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Burkert Ultrasonic Flow Meters: Clamp-On and Inline Solutions for Industrial Applications
Quick Answer: Burkert offers two practical ultrasonic flow meter designs: clamp-on sensors for quick, non-invasive measurement and inline models for permanent, high-accuracy installations in clean or dirty liquids. Both cover pipe sizes from DN15 up to DN600 and deliver 4-20 mA HART, pulse, or Modbus outputs straight to your PLC. Silver Automation Instruments supplies, configures and ships these meters to water treatment plants, chemical dosing skids and food batching systems across Southeast Asia, Oceania and the Middle East.
Where Clamp-On Ultrasonic Meters Make Sense
Clamp-on flow meters from Burkert do not contact the liquid. You strap the transducers onto the outside of a pipe, connect the transmitter and start measuring. No pipe cutting, no process shutdown and no risk of contamination. Food and beverage plants use this method on CIP return lines with 50 cP rinse water. A pharmaceutical site in Indonesia measures purified water at 40°C without opening a single clamp fitting.
Installation takes less than one hour on a clean, straight pipe section. The transmitter needs 10D upstream and 5D downstream distance from the nearest elbow or valve. The coupling gel ensures acoustic contact on steel, PVC or lined pipe. Burkert clamp-on models read flow rates from 0.1 m/s to 10 m/s with ±1% of reading accuracy once site-calibrated. Most engineers skip the default settings and input the pipe wall thickness and lining material manually. That small step lifts accuracy from “acceptable” to “traceable”.
We see clamp-on meters used heavily in wastewater treatment plants across Australia and Vietnam. Plant operators mount the sensors on exposed DN250 ductile iron pipes feeding UV disinfection channels. Signal strength stays stable even with iron oxide buildup because Burkert transducers run at a lower frequency that penetrates scale. If you measure sludge with up to 3% solids, switch to the Doppler mode if the meter supports it. Ask our engineers to confirm the transducer frequency before you order.
Inline Ultrasonic Flow Meters for Permanent Metering
Inline ultrasonic meters from Burkert sit directly in the process stream with flanged, tri-clamp or threaded process connections. These meters work well on clean liquids: demineralized water, glycol mixes, light solvents and low-viscosity oils. A chemical blending system in a Thai factory measures a 30% ethylene glycol solution at 2 bar and 25°C with a DN25 inline meter. The 316L wetted parts and Kalrez seals handle the chemical attack without swelling.
Measuring range on a DN15 inline unit often starts at 0.5 L/min, while a DN100 covers up to 600 m³/h. You get a metering accuracy of ±0.5% of reading above 0.5 m/s, which is enough for internal custody transfer between process units. The 4-20 mA HART output sends flow, totaliser and diagnostic data to a Remtron unit or your DCS. Many sites pair the meter with a Burkert PT100 temperature sensor to run automatic thermal correction on the fluid density. This makes mass flow computation possible without a separate Coriolis meter.
Because inline meters handle pressures up to 40 bar and fluid temperatures from -20°C to 130°C, they fit into steam condensate lines, chiller loops and heat exchanger monitoring. We recently shipped five DN50 inline ultrasonic meters to a marine cooling system in South Africa. The client needed ATEX Zone 2 certification for the enclosure and a fast pulse output to drive their fuel management computer. Standard delivery took ten working days.
Clamp-On vs Inline: How to Choose
Both types have sharp boundaries where one outperforms the other. Clamp-on wins when you cannot stop the process or cut the pipe. It also wins on retrofits where an existing flow meter has failed and you need a fast replacement. Inline wins when you need the highest accuracy, a very low flow cutoff, or you cannot accept occasional signal loss due to loose pipe straps.
Here is the thing. We have seen a paint manufacturer in Southeast Asia choose a clamp-on meter for a charged solvent line under 3 bar. After three months, the strapping loosened due to pipe vibration, and signal dropped intermittently. The maintenance team replaced it with a DN20 inline ultrasonic meter with flanged adapters
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For temporary flow surveys or energy audits, clamp-on is the only sensible option. Consultants often rent the meter for a week, log data via the built-in USB interface and remove it without a mark on the pipe. Our rental pool in Sydney ships to all Australian states within two business days.
Key Specifications That Affect Your Selection
Always check the fluid conductivity. Ultrasonic meters do not need conductivity like magnetic flow meters. They rely on sound propagation, which means they work on demineralized water, oils and even some pastes. However, if the liquid carries more than 1% air bubbles or entrained solids above 5%, you will lose the transit-time signal. That is where Burkert Doppler clamp-on units or a Coriolis meter becomes the correct choice. Most clean water and chemical applications stay well below these limits.
When you specify a meter, send us your exact fluid composition, pipe material, wall thickness, lining, temperature range and flow span. Our engineers will cross-check the sound speed table and recommend the correct transducer pair. For inline meters, also state the required connection type: EN 1092-1 flanges, tri-clamp to ISO 2852, or NPT threads. Silver Instruments holds stock of common sizes in our Singapore and Nanjing warehouses. Less common DN125 or DN150 inline units ship from Burkert within 15 working days.
How We Configure and Test Before Shipment
Every ultrasonic meter goes through a wet calibration check at our facility if you request a calibration certificate. We use a traceable reference meter with an uncertainty of ±0.15%. The process takes about three hours for a single range. For multi-range setups, we set the 4 mA and 20 mA points exactly to your process demand. A dairy customer asked for three flow ranges mapped onto a single 4-20 mA output with automatic range switching. We configured the meter via the USB service port, verified the switching points and attached the tag number you supplied.
If you cannot visit our test bench, we ship with a factory certificate from Burkert that meets ISO 9001 requirements. Terminal box wiring diagrams and a two-page quick start guide go inside the box. Most customers get the meter installed and communicating to their PLC inside half a day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter measure gas or steam?
No. Burkert clamp-on meters measure liquids only. For gas or steam, use a vortex flow meter or a thermal mass flow meter. Contact us with your gas composition and we will propose the correct technology.
What is the smallest pipe size a Burkert clamp-on meter can handle?
Standard transducers fit pipes from DN15 up to DN600. A special small-pipe kit is available for DN10 to DN15 plastic tubing. Mention your outside diameter when you request a quote.
How do I maintain a Burkert inline ultrasonic meter?
Inline meters have no moving parts. Clean the electrodes or acoustic lenses every six months if you measure sticky fluids. Check the O-rings during cleaning and replace if they show swelling. The transmitter electronics are rated IP65 to IP67 depending on the housing.
Do Burkert ultrasonic meters carry ATEX certification?
Yes. Inline and clamp-on models carry ATEX Zone 1 and Zone 2 approvals for gas and dust atmospheres. Tell us your zone classification and gas group when you order, so we supply the correct certified variant.
How fast can Silver Instruments ship a Burkert ultrasonic flow meter to Jakarta or Dubai?
Popular models in DN25 to DN100 leave our Singapore hub in 2-4 working days. Air freight to Jakarta takes one additional day. Dubai shipments go from our Nanjing office with 5-day transit. We provide the tracking number the same day the courier collects the parcel.
Send your pipe size (DN), flow range, fluid name, pressure (bar) and temperature (°C) to [email protected]. You can also reach us on WhatsApp at 86-135-12131526 or call +86-135-1213-1526. We will reply with a complete data sheet, a price breakdown and a delivery timeline within 24 hours.