Clamp-On Flow Measurement in Breweries
Noncontact Measurement Technology for Process Monitoring
Monitoring existing piping systems often poses challenges for breweries. Katronic clamp-on ultrasonic measurement technology enables precise flow measurement quickly, flexibly, and without interrupting production.
Measurement Task and Requirements
Molson Coors Brewing Company was looking for a reliable, robust, and accurate solution to monitor its brewing, cleaning, and energy processes. The brewery’s engineers faced the challenge that they were unable to inspect the existing in-line flow meters or measure flow in pipes without permanently installed flow meters. This proved particularly difficult for the water supply and cleaning lines, as these piping systems had been in operation for a long time. The same was true for the facility’s wastewater discharge, which had to comply with strict environmental regulations.
Project Specifications at a Glance
- Industry: Food and Beverages
- Installation Type: Portable
- Fluid: Water, beer, corrosive substances,
- Pipe material: Stainless steel
- Pipe diameter: 25 … 250 mm
- Temperature: Up to +130 °C
- Number of measurement channels: 2
Technical Solution
The solution was the KATflow 230 portable clamp-on flow meter with two measurement channels. Using this meter allowed the engineers to obtain a complete overview of all critical lines within the production process without having to interrupt production.
Measurement Procedure and Results
Thanks to the flow meter’s quick programmability and the sensors’ straightforward installation, multiple lines could be tested simultaneously in a very short time. The non-intrusive measurements eliminated the risk of contaminating the flowing liquids.
The use of the KATflow flow meter was successful and proved very popular with the engineering team. They were “highly satisfied with the device’s wide range of capabilities, its ease of use, and the excellent build quality of both the sensors and the electronic transducer.”
Image credit: Image generated using AI