July/August 2019

COMPRESSED AIR 58 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS July/August 2019 www.hpmag.co.uk medium, with the temperature differences measured by the up and down-stream temperature sensors being directly proportional to the mass flow of the compressed air or gas being measured. Why thermal mass? There are many advantages to this method of air flow measurement. These types of sensors feature zero moving parts in a nearly unobstructed straight through flow path, which facilitates extremely low pressure drop measurement. Maintenance costs are low and this type of meter is very sensitive at low flow rates, which allows for a high turn-down ratio whilst remaining accurate over a wide measuring range. Insertion style models can also be used in larger pipe sizes, with the option to install via a Hot-tap kit under full system pressure. We recommend placing thermal mass flow meters in dry air downstream of all air treatment filters to prevent sensor degradation. If temperature changes rapidly, this can affect the accuracy of the flow meter and can shorten its service lifetime as well. Large temperature variations, which can be found downstream of malfunctioning desiccant dryers, should be avoided Thermal mass from Bell Flow Systems Bell Flow Systems offers a range of thermal mass flow meters designed for measurement of compressed air and Nitrogen. The TGF200 series are a smaller bore inline range starting at DN8 up to DN50 in size and the TGF450 and TGF600 series are supplied as flanged or insertion style units designed for pipes form DN25 to DN500. All these models have digital and analogue 4-20mA outputs with optional communication outputs such as Modbus RS485 and HART. Bluetooth is available with complimentary mobile phone app allowing the user to check and set meter parameters. It is also ideal for when the operator needs to view readings in hard to reach locations and provides efficient viewing when multiple meters are installed. The TGF200 has four flow ranges with a 100:1 turndown ratio for each of the eight sizes, designed to suit the requirements of a variety of applications. This rugged unit is ideal for various industrial applications in factories, workshops and garages as it can be constructed from aluminium or stainless steel. With a fast response time of 160ms, this flow meter has a high accuracy level of +/-0.3% F.S and the meter can handle temperatures up to 100degc The TGF450 and TGF600 flanged and insertion models are claimed to be ideal where the supply cannot be turned off or delayed in terms of installation and maintenance. These can be installed and removed via hot-tap connection if required, reducing costs and production delays. These models feature simple operator programming and it is also possible to adjust the flow calculation. These both have a two-line LCD display which can show both the rate of flow and total volume. The display can show volumetric and mass flow in kg or ton with the addition of programming options for alternative gas densities. www.bellflowsystems.co.uk Gardner Denver’s smart IoT analytics system, iConn, is now enabled on industrial Hydrovane compressors from 11kW to 45kW. The cloud- based data management platform enables operators to optimise and improve their compressed air processes and performance. As Industry 4.0 drives opportunities for users to share and analyse asset data, customers are demanding more intelligent insights into their compressed air performance to remove risks, improve productivity and reduce energy consumption. iConn has been developed with this in mind, providing a detailed overview of system performance, helping users to view and analyse key operating data and, crucially, highlighting potential issues before they become a real problem. This can provide tangible benefits to a business’ bottom line, with real-time monitoring, alarms and warnings to reduce risk of downtime. Remote sites can be easily monitored and compressor performance optimised with machine parameters and trend analysis over time. iConn is also an open platform, supporting ancillary and compressed air products from other brands. The Hydrovane series of rotary vane compressors are reliable, versatile, powerful and cost effective, and can be used for a variety of industrial applications, such as pick-and-place operations, pneumatic conveying, drying and forming, robotics, and for powering a range of air-based tools. Steve Downes, Hydrovane sales manager at Gardner Denver, said: “We are delighted to announce that the iConn cloud analytics system is now enabled on our range of Hydrovane air compressors, from 11kW to 45kW. With real-time insight available at their fingertips, plant managers can enjoy peace of mind, greater control and improved cost-savings.” www.gardnerdenver.com/industrials Hydrovane compressors now the smarter option with iConn