Inline Ultrasonic Flow Meter

Inline (this product) is a sealed flow-tube body that drops into the pipe line as a pipe segment, factory-calibrated as a unit. Pick inline when the application is new construction, when the install allows a flanged or wafer pipe-segment insertion, and when the buyer needs the precision that comes from factory calibration on a known straight-pipe length inside the body. Clamp-on is the external-mount counterpart that retrofits on existing pipes without cut; pick clamp-on when the pipe is already in place, when shutdown is not acceptable, or when the host pipe diameter exceeds DN1200 (clamp-on goes to DN6000 via L transducer). Same transit-time physics on both; different install style.

Wafer body fits between two flanges of the host pipeline, secured by long studs through both flanges and the wafer body; the shortest face-to-face dimension, fits DN15 to DN300 typical. Flanged in-line body has its own ANSI 150 / PN16 flanges bolted to the host flanges (longer face-to-face dimension, full-bore flow path), serves DN350 to DN1200. For DN200 to DN300 either option is available; wafer wins on cost and on shorter installed length; flanged wins on easier maintenance access and on full-bore continuity. Specify body style at order based on the host pipeline configuration.

The inline flow-tube body includes a calibrated straight-pipe length upstream and downstream of the transducer pair inside the sealed body. The factory calibration table is built on this fixed geometry, so the field installer only needs to bolt the meter into the line without managing 10D upstream / 5D downstream straight-pipe rule against external elbows and valves. The exception is severe disturbance immediately upstream; a 90-degree elbow within one pipe diameter of the meter inlet flange still introduces profile asymmetry that the internal calibrated length cannot fully cancel. Install rule: maintain 3D minimum free-pipe upstream and 2D downstream from the meter inlet/outlet flanges; this is roughly 1/3 the straight-pipe footprint of a clamp-on retrofit on the same line.

Yes. Transit-time ultrasonic is independent of fluid conductivity; the sound transit-time signal works regardless of whether the medium is conductive water (potable, wastewater, cooling water) or non-conductive (DI water, RO water, glycol-water blends, light hydrocarbon, mineral oil up to 10 cSt viscosity). This is the structural difference from electromagnetic flow meters which require >=5 microS/cm conductivity floor. For closed-loop HVAC chilled-water systems running on treated low-conductivity water + corrosion-inhibitor packages, electromagnetic cannot read; inline ultrasonic is the right pick. For solvent-grade hydrocarbon above 10 cSt viscosity, go to Coriolis (ZLMFM) family instead.

Yes; three native integration interfaces. 4-20 mA loop output (two channels, 0.1 % accuracy) feeds plant SCADA + OEM skid PLC analog-input racks. RS-485 Modbus RTU exposes flow rate, totalizer, alarm, and diagnostics over serial for direct BMS or Modbus polling. M-BUS output meets EN 13757 European HVAC billing compliance for tenant chargeback installations. HART overlay is a factory option for HART-multiplexer fields. OEM volume buy supports custom Modbus register map, custom slave address, custom 4-20 mA scaling, and OEM-printed label at order. The flow-tube body geometry fits standard ANSI 150 / PN16 / DIN flange patterns common to OEM skid plumbing.

Velocity range is 0 to plus-minus 12 m/s bi-directional. Accuracy holds at plus-minus 0.5 % of rate across the calibrated range from 0.3 to 10 m/s; at very low velocity (below 0.1 m/s) the transit-time difference signal approaches the sensor noise floor and accuracy relaxes to plus-minus 1.0 % of rate; at very high velocity (above 10 m/s) flow-tube vibration and turbulence cause repeatability to relax to 0.5 % of span. For sub-0.1 m/s low-flow audit applications, go to the clamp-on portable version with longer-integration signal processing instead.

Standard lead time is 5 to 7 business days from order confirmation, factory direct. Each meter ships with an ISO 9001 calibration certificate listing the serial number, factory calibration table tested at the bench against a reference master meter, the calibrated velocity range, and the tested accuracy class. EMC 2014/30/EU compliance certificate ships standard. Mill-cert traceability note covers the flow-tube body material (304 / 316L stainless standard; carbon steel ASTM A53 + epoxy-lined option for cost-sensitive industrial water) and the wetted-parts heat-number traceability back to the steel mill. OIML R75, MID, and AGA-9 are buyer-arranged with the local notified body.