New Tools Extend Applications for Daniel Ultrasonic Flowmeters

In an announcement this week at Emerson Exchange, and in a "podcast exclusive" on ControlGlobal.com, Emerson's Dan Hackett announced major enhancements to both hardware and software for Daniel's Model 3804 multi-path ultrasonic oil and gas custody transfer flowmeters.

"We're widening our lead in ultrasonic flow measurement technology by providing new flow dynamics intelligence that enables easy access to expert flow analysis, alerts operators of flow disturbances, and suggests corrective actions to take," Hackett said. "The new version 1.7 firmware provides continuous flow analysis and generates actionable alerts to identify not only abnormal flow profiles, but also upstream blockage, deposit build-up in the meter and the existence of liquid hydrocarbon in gas."

Hackett continued with more features, saying, "The firmware also provides real-time AGA 10 speed-of-sound (SOS) calculations. These calculations reduce measurement uncertainty by comparing AGA SOS calculations with the meter-calculated SOS."

Hackett explained that differences in SOS can indicate possible upstream process upsets, and can validate the integrity of the ultrasonic flow meter, gas analysis and analog measurements. The new software includes a Baseline Viewer.

"Daniel's custody transfer flow meters are PlantWeb-enabled and provide process alerts in real time through the PlantWeb network," Hackett said. "Our advanced diagnostics also can be accessed by AMS Intelligent Device Manager using enhanced EDDL functionality. So users can interact with our flowmeter either in the control room or shop using AMS, or they can use the Model 475 Field Communicator at the instrument itself."

"That's not all the news," Hackett continued. "Our new extended-range, high- temperature transducers are designed for use in temperatures -58 °F to +302 °F, or -50 °C to +150 °C."

Hackett went on, stating, "This makes Daniel Model 3804 the ideal choice for a wide variety of challenging, heated crude oil refining applications. And our new high-viscosity transducers will extend the viscosity range of the Daniel liquid ultrasonic meter to 1,000 centistokes (cSt) with Reynolds numbers above 10,000 to address an even greater variety of applications."

"What we fully expect," Hackett said, "is that the addition of the high-temperature and high viscosity transducers will allow site managers the possibility of standardizing on Daniel Model 3804 ultrasonic meters across a wide range of process environments and have access to a more cost-effective and viable alternative for high-temperature and high-viscosity applications such as refining of heavy vacuum oil, naphtha and kerosene."

You can listen to Dan Hackett and Control's Walt Boyes talk about applications and the new product enhancements to the Daniel Model 3804 in the podcast "Daniel Measurement's New Ultrasonic Flowmeter Transducer."