Open Channel Flow Monitor OCF 5.0

OPEN CHANNEL FLOW MONITOR SPECIFICATIONS

SCOPE: This instrument shall provide for indicating, transmitting, totalizing and data logging of the flow rate through a flume, weir, or other primary measuring device.

A. GENERAL

1. Open Channel Flow Monitor to consist of an non-contacting ultrasonic sensor, connecting cable, and a remote enclosure with indicating, transmitting and controlling electronics.
2. Measurement accuracy shall be ±0.25% of Range or 2 mm (0.08"), whichever is greater, and shall be automatically temperature compensated.
3. Sensor cable length shall be as required by installation, not to exceed 500' (152 m).
4. System shall have no moving parts and shall not contact the water being measured.
5. Shall include PC software program disk to determine open channel flow calibration values for non-standard flumes and weirs.

B. SENSING ELEMENT

1. Sensor shall withstand accidental submersion to 10 ft (3 m) maximum.
2. Sensor minimum range shall be 8" (203.2 mm) and maximum range shall be 15 ft (4.57 m).
3. Sensor shall be constructed of PVC.
4. Sensor operating temperature shall be from -40°F to 150°F (-40°C to 65°C).
5. Sensor shall include integral temperature sensor. Temperature sensors requiring separate mounting and wire runs shall not be accepted.

C. SENSOR CONNECTING CABLE

1. Provide RG62AU coaxial cable 25' (7.6m) continuous length, with waterproof, potted bond to the Sensor head.
2. Extended sensor cable shall be RG62AU coaxial to a maximum of 500' (152m). Cable shall be spliced with screw terminal connections in manufacturer's recommended steel NEMA4 Junction Box.
3. Level and temperature signals shall be conducted on one single coaxial cable. Separate or multiple-conductor cables shall not be accepted.
4. Sensor cable shall be installed in grounded metal conduit.

D. TRANSMITTER

1. The transmitter shall provide for field calibration to common primary metering devices, plus allow entry of "K" and "n" values for calibration to nonstandard flumes, weirs or open channels. Systems requiring calibration by Parameter codes, BCD switches or external calibrators shall not be accepted.
2. Calibration data shall be password protected and permanently stored through power interruptions for a minimum of 12 months.
3. Field calibration shall allow selection and automatic conversion of measurement units, measurement span, high/low flow alarm relay and flow proportional relay pulse rates.
4. Transmitter shall permit field programmable damping to smooth output in turbulent flow conditions, and programmable rejection time to disregard false signals from rain, wind, floating objects and spurious echoes.
5. Transmitter operating temperature shall be from -5° to 140°F (-20° to 60°C). Transmitter shall contain a thermostat-controlled enclosure heater for condensation protection below 30°F (-1°C).
6. Transmitter shall have an isolated 4-20mA output rated for 1000 ohm maximum load with menu-selectable 0-5VDC alternative.
7. Have a built-in 2 million point Data Logger with USB output to flash drive or mass storage device. Include Windows software for data log analysis, graphing and export.
8. Provide two relay contacts rated 5 amp SPDT programmable for single set point alarms, dual set point pump control, pump alternation, temperature alarm, flow totalizer pulse and/or echo loss alarm.
9. Provide a white, backlit matrix LCD display indicating flow rate, level, relay states and 16-digit totalizer in user-selected engineering units and with language selection including English, French and Spanish.
10. Transmitter display indicating level or flow rate, units of calibration, totalizer and relay states shall be visible without opening cover.
11. Transmitter shall be housed in a wall-mount, watertight NEMA4X (IP66) enclosure with hinged, clear cover. Mounting hardware shall be included.
12. Transmitter electronics shall be surge protected on AC power input, sensor and 4-20mA/0-5V outputs.
13. Transmitter power input shall be 100-240VAC 50-60Hz with power consumption of 4.0 Watts or less.
14. The transmitter shall permit plug-in field installation and auto-detection of optional accessories including additional control relays.

E. OPTIONAL FEATURES FOR INSERTION AS REQUIRED

1. Have power input of 9-32VDC and power consumption of less than 4.0 Watts.
2. Sensor cable shall be 50 ft. (15 m) continuous length with potted bond to the Sensor head.
3. Sensor cable shall be 100 ft. (30 m) continuous length with potted bond to the Sensor head.
4. Separate length extended sensor coaxial cable shall be extended to a total maximum length of 500 ft (152m). Cable shall be spliced with screw terminal connections in manufacturers recommended steel NEMA4 Junction Box.
5. Sensor, connecting cable and junction boxes shall be rated intrinsically safe to Class I,II,III, Div. I,II, Groups C,D,E,F,G.
6. Have a thermostat controlled enclosure heater for Transmitter operation at temperatures below freezing.
7. Have manufacturer's recommended enclosure sunscreen to permit Transmitter mounting in direct sunlight.
8. Have manufacturer's recommended Sensor sunscreen to permit temperature-compensated Sensor mounting in direct sunlight.
9. Have manufacturer's recommended Panel Mount Flange assembly for enclosure installation.
10. Have 4 additional (6 total) control relays, rated 5 amp SPDT and programmable for single set point alarms, flow proportionate pulse, temperature alarm and/or echo loss alarm.

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Please Contact AKTEK if you need more information or for advice in your application. We can provide quotations

Open Channel Flow

The common method of measuring flow through an open channel is to measure the height or HEAD of the liquid as it passes over an obstruction (a flume or weir) in the channel. Using ultrasonic level technology, Greyline open channel flow meters include a non-contacting sensor mounted above the flume or weir. By measuring the time from transmission of an ultrasonic pulse to receipt of an echo, the water level or "Head" is accurately measured.

Flumes and weirs are specially designed channel shapes that characterize the flow of water. Common types are Rectangular Weirs, V-Notch Weirs, Parshall flumes and Palmer Bowlus flumes. The choice of flume or weir type depends on the application: flow rate, channel shape and solids content of the water. Contact Greyline Instrumentsinfo@greyline.com for advice on selection of a suitable flume or weir for your application.

Our  open channel flow meters can be calibrated to any flume or weir by menu selection. The open channel flow meter electronics use an internal formula to calculate flow rate (Flow = K Hn, where 'K' and 'n' are constants and 'H' is Head as measured by the instrument). Calibration to uncommon or custom flumes can be done by direct entry of 'K' and 'n' constants. Greyline also offers a PC software program "Find K&n" to develop calibration constants from a flume or weir flow chart.