Installation requirements/System design information

The SITRANS F C mass flowmeter is suitable for in- and outdoor installations. The standard instrument meets the requirements of Protection Class IP67/NEMA 6 or IP65. The flowmeter is bidirectional and can be installed in any orientation, however, the sensor is not self-emptying in all positions.
It is important to ensure that the meter tubes are always completely filled with homogeneous fluid. Otherwise measuring errors may occur.
The corrosion resistance of the fluid-wetted materials must be evaluated.
The pressure drop through the sensor is a function of the properties of the fluid and the flow rate. The Sizing Program (download from www.siemens.com/fc430/sizer) can be used to calculate the pressure drop.

The preferred flow direction is indicated by the arrow on the flowmeter. Flow in this direction will be indicated as positive.

Installation orientation

• FCS400 – sensors
  The optimal installation orientation is vertical with flow upwards (liquids) and up to 10° off vertical for self-draining.
• MASS 2100/FC300 – sensors
  The optimal installation orientation is horizontal.

Supports

• In order to support the weight of the flowmeter and to ensure reliable measurements when external effects exist (e.g. vibrations), the sensor should be installed in well-supported pipelines. Supports or hangers should be installed symmetrically and stress-free in close proximity to the process connections. FCS400 sensors can be supported at the junction between the process connection and the main body of the sensor.

Shut-off devices

• To conduct a system zero adjustment, shut-off devices are required in the pipeline:
  • In horizontal installations at the outlet for FC300 and the inlet for MASS 2100.
  • In vertical installations at the inlet.
• When possible, shut-off devices should be installed both up- and downstream of the flowmeter. A bypass valve is recommended where regular zero adjustment is planned to avoid disruption of the flowing system.

Installation: straight run requirements

• The mass flowmeter does not require any flow condition or straight inlet sections. Care should be exercised to ensure that any valves, gates, sight glasses etc. do not cavitate and are not set into vibration by the flowmeter.

System design information

• The presence of gas bubbles in the fluid may result in erroneous measurements, particularly in the density measurement. Therefore the flowmeter should not be installed at the highest point in the system where bubbles are possibly largest.
• Long drop lines downstream from the flowmeter should be avoided to prevent the meter tube from draining during operation.
• The flowmeter should not come into contact with any other objects. Avoid attachments to the housing.
• When the cross-section of the connecting pipeline is larger than the sensor size, suitable standard reducers may be installed.
• If strong vibrations exist in the pipeline, they should be damped using elastic pipeline elements. The damping devices must be installed outside the supported flowmeter section and outside the section between the shut-off devices.
• Make sure that any dissolved gases, which are present in many liquids, do not outgas. The back pressure at the outlet should be at least 0.2 bar (3 psi).
• Assure that operation below the vapor pressure cannot occur when a vacuum exists in the meter tube or for fluids which boil readily.
• The sensor should not be installed in the vicinity of strong electromagnetic fields, e.g. near motors, pumps, transformers etc.
• When operating more than one meter in one or multiple interconnected pipelines, the sensors should be spaced distant from each other or the pipelines should be decoupled to prevent cross talk.

Zero adjustment

• In order to adjust the zero under operating conditions it must be possible to reduce the flow rate to „ZERO“ while the meter tube is completely filled. It is important for accurate measurements that during the zero adjustment there are no gas bubbles in the flowmeter. It is also important that the pressure and temperature in the meter tube be the same as that which exists during operation.