Spirax Sarco has launched the RIM10 rotor insertion flowmeter for steam, gas, and liquids.
It can be fitted directly into operational pipework using standard hot-tapping techniques, eliminating the need to disrupt production for installation. The company says it ‘reduces costs substantially’ by keeping productivity high, and maintenance schedules clear.
“Installation can be completed in a fraction of the time taken to install conventional flowmeters, which require a complete shutdown for the cutting and welding of pipework,” Spirax Sarco explains. “The hot tap configuration allows sites to install the flowmeter when needed, instead of having to wait weeks or months for planned plant shutdowns, as well as enabling the easy withdrawal of the meter should the rotor need changing for maintenance or re-ranging. The one unit’s ability to handle a wide range of liquids, gases, and steam, also cuts costs – by enabling larger sites to standardise on one meter, reducing training, maintenance, and spares stockholding costs.”
Three RIM10 models are available ‘to deliver reliable performance across a range of applications’, including demanding process conditions, such as high pressure flows (137.8 bar g), and high process temperatures up to 400° C (750° F). The RIM10 has a turndown of 25:1, providing accurate readings at high and low flow rates across all media.
Multi-variable electronics include a temperature and pressure sensor to provide compensated mass flow rate of liquid, gas, and steam, enabling any pressure changes to be taken into account. This allows the flowmeter to consistently provide error-free readings accurate to ±1.5 % of rate with liquids, and ± 2.0% of rate with gas and steam. The flowmeter is suitable for pipelines ranging from 75 to 2,000 mm (3" to 80"), and is said to be ‘especially economical’ for large pipe diameters of 300 mm (8") and upwards – where Spirax Sarco says inline installation costs tend to be ‘prohibitive’ – in areas such as high volume manufacturing, power, and hospital applications.
Installation is further simplified as the RIM10 flowmeter only requires 10 pipe diameters of straight pipe upstream, and five downstream, for installation, making it a compact choice where other flow metering technologies, such as Orifice plate or Vortex meters, ‘may struggle to perform’. The minimal flow obstruction of the sensor ‘ensures a negligible pressure drop and energy loss’.
Set-up and commissioning can be performed through an easy-to-use local display or using remote configuration / monitoring via Ethernet / HTTP web interface. Simultaneous measurement signals can be delivered through Modbus RTU via RS448 or Modbus TCP/IP protocols.
For more information, including an animation and a free flowmeter ‘White Paper’, visit: www.spiraxsarco.com/uk, or email ukenquiries@spiraxsarco.com
