Aftermarket support for SA flow sensors

Thank you for your purchase of an SA flow sensor. These sensors offers precise and reliable flow measurement by monitoring the temperature difference between two resistance temperature detectors (RTDs).

Below is an overview of important setup and support points. On the following pages, you will find more information to help you install and program the sensor as well as answers to frequently asked questions. Should you need additional support, feel free to contact our service center at 800-441-8246 and speak to one of our applications engineers

Installation Guidelines for Optimal Performance

Proper setup and support maximize the performance of caliometric flow sensors. By adhering to the outlined guidelines for insertion depth, pipe mounting, sensor alignment, and leveraging the available software tools, users can ensure accurate and reliable flow measurements across various applications.

Insertion Depth and Sensor Positioning

The SA sensor's effectiveness hinges on the correct insertion depth, ensuring the sensor tip is fully immersed in the medium. The SA4 series, available with 100 mm or 200 mm probe lengths, accommodates varying pipe sizes with appropriate compression fittings to secure the necessary depth.

Key Considerations:

• Ensure the sensor tip is completely surrounded by the medium, especially in pipes less than 5 inches in diameter.
• For viscous or high-velocity media, adhere to the specified insertion depth to avoid excessive bending forces on the probe.

Recommended Practices:

• In horizontal pipes, side mounting is preferred, and if necessary, mount at an angle to compensate for incomplete pipe filling.
• Top mounting is viable if the pipe is guaranteed to be full, but horizontal bottom mounting is only recommended in the absence of medium build-up.

Conditional Mounting:

• Avoid mounting the sensor where the tip could contact the opposite pipe wall or in downward-flowing pipes open to the atmosphere, as these conditions disrupt the heat conduction process and flow profile.

Straight Pipe Run Requirement

To minimize the impact of turbulence caused by valves, bends, and other flow disruptions, it's crucial to maintain a straight pipe run of 5 to 10 times the pipe diameter upstream and 3 to 5 times downstream of the sensor.

Sensor Alignment

Proper alignment ensures the flow directly impacts the reference side of the sensor, marked by a dimple or wrench flats on the housing, enhancing the sensor's responsiveness to medium temperature changes.

SA Flow Sensor Configuration

Software Tools for Sensor Programming

moneo | configure:

• A user-friendly software for programming and visualizing parameters of IFM's IO-Link enabled sensors, ensuring ease of configuration and optimization.

moneo | blue:

• A mobile app providing access to sensor parameters and diagnostics, facilitating on-the-go adjustments and monitoring through a user-friendly interface.

General Programming Features

Switching and Analog Outputs:

• The SA sensors offer versatile output configurations to suit various control and monitoring requirements, with options for normally open or closed operations and window functions.

Display and Indications

The SA sensors not only measure flow and temperature but also provide clear visual feedback through LED displays and indicators, simplifying setup and real-time monitoring.

SA Operating Modes

With modes tailored for liquid and gas absolute measurements and a relative mode for application-specific calibration, the SA sensors ensure flexibility and accuracy across a broad range of applications.

Best Practices for Reliable Measurements

Media Curves and Accuracy

• The SA sensors come pre-configured with media curves for common fluids and gases, offering estimations of response times and accommodating variations in glycol concentration.

Temperature Compensation

• The sensors are designed to adjust for gradual temperature changes, ensuring consistent readings despite fluctuations in the medium's temperature.