INFLUX Glass tube flowmeters go electronic to monitor sample flows

Flow meters for laboratory and industrial applications use glass tube variable area measurement techniques. Influx have modernised this technique by applying a programmable position measurement device which senses the "float" position, and converts this to a linear analogue flow-rate output suitable for control or data logging. The Reflux is the ideal solution to flow-rate applications requiring a low pressure drop flow transmitter that also provides direct visual flow rate indication. The Reflux is also available as an intrinsically safe unit.

A recent application used16 Reflux meters in order to monitor sample gas flows in factory effluent monitoring systems. In this application it was essential to record sample flow-rates and compare these with the main stack out flow, and to provide auditable recording to meet regulatory requirements. In this case the effluents were being monitored for radioactive a and ß particles in the extracted sample stream, and thereby assessing the efficiency of filtration separation systems.

The Project Manager for the radiation monitoring systems installed identified major advantages in this technique:

"The Reflux meters are cost effective and highly reliable - only imposing a low pressure drop less than 4 mbar on the sample flow. They are simple to install and need no special pipework: we even build in a second metering position for the inspectors to install their own check meter. The analogue output is fed to our totaliser, to show the total sample volume extracted. The Reflux provides 2% accuracy and gives an immediate visual check on system operation. This combines with a lower cost than alternative systems, and the Reflux has played an important part in the success of such effluent monitoring systems."