The Bronkhorst FLEXI-FLOW™ Compact Mass Flow Meters and Controllers

Bronkhorst's FLEXI-FLOW™ combines the benefits of a novel through-chip sensor with established by-pass technology. The small thermal mass flow meters and controllers are 35% smaller than typical instruments, making them the smallest on the market at flow rates of up to 20 ln/min. The devices provide highly steady flow control and quick control, with settling times of less than 150 ms, thanks to the innovative sensor method.

• Multi-parameter measurement: flow, temperature, and pressure in one instrument
• Simple and secure connection through Bluetooth and comprehensive App
• Superior accuracy through onboard gas database and real time conversions
• NAMUR status indication keeps you informed about your process
• Adaptable to many applications through wide dynamic range of measurement and control
• Dynamic flow ranges up to 1:1000

Contact Swanson Flo for more information about the performance, application, and ordering of the Bronkhorst FLEXI-FLOW™ compact mass flow meter and controller.

Swanson Flo

https://swansonflo.com

800-288-7926

Swanson Flo: The Low Flow Experts

It's challenging to apply low-flow meters and control valves to monitor and control extremely low flow rates. Many industries depend on low-flow measurement and control to maintain correct liquid flow rates in batching, water separation, paint circulation, fuel metering, and chemical injection operations. 

Low-flow meters are used in chemical injection systems to determine the correct quantity of chemicals delivered to a process. Chemical dosage accuracy is crucial for efficiency and production. Adding too much chemical leads to increased expenses, while underdosing may result in premature maintenance and poor process outcomes.

Because of the modest, incremental liquid flow measurement, low-flow measurement brings about unique issues. Users must be aware of potential factors that might impair flowmeter performance and longevity, such as noise, vibration, resolution, accuracy, blockage, leakage, K factor, and pressure, and how to deal with them. Swanson Flo, fortunately, offers expertise and a wide range of low-flow meters and control valves. 

Low-flow valves and controls are essential for guaranteeing cost-effective and efficient process operation. Swanson Flo Sales Engineers have years of experience dealing with the most challenging low-flow applications. To discuss your low flow demand, please contact Swanson now using the form below or by calling 800-288-7926.

Swanson Flo

https://swansonflo.com

800-288-7926

Demonstration of Ultra Low Flow Control Loop Combining the Equilibar Precision Valve and the Bronkhorst Mini CORI-FLOW™ Meter

This video shows an ultra-low flow control closed-loop incorporating the Equilibar precision flow control valve with the Bronkhorst mini CORI-FLOW™ series and built-in PID software. The flow rate is adjustable from 0 to 1000 ml/hour, and the system controls flow at a rate of less than one cc per minute.

The mini CORI-FLOW™ sends a 0 to 5 VDC drive signal to an Equilibar QPV electronic pressure regulator, which converts the signal to a pilot pressure for the Equilibar FDO4 valve. The CORI-FLOW monitors the flow rate with its built-in Coriolis flow sensor. The internal PID loop adjusts the signal to the electronic pressure regulator, adjusting the pilot pressure to the FDO4 control valve and changing the flow rate.

The CORI-FLOW™ flowmeter integrates the control software, and a PC or PLC is not required (one shown in the video for demonstration purposes.) The CORI-FLOW™ connects via the Bronkhorst DDE and FlowPlot software (available as a download) to view the live data on the laptop screen. FlowPlot allows the user to adjust the PID control loop and modify various other loop parameters. 

This demonstration uses a calibration of 0 to 1 liter per hour full scale. By leveraging the wide turndown ratio of the Equilibar FDO4 sanitary flow control valve, this setup allows for well over 100:1 flow turndown ratio. This control system is excellent for product blending or mixing applications or injection into bioreactors in biopharmaceutical process applications.

Related links:

https://swansonflo.com/article_229_Equilibar.cfm

https://swansonflo.com/article_189_Bronkhorst.cfm

https://www.equilibar.com/product/electronic-pressure-regulators/qpv-electronic-pressure-regulator/

https://www.equilibar.com/product/back-pressure-regulators/fdo4-sanitary-back-pressure-regulator/

https://www.bronkhorst.com/en-us/products-en/liquid-flow/mini-cori-flow/

For more information about low flow and ultra-low flow control applications, contact Swanson Flo. Call 800-288-7926 or visit https://swansonflo.com.

Gas Flow Measurement & Control - Aeration Applications

Many processes include gas flow measurement and control. Gas flow meters are standard in laboratories, machinery, industry, hazardous areas, and various markets, including the analytical market, the chemical industry, renewable energy, the semiconductor industry, the food and beverage industry, and surface treatment. 

Applications for Aeration 

Aeration is when air, oxygen, carbon dioxide, or other gases circulate, mix, or dissolve in a liquid or substance. 

Aeration applications are typical in food and beverage markets, wastewater treatment, fish tanks, and fish farms. Controlling oxygen levels in beer brewing and winemaking, for example, allows fermentation. Milk, sparkling water, and other carbonated beverages, such as cola require a throughflow of gases to remove odors or add CO2. Industrial gas flow control, similar to air pumps in a fish aquarium, is used to aerate ponds to grow fish or algae. 

Gas Flow Aeration Markets:

• Winemaking and beer brewing 
• Production of carbonated beverages 
• Fermenters and bioreactors 
• Treatment of wastewater 
• Farms for fish and algae 

Why Bronkhorst? 

• Robustness
• High repeatability
• Easy to check actual gas flow
• Gas consumption monitoring
• Ingress protection class IP65 rugged and waterproof housing

Bronkhorst provides mass flow meters and controllers with capacities of up to 5000 ln/min Air equivalent.  In aeration applications, up to 50% of MASS-STREAM flow measurement and control instruments include a multi-functional display that provides various additional options. 

Bronkhorst is a company that specializes in gas flow measurement and control instruments.

For more information about Bronkhorst products in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota contact Swanson Flo. Call 800-288-7926 or visit https://swansonflo.com.

Bronkhorst ES-FLOW Flow Meter/Controller Achieves 3-A Sanitary Standards

Bronkhorst presents their new generation of ES-FLOW Ultrasonic Flow Meters for low flow rates of water, additives, and other liquid substances. The improved flow meters measure volume flow from 2 up to 1500 ml/min with even higher precision, high linearity, and low-pressure drop, using ultrasound in a small-bore tube. The instruments are liquid-independent, thanks to the unique measuring principle, which accounts for the flow calculation's actual sound velocity. Thanks to the combination of a straight sensor tube with zero dead volume, the flow meter is self-draining. The flowmeter with orbital TIG-welded flanges is CIP or SIP cleanable and now meets 3-A sanitary standards for hygienic applications. More information at the Swanson Flo website here.

Swanson Flo
800-288-7926
https://swansonflo.com

Bronkhorst Mini Cori-Flow™ Coriolis Mass Flow Meters & Controllers

Mass Flow Measurement of low flow rates, independent of fluid properties.

With the development of the mini CORI-FLOW™ series Bronkhorst achieved a technological breakthrough in Coriolis mass flow measurements and control, by realizing a compact, cost-effective Coriolis Mass Flow Meter/Controller for accurate measurement and control of (very) low flow rates. The unique design of the miniature Coriolis sensor features unsurpassed performance, even with changing operating conditions in pressure, temperature, density, conductivity and viscosity.

Contrary to many other Coriolis flow meters on the market, mini CORI-FLOW™ offers integrated PID control and close-coupled control valves or pumps, thus constituting very compact, cost- and space-saving, precise Coriolis Mass Flow Controllers.

For more information about Bronkhorst Mass Flow Meters and Controllers, contact Swanson Flo. Call them at 800-288-7926 or visit their website at https://swansonflo.com.

Accurate Dosing of Corrosion Inhibitors Greatly Improves Corrosion Prevention and Extends Pipeline Life

Accurate dosing of corrosion inhibitors in industrial applications, especially in the chemical, process and oil and gas industry can be a real challenge. These industries cope with demanding environmental and process conditions in production and operation. In oil and gas, it is common that wells produce other products that are likely to cause corrosion, such as water and carbon dioxide. Pipelines are required to transport oil and gas products from the well, sometimes over long distances. Even though they are designed to last for decades, corrosion processes are responsible for degradation and significant losses. It is clear that the best way to combat corrosion economically is through prevention using chemical inhibitors.

A corrosion inhibitor system will add small concentrations of (bio)chemicals into the process which form a film on the interior surface of the pipe or vessel, preventing corrosive attack. The effectiveness of an inhibitor system greatly depends on the correct injection amount, and can be influenced by the environmental and process conditions; so accuracy is crucial here. A properly applied chemical corrosion inhibitor system is very effective in lowering corrosion rates, with the potential to reduce corrosion rates up to 99%.

The key in determining the overall rate of corrosion over the life of a pipeline is determined by the proportion of time for which the corrosion inhibitor is available, and the correct concentration. In order to accurately assess the availability of corrosion inhibitor, it is necessary to have some means of accurately measuring the dosage of inhibitor being injected.

Using a low flow control system containing a mass flow controller (MFC) allows for very accurate corrosion inhibitor dosing. High accuracy and high turndown ratio is achieved based on pure mass flow measurement with this type of flow meter. A device such as the Bronkhorst (mini) CORI-FLOW mass flow controller can directly control valves and pumps via it's on-board PID controller, and be further optimized with ancillary PLC and HMI controls, extending both performance and flexibility.

The application of chemical corrosion inhibitors can significantly reduce the rate of corrosion  and using a dosing system with an integrated MFC (such as the Bronkhorst (mini) CORI-FLOW) enables real-time monitoring, control and logging of injection rates. This allows online checking of flow rates and instantaneous re-setting of the required flow rate. Asset management and preventive maintenance is supported with several active diagnostics.

For more information about mass flow controllers used in chemical dosing applications, contact Swanson Flo by calling 800-288-7926 or visit https://swansonflo.com.

Instruction Manual for Bronkhorst Mass Flow Pressure Meters and Controllers for Gases and Liquids

Bronkhorst MFC

Bronkhorst offers the widest product range of thermal mass flow meters and controllers on the market. Numerous styles of both standard and specialized instruments can be offered for applications in laboratory, industrial and hazardous areas. Also, Bronkhorst specializes in (ultra) low flow Coriolis meters and controllers for liquids and gases.

For your convenience, below is the instruction manual for mass flow meters and controllers.


Contact Swanson Flo at 800-288-7926 or visit http://www.swansonflo.com for more information on Bronkhorst products.

Instruction Manual for Bronkhorst Mass Flow Pressure Meters and Controllers for Gases and Liquids from Swanson Flo