New transducers deliver greater accuracy in gas meter measurement

The latest range of ultrasonic sensors for gas flow measurement from Ceramtec is providing gas meter manufacturers with an improved dynamic range and an increase in accuracy of measurements for domestic gas flow sensing and industrial metering applications.

A leader in ultrasonic flow sensor design and production, Ceramtec has optimised its 400kHz (09300-001) ultrasonic flow sensors to increase the accuracy of ultrasonic gas meters, over an extended temperature range (-35C to 80C), suitable to achieve the demanding specifications of the European MID as well as the relevant US and Canadian standards.

As with any kind of ultrasonic technology, a high degree of acoustic stability is needed for accurate measurement. This is a particular challenge in ultrasonic gas metering, due to the inherent turbidity and significant fluid property changes over temperature in the metered fluid.

Ceramtec’s experts at its manufacturing and development facility in Southampton have developed a range of 400kHz ultrasonic gas transducers (09300-001) to minimise measurement errors, by keeping a stable, maximum output across temperatures.  “It’s a question of repeatability,” explains Oksana Jaroszak, Transducer Engineer at CeramTec UK.  “As temperatures fluctuate, there can be variance in the stability of the measurement results caused by ultrasonic sensors. These variations typically present themselves as fluctuations in the electrical characteristics, acoustic properties and the zero flow offset between a pair of ultrasonic sensors.  The aim is to minimise or eliminate these variations so that more accurate measurements can be taken. CeramTec offer a fully vertically integrated design, development and manufacture service: from the production and selection of piezo ceramic raw materials and components to complete assemblies. Our unique matching layer technology, combined with piezo material expertise ensures we are delivering best in class sensors to our customers – that exhibit less than 1ns zero flow drift in tested gas metering environments.

By utilising CeramTec’s best in class ultrasonic gas flow sensors manufacturers can reduce their time and cost investment, as well as boosting meter accuracy and widening their dynamic range, providing accurate results at very low flows. The superior stability and performance of these ultrasonic flow sensors allows ultrasonic gas meter manufacturers to easily integrate these ultrasonic flow sensors, whilst minimising the linearization and characterisation of their ultrasonic gas flow meters.

“CeramTec’s industry-leading experience in materials science continues to play a vital role in ensuring the reliability of transducers, to give manufacturers a competitive edge in the marketplace.   We offer both bespoke solutions and high-volume manufacturing, meaning that customers can benefit from stable, sensitive transducers effective over the full range of operational temperatures for both domestic and industrial ultrasonic gas metering,” concludes Oksana.