Measuring a giant pipeline, without cutting it
A HYKO® clamp-on flow meter reads the flow from outside the pipe, so the process keeps running.
The challenge
Very large pipelines are hard to instrument. Cutting into the pipe, fitting a heavy in-line meter and stopping the process is costly and disruptive. The need was a dependable flow reading on a 2100 mm pipe.
Clamp-on measurement
The HYKO® UF-100 uses transit-time ultrasonic sensors strapped on the outside of the pipe. Nothing enters the liquid. A wall-mounted transmitter turns the signal into flow readings and sends them to the plant by 4–20 mA, pulse, relay or MODBUS, with HART optional.
Intended operating value
Flow measurement on a very large pipe without cutting it or interrupting the process, with digital outputs that feed the plant's control and monitoring systems.
Why clamp-on ultrasonic flow measurement suits large-diameter pipes
On large pipes, in-line meters are heavy, costly and hard to fit. Clamp-on transit-time sensors mount on the outside of the pipe, so there is no pipe cutting and no shutdown, and the same method scales from small lines up to very large pipes.
How it works
- Transducer A sends an ultrasonic pulse across the pipe to transducer B, travelling with the flow.
- Transducer B sends a pulse back to A, against the flow.
- The pulse travelling with the flow arrives sooner than the one travelling against it. The difference in transit time gives the flow velocity, so the flow can be measured from outside the pipe, with nothing inside the liquid.
Signal path on this installation: sensors, shielded cable up to 10 m, wall-mounted HYKO® UF-100 transmitter, then 4–20 mA, pulse or MODBUS to the plant control system.
Illustrative animation; confirm sensor positions and wiring at site.
Key specifications
| Principle | Transit-time |
|---|---|
| Accuracy | ±1% |
| Pipe range | DN15–DN6000 |
| Outputs | 4–20 mA + RS485 |
| Power | 24 V DC / 85–264 V AC |
| Protection | IP65 transmitter |
Related services
Have a large pipe you cannot shut down?
Share your pipe size, material, liquid and output requirements.
Related searches: clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter for large pipes, large diameter pipe flow measurement, non-invasive flow measurement, flow meter without cutting pipe, 2100 mm pipeline flow meter, transit-time ultrasonic flow meter, water pipeline flow measurement, HYKO UF-100 ultrasonic flow meter, ultrasonic flow meter India, clamp-on flow meter 4-20mA Modbus.