Emerson Process Management's Daniel Division has just introduced Continuous Flow Analysis (CFA) technology for its ultrasonic flowmeters. The technology consists of two parts – a new firmware (v.1.70) to be implemented in the Mark III electronic units of the ultrasonic meters and version 5.0 of the Daniel CUI software, to be installed in the Windows environment of the field personnel's computers.
The use of this technology provides two major benefits: it allows the comparison of measurement data in real time with data from a “baseline” and it allows the diagnosis and alarms of adverse operating conditions.
The “baseline” is the compilation of meter characteristics when calibrated in the laboratory or during commissioning. In this way, a meter signature is created that will serve as a basis for comparison throughout its entire operation.
The implementation of the “baseline” is done through a command in the CUI 5.0 software. The software captures measurement data and stores it in the meter's internal memory. The MODBUS protocol over TCP/IP is used in conjunction with Ethernet communication.
This data will serve as a standard, and during meter operation, the instantaneous measurement values will be continuously compared with the values stored in memory.
The innovation behind this new technology is the result of 17 patents obtained by Daniel. It is available for new meters to be supplied and also for all meters already in operation that have the Mark III electronic unit.