19-03-2013

ST100 flow meter receives ATEX & IECEx approvals

The future-ready ST100 Series Thermal Mass Air/Gas Flow Meter from Fluid Components International (FCI) has received ATEX and IECEx approvals, assuring FCI’s customers that the ST100 Flow Meter has been designed and tested for safe operation in potentially hazardous environments.

The ST100 Flow Meter has received ATEX and IECEx approval, and its enclosure is ATEX and IECEx certified as flame-proof and protected from dust ignition. The ST100’s ATEX and IECEx approvals are as follows: Ex d IIC T6/T1 Gb Ta = -40°C to +65°C; Ex tb IIIC T85°C/ T450°C Db Ta = -40°C to +65°C; IP67.  These approvals specify design criteria for flow meters and other electrically-powered instruments for use in areas where combustible gases may be present. 

The ST100 Series Flow Meter sets a new industry benchmark in process and plant air/gas flow measurement, offering the most feature-rich and function-rich electronics available. The ST100’s performance delivers unsurpassed adaptability and value to meet plant gas flow measurement applications for today and tomorrow.

Whether the need is for 4-20 mA analog, frequency/pulse, alarm relays or digital bus communications such asHART, Fieldbus, Profibus or Modbus, the ST100 is the solution. Should a plant’s needs change over time or an upgrade be desirable, the ST100 Flow Meter adapts as necessary with a plug-in card replacement that can be changed out by plant technicians in the field. 

The ST100 Flow Meter’s unique graphical, multivariable, backlit LCD display/readout brings new meaning to the term “process information”. It provides the industry’s most comprehensive information with continuous display of all process measurements and alarm status, and the ability to interrogate for service diagnostics.

The user-friendly ST100 stores up to five unique calibration groups to accommodate broad flow ranges, differing mixtures of the same gas and multiple gases, and obtains up to 1000:1 turndown. An optional, patent-pending SpectraCal™ Gas Equivalency calibration method lets users select and switch between 10 common gases. Also standard is an on-board data logger with an easily accessible, removable 2-GB micro-SD memory card capable of storing 21 million readings.

The ST100 is the first thermal flow meter to offer three different types of flow sensors to best match user applications. The fast-response FPC-style is a fast response features an integral flow conditioner and protective shroud optimized for compressed air and clean gas applications. The fast-response, general purpose FP-style features a protective shroud and is the sensor used with FCI’s VeriCal™ in-situ calibration option. For wet or dirty gases, or erratic flows, the unshrouded S-style facilitates easy cleaning and provides a smoothed response.

The comprehensive ST100 Series is comprised of two core model families: ST and STP. ST meters measure both mass flow and temperature, and the exclusive STP family adds a third parameter, pressure, making the ST100 the world’s first triple-variable thermal flow meter. Both families include single-point and dual-element models as configurations outfitted with FCI’s exclusive in-situ calibration option, VeriCal. 

The ST100 can be calibrated to measure virtually any process gas, including wet gas, mixed gases and dirty gases. The basic insertion style air/gas meter features a thermal flow sensing element that measures flow from 0.25 to 1000 SFPS (0.07 NMPS to 305 NMPS) with accuracy of  ±0.75 percent of reading, ±0.5 percent of full scale.  

Designed for rugged industrial processes and plants, ST100 Flow Meters include service up to 850ºF (454ºC) and are available with both integral and remote (up to 1000 feet [300 meters]) electronics versions. The ST100 is agency approved for hazardous

environments, including the entire instrument, the transmitter and the rugged, NEMA 4X/IP67 rated enclosure. Instrument approvals in addition to ATEX and IECEx include FM and FMc.