Precise heat flow measurement using clamp-on ultrasonic technology
Energy efficiency and cost savings through precisely sized heat exchangers
Precise heat meter readings reliably track heat consumption and peak demand. This enables heating systems to be designed to meet actual demand, thereby reducing energy and operating costs in the long term.
Measurement task and requirements
A leading British supplier of large-scale steam heating systems required portable heat meters to help it accurately measure and monitor heat flows in hospitals, food factories and other major energy consumers. The information recorded by the meters was intended to give the company the assurance that total energy demand was being tracked and peak demand measured, so that the new systems it proposed would precisely meet customers’ requirements and enable them to achieve significant energy and cost savings that would justify the investment.
Project specifications at a glance
- Industry: Building services engineering
- Installation type: Portable
- Medium: Water
- Special feature: Measurement of heat quantities
Technical solution
Katronic’s KATflow 230 is a non-invasive clamp-on ultrasonic flow and heat meter. A compact pair of stainless-steel transducers is simply attached to the outside of the hot water pipe, as close as possible to the main heat exchanger. Ultrasonic signals are emitted across the pipe’s width, both upstream and downstream, to measure the flow velocity, which is then converted into the flow volume. The recorded temperature is linked to the flow measurement to provide a direct measurement of the heat in the system, the total heat consumption and, above all, the peak demand across the entire network.
Methodology and Results
A sales engineer at the company used a KATflow 230 on a number of projects. He says: “The flow meter is a really important tool for me. We’ve had several projects where it was really difficult to assess boiler house operation, but with the KATflow meter we were able to record the flow rates, see the figures and the peak demand, and make accurate recommendations.”
As the proposals are backed up by relevant data, the heating manufacturer can demonstrate to its customers that the systems it offers are based on actual heat demand. In many cases, this has led to significant savings in energy consumption, amounting to annual savings of more than £500,000 in at least one instance.
The KATflow 230 measurements have since been used by this company in nearly twenty large-scale heat exchanger studies across a wide range of different sectors.
Image credit: Image generated using AI