Precise Heat Quantity Measurement Using Clamp-On Ultrasonic Technology
Energy Efficiency and Cost Reduction Through Precisely Sized Heat Exchangers
Precise heat metering reliably tracks heat consumption and peak demand. This allows heating systems to be designed to meet actual needs and sustainably reduce energy and operating costs.
Measurement Task and Requirements
A leading British supplier of large-scale steam heating systems needed portable heat meters to help it accurately measure and monitor heat flow in hospitals, food processing plants, and other large energy consumers. The information recorded by the meters was intended to give the company confidence that total energy demand was being tracked and peak demand measured, ensuring 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 flow volume. The recorded temperature is correlated with the flow measurement to provide a direct measurement of the heat in the system, total heat consumption, and, most importantly, peak demand across the entire network.
Measurement Procedure 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 had several projects where it was really difficult to assess boiler room operations, but with the KATflow meter, we were able to record the flow rates, see the numbers and peak demand, and make accurate recommendations.”
Since the recommendations are backed 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.
This company has since used KATflow 230 measurements in nearly twenty large-scale heat exchanger studies across a wide range of different sectors.
Image credit: Image generated using AI