Preventing a Break-In – Non-Invasive Flowmeters in Hygienic Applications

Katronic clamp-on, non-invasive ultrasonic flowmeters have been supplied to a major biomedical product manufacturer where cleanliness is paramount, making it difficult to cut into process pipelines, and have helped site engineers by significantly reducing project lead time and costs.

Katronic clamp-on, non-invasive ultrasonic flowmeters have been supplied to a major biomedical product manufacturer where cleanliness is paramount, making it difficult to cut into process pipelines, and have helped site engineers by significantly reducing project lead time and costs.

There are many processes where clean operation is imperative, for example foods, fine chemicals and biosciences. Clean-downs and changeovers can take a long time, and so can the paperwork and permissions process that allows new equipment to be installed. Katronic channel partner and instrumentation specialists WE Instrumentation found that one of their key customers had a real issue gaining permission to install new flow measurement, with typically six months of investigation and effort before permission would be granted to break into site pipework to install new instruments. The costs of the equipment itself was dwarfed by the costs of the decision-making process and installation, making it very difficult for site engineering staff to propose and implement process improvements in a timely way.

The site had tried clamp-on equipment in the past but found that they had not been easy to set up and had given poor results, leaving them with little confidence in the technology. They could, however, see the advantages - no need to break into the pipes, no need for a long investigation or permission from their Head Office. They had an issue with the numerous utility water pipes running through the factory site, none of which had inline flow monitoring, making it impossible to monitor flow consumption, data trends or plant performance.

WE Instrumentation's Martin Adams introduced Katronic clamp-on flowmeters to the site engineers. Katronic's Matt Bird visited site and demonstrated the equipment by quickly achieving a good flow measurement using a hand-held KATflow 200 portable flowmeter. One of the key advantages of Katronic equipment is the fact that the ultrasonic processing core of every meter in the range is the same, so a measurement made with a portable meter absolutely mimics the performance of a fixed flowmeter. Installation is also straightforward with Katronic's unique Audible Sensor Positioning Assistant that guarantees accurate sensor positioning. Following the successful demo, an initial order of Katronic fixed systems was purchased, resulting in further orders after the first batch had proved to be as successful as the demonstration.

Commenting, WE Instrumentation's Martin Adams said, "We see this as a great result for both Katronic and WE Instrumentation and proves the important points that clamp-on flow is the only technology that can be retro-fitted and provides a solution where company policies make permission to break into pipes, possibly introduce contamination and disrupt production nearly impossible."