ABB Compact DP Flowmeter Family Cuts Installation And Maintenance

ABB takes four differential pressure technologies and marries them to the latest ABB DP transmitters to create possibly the most versatile family of compact DP flowmeters on the market.

ABB Measurement Products’ business announces an extended family of compact flowmeters to include four DP technologies - orifice, Wedge, averaging pitot and integral orifice. ABB has added three new compact DP flowmeters to its range to complement the existing OriMaster compact orifice meter, which itself has been extended and improved.

Each family member is a one-piece flow meter, incorporating the primary element, 3- or 5-valve instrument manifold and transmitter in a single assembly, fully pressure-tested. The compact construction enhances both performance and safety as it involves a minimal number of leakage points compared with the many potential sources of leaks found in a conventional DP flow installation.

The compact family close couples the transmitter and the primary measurement device which eliminates the requirement for long lengths of small-bore impulse piping, reduces the risk of installation errors and of blockages within the tappings. The compact family saves time and cost in both the procurement and installation processes as the meters provide a complete measurement solution.

This solution comes fully assembled and tested, and every meter is supplied with factory acceptance test certificate at no extra charge. This document provides key data concerning the meter, including Visual Inspection & Critical Dimension inspection results, a material traceability record, pressure test results and much more.

The FPD500 OriMaster has now been extended in size range to cover pipe sizes from ½ to 12 in. NB* (15 to 300 mm). One common issue or concern with compact orifice meters is the inability to change or service the measurement component. Many compact orifice meters have to be replaced if the measuring plate becomes damaged or if process conditions change sufficiently to require a different orifice bore. ABB has added a new, innovative option to OriMaster for 4 to 12 in. NB (100 to 300mm ) line size and above that allows the orifice plate itself to be removed and replaced from the meter, on-site. This capability provides increased range ability and reduced uncertainty while saving the substantial costs involved in replacing the complete metering element.

The new FPD550 PitoMaster brings the highly successful Torbar averaging pitot tube into the compact DP family, offering simple one-hole installation in many cases, making its use in existing pipework both simple and low-cost. Users can specify either flanged or threaded process connections. These offer very low permanent pressure loss characteristics in pipe sizes from 4 to 24 in. NB (100 to 600 mm ), reducing the operating cost and carbon footprint for customers.

The FPD570 WedgeMaster is an updated compact Wedge flowmeter for pipe lines from 1 to 6 in. NB (25 to 150 mm). With a design that both maintains its coefficient down to Reynolds Numbers as low as 500 and provides inherent resistance to wear and damage, the meter performance is very reliable and repeatable. WedgeMaster offers robust, economical flow metering for both difficult viscous materials as well as clean flowing media. The meter also requires reduced piping run lengths - only five pipe diameters upstream and three diameters downstream.

The FPD510 IOMaster is the ideal solution for low flowrates in small pipelines. In each meter size – (½ , 1 and 1½ in. NB (15, 25 or 40 mm) – IOMaster offers replaceable small-bore orifice plates, ensuring a suitable differential pressure can be generated for the application. Available with threaded pipe connections, or flanged pipe connections that include the required upstream and downstream pipework, IOMaster is the versatile choice for low flowrate applications.

The complete family is available with a choice of two integrated DP transmitters for either volume flow measurement or with an integrated multivariable transmitter for compensated volume or mass flowrate. To further reduce procurement and installation costs and complexity, the compensated versions of the family are available with the option of an integral RTD for direct temperature measurement.

Other key feature options across the range include data communication over a wireless network and the ability to configure the meters through the glass (TTG) without the need to remove the transmitter cover. Of particular importance is the new feature of plugged impulse line diagnostics (PILD) which is integrated within the flowmeter itself, without having to rely on an implementation within the remote control system (such as a PLC). The flowmeter 'learns' the noise pattern in the impulse lines under normal conditions and detects changes caused by partial or total blockage in either or both lines, providing local warning messages and remote alarms via serial communications.

This new family offers users simplified flow solutions with improved performance; the flowmeters are simple to purchase and specify, easy to install and have a lower cost of ownership than traditional DP installations. Instead of ordering many parts from many suppliers, customers can order the complete measurement solution under one part number from ABB in a single purchase order. The meters' design, construction and factory testing means the customer gets a meter that is more reliable at start up and more reliable in use. Fewer skills are needed to install these meters and each one is accompanied by a valuable record of materials used, their provenance and results from key factory inspection tests.

ABB’s Measurement Products business unit is a dynamic multicultural team of measurement experts that spans the globe, helping customers succeed and reach their goals. Their vast product portfolio helps customers to improve productivity and lower environmental impact by delivering accurate and reliable measurement solutions that utilize the best technology and services. For more information, visit www.abb.com/measurement.

About ABB
ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 145,000 people. For more information, visit www.abb.com.