Bell Flow Systems ...info, ramblings and random stuff

We are taking part in Save the Children's annual Christmas Jumper Day .  We dug out our best winter woollies and made a donation. The money raised from the event helps save lives around the world. Just £2 could pay for potentially life-saving antibiotics to treat three babies with infections and this year the government is matching every pound donated. If you would like to donate £2 please text ' TEAMBELLFLOW ' to 70050. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you a fun and festive Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

The new VuHeat range of heat meters are available in sizes ¾” up to 4” (20mm to 100mm), they are ideal for domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) compliance as well as for larger pipe sizes such as those found in commercial properties and industrial heating systems.  VuHeat models meet MID Class 2 and benefit from ultrasonic technology, with no moving parts these meters are far more durable than those with mechanical counters. Suitable for temperatures up to +90°C and with standard M-Bus output and a long battery life, VuHeat meters are well suited to monitoring and recording energy consumption in domestic, commercial and industrial heating systems. Pulse and wireless RF as well as data concentrators and billing software complete the package. Both householders and non-domestic sectors can benefit from the RHI, a Governmental scheme that provides financial support to participants that install renewable heating technologies in their homes and companies such as biomass bo...

Where accurate flow measurements are required or even critical, it is imperative that the flow meter being used is producing correct and consistent results. Only by calibrating a flow meter can you provide assurance that it is performing accurately and within it’s stated specifications. We recently commissioned an in-house flow meter calibration facility to offer low cost, flexible calibration services for flow meters of many measuring principles and sizes. The facility sited in Buckinghamshire consists of three calibration rigs for water, oil and micro flow. The test rigs are UKAS traceable and are currently undergoing the development of quality, admin and technical operations to ISO 17025 with a vision to be certified later this year.  Our calibration facility can test flow meters between ¼” and 4” in size and can handle flow rates from 0.001 litres up to 1000 litres per minute. The rigs incorporate highly accurate master meters as reference devices, the water calibration ri...

This Black Friday we are offering our customers 25% off online purchases* when they use the code ' BF25 ' at the checkout at www.bellflowsystems.co.uk . This offer runs for one day only on Friday 28th November, starting at 00.01 and ending at 23.59, that's today so you will need to be quick! Happy Shopping! * Excludes hire products and shipping costs

A water supply and sewerage utility company serving the south west of England have been investing in renewable energy sources to reduce their carbon footprint and aim to have 97% of all the sludge they process digested in some form by 2019. Their biggest renewable energy source is the methane gas produced in anaerobic digesters, which are used to treat sewage sludge. The bacteria in the digesters break down the organic material in sludge to produce biogas, which is fed into combined heat and power engines. Our Badger Meter  RWBG and RNBG Hybrid Vortex meters are being rolled out across several sewerage treatment sites. The RWBG is a wafer-style inline vortex flow meter and the RNBG is an insertion vortex flow meter, both optimised for low pressure Bio-Gas applications, typically CH4 + CO2 mixtures and offer highly accurate measurements (±1%). These meters have no moving parts and are virtually maintenance-free once installed. These models are loop-powered with standa...

We recently supplied electromagnetic flow meters to Amdac Carmichael, a UK based manufacturer producing a comprehensive range of firefighting vehicles. Amdac Carmichael required a flow meter that could calibrate the volume of the water tanks and measure the flow rate of the pumps on-board their firefighting vehicles to confirm that they meet environmental and legal requirements. Badger Meter’s MID 6 M5000 is a user friendly, general purpose electromagnetic flow meter that delivers an accuracy of better than 0.5%. Built for field verification testing and conveniently powered by a battery, the MID 6 M5000 was chosen for Amdac Carmichael. Amdac Carmichael fabricated a metal cradle for the MID 6 M5000 which when combined with the above average battery life allows the flow meter to be conveniently transported to where it is required. With excellent repeatability, the electromagnetic flow meters allow Amdac Carmichael to confirm both the volume of the water tanks and the flow rate o...

Almost one quarter of all water supplied in the UK is lost through leakage. Leakage not only wastes water, leaks are costly to repair, contribute to water supply interruptions, traffic disturbances and property damage. With vast pipe distribution networks it is often difficult to locate a leak, requiring a solution which easily and quickly locates leaks in the pipeline. Dynasonics has developed a clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter named the TFX-Ultra™ . It provides accurate and repeatable flow measurement readings for full pipe liquid applications in 13mm to 3800mm internal diameter pipes where system shutdown is not feasible. The unit is designed to simply clamp-on to the outside of existing pipe, reducing installation time and material costs. There is no need to shut down the process for installation or maintenance and with no moving parts, there is no mechanical wear - no repair kits or replacement parts are ever needed.  Once installed along the distribution network th...

Coriolis mass flow meters are among the fastest-growing flow measurement technologies, the forecast for the worldwide Coriolis market is set to exceed £1.08 billion in 2016. We are pleased to announce the introduction of our latest range of Coriolis flow meters. Renowned for their outstanding accuracy and versatility in measuring challenging flow applications, coriolis flow meters have been employed in a wide variety of industries such as petroleum, petrochemical, pharmacy, food and beverage for decades. Coriolis flow meters are multivariable instruments, they provide measurement of mass flow, density, temperature and volume flow and are ideally suited to the measurement of medium to high viscosity liquids, aggressive media and contaminated fluids as well as high density gases. Coriolis flow meter advantages include: straight through flow without moving parts, versatile installation in short pipe runs, true mass flow measurement and increased turndow...

Blancett meters help hydraulic fracturing companies keep the environment safe and meet government regulations. Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is a process used to extract underground natural resources from below the Earth’s surface. These resources include oil, natural gas, geothermal energy, and even water. The process includes pumping fracturing fluid at high pressures into a well, sometimes drilled thousands of feet deep. The pressure of the fluid creates cracks in the underground rock, allowing trapped resources to flow up the well. Hydraulic Fracturing Illustration Since the fracturing fluid contains chemicals and consumes water, companies are required by the law to maintain accurate records of process fluid injected into and recovered from wells. The laws help ensure environmental and public safety. With high accuracy and a rugged design, Blancett 1100 Series meters in up to 10" line sizes are an ideal solution for measuring process liquid in hydr...

With over 20,000 square feet of research and development space, Badger Meter’s James O. Wright Innovation centre is dedicated to the development and perfection of new products. From basic mechanical functionality to network connectivity, products undergo a rigorous testing and improvement process using extreme and strict standards to ensure exacting, reliable operation. The state of the art facility, named in honour of former chairman and CEO, James O. Wright, includes 10 areas where the company’s engineers and technicians run comprehensive product tests that replicate field conditions including; Hydro Lab Nine operational test stands using gravimetric calibrated standards test metering product accuracy. The lines accommodate a variety of meter sizes, ranging from 0.25 to 12 inches. There are 21 stainless steel water tanks with capacities between 12 and 12,000 gallons and a reservoir under the concrete floor that supplies up to 125,000 gallons of potable water. Model Shop ...

Australian-owned company, Macnaught, has established a strong reputation for designing and manufacturing innovative, high quality, durable products since the company was founded by Colin Macnaught in 1948. Macnaught has been a leading designer and manufacturer of lubrication and fluid management solutions for nearly 60 years. Their products are sold into agricultural, industrial, automotive, mining and transport industries providing quality lubrication and fluid management solutions to over 60 countries worldwide.  Macnaught manufacture their products in-house to maintain control of product quality, with state of the art facilities including their own inspection lab, Macnaught can maintain their ISO 9001 high quality standards much more easily. The video below features a brief overview of the company. Macnaught manufacture one of the most dynamic ranges of oval gear flow meters on the market, The MX Series. The MX Series is a comprehensive selection of models and sizes...

We recently commissioned in-house test rigs for water, oil and micro-flows and can now offer scheduled calibrations and re-calibrations for flow meters of many measuring principles and sizes. Our test rigs are UKAS traceable and all calibrations are issued with a calibration certificate. Our flexible calibration service gives you peace of mind knowing that the meter you have purchased will be correctly calibrated and performing accurately and within its stated specifications (we can also offer an on-site calibration if required). WATER Small Water Rig: 1/2” up to 1” Medium Water Rig: 1” up to 4” Up to 1000 litres per minute Most Measuring Principles Single Point Calibration Multiple Point Calibration VIEW PRICE LIST>> OIL Small Oil Rig: 1/8” up to 1” Medium Oil Rig: 1” up to 1 1/2” Up to 300 litres per minute Most Measuring Principles Single Point Calibration Multiple Point Calibration VIEW PRICE LIST>> MICROFLOW Micro...

The DXN portable ultrasonic flow meter is capable of measuring liquid flow with multiple technologies, including: Doppler, transit time and liquid thermal flow. Easy to install by clamping RTDs onto the outside of the pipe, the meter measures flow using the non-invasive ultrasonic sensors and takes over 100 readings a second. With the industry’s only advanced touch-screen interface featuring job-specific controls this is one portable meter that really can do it all. Switches automatically between transit time and Doppler measurement as needed Bi-directional flow measurement system with various kit options Accurate readings with superior measurement processing speed Customisable site-specific parameters, 1GB internal data logging, and USB connectivity Internal 11.1 V lithium ion battery, provides 6-9 hours of continuous operation (continuous operation also with external PSU connected). Click for more information on the DXN>> Also available for hire call us on...

A working estate covering just over 50,000 acres, with large lawn areas, park land and trees to maintain, required an eco-friendly solution for expending water for the upkeep of the estate grounds. We supplied Badger Meter’s new M1000 electromagnetic flow meter as part of a water abstraction solution. Water abstraction is the removal or diversion of water from the water environment. It can be carried out by a variety of means including a pump, pipes, an engineering structure in a watercourse, a borehole or a well. In terms of regulation, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) allows the abstraction of water from privately owned land if abstraction is less than 20m3 a day. We supplied metering equipment for monitoring the water abstraction process for the estate using Badger Meter’s M1000 electromagnetic flow meter, a new addition to their accurate, high performance ModMAG® M-Series® family. The M1000 achieves an accuracy rate of ± 0.3 percent and its rugged design ensures ex...

Working in partnership with the Central YMCA, we supplied and commissioned the TFX clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter from Dynasonics at the largest gym facility in central London. The application called for a simple, non-intrusive solution to record flow rate and total consumption of fresh water at this six thousand member health centre, where the incoming fresh water pipework serves both the health centre and several business units which are sub metered. The TFX Ultra was perfectly suited to this task and chosen for it’s simple and reliable clamp-on design which allowed for quick and easy installation to the outside of the existing pipework. This style of flow meter reduces installation time and material costs. In addition to this, the application required a data logging facility for which the SQ2020 logger provided the perfect accompaniment to the TFX Ultra, with it’s 16 universal inputs and data management to MMC/SD card or PC. The information obtained now allows the YMCA cen...

With a broad range of metering and instrumentation products at our disposal we pride ourselves on product knowledge, when offered product training we're not ones to turn it down, especially when it involves a couple of days in Neuffen, Germany... Badger Meter offer a hugely varied and world renowned selection of flow measurement products and a s you are probably aware we are the UK representative for Badger Meter and we supply a whole host of their products.  Last month we were invited along to Germany for their two day product training event being held at Badger Meter Europa in Neuffen. Over the course of two days training covered a range of their industrial flow meter products such as: Hedland VA meters , Turbines , Oval Gear , Nutating Disc , Coriolis, Vortex , Differential Pressure and Impeller flow meters.  As well as learning more about Badger Meter products, we also sampled German cuisine, Swabian noodles, being the dish of choice. Swabian noodles, ...

We are running a competition for our followers (old & new ) on Twitter for a chance to win a full size (size 5) Adidas Brazuca football.  The Adidas Brazuca is the official match ball of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which will be kicking off in Brazil tonight! The Brazuca football is the first FIFA World Cup ball named by fans (over one million Brazilian football fans voted). According to FIFA, the informal term 'brazuca' is used by Brazilians to describe national pride in the Brazilian way of life. The colours chosen for the football also reflect the vibrancy and fun associated with football in Brazil.  We've got an Adidas Brazuca replica football to give away to one lucky winner. For your chance to win you must both  follow us on twitter   ( @bellflowsystems ) and re-tweet our competition picture.  We are limiting entries to just one a day, if you re-tweet our picture more than once in one day, only your first entry will be accepted. Our co...

After a five-year and £2.3billion programme to transform and update the facilities, Heathrow Airport’s terminal 2 re-opened to passengers on the 4th June this year. The project included the construction of a brand new cooling station to provide air conditioning for the estimated 20 million passengers a year. In order to provide sufficient air conditioning for terminal 2A, the new cooling station required a system to regulate and control the flow of chilled water. Working in collaboration with a building management company, we commissioned the airport’s flow metering solution.  Due to the proposed external location at the top of the cooling station, the solution required flow meters that could not only withstand the demands of the environment but also have a 4-20mA output for the use of remote mount displays. With pipe sizes of  300mm, the cooling station also required flow meters with industrial proportions.  The EX201 hot tap insertion electromagnetic flow...

Tom Purr, New Warehouse Manager at Bell Flow Systems We have another new recruit... Tom Purr is our new Warehouse Manager in Buckingham. Tom has had previous experience managing warehouses including production and assembly line operations. Having undertaken a Business Improvement Techniques course, Tom hopes to put his continuous improvement skills into action. In his spare time Tom enjoys watching sports and spending time with his friends and family. Welcome to the Bell Flow team Tom.

We recently exhibited at the Fluid Power Systems at the NEC, Birmingham. The exhibition is the UK's only event for fluid power technologies. The event comprised of world-class companies displaying and demonstrating the latest range of hydraulic and pneumatic equipment. The video below shows our Technical Director, Tom, talking about the innovative products we were exhibiting such as the new Macnaught quarter turn oval gear flow meters , our Cortex digital displays and our range of Hedland hydraulic and compressed air flow meters .

As the leading manufacturer of hydraulic flow measurement solutions, the Hedland product line features over 15,000 inline, variable-area flow meters to measure hydraulic oils, compressed air and many other liquids and gases. This large range of meters ensures that there is a meter suitable for most industrial applications that require hydraulic and pneumatic measurement. Operating Principle Hedland flow meters are variable area instruments, as the hydraulic oil or compressed air enters the meter, it is directed around a contoured metering cone located within the piston assembly. The pressure differential created by the flow around the cone causes the piston to move against the spring. The piston assembly carries a cylindrical PPS/Ceramic Magnet that is magnetically coupled to an easy-to-read linear flow scale that moves precisely, in direct response to movement of the piston for a quick visual indication to confirm systems are operating correctly. Click the image below to enlarg...

Badger Meter recently introduced the M1000 electromagnetic flow meter as an addition to its high-performance ModMAG M-Series family. Combining a general-purpose detector with an amplifier, the M1000 is available in an easy-to-use, "no frills" package with a streamlined feature set for use in a wide range of industrial applications. The electromagnetic flow meter achieves an accuracy rate of ±0.3%, and its rugged design ensures reliability in demanding environments. The meter features a non-intrusive open-flow tube that virtually eliminates pressure loss. With no moving parts to impede the flow stream, maintenance is kept to a minimum – even in less than ideal fluid conditions. The M1000 also offers vibration resistance when mounted on vehicles. A wide selection of liner and electrode materials provides maximum fluid compatibility and minimum maintenance over a long operating period. " The M1000 electromagnetic flow meter was specifically developed...

We recently collaborated with a leading pneumatic and fluid handling company to undertake a project for a global leader in packaging, who manufacturer and supply a broad range of packaging products to various industries. Inefficiencies within the packaging company’s current printing system meant that it could not detect when the solvent based ink had run out, every time this would happen the ink containers had to be switched over manually and consequently the speed and reliability of the whole process was reduced. We were set a challenge of creating a bespoke system that would detect and switch over the flow of the solvent based ink from one industrial bulk container to another, whilst keeping in mind the flammability of the ink. A system that could allow the whole process to be automated, reduce the risk of dangerous spills and ultimately speed up the process. This required a number of different components to be selected in order to create a bespoke panel capable of solvin...

New Recruits, Amy and Mel Amy Ballinger and Mel Crooks are the latest additions to the expanding team in Buckingham. Joining us in the position of Apprentice Admin Assistant, Amy will be completing a NVQ level 2 in Business & Administration whilst developing her practical skills within the workplace. Mel joins us as a Digital Marketing Assistant, Mel has a BA (HONS) Marketing degree from Bournemouth University and will be supporting us with our marketing activities online. We welcome them to the Bell Flow Team!

Householders can now also benefit from the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), a world first financial support scheme for renewable heat that has been up and running for the non-domestic sector since November 2011. Designed to revolutionise the way heat is generated and used in homes across Great Britain, RHI intends to increase the uptake of renewable heat technologies, help cut carbon emissions and reduce energy bills.  The RHI provides financial support to participants of the scheme that generate and use renewable energy such as; GSHP, ASHP, biomass boilers and PV thermal panels to heat their homes. All domestic RHI installations are to be carried out by Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS) installers with householders being reimbursed up to £230 per year for the cost of the meter installation over the seven years of RHI payments. “Where heat metering is required, a heat meter that is MID Class 3 or higher is critical, the RHI claim will not be processed without meeting this...