Category Archives: Flow Meters

Video: Fluid Power Systems Exhibition

We recently exhibited at the Fluid Power Systems at the NEC, Birmingham. The exhibition is the UK’s only event for fluid power technologies. The event comprised of world-class companies displaying and demonstrating the latest range of hydraulic and pneumatic equipment.

The video below shows our Technical Director, Tom, talking about the innovative products we were exhibiting such as the new Macnaught quarter turn oval gear flow meters, our Cortex digital displays and our range of Hedland hydraulic and compressed air flow meters.

New Addition to Badger Meter M-Series

Badger Meter recently introduced the M1000 electromagnetic flow meter as an addition to its high-performance ModMAG M-Series family. Combining a general-purpose detector with an amplifier, the M1000 is available in an easy-to-use, “no frills” package with a streamlined feature set for use in a wide range of industrial applications.

The electromagnetic flow meter achieves an accuracy rate of ±0.3%, and its rugged design ensures reliability in demanding environments. The meter features a non-intrusive open-flow tube that virtually eliminates pressure loss. With no moving parts to impede the flow stream, maintenance is kept to a minimum even in less than ideal fluid conditions.

The M1000 also offers vibration resistance when mounted on vehicles. A wide selection of liner and electrode materials provides maximum fluid compatibility and minimum maintenance over a long operating period.
M1000 Mag Meter
The M1000 electromagnetic flow meter was specifically developed for industrial water/wastewater, machinery plants, commercial vehicles and batching process applications,

said Badger Meter’s Brooke Lange.

Its measuring pipes are lined with material approved for use with drinking water per the NSF-61 standards. Plus, rugged construction and resistance to vibration make the meter ideal for truck-mounted operation for process fluid in the hydraulic fracturing industry.”

The M1000 electromagnetic flow meter is available in 1/4″ up to 8″ sizes and has a flow range of 0.03 to 12 litres per second. The amplifier includes an LCD display and is housed in a weather-resistant enclosure that can be integrally mounted to the detector or remotely.

Bell Flow Systems Ltd is the UK representative of Badger Meter, for more information on the new M1000 electromagnetic flow meter get in contact with us.

Case Study: Bespoke Panel Building

We recently collaborated with a leading pneumatic and fluid handling company to undertake a project for a global leader in packaging, who manufacturer and supply a broad range of packaging products to various industries.

Inefficiencies within the packaging company’s current printing system meant that it could not detect when the solvent based ink had run out, every time this would happen the ink containers had to be switched over manually and consequently the speed and reliability of the whole process was reduced.

We were set a challenge of creating a bespoke system that would detect and switch over the flow of the solvent based ink from one industrial bulk container to another, whilst keeping in mind the flammability of the ink. A system that could allow the whole process to be automated, reduce the risk of dangerous spills and ultimately speed up the process.

This required a number of different components to be selected in order to create a bespoke panel capable of solving the company’s current printing transfer complications. We developed a control panel that featured three panel mount XDF Cortex controllers specified for this delivery, a series of galvanic isolators to ensure a safe switch over and signal detection, LED lamps for visual monitoring and various pilot solenoid valves to control pneumatic pumps and actuators. A number of high accuracy Macnaught S025 oval gear meters and ATEX pressure switches were also features of this bespoke package.

Case Study Bespoke Panel Building

One of the key products to this system was the Cortex XDF display; with its DIN panel mount design it features a four-line backlit colour display that is capable of mass calculations, batch control and more importantly for this application intelligent digital filtering (IDF) to respond rapidly to dynamically changing flow rates. This allowed the Macnaught positive displacement flow meters to have consistency and accuracy when coupled with double diaphragm pneumatic pumps.

Cortex XDF Digital Display

Once the panel had been built and tested in house, the next stage was for the installation and commissioning to take place. This then lead to further refinement of the programming and configuration to enable the products to work together as a complete system and ultimately a solution for the client.

We pride ourselves on product knowledge, adding value to our diverse range of products by using this knowledge is at the core of the our values.

Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Now Open!

Householders can now also benefit from the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), a world first financial support scheme for renewable heat that has been up and running for the non-domestic sector since November 2011.

Designed to revolutionise the way heat is generated and used in homes across Great Britain, RHI intends to increase the uptake of renewable heat technologies, help cut carbon emissions and reduce energy bills.

The RHI provides financial support to participants of the scheme that generate and use renewable energy such as; GSHP, ASHP, biomass boilers and PV thermal panels to heat their homes. All domestic RHI installations are to be carried out by Micro-generation Certificate Scheme (MCS) installers with householders being reimbursed up to £230 per year for the cost of the meter installation over the seven years of RHI payments.

Where heat metering is required, a heat meter that is MID Class 3 or higher is critical. The RHI claim will not be processed without meeting this standard as a minimum.

The new Minocal® C5 RHI Compliant range of heat meters from Minol will be able to cover all applications with a variety of technologies available.

The Minocal® C5 range consists of three meters:

IUF Ultrasonic
CMF-Multi-jet
ISF-Single-Jet
Greg Barker, Energy and Climate Change Minister said: Investing for the long term in new renewable heat technologies will mean cleaner energy and cheaper bills. Domestic RHI is a big step forward in our drive to get innovative renewable heating kits in our homes.

We have been dealing with non-domestic RHI since the outset and we can now provide all of the required elements and meters for domestic RHI too including those with GPRS or Wifi technology. We also carry a range of heat meters for larger pipes (14″) if required.For any enquiries please contact us and for more information on the Domestic RHI and how to apply visit the ofgem guidance and portal.

New Test Rig at Bell Flow Systems

We are excited to announce the completion of our new test rig.

Constructed in-house our new raw water test rig has the ability to test and calibrate flow meters. The test rig is a PLC controlled PID loop with pipe sizes from ½ up to 4, accompanied by a multistage pump capable of pumping up to 1000 litres a minute. The master meters installed on the rig are the latest electromagnetic flow meters from Badger Meter which perform to an accuracy of better than ±0.25%.

Test Rig at Bell Flow Systems
In-house Test Rig at Bell Flow Systems

The core function of the test rig is flow meter calibration which will be traceable to UKAS, this new service offering will allow us to provide flow meters prepared for their application consequently reducing inaccurate calibrations made onsite by customers. The test rig will also be used for confirming the accuracy of flow meters; tests that can be performed in-line using flanged/screwed flow meters and also externally when testing ultrasonic clamp-on flow meters. In addition to this the test rig will be used for employee training purposes, flow meter demonstrations and customer training.