mainstream™
Portable AV-Flowmeter
Language options: English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Perfect for short term and extended field studies with the highest quality performance and competitively priced.
Designed for use in the harshest of field conditions the Mainstream Portable flowmeter is constructed from ultra high impact structural copolymer polypropylene, is fully submersible and highly resistant to chemical attack.
This product operates with:
- Level Sensor standard 10 metre length (varying lengths available upon application) Code: P7002
- Velocity Sensor standard 10 metre length (varying lengths available upon application) Code: VP003
- Comms Cable (USB or RS232)
- Software
- User Manual
system details
- High sensitivity extends applications to ‘clean’ water
- Sophisticated ultrasound processing ignores spurious signals
- n Ultrasound signal quality monitor confirms measurement integrity
- Real-time processing of velocity signals thereby reducing power consumption
- Smart power saving mode – intelligent use of power saving which automatically reduces the measurement time for high flow velocities and high signal qualities and increases the measurement time for low velocities and low signal qualities
- Quick to install – no weirs or flumes
- Powerful, easy to use PC software simplifies transmitter commissioning
- Streamlined velocity probe eliminates fouling and reduces flow disturbances
- Distances up to 500 meters from system unit to velocity sensor
- ATEX Zone 0 velocity sensor, options available (to be used with barriers)
Mainstream uses the area-velocity method to give a continuous or time sample measurement of fluid flow. Mainstream uses a streamlined probe that operates immersed in the flowing liquid. The velocity probe transmits ultrasound into the liquid to create a zone of inspection. Bubbles and solid particles carried through this zone by the flow, even when present in only minute quantities, reflect ultrasound back to the probe.
The received ultrasound signal is processed to produce a histogram of the flow velocities. Analysing this histogram gives the mean flow velocity. Only signals containing verified velocity information are used, thereby ensuring measurement integrity.
Liquid level is measured by a submerged pressure transmitter or ultrasonic sensor. The flow cross-sectional area is deduced from the liquid level measurement and the stored description of the channel or pipe cross section. The flow rate is the flow velocity multiplied by the flow cross-sectional area.
level measurement
| Transducer Type: | Any 4-20mA current loop level sensor |
| Method: | Pulse activation with configurable sensor warm-up time. Loop current measurement by self-calibrating 16-bit delta-sigma A-D converter |
| Current Range: | 0-30mA |
| Resolution: | Better than 1µA |
| Transducer Calibration: | Calibration table (maximum 23 points) with built-in interpolator converts loop current into level measurement Simple transducer calibration tool included in UI software |
| Interchangeability: | Transducers and calibration data directly interchangeable between Mainstream system units |
velocity measurement
| Transducer Type: | Submerged ultrasonic sensor containing signal generator, transmitter, receiver and decoder electronics |
| Method: | Phase Coherence time delay measurement determines the time for tracers carried by the flow to travel a fixed distance (~ 0.75 mm) |
| Velocity Range: | -5 m/s to -10 mm/s and 10 mm/s to 5 m/s |
| Resolution: | Better than 1 mm/s |
| Measurement Integrity: | Ultrasound signal quality monitor gives the percentage of the measurement time that the received ultrasound signal contains useful velocity information |
| Smart Power Saving: | Each velocity measurement is based on the same quantity of information. Automatically reduces the measurement time for high flow velocities and high signal qualities and increases the measurement time for low velocities and low signal qualities |
derived measurements
| Area: | Flow cross-sectional area calculated from the level measurement and the dimensions of the pipe or channel. Calculation can take into account a specified (constant) silt level. Flow cross-section specification tools included in UI software |
| Flow Rate: | Fluid flow rate calculated by multiplying cross-sectional area by flow velocity |
| Flow Quantity: | Three independent flow totalisers calculate forward only, reverse only, and forward-reverse flow quantities. Each totaliser uses separate elements to accumulate hour quantity and total quantity to prevent round-off errors |
power supplies
| Power Inputs: | Internal 12V battery. Connectors for external 12V and 24V DC supplies |
| Internal Battery: | Low cost exchangeable deep discharge 12V 7.5Ah rechargeable battery. One year endurance when operated at 1 measurement per minute. Weight 2.5 kg |
| External 12V supply: | Connection for external 12V battery pack for extended measurement period |
| External 24V supply: | Connection for external 15-28V power input compatible with all industrial 24V supplies |
| Battery Charger: | Built-in battery charger maintains internal 12V battery using power from external 24V source, enabling power harvesting for indefinite endurance |
| Power Supply Monitor: | Power monitoring circuits track supply status. Supply voltages and charge currents can be displayed on LCD, viewed via the UI, stored in the data logger, and used to control switch outputs. Power supply condition visible on status LED |
data logger
| File System: | Flash file system with 4 Mbyte capacity and data retention of 20 years |
| File Content: | Configurable to record any combination of power supply voltages, battery charge current, level sensor loop current, level, area, ultrasound signal quality, velocity and flow rate, plus forward, reverse and total flow quantities |
| Recording Mode: | Proprietary data compression algorithm for extended logger capacity and rapid data retrieval |
| Recording Interval: | Configurable from 15 seconds to 1 hour |
| Data Capacity: | Logger holds more than one year of data when recording all available measurements at one minute intervals |
| Retrieval Time: | Less than 15 seconds to retrieve one month’s data recorded at 1 minute intervals. File synchronization capability for fast update of previously retrieved data files |
| Retrieved Data Format: | Spreadsheet compatible .csv file with country specific caption text and date/time format for analysis and reports. Flash file image file including complete flowmeter configuration for data archives |
communications
| Local: | RS232 and USB compatible interface with automatic baud rate detection. Supports 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 14400, 19200, 38400, 57600 and 115200 baud |
| Remote: | Optional external SDI or MODBUS device |
| Software: | Mainstream Communicator UI software for system configuration, diagnostics, real- time measurement display and data retrieval. Mainstream Communicator runs on PC platforms under Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 with data transmission from device to PC, for data control, processing and export |
user interfaces
| On/Off Switch: | Push to start – push to stop. Requires 10 seconds continuous pressure to switch flowmeter off to prevent accidental de-activation |
| Status LED: | High intensity flashing LED indicates system operation and battery status without opening enclosure or entering manhole. LED also indicates activity on communications port |
| LCD: | Two line x 16 character LCD. Automatic activation when integral light sensor detects enclosure is open. Configurable display sequence includes date, time, and any combination of measurement data. Country specific caption text and date/time format |
measurands units and formats
| Power Supply Voltage: | V |
| Signal Quality: | % |
| Linear (pipe & channel dimensions): | Selectable from mm, cm, m, in, ft |
| Level: | Selectable from mm, cm, m, in, ft |
| Area: | Selectable from m2, cm2, mm2, in2, ft2 |
| Velocity: | Selectable from mm/s, cm/s, m/s, in/s, ft/s, ft/min |
| Flow Rate: | Selectable from l/s, m3/s, ft3/s, igal/s, USG/s, l/min, m3/min, ft3/min, igal/min, USG/min, m3/h, ft3/h, m3/d, Ml/d |
| Quantity: | Selectable from l, m3, Ml, ft3, igal, USG |
| Display Format: | Independently configurable display format for each measurement. Options are integer, fixed point with 1 to 6 decimal places, and scientific (E-format). Display defaults to scientific format if data cannot be correctly represented in selected format |
switch outputs
| Hardware: | Two opto-isolated switches rated at 60V ac/dc and 200mA maximum current. Each switch independently configurable for state output or pulse output operation |
| State Output: | Switch configurable to respond to any item of measured data with separate switch open and switch close settings to provide hysterisis. Applications include power supply monitoring and control, low ultrasound signal quality indication and level, velocity and flow alarms |
| Pulse Output: | Switch configurable to generate a 2.5 second duration switch closure to indicate a defined flow quantity. Applications include sampler control and remote flow totaliser operation |
ptx level sensor
| Materials: | Titanium, acetal and polyurethane |
| Dimensions: | 185 mm long x 17.5 mm diameter |
| Cable: | 8 mm diameter vented polyurethane cable with Kevlar strain cord |
| Weight: | 1 kg including standard 10 m cable length |
| Level Range: | 0 to 2 m working. Maximum 8 m overrange |
| Resolution: | Better than 1 mm |
| Combined Accuracy: | Combined effects of non-linearity, hysterisis and repeatability better than 0.25% best straight line. Non-linearity and offsets removed by transducer calibration |
| Environmental Protection: | Fully encapsulated to IP68 |
| Operating Temperature: | -20°C to 60°C (temperature compensated 2°C to 30°C) |
velocity sensor
| Materials: | Streamlined µPVC moulding and polyurethane cable |
| Dimensions: | 105 mm long x 50 mm wide x 20 mm high |
| Cable: | 8 mm diameter polyurethane cable with Aramid strain cord. Breaking load 45 kg. Minimum static bend radius 52 mm |
| Weight: | 1 kg including standard 10 m cable length |
| Maximum Cable Length: | 500 m; 300 m for ATEX Zone 0 |
| Environmental Protection: | Totally encapsulated to IP68 |
| Operating Temperature: | -10°C to 80°C |
| Minimum Operating Depth: | 30 mm |
system unit
| Materials: | Ultra high impact structural copolymer polypropylene |
| Dimensions: | 280 mm wide x 250 mm deep x 125 mm high |
| Weight: | 5 kg with 7.5Ah internal battery installed |
| Environmental Protection: | Enclosure is IP67. Electronic assembly is encapsulated to IP68 and can operate totally submerged with the enclosure lid open |
| Operating Temperature: | -10°C to 70°C |
product support
To order additional products please call: +44 (0) 01535 654333 or email: support@mainstream-measurements.com