Insertion Electromagnetic Flow Meter

Hot-Tap Build for Large Pipes

Accuracy of ±1.0% of rate
Pipe DN100 to DN3000
Hot-tap install on live pipes

  • 304 stainless probe with PTFE-lined 316L electrode
  • Ball-valve insert for pressurized retrofit without shutdown
  • IP65 one-piece, IP65+IP68 split for buried valve chambers
↓ Request datasheet (PDF)
LEA Electromagnetic Flow Meter; instrument body with display head

The Insertion EMF is the LEA-INS build for large-diameter conductive-liquid flow measurement, DN100–DN3000. A probe with field coils and a 316L electrode pair reads local velocity by Faraday induction, converted to pipe-average via Nikuradse correction calibrated for the ordered DN.

Insertion EMF beats inline above DN800 on shipping/civil cost and on live-pipe retrofit. The ball-valve insert installs under live pressure. Steel, ductile iron, cast iron, cement-lined, GRP, HDPE host pipes. Lead time 5–7 days.

Benefits

  • Hot-tap install on live pressurized pipes
  • ±1.0 % of rate calibrated 0.5 to 10 m/s
  • DN100 to DN3000 single probe family
  • Bi-directional measurement with separate totalizers
  • IP68 split-mount option for buried chambers
  • 5–7 business days from the factory

Typical applications

Four operational zones where insertion EMF measurement is the standard choice over inline EMF, ultrasonic clamp-on, or mechanical alternatives.

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Municipal water mains retrofit

DN200–DN3000 trunk metering under live pressure up to 1.6 MPa; non-revenue-water audits.

❄️

District cooling & large chilled water

Above DN800 headers; bi-directional totalizer for tenant sub-measurement on return line.

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Process water & cooling-tower lines

DN300–DN1500 utility/recycle mains; 316L standard; Hastelloy C/Tantalum for chloride.

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Irrigation & agricultural water

DN200–DN1500 centre-pivot/flood headers; battery + 4G IoT for off-grid telemetry.

Flow range by pipe size.

Volumetric flow at water reference (1000 kg/m³) across the 0.3 to 10 m/s operating range. Full DN100 to DN3000 coverage is available. The table shows the most common large-DN insertion sizes.

DNInches@ 0.3 m/s (m³/h)@ 1 m/s@ 3 m/s@ 5 m/s@ 10 m/s (max)
DN1004″8.528.384.8141.4282.7
DN2008″33.9113.1339.3565.51131.0
DN30012″76.3254.5763.41272.32544.7
DN40016″135.7452.41357.22262.04523.9
DN50020″212.0706.92120.63534.37068.6
DN60024″305.41017.93053.65089.410178.8
DN80032″542.91809.65428.79047.818095.6
DN100040″848.22827.48482.314137.228274.3
DN120048″1221.54071.512214.520357.540714.9
DN150060″1908.56361.719085.231808.663617.3
DN200080″3392.911309.733929.256548.7113097.3
DN2500100″5301.417671.553014.388357.1176714.6
DN3000120″7634.125446.976340.7127234.5254469.0

Specifications

Measurement principleFaraday induction with Nikuradse single-point velocity correction
Pipe size rangeDN100 – DN3000 (4″ – 120″)
Accuracy±1.0 % of rate standard (calibrated 0.5 to 10 m/s), ±1.5 % of rate (0.1 to 0.5 m/s), ±2.0 % of rate (0 to 0.1 m/s)
Velocity range0 to 10 m/s (typical operation 1–3 m/s for low-noise service)
Conductivity threshold≥ 5 µS/cm
Working pressure≤ 1.6 MPa standard, up to 15 MPa custom on factory order
Medium temperature≤ 70 °C one-piece, ≤ 120 °C split build
Ambient temperature−20 to +60 °C operating, −20 to +40 °C storage
Probe construction304 stainless steel housing, PTFE-lined electrode area, 316L stainless electrode (Hastelloy B / Hastelloy C / Ti / Ta / Pt-Ir / WC custom on request)
ConnectionBall-valve insert (welded short pipe, hot-tap), large ball-valve, direct flange, welded nipple, 1″ / 1.5″ NPT
Output signals4-20 mA, pulse, alarm contact, RS-485 Modbus RTU; HART / RS-232 / M-BUS / 4G IoT optional
Power supplyAC 110 to 245 V, DC 24 V; 10 W matching consumption
DisplayInstantaneous flow (4 digits), cumulative volume (8 digits), flow rate (4 digits)
Ingress protectionIP65 one-piece, IP65 + IP68 submersible split build
Hazardous areaCNEX Ex d IIC T6 Gb optional
ApprovalsEMC 2014/30/EU (Annex II), ISO 9001 calibration certificate with each meter

Installation

Five physical install rules for the LEA-INS probe. Probe material, accuracy grade, and ingress rating lock at the factory. The rules below cover the on-site procedure that determines whether the meter reads correctly.

  1. Hot-tap install via ball-valve insert Weld the mounting nipple, install the ball valve, insert the sealed probe through the open valve under live pressure, and lock at the marked insertion depth. Process pressure stays contained throughout.
  2. Calibrated insertion depth at 1/8 D from pipe wall The probe ships pre-calibrated for the ordered DN. Verify the depth lock before pressurizing. The direction marker must align with flow on every install.
  3. Mount with electrode axis perpendicular to flow Vertical install at <5° tilt suits clean media; tilt 45° on large-DN sediment-prone lines so the electrode stays clear of bottom solids.
  4. Ground probe, host pipe, and converter to ≤ 10 Ω Install a metal grounding ring on HDPE, PE, GRP, or cement-lined sections to restore the EMF reference. Signal cable shield grounds at the converter end only.
  5. Verify zero calibration with the pipe full and stationary at commissioning Fill the bore, stop flow, run zero-cal, and record the baseline offset. Re-confirm the 5D upstream / 3D downstream straight-pipe rule before pressurizing back into service.

Frequently asked questions

What is an insertion electromagnetic flow meter and how does it work?+
An insertion electromagnetic flow meter measures the volumetric flow of conductive liquid through a single-point probe inserted into the pipe wall. The probe carries the magnetic-field coils and a pair of electrodes at its tip. As fluid passes the field, an electromotive force is induced across the electrodes proportional to the local fluid velocity at the probe location. The Nikuradse velocity-profile correction then converts the local reading to pipe-average velocity, with the probe pre-calibrated for the ordered DN. Accuracy is ±1.0 % of rate across the calibrated 0.5 to 10 m/s range.
When does insertion EMF beat inline EMF?+
Insertion EMF is the cost-effective choice on three patterns. The first is large-diameter retrofit above DN800 where inline shipping and civil works dominate the project cost. The second is live-pipe metering addition through a ball-valve insert without process shutdown. The third is host pipes the inline meter cannot replace directly, including cast iron, cement-lined, HDPE, and PE distribution mains. The inline LEA stays the better choice below DN300 and where ±0.5 % of rate or better accuracy is required for custody-grade billing.
Can the meter be installed on a live pressurized pipe without shutdown?+
Yes; this is the core application of the LEA-INS series. The hot-tap procedure uses a welded nipple and ball valve installed on the host pipe under prep, then the sealed probe inserts through the open ball valve under live pressure and locks at the calibrated insertion depth. The probe seal contains process pressure during and after insertion, so the upstream / downstream service does not stop. Tested on water, wastewater, and process-water applications up to 1.6 MPa standard and 15 MPa on factory-custom builds.
What pipe materials and host conditions are compatible?+
The LEA-INS handles steel, ductile iron, cast iron, cement-lined steel, GRP, HDPE, and PE host pipes. Non-conductive sections (HDPE / PE / cement / GRP) require a metal grounding ring at the insertion fitting to restore the EMF ground reference. The probe direction marker must align with flow on every install. Pipe material does not affect accuracy directly; the calibrated single-point velocity correction is host-pipe-agnostic, provided the upstream 5D and downstream 3D straight-pipe rule is respected.
What is the conductivity floor and what fluids fall below it?+
The LEA-INS shares the conductivity floor of all electromagnetic meters: the medium must measure above 5 µS/cm. Tap water, well water, river water, sea water, sewage, slurry, weak acid, weak alkali, and salt-bearing process water all stay well above the threshold. Below threshold and not measurable with EMF: deionized water (DI), demineralized boiler-feedwater after polishing, condensate from clean steam, hydrocarbons, fuel oils, and gases. For DI water choose vortex liquid build or Coriolis; for hydrocarbons choose turbine or Coriolis; for gas or steam choose vortex, ultrasonic, or thermal-mass meter families.
What output options are available for SCADA and metering integration?+
The LEA-INS outputs 4-20 mA analogue for loop integration, pulse output for totalizer counting, alarm contact for high / low limits, and RS-485 Modbus RTU for serial polling. HART, RS-232, M-BUS, and 4G IoT outputs are factory options. The integral display reads instantaneous flow (4 digits), cumulative volume (8 digits), and flow rate (4 digits). The split build relocates the converter up to 30 m from the probe for buried or chamber installations where on-site display access is constrained, with submersible IP68 rating on the probe head.
What is the lead time and what certification ships standard?+
Standard lead time is 5 to 7 business days from order confirmation, factory direct. EMC compliance to the EU Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30/EU (Annex II) ships standard. IP65 one-piece and IP65+IP68 split submersible ratings are selectable at order. CNEX Ex d IIC T6 Gb hazardous-area certification is available for petrochemical water and biogas-adjacent installations. Each meter ships with an ISO 9001 calibration certificate listing the serial number, calibrated DN, and tested velocity range.
Do you provide dimensional drawings (STEP / DWG) for project bid documentation?+
Yes; STEP and DWG dimensional drawings ship with the order confirmation. The drawing package includes meter outline, mounting nipple, ball-valve specification, and installation clearances. For pre-quote design review, the engineering team can send a preliminary drawing within one business day. Coverage is sufficient for EPC bid documentation, skid-integration drawings, and P&ID inclusion. CAD format conversion to IGES, STL, or PDF is available on request.

Need help sizing an insertion build?

Send host DN, pipe material, pressure, medium/conductivity, hot-tap requirement—sized model code and insertion depth, ship 5–7 business days.