In many industries the need for monitoring gas flow involves hazardous gases, potentially dangerous operating environments or simply a desire for a rugged, industrial-strength configuration. These applications include many common manufacturing processes, natural gas metering, compressed air auditing, etc. EPI’s Master-Touch MP Series is now approved for use in hazardous area locations:

IECEx – For use in hazardous area locations; T2 or T3 or T4 as marked; Ta = 0°C to 50°C;; Ex d IIB+H2 T2…T4 Gb IP66; Ex tD A21 IP66 T135°C…T300°C; IECEx CSA 11.0014

The remote enclosure is certified for use in Ordinary (Non-Hazardous) area locations: Type 4X, IP66

In the Master-Touch MP Series, the electronics enclosure at the point of measurement is approved for hazardous locations. In EPI’s integral style flowmeters, these electronics include all components including the flow rate and total display as well as a four-button keypad. Although their standard remote style configurations have a general purpose enclosure for installing at some distance from the point of measurement, explosion-proof enclosures for the remote electronics are also available.

Eldridge Products, Inc.’s innovative new Flow Averaging Tubes (FAT™) provide accurate flow measurement in large pipes and ducts without the expense and complexity of traditional multipoint systems, offering a cost-effective solution for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Variable Air Volume (VAV) applications. They also provide accurate, repeatable readings in applications with very limited upstream straight-run. This patented technology combines the best elements of pitot tubes and thermal mass flow sensors. It works really well for applications such as combustion airflow.

MP Series FAT™ flowmeters are approved for use in hazardous locations. Series 9100MP-9200MP instruments have an explosion-proof flow transmitter mounted at the point of measurement with the signal processor electronics remotely mounted in a separate, general-purpose enclosure. An explosion-proof enclosure for the remote electronics is available as an option. The Series 9700MP-9800MP instruments have all electronics mounted at the point of measurement in an explosion-proof enclosure.

The Master-Touch MP Series FAT™ probes are now approved for use in hazardous area locations:

IECEx – For use in hazardous area locations; T2 or T3 or T4 as marked; Ta = 0°C to 50°C;; Ex d IIB+H2 T2…T4 Gb IP66; Ex tD A21 IP66 T135°C…T300°C; IECEx CSA 11.0014

The remote enclosure is certified for use in Ordinary (Non-Hazardous) area locations: Type 4X, IP66

MPNH Series FAT™ flowmeters are designed for installation in non-hazardous environments. They feature 5” x 5” x 4” ABS plastic enclosures. Series 9100MPNH-9200MPNH instruments have the flow transmitter mounted at the point of measurement with the signal processor electronics remotely mounted in a separate enclosure. Series 9800MPNH instruments have integral electronics mounted at the point of measurement.

• Provides the necessary mass flow measurement without needing an additional temperature transmitter and multivariable transmitter.
• Provides an accurate and repeatable measurement even for large flow ranges (high turndown). 
• Requires far less straight run than a typical single point thermal mass flowmeter, and this application will have pipe sizes in the 12″ -20″ range.
• EPI’s flowmeter also comes standard with a process temperature measurement output. Eliminating the need for a temperature transmitter.
• The total installed cost for a solution with limited straight run (requiring flow conditioners) will be dramatically less with an insertion FAT probe and no flow conditioners. (Note that flow conditioners are often needed because of the large pipe diameters)
• Remote electronics allows the meters interface to be installed in a convenient location, the meter installation point will likely not be easily accessible.

The real-world accuracy of a flow measurement is more complicated than whatever you’d see on any flow transmitter’s datasheet. In order for a single-point flow measurement sensor to be within its specified performance, the flow profile must be “fully developed.” This is why every flow transmitter technology requires a minimum straight run, typically in pipe diameters.

Compared to other thermal mass manufacturers, the FAT probe from EPI requires a significantly lesser straight-run requirement. The FAT probe is sensing the flow in multiple places and doesn’t need the flow profile to be “fully developed.” Please refer to the image shown to learn its working principle.

Minimum required straight-run:

• Insertion probe, Thermal mass: 20-30 diameters
• Single point Thermal mass with flow conditioner upstream: 12 diameters
• EPI FAT probe: 5-7 diameters

The FAT Probe advantage for different pipe sizes

3” Pipe:

• Insertion probe, Thermal mass: 75”, height of Steph Curry
• EPI FAT Probe: 18”, diameter of one extra-large pizza

4” Pipe:

• Insertion probe, Thermal mass: 100”, height of a brown bear
• EPI FAT Probe: 24”, height of a bobcat

6” Pipe:

• Insertion probe, Thermal mass: 150”, length of a bull shark
• EPI FAT Probe: 36”, length of a golf club

12” Pipe:

• Insertion probe, Thermal mass: 300”, height of a maple tree
• EPI FAT Probe: 72”, height of Jeep Wrangler

18” Pipe:

• Insertion probe, Thermal mass: 450”, height of a standard telephone pole
• EPI FAT Probe: 108”, height of a room

The Series 400 ValuMass™ flowmeters include 16-bit linearization technology for excellent flow rate accuracy and rugged construction of 316/316L stainless steel wetted parts.

The robust feature set includes:
· a 0 – 5 or 0 – 10 VDC output
· a 4 – 20mA output
· RS485 Modbus RTU communications
· a 0 – 1 kHz output proportional flow
· an RS232C port
· a 2-line, 16-character backlit LCD
· a programmable dry contact Relay for alarms or pulsed output totalization

ValuMass™ inline and insertion flowmeters accommodate virtually all installation requirements. The Series 400 inline style flow¬meters are available for line sizes from ¼” to 2”. The 3 ½” long flow sections have MNPT ends as standard for easy mounting in the process line. Other end fittings are available. The Series 440 insertion style flowmeters are available with 6”, 12” or 18” long probes which include a compression fitting. Other mounting options are available. ValuMass™ flowmeters accept 24VDC, 115VAC or 230VAC input power as specified at the time of purchase.

The ValuMass™ Series 400 is CE compliant.

Eldridge Products, Inc. (EPI) Series 7000, 7100, and 7200 Flow Switches are rugged flow switches for gases. EPI’s flow switches are built with the same components as their flowmeters and operate on the same principals of thermal dispersion. They include two High/Low relays for High/High, Low/Low, and Low/High switch options. One second to thirty seconds time delay is a available as a standard, with automatic reset in one second upon resumption of non-fault flow conditions. Two LEDs provide verification that an alarm has been triggered. The flow switches are calibrated for your process conditions and the relay trip points can be easily set up in the field. Factory calibrated trip points are also available, at an additional charge.

Flow switches for non-hazardous locations are also available.

Communicator I

The LightWIRE Communicator I modules can transmit and receive signals from both LightWIRE enabled flowmeters and LightWIRE Communicator III modules. When connected to a RS232 or USB port on a PC or laptop running EPI Communicator software, the LightWIRE Communicator I module replaces the three-wire cable for communications with an IR-Enabled Master-Touch™ flowmeter.

Communicator II

The LightWIRE Communicator II hand-held module is used as a substitute for the keypad/display assembly of IR-Enabled Master-Touch™ flowmeters. All of the flowmeters functions can be accessed without removing the flowmeter’s enclosure cover.