves, temperature regulators, steam traps and other steam accessories and solutions.

“This addition to our Final Control business demonstrates the continued value of bolt-on acquisitions that fill strategic gaps in our portfolio and diversify our product offerings in growth markets,” said Lal Karsanbhai, executive president of Emerson’s Automation Solutions business. “By adding Circor’s premium steam technologies and profitable product lines, we will strengthen our position to help customers optimise their operations and enhance energy efficiencies.”

“Spence and Nicholson’s capabilities will play an important role in bolstering our process offerings and expanding our opportunities with customers,” said Ram Krishnan, group president of Emerson’s Final Control business. “Enhancing these capabilities will strengthen our ability to serve customers, including automation customers, as well as hospitals, universities, commercial operations and the transportation industry, with a diverse portfolio of product offerings in the growing steam segment.”

 #PAuto @EMR_Automation @emerson_news 

SIL 3 certified single controller for water and steam.

Emerson’s water and steam detection system is the world’s first single controller solution to be certified to IEC 61508 for safety instrumented functions up to SIL 3.

The Mobrey™ Hydratect™ 2462 Water and Steam Detection System is used in a wide variety of applications where the detection of water or steam is vital for safe and efficient plant operation, such as boilers, steam drums and steam line drain pots. This helps to protect valuable plant assets, prevent downtime, save costs and improve worker safety.

The functional safety assessment performed by Exida enhances Hydratect’s reputation for reliability and durability. Exida, world leaders in functional safety certification, have assessed Hydratect and determined that it meets the requirements of SIL 3. The Hydratect system is ideal for the most demanding applications within power generation, refineries, chemical, steel, pulp and paper plants. It can operate in process conditions of up to 300 bar and 560°C. Failure of equipment in such applications can have serious consequences – the Hydratect offers the benefit of SIL 3 approval guaranteeing its reliability.

Hydratect is a modern replacement for conventional float switches, and consists of a compact twin-channel electronic unit, connected to a pair of electrodes. Each channel gives independent indications of the presence of water or steam that are more reliable than those obtained with electro-mechanical devices, which have the possibility of failing in an unsafe condition. By installing the electrodes in vessels or steam lines and measuring the resistance, the presence of water can be detected, allowing appropriate safety measures to be taken.

By detecting low water level in steam drums, Hydratect helps to prevent boiler tubes overheating, which could lead to an explosion, while detecting high water level prevents the generation of wet steam which could cause costly turbine blade erosion. Using Hydratect to detect water in steam line drain pots, as part of a turbine water induction prevention system (TWIP), helps prevent damage to turbine blades, cylinders and the housing.

The electronics unit provides a local indication of steam, water and fault states, and features configurable fault and trip outputs. Component failure, cable faults, ground faults and electrode problems are continuously self-monitored. Additional reliability is provided by triple redundancy of critical components, which ensures that failures result in a safe condition. An individual power supply to each channel further enhances reliability.

@EMR_Automation #PAuto #SIL @HHC_Lewis

Optimising steam generation & condensate recovery processes for maximum profit.

Steam production can represent 10-60% of a plant’s total energy consumption depending on the industry. As a result, the steam generation cycle and supporting processes represent critical areas of opportunity for cost and performance benefits. Magnetrol International has developed the Steam Generation Cycle and Condensate Recovery Process Optimization Kit to help commercial and heavy industries identify the hidden costs that result from instrumentation poorly suited to their application in these processes. The Optimization Kit includes a white paper, video and applications guide to provide a comprehensive analysis of how a level and flow instrument’s fundamental technology, when properly matched to its application, can: Reduce fuel & energy consumption,  Improve steam quality,  Recover valuable energy & resources,  Ensure product quality,  Lower maintenance costs,  and Prevent production downtime. “Although plausible, it is rare to identify a single source of inefficiency related to poor level controls that impacts a company’s bottom line in the double digit percentile. More so than not, it is small incremental opportunities for improvement across various aspects of the steam generation cycle, condensate recovery and waste heat recovery processes that ultimately equate to substantial savings,” said Donald Hite, business development manager for Magnetrol. “Addressing these issues is analogous to stopping the seemingly innocuous, slow drip in a water faucet that over time consumes vast resources.” The Optimization Kit offers insight into the significance of maintaining proper level control and protective measures to realize potential savings in steam generation, waste heat and condensate recovery, and water treatment systems common in process industries such as power generation, pulp and paper, chemical, petroleum refining, primary metals and food processing. • Magnetrol products marketed in Ireland through Ntron @MagnetrolGlobal #PAuto

Steam conditioning valve for Europe.

Fisher™ TBX combines pressure and temperature control in a single valve; helps avoid costly damage, and prevents start-up delays, excessive noise and vibration

Emerson Process Management has introduced to Europe the Fisher™ TBX steam conditioning valve, which combines precise pressure and temperature control in a single turbine bypass valve. The Fisher TBX is designed to optimise operating performance and reliability in the most severe steam applications, avoid potential damage to steam turbines or boilers, prevent start-up delays, and increase plant efficiency.

Turbine bypass applications in cycling power plants demand the highest levels of valve reliability and performance. The Fisher TBX meets those expectations with technology to solve noise, vibration, sticking, leakages and pressure/temperature control challenges. Its self-diagnostic capability helps to maintain peak performance and prevent unexpected problems.

“Increased energy costs and the desire for more efficient cycling power plant operation requires better control of steam conditions,” said Benoit Wagner, Europe Engineering Director of Emerson’s Fisher Valves and Instruments business. “The Fisher TBX has been designed to enable efficient control of steam pressure and temperature, providing optimised performance supporting the daily cycling of a power plant.”

The rugged cage-guide design of the Fisher TBX enables it to handle full main steam pressure drops, while Whisper Trim™ technology eliminates the risk of excessive noise and vibration, which could cause structural damage and performance degradation. The valve’s proven and well-established Whisper Trim III cages and WhisperFlo trims help to attenuate noise by up to 40 dBA.

The Fisher TBX uses a thermally compensated hung trim design which accommodates rapid changes in temperature - as experienced during a turbine trip - to enable smooth, continuous operation. The cage is hardened for maximum life and can expand freely during thermal excursions. This prevents the valve plug from sticking and therefore avoids delays in turbine start-up. To prevent leakages affecting steam production when the turbine is operating, the Fisher TBX uses Fisher Bore Seal Trim technology, which achieves tighter shut-off.

Atomisation and vaporisation are key elements in any steam conditioning application. For efficient and effective temperature control, the Fisher TBX incorporates a manifold of variable geometry type AF nozzles which inject a fine mist into the downstream flow pattern. These nozzles are placed strategically, based upon extensive computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis, and their efficiency has been validated by field performance feedback. By reducing both temperature and steam pressure, the valve protects the reheater tubes, condenser and piping.

The typical Fisher TBX valve assembly includes a Fisher FIELDVUE™ DVC6200 digital valve controller. The FIELDVUE instrument’s diagnostic capabilities enable the valve to be monitored remotely and help maintain peak performance, without surprise failures. By comparing the present valve/actuator signature against previously stored signatures, operators can spot emerging performance problems, pinpoint a probable cause and take corrective action before the process is affected, potentially without leaving the control room.

@EmersonProcess #PAuto  #Emrex

Wireless steam trap monitor certified!

The ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute announced today that wireless steam trap monitor has successfully achieved ISA100 Wireless certification.

The SmartWatchWeb™Radio Frequency (SWWRF40) Steam Trap Monitor is the wireless interface designed by BiTherm to provide an ISA100 Wireless compliant solution for the monitoring of gas and steam leaks, temperature, pressure and other relevant information related to valves and the steam system.

The SWWRF40 wirelessly transmits temperature, pressure and ultrasound data, which is analysed to determine the status of steam valves. The SWWRF40 enables fast response to undesirable events such as steam leaks. Paired with Bitherm’s Intensive Maintenance systems, the SWWRF40 significantly improves plant efficiency and reduces emissions of CO2 and other harmful gases.

Using ISA100 Wireless networks assures robust, secure and reliable transmission of critical asset condition information. ISA100 Wireless was purpose-built for industrial applications and includes support for high scalability, making it the perfect technology for replacing wired versions of the SWW monitoring system when scattered or isolated devices need to be monitored.

The ISA100 Wireless certification provides assurance that the SWWRF40 products interoperate in any ISA100 Wireless compliant network. View the ISA100 Wireless certification here.

“Adapting our products to ISA100 Wireless demonstrated to our customers that using a robust wireless infrastructure can only bring benefits to them,” said Roberto Paramo, who heads the Research and Development Department at BiThem SL. “Using ISA100 Wireless will also help us compete in this market, giving our products an extra boost and positioning them among the best available.”

“We are pleased to include SWWRF40 in the portfolio of certified ISA100 Wireless products and congratulate Bitherm for its release of another elegant steam and condensate network product,” remarked Andre Ristaino, ISA100 WCI Managing Director.

@bithermgroup @ISA100WCI #PAuto

Wireless steam trap monitor certified!

Spirax Sarco has released a new product that has successfully achieved ISA100 Wireless certification. The STAPS ISA100 Wireless Steam Trap Monitor from Spirax Sarco has been designed for easy, non-intrusive installation with accurate wireless monitoring and reporting of steam trap performance.  The STAPS ISA100 Wireless device eliminates the need for on-going manual inspection, extends monitoring into previously unreachable areas, and—through continuous monitoring and reporting—helps to reduce plant downtime. The Head Unit device is powered by a long-life lithium battery, which can be ‘hot-swapped’ while the product remains installed. By using ISA100 Wireless communication protocol, the STAPS device benefits from a robust, reliable, and secure wireless signal, purpose built for industrial settings.  The timely identification of faulty or badly selected steam traps has always been a challenge for steam system users. Incorrect diagnosis can allow faulty traps to remain troublesome, reducing plant efficiency and potentially damaging valuable products or equipment. The STAPS ISA100 device has been designed to efficiently monitor and evaluate steam trap operation quickly, diagnosing both failed-open steam traps that leak live steam, and traps that have failed-closed, or are blocked. View the certificate here. The ISA100 Wireless certification, achieved by Spirax Sarco on 5/27/15, provides assurance that the devices will inter-operate in any ISA100 Wireless compliant network. Simon Sprackling, Group Research and Development Manager at Spirax Sarco, said, “We seek to leverage the robust, secure ISA100 Wireless protocol to complement our existing communication tools and provide our customers with improved access to our products’ diagnostic capabilities.” “ISA100 Wireless communication technology is a perfect fit for steam trap monitoring,” remarked Andre Ristaino, Managing Director of ISA100 WCI. “The addition of steam trap monitoring products from a leader like Spirax Sarco enhances the ISA100 Wireless product portfolio.”  @spirax_sarco #PAuto #ISAuto @ISA_Interchange

Wireless steam trap monitor certified!

Armstrong International has released a new Steam Trap Monitoring product that has successfully achieved ISA100 Wireless™ certification with the ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute.

The Armstrong Intelligent Monitoring—AIM® ST6700 Wireless Steam Trap Monitor from Armstrong International—is a wireless monitoring technology that efficiently monitors and evaluates steam trap operation, identifying the conditions of a steam trap to determine significant problems that could put operations at risk.

It can accurately detect issues, such as plugged and blow thru steam traps, that can result in failed equipment, loss of product, safety concerns and significant energy loss. Immediate failure notification from the unit helps identify the exact failed steam trap, minimizing production losses and reducing energy consumption.

By using ISA100 Wireless, the AIM® ST6700 is able to leverage a wireless protocol expressly built for industrial settings; it’s robust, reliable and secure with the ability to scale to thousands of networked devices.

“Armstrong International has more than a century of thermal utility knowledge and experience. In fact, we’ve been at the forefront of automated steam trap monitoring for nearly 30 years. The introduction of this state-of-the-art technology, the AIM® ST6700, serves to fortify our position as a global leader in energy management,” said Justin Grubka, Global Product Manager of Armstrong Smart Products.

“ISA100 Wireless is purpose built for large-scale deployments typical of the Armstrong steam trap monitors,” remarked Andre Ristaino, Managing Director of ISA100 WCI. “We are pleased to welcome the Armstrong product in the ISA100 Wireless portfolio.”

• The ISA100 Wireless certification provides assurance that the devices will interoperate in any ISA100 Wireless compliant network. 

The Top 10 things you need to know about steam!

Steam is used in a wide range of industries for a variety of processes, from a basic small heating circuit to large scale hygienic steam production. Greg Sutcliffe, Global Segment Manager at Bürkert looks at some of the basic principles that should be understood by maintenance engineers and facilities managers in order to achieve a safe and efficient process.

Modern production environments require the maintenance team to be experts in a vast range of fields and while many areas may be adequately covered, steam equipment can sometimes be overlooked. This can lead to costly breakdowns or repairs which could have been avoided if some basic principles were better understood.

1. Velocity – Steam should be dry, and only minimal water content should be the target, but it is often present as entrained water and condensate. These phenomena can be damaging and wearing to the steam system – particularly at high velocities. As a general rule of thumb, pipe sizes are typically calculated using 25m/sec as the reference speed. This forms a crucial part of the design, to reduce the impact of water hammer, pitting and wear.

2. Water Hammer – Poor condensate management can lead to water hammer; a condition that should never be tolerated. As the steam travels over condensate in a steam line, it drags a 'slug' of condensate along with it. Due to the mass and velocity of the 'slug' it can contain large amounts of kinetic energy, which is dissipated when it hits an obstacle such as a valve or pipe elbow. The results can be mechanically destructive to plan and extremely dangerous to personnel, so every effort should be made to design and maintain an excellent condensate management regime and eliminate water hammer.

3. Installation of Strainers – Y-type strainers are needed to protect expensive and process-essential equipment from damage and faults due to debris in the steam. However, installed incorrectly they are a potential source of condensate pooling and water hammer. When installed in the steam line, y-type strainers should be installed NOT in the 'belly-down' position, but with the “belly” of the strainer in the horizontal plane – an issue Bürkert has seen on several occasions while fault finding on systems it has been called in to assess.

4. Pipe reducers – It may be necessary to reduce the pipe diameter as part of the steam system design. On steam systems, it is essential that eccentric reducers are used, rather than concentric parts, with the flat side at the bottom. Concentric reducers have a funnel-like profile and are sometimes installed by less informed Engineers or when costs are being cut; however this will lead to pooling of condensate and can be a prime source of water hammer.

5. Equal T's – As a general rule, when installing a drain pocket, it should be of the same pipe diameter as the steam main – forming “equal T’s”, up to a size of DN100. If a smaller bore drain pipe is fitted then the velocity of the condensate will allow it to skip over the drain pipe connection. In addition, the reduced volume of the drain pipe may cause it to overflow, thereby becoming another source of water hammer.

6. Steam system materials – Particularly in legacy installations, cast iron (gg25) pipework and equipment was used as the standard material, which has been shown to offer certain weaknesses to impact (including water hammer) when compared to other affordable materials;– which could result in catastrophic failure. We recommend as a best practice, to use spherical graphite iron (SG Iron) or stainless steel (eg 316L), that can be up to 20-25 times more resistant to impact than standard cast iron.

7. Isolation valves – A crucial part of the safety of the steam installation is the isolation valve, which should be installed both sides of steam trap sets to allow maintenance to be carried out safely. More recently, industry has migrated to the use of double isolation valves either side of the various pieces of equipment to account for possible leakage past one of the valves and to ensure the absolute safety of maintenance engineers.

8. Pressure gauges – These are crucial for providing information required to understand the conditions inside the steam system and they should be installed before and after a control valve to ensure that the valve is performing as required. In addition, fitting them periodically throughout the steam system will give early indications of process change. This is crucial as variations in pressure, and hence temperature, can lead to reduced plant productivity and product quality.

9. Energy efficiency – Producing steam requires large amounts of energy so reducing losses wherever possible helps to improve the overall efficiency and reduce the operating costs of the system. In poor examples up to 40 percent of the energy used to produce the steam is lost, with failed steam traps accounting for 18 percent of these losses. Regular testing and maintenance is crucial to ensure that the steam traps function correctly. Further losses can come from the pipework itself and this should be lagged properly, including pipe flanges and all unused pipe-sections need to be isolated and lagged or better still removed.

10. Above all else – RESPECT steam. As an odourless, invisible, high temperature gas, steam can be extremely dangerous and as such should be treated with great respect.

As part of its product offering, Bürkert has developed a range of process control valves which can be equipped with the ELEMENT control head as part of an intelligent, decentralised control system. In addition, the experts at Bürkert can offer specific advice on selecting the correct components for most steam process designs.

• Buerkert products are marketed in Ireland by Petrochem!

Pressure/DP for oil/gas industry

The new EJA series of pressure/differential-pressure transmitters has been launched by Yokogawa. Incorporating their unique DPharp digital resonant sensing technology, this latest product range includes a version that is particularly suited to the oil and gas industry. The low copper housing DPharp EJA transmitter features multi-sensing capability, fast response time and its new compact design makes it significantly lighter than the stainless steel versions currently on the market, ideal for use on offshore platforms.

Typically used to measure liquid, gas, and steam flow rates as well as liquid levels in tanks, pressure transmitters are vital in maintaining safety on an oil platform, as they are essential to trigger safety shutdowns when hazardous conditions are detected. This new range from Yokogawa is the latest generation of digital pressure transmitters, adding new levels of functionality, performance and safety compared to the original EJA series, of which five million units have been shipped to customers around the world.

The new EJA series offers users within the oil and industry many new features and benefits. Firstly, the response time, the time from the detection of a pressure change to the change in the output of an electric signal, has been brought down to 90 ms, which equals the capability of Yokogawa’s premium EJX series. This faster response time will now allow the new EJA transmitters to be used in high-speed applications such as turbine surge control.

Secondly, the multi-sensing capability means that a new EJA differential pressure transmitter will be able to simultaneously measure both differential and static pressure. This means that a single new EJA differential pressure transmitter will be able to measure both the liquid level and the pressure in a tank, a function that traditionally could only be carried out using two pressure transmitters. Not only does mean it can fit in installations where space is limited, but also is a more cost-effective solution.

Thirdly, the flexible, rugged housing means that the transmitters can be mounted either vertically or horizontally and new, larger indicators on the display make it easier for oil land gas engineers to read the process variables and alarms and the intuitive display also aids in faster commissioning and maintenance.

All transmitter versions in the new EJA range comply with the International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC) IEC61508 standard on the functional safety of electrical/electronic devices and are suitable for use in safety integrity level (SIL) 2 applications in single mode and SIL 3 applications in dual mode. Independent certificates and reports, from both TUV and exida.com, come as standard to support this statement: a feature that is unique to Yokogawa’s DPharp sensing technology.

See also Pressure/DP Transmitters based digital resonant sensing! (28 Sept 2012)

Btu & Steam meters

EngyCal RH33 Btu meter and RS33 steam meter provide high-precision data recording and billing information for custody transfer, steam measurement and energy flow calculations for process and facility applications.

RH33 BTU meter

Endress+Hauser has launched the EngyCal RH33 Btu meter and the EngyCal RS33 steam meter energy managers. Both record energy data for billing purposes in applications such as custody transfer, heating and cooling systems, steam production and steam distribution systems. These meters also fit well in building automation applications such as district heating and cooling networks.

The EngyCal RH33 Btu meter was developed especially for custody transfer applications with liquids such as water, water glycol mixtures or thermal oils. EngyCal RH33 calculates enthalpy (hot & cold), energy (thermal flow), density and mass flow based on the measured flow value and temperature differential. It is also available with custody transfer approval.

Calibrated and electronically paired temperature sensors ensure a high-accuracy temperature differential measurement, especially important in cooling applications. Its patented electronic sensor matching allows an exchange of individual sensors in the field. The cost-intensive use of paired sensors is no longer necessary; therefore, customers will experience a reduction of costs in calibration and maintenance over the complete product lifetime. Temperature sensors will be shipped in a package with the preinstalled calculator on request. This reduces commissioning time and costs at the plant.

Typical applications include custody transfer, and recording and billing the quantities of Btus used in heating and cooling circuits and building automation systems.

The EngyCal RS33 steam calculator can be used for recording and billing steam mass and energy flow for applications with saturated or superheated steam. It calculates the enthalpy and energy (thermal flow) as well as the density and the mass flow based on the measured flow value, temperature and/or pressure. All calculations are carried out according to the EN 1434 and IAPWS-IF 97 standard (International Association for The Properties of Water and Steam).

Typical applications include recording and billing steam energy consumption in food, chemical, pharmaceutical and power industries, as well as in building automation systems.

Both meters can be ordered with MID approval for custody transfer applications. Optional integrated differential pressure flow compensation enables the highest possible precision.

Tracking Data
EngyCal meters have a built-in measurement logbook as well as an event logbook. The measurement memory has defined report formats (day, month, year, billing date), while the event logbook ensures a quick summary of consumption values and makes energy invoicing possible.

By using a defined fault behavior and the separate deficit counter, the meters ensure transparency of the energy calculation and documentation for invoices. In steam applications, for example, the wet steam alarm gives additional security, because condensed steam can hinder an exact energy calculation.

Using Field Data Manager software, the stored measurements, alarms and events—as well as the device configuration—can be securely selected and stored in an SQL database.

All meters are supplied with an industry standard 4-20mA output, and can be ordered with interfaces for Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP or M-bus for easy system integration. M-bus or Meter-Bus is a new European standard for remote reading of heat meters, and it is also usable for other types of consumption meters as well as for various sensors and actuators.

If the meters are connected using one of the available digital interface options, customers can read out measurement data, calculated values and device data (such as serial number, TAG) at any time using the integrated web server. Because the meters have web server capability, this information can be accessed via any web browser, and additional software for the supervision of online data is therefore not necessary.

Easy Field Set-Up
Custody transfer heat counters are normally ordered pre-programmed, and can be supplied as such by Endress+Hauser. EngyCal can be programmed in the field even in custody transfer applications.

EngyCal meters have a multi-line backlit liquid crystal display, and support multiple operating languages. A simple and swift configuration can be carried out on the spot by using push buttons, or by using the USB interface and Endress+Hauser’s FieldCare software. The integrated calibration logbook and the flexible user interface makes set-up of EngyCal devices quick and easy, even for custody transfer applications.

Predefined universal inputs support simple and quick commissioning and are suitable for connection to and powering of all commonly used flow meters, pressure transducers and temperature sensors. The compact housing is suitable for direct field or wall mounting, and DIN-rail mounting simplifies panel mounted installations. This variety of mounting options makes the meters suitable for use in virtually any operating environment.

Steam flow

Flow meters for steam flow
Vortex flow meters are ideal for high accuracy measurements of non-condensing and saturated steam flow.


Racine Vortex has released their RNS Series (Insertion) and RWS Series (Wafer) Vortex Steam Flow Meters. The meters are suitable for measuring non-condensing steam and saturated process steam at pressures up to 150 psi. Leading applications include boiler monitoring and other energy-related uses, as well as building and facilities management.

Both the RNS and RWS series meters have no moving parts and are virtually maintenance-free. All meters in both series are loop-powered devices with standard HART communication for ease of field programming and system integration.

Both meters work in operating temperatures of -20 to 366°F. An internal RTD and an optional external pressure sensor provide data to the internal flow meter software, which compensates for changes in temperature and pressure to achieve an accurate flow measurement. Accuracy of both meters is ±1% of reading, with repeatability of 0.5%. The RNS and RWS meters are pre-calibrated for specific uses, and can be rescaled in the field with the use of the provided PC-based software program.

The RNS Series insertion flow meter is available for pipe sizes from 6 to 72 inches (152 to 1829 mm), has a 35:1 turndown ratio, and can be configured for mass flow measurements.

The RWS Wafer meter has 316SS wetted parts, an extremely small bluff bar for little or no pressure drop, and NIST-traceable calibration. It is available in five sizes for flange mounting in pipes from 1/2 to 4 inches.

Options for both meters include ATEX certification, a two-line eight-digit rate/totaliser display, and remote electronics.