Flow-sensor!

[Blahenazo]

we really need more level ports !!!!!

I love the sensor but its again connected to the level port and these can't be added to the system

[richard.mayo]

What a fantastic idea, just love it.

Will you be bringing out a much larger measurement range? I know you said about bypass but that is not idea in most situations.

Something for the larger tanks, perhaps a 1.5" thread with a range of 5000 - 20,000.

Ill be getting one for sure if you bring out the above

[BigAl07]

First I'm sort of confused. If used in a "By-Pass" scenario you don't know the real "Flow" of the pump you're monitoring.

Or is this more designed to know if flow is greatly reduced/stopped and not really meant to be a precise gauge for total flow of a pump?

[Gunther]

richard.mayo wrote:

Will you be bringing out a much larger measurement range?

It´s said in german part of the forum: No, there will be no bigger device of that kind.
The reason is that the measuring probe limits the diameter of the sensor and with that also the possible max. flow.

[Gunther]

First I'm sort of confused. If used in a "By-Pass" scenario you don't know the real "Flow" of the pump you're monitoring.

In general the sensors are designed to measure the whole flow. If that flow is too high (very big tanks or ponds) the sensor can´t measure the whole flow. In that case it´s possible to build up a bypass solution. If the bypass is designed right, flow of bypass and main flow are equivalent. You have to measure once the big and bbypass flow, you can calculate the sum flow. But of course, accuracy is one degree lower than direct measurement.

Or is this more designed to know if flow is greatly reduced/stopped and not really meant to be a precise gauge for total flow of a pump?

The measuring is precise with the common limitation of such sensors: Best in the middle of range (~1-2%), less accuracy at lower and highter flow.
But it shows value according to the flow, not only a rough estimation.

[reef]

If that flow is too high (very big tanks or ponds) the sensor can´t measure the whole flow.

I would say that a flow of 5000L is very low, and most reef tanks would have over 5000L water flow. so the flow sensor is not really of any value for most tanks.

[BigAl07]

I would say that a flow of 5000L is very low, and most reef tanks would have over 5000L water flow. so the flow sensor is not really of any value for most tanks.

Most tanks? Maybe not for larger tanks with higher return pump flow rates but 5000l/hr comes in at 1350gph which is what I ran on my 90g reef tank VERY successfully for over 4 years. I'd say there are far more tanks in the 90g and less range than the other way around.

If you factor in the "By-Pass" option then this sensor can be accurately used for some very high-flow situations.

[Matthias]

if you have a higher flow than 5000l/h the bypass is the correct option

the sensor measures the flow through the bypass, that's right, but when you multiply this value by a factor you get the total flow

this factor can be adjusted in the ProfiLux so you will see the correct reading of the total flow (assumed you entered the correct factor)

[richard.mayo]

if you have a higher flow than 5000l/h the bypass is the correct option

the sensor measures the flow through the bypass, that's right, but when you multiply this value by a factor you get the total flow

this factor can be adjusted in the ProfiLux so you will see the correct reading of the total flow (assumed you entered the correct factor)

How do you work out the factor??? It would be great if you could provide a little diagram on how an idea bypass should look.
Thanks in advance

[Gunther]

bypass.jpg

How do you work out the factor???

You have to measure it once. That´s the main problem due the measurement decides between accuracy and absurdity
If it´s a bigger pipe, it may an idea to ask a specialist to measure it once with a transportable ultrasonic flowmeter (no cutting of the pipe, very easy to handle, very accurate and very expensive :mad: )

It would be great if you could provide a little diagram on how an idea bypass should look.

It´s nothing special. See the attached drawing. There are two diff. pressures and the flow will split into two parts proportional to the two diff pressures (they are always equal). There are a few points to respect:

• The bypass should be designed to have a flow. If it has too much resistance, the main pipe also should be throttled.
• There should be no change in bypass or main pipe like regulation valves during measurement.

If you once have a relation for one point of main pipe <-> bypass (best at your estimated desin point) it´s easy to calculate the flow in the main pipe for all other bypass flow points. Until you don´t change the pipe system, double flow in bypass means double flow in main pipe and vice versa.