GE Panametrics TransPort PT878GC Gas Flow Meter

Panametrics portable gas ultrasonic flowmeter

Portable flow metering at its best
The TransPort PT878GC flowmeter is a highly versatile, self-contained, portable transit-time system with options and accessories to meet a variety of gas flow measurement needs. Its compact size, lightweight, rechargeable battery pack, and universal power supply charger make it the ideal go anywhere flowmeter.
Historically, clamp-on flow metering was limited to liquids because existing methods could not work on metal pipes containing gases.
Panametrics developed new technology that extends all the benefits of clamp-on flow metering to gas measurement. This remarkable ultrasonic technology works with gases at high or low pressure in pipes made of metal and most other materials.
The TransPort PT878GC flowmeter can be used to measure the flow of any gas. It is especially useful for metering erosive, corrosive, toxic, high-purity or sterile gases, or in any
application where penetrating the pipe wall is undesirable.
Since no tapping or cutting of the pipe is required, permanent installation costs are significantly reduced. The meter has no wetted or moving parts, causes no pressure drop and has very wide rangeability.
The new meter was tested extensively on metal pipes with diameters as small as 0.75 inches (20 mm) and as large as 24 inches (600 mm). This meter is suitable for measuring the flow of air, hydrogen, natural gas and many other gases.

No pressure drop, low maintenance
Because the transducers clamp onto the outside of the pipe, they do not obstruct the flow inside the pipe. This prevents the pressure drops typically caused by other types of flowmeters. The TransPort PT878GC has no components that will foul or collect debris, and there are no moving parts to wear out. As a result, it requires no lubrication and little or no routine maintenance.

Advanced clamp-on ultrasonic transducers
One of the biggest challenges in developing clamp-on ultrasonic transducers for gas applications is the difficulty in transmitting a coded ultrasonic signal through a metal pipe wall, through the gas, and then back through the pipe wall to the second transducer that is waiting to receive the signal.
In gas systems, only 4.9 x10–7 percent of the transmitted sound energy is actually received by traditional ultrasonic transducers. This simply isn’t enough to produce reliable measurements. The new line of clamp-on gas transducers produces signals that are five to ten times more powerful than those of traditional ultrasonic transducers. The new transducers produce clean, coded signals with very minimal background noise. The result is that the TransPort PT878GC flowmeter system performs well even with low-density gas applications.

Applications

The TransPort PT878GC clamp-on gas flowmeter is a complete ultrasonic flow metering system for measurement of most gases, including:

• Natural gas
• Compressed air
• Fuel gases
• Erosive gases
• Corrosive gases
• Toxic gases
• High-purity gases
• Air separation gases

Features

• Clamp-on unobstructed installation
• No wetted parts
• No moving parts
• No pressure drop
• Sound speed output
• Standard volumetric flow calculation
• Small, lightweight and easy to use
• Large, backlit LCD display
• Rechargeable battery pack
• Logs over 100,000 flow data points
• Submersible package
• 32 site locations
• Optional thickness gauge

Specifications:

Quick and easy to use It’s possible to make the first flow measurement within minutes of opening the box—the TransPort PT878GC flowmeter is that easy to use. Input the site parameters, clamp the transducers onto the pipe, and adjust the spacing. No ancillary equipment is needed, and there’s no need to break into the pipeline. An experienced user can make scores of different measurements in a single day. The TransPort PT878GC flowmeter is ideal for all kinds of flow survey work. Built to be economical and stay economical To be of real value, a portable flowmeter must be as economical to own and operate as it is capable in the field. The TransPort PT878GC flowmeter is built to stay in service for many years. Completely solid state, the device rarely wears out or needs servicing, resulting in little downtime and low maintenance costs.

Optional pipe wall thickness-gauge transducer Pipe wall thickness is a critical parameter used by the TransPort PT878GC flowmeter for clamp-on flow measurements. The thickness-gauge option allows accurate wall thickness measurement from outside the pipe. The TransPort PT878GC flowmeter uses the transit-time flow measurement technique The transit-time technique uses a pair of transducers, with each transducer sending and receiving coded ultrasonic signals through the fluid. When the fluid is flowing, signal transit time in the downstream direction is shorter than in the upstream direction; the difference between these transit times is proportional to the flow of velocity. The TransPort PT878GC measures this time difference and uses programmed pipe parameters to determine flow rate and direction. Alphanumeric and graphic liquid crystal display completes the picture A large, multifunction LCD presents measured data in both alphanumeric and graphic forms. In addition, it helps make programming easy by presenting a software menu that walks you through data entry and function selection. Standard alphanumeric functions include flow velocity, volumetric or mass flow, and totalized flow in either English (U.S.) or metric units. In graphic mode, the LCD shows both real time and logged data. The result is a chart recording right on the display, which is very useful for reviewing data and observing trends while on site. Submersible, rugged electronics housing This flowmeter is protected from the day-to-day rigors of industrial usage. The TransPort PT878GC is equipped with a rubber boot that provides protection against vibration and shock. The completely sealed housing and ports meet IP67 requirements, so the flowmeter will withstand submersion in up to 3 ft (1 m) of water for limited periods of time. It will continue to function safely even if it is dropped in water. Wide range of clamping fixtures available Transducer alignment is crucial in obtaining accurate measurements in clamp-on gas installations. Panametrics offers a wide range of clamping fixtures to help ensure proper alignment of transducers with minimal effort.

PT878GC installation requirements table

How to use this table:

• Find pipe size of your application.
• Find pipe wall thickness of your application.
  • Determine if your application meets the minimum pressure requirements given pipe size and pipe wall thickness as determined by pipe wall
    thickness.
  • Determine maximum flow velocity capability.
• Consult factory for natural gas with sulfur or high carbon dioxide content.
• Consult factory for applications that are not listed above.

Package includes:

• TransPort PT878GC Ultrasonic Flow Meter System
• Panaview software Version 1.4.8
• TransPort PT878GC AC charger
• Clamp-on gas transducers
• LEMO BNC transducer interconnection cable
• Input/output cable
• RS232 to infrared dongle
• Thickness gauge
• CFG-V1/V4/V8/V12 clamping fixtures
• CFG-PI fixture with chain and alignment blocks 12
• Preamplifiers
• Alignment wrap
• Couplant

Additional:

Kit A: Panametrics C-RV Gas Transducers : $2,400.00
Pair of clamp-on 500KHz transducers for 3 to 12 inch pipes with process temperatures from -40 to 266°F.

Kit B: Panametrics C-RW Gas Transducers: $3,200.00
Pair of clamp-on 200KHz transducers for 12 to 24 inch pipes with process temperatures from -40 to 302°F.

Kit C: Panametrics C-RL Gas Transducers: $4,700.00
Pair of clamp-on transducers for 3/4 to 2in (1MHz) or 3 to 12in (500KHz) pipes with process temperatures from -40 to 446°F.

Kit D: Panametrics PCFG Clamping Fixture: $3,600.00
Portable clamping fixture for use with C-RV, C-RL, and C-RW transducers.