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

With the new year looming is it time to improve your energy management?  Typically energy management involves the following steps: 1) Metering energy consumption & collecting the data Effective metering is fundamental to energy management with meter data proving invaluable for identifying energy-saving opportunities. The more data you can get and the more detailed it is, the better! 2) Finding opportunities to save energy Detailed interval energy consumption data makes it possible to see patterns of energy waste. By analysing your meter data you can find and quantify routine energy waste. 3) Taking action to target the opportunities to save energy Having analysed the meter data you should have identified some areas that could be improved. Routine waste such as water use in production could be tackled by installing new equipment, a batch controller perhaps. 4) Tracking your progress By analysing your meter data since you made changes allows you to see how well your energy-...

The E-Series water meter from Badger Meter has been given OIML approval according to R49-1 – for metering cold potable water and hot water. OIML is the International Organization of Legal Metrology established to promote the global harmonisation of legal metrology procedure. The E-Series was found to meet the requirements stipulated within the OIML R49 test. The E-Series is designed for water utility metering applications and features ultrasonic technology and electronic, solid-state construction. With no moving parts, the E-Series water meter improves accuracy and reliability by virtually eliminating the mechanical wear. The E-Series benefits from a compact encapsulated, submersible IP68 and UV-resistant housing and an easy to read LCD display. Available in sizes 5/8” up to 2” and flow rates from 0.4 to 95 l/min the E-Series is ideal in any application requiring long-term measurement accuracy. For more information on the E-Series please call +44 (0)1280 817304. ...

This Black Friday we are offering 25% off all our products*, to make use of this offer simply enter the code ' BF25 ' at the checkout on our website  tomorrow. The code expires at 23.59 27/11/15 so you you'll need to get your orders in quick tomorrow! Our featured products:  Water Meters Mechanical water meters Single-Jet, Multi-jet & Woltmann WRAS & MID approved Pulse output options BLACK FRIDAY PRICE from £28.26 incl. VAT BUY NOW>> AquaLink Telemetry System GPRS, GSM or Wifi datalogger Multiple input channels Data accessed by website Alarms via SMS / Email BLACK FRIDAY PRICE from £378.00 incl. VAT BUY NOW>> Badger Meter Mag Meters Obstruction free flow High accuracy 0.25% AC / DC & Battery power Liner & connections options BLACK FRIDAY PRICE from £1231.85 incl. VAT BUY NOW>> TFXE Ultrasonic Flow Meter Measures flow & heat Clamp-on design DN1/...

Last week Macnaught launched two new pulse modules- the DIN Compact Pulser Module and the Industrial Pulse Cap, to compliment their MX range of oval gear flow meters. The new pulse options have been developed to appeal to a broader range of industrial applications, including fixed and mobile plant operations, and both include sensor configuration options of Reed and Hall effect or Dual Hall. The new DIN Compact Pulser Module features a recognisable DIN plug in 5 position with a choice of cabling or field connections and incorporates the unique M-Lock mounting system found on existing pulsers within the MX Series. The new Industrial Pulse Cap is designed for those customers who wish to route the signal cables via a cable gland or through an armoured conduit, for instance use on service trucks. This cap is fixed to the meter body- does not feature M-Lock system. Macnaught have also introduced a ‘blind’ flow meter option, which is to be ordered separately, to facilitate the new pulse...

Earlier this month our technical sales team were invited over to Otočec in Slovenia for product training on the AquaLink telemetry system- a platform that enables remote online monitoring of flow meters. As strong advocates of training to boost our product expertise, our team spent two days learning about the technical aspects and capabilities of the AquaLink unit, it’s programming and how to interpret collected data via the cloud based software.  With up to 3 Digital inputs and 3 Analog inputs, a 6 year battery or mains power, real time data collection, sensor based alarms and an IP67 ABS enclosure, the AquaLink offers a complete system for data logging and leak detection. AquaLink also announced that they were working on a mobile App to be released early next year, which will make on-site programming even easier! However it was not all hard work and no play, the hosts also wined and dined our team. They visited Pleterje Carthusian Monastery where they tasted Cv...

The clocks have gone back, the nights are closing in and according to the Telegraph we are facing the longest winter in 50 years. Are you prepared for the cold? No doubt you’ve started to put the heating on already but when was the last time you checked how much heating oil you have left in your tank? Perhaps the thought of traipsing outside in your dressing gown to check your oil level fills you with dread and you long for a way to check it without leaving the warmth of your home? Well help is at hand with the Apollo Smart. Apollo Smart not only allows heating oil users to ascertain the volume of fuel remaining in their tank, but also monitor heating costs, consumption and emissions too. It consists of a transmitter and receiver unit. The transmitter easily fits onto your tank and monitors the volum e of heating oil remaining, together with fuel usage and consumption. The transmitter relays data, including estimated days until empty, wirelessly to a mains powered receive...

The use of AdBlue® is not new, buses and HGV have been using it for several years. But as of September, all new diesel cars and light commercial vehicles sold in the EU will be fitted with AdBlue® tanks in order to comply with EU6 standards for exhaust emissions. AdBlue® is the registered trademark for AUS32 (Aqueous Urea Solution 32.5%). It’s a colourless, non-flammable liquid used in a process called Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and consists of 32.5% high purity urea and 67.5% deionised water. Put simply, the AdBlue® solution helps to reduce harmful nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions which are present in a diesel vehicle’s exhaust fumes. Most new diesel cars which require AdBlue® carry sufficient quantity to last between scheduled servicing intervals. However some car fleets and commercial vans may require the additive to be topped up regularly by drivers or depot staff. You should not use old diesel or oil containers / equipment to transfer AdBlue® into the tank. Any no...

Badger Meter President, Rich Meeusen Made possible in part through a $40,000 donation from Badger Meter, a new park opens along the Milwaukee river shoreline. The park features a disabled-accessible boat launch for canoes or kayaks as well as scenic views of native prairie grass, wetlands and oak savannas along the riverfront. As the only park of its kind in the northern stretch of Milwaukee County, Badger Meter River Park will give residents public access to 270 feet of Milwaukee River shoreline. "We are excited to celebrate the opening of this park in our home of Brown Deer. It has been a pleasure working with the village to put together this community resource that will be enjoyed by many for years to come," said Badger Meter President Rich Meeusen. Badger Meter have spent 100 years developing accurate and dependable flow measurement solutions and now have one of the broadest flow measurement portfolios in the industry. We are the UK representative for Bad...

Vision turbine approved for drinking water Badger Meters Vision series of turbine flow meters have been examined, tested and found to comply with the requirements of The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS). WRAS is a conformance mark that demonstrates that an item complies with high standards set out by water regulations in the United Kingdom. In order to receive WRAS approval the Vision turbines had to pass a series of tests to ensure that their design and manufacture prevents waste or contamination of drinking water supplies and are “of an appropriate quality and standard”. Available in sizes ¼” and 3/8”, the Vision turbines have been designed for the exact measuring of small quantities of liquids and are ideal for coffee and beverage machines, dishwashers, washing machines, bakery machines, dental water jets and dosing systems. The Vision Series consists of two turbine flow meter models: the V1000 for measuring liquid flow as low as 0.1 and up 2.5 l/min, and the V20...

System for improved water network efficiency The biggest challenge for any water distributor is monitoring and detection of leaks in their network. Without a smart leak detection system you rely on manual leak detection which is often too late and can cause costly and time-consuming disruptions. Today most water networks rely on traditional SCADA systems for control, which do not have the means for fast detection of leaks and defects. Without the right tools most silent leaks and defects remain undetected and significantly increase overall non-revenue water of the network.  AquaLink have developed a solution for more efficient management of water networks. The AquaLink system is a monitoring platform that enables the public utility companies to gain control over their water network in a simple and effective manner. The system is composed of battery powered field devices that are installed on the existing water meter and a cloud based software that enables remote online monito...

Michael Davies is a welcome addition to the technical sales and support team here in Buckingham. Joining us in the position of Technical Sales Engineer, Michael has a BSc from Kingston University in Aerospace Engineering.

We would like to thank those of you who took the time to visit our stand during Offshore Europe 2015, in Aberdeen and The Energy Event, held in Birmingham earlier this month. It was our pleasure to meet you and we enjoyed many inspiring conversations. We were impressed by the number of visitors to our stand and the great interest in our products at both events. We consider our participation in Offshore Europe 2015 and The Energy Event 2015 to have been a great success and the number of visitors to both events exceeded all our expectations. Our sales team are currently busy working through the large amount of enquiries we received!

Specifying the correct flow meter for any application is important but becomes absolutely critical in potentially explosive environments. In these situations only meters with the correct ratings and genuine certification must be specified. Renowned for their innovative flow meter design, Badger Meter have developed a range of intrinsically safe electromagnetic flow meters, sizes 6 – 600mm. Tested and certified to ATEX, CSA and FM, the ModMag M3000 and M4000 offer the ideal solution for applications requiring accurate flow measurement in hazardous environments. Incorporating the latest developments in micro processing signal conditioning, the M3000 and M4000 have an accuracy of better than ±0.25% with a flow range of 0.03 to 12 m/s. Targeted to a variety of industrial and offshore applications, these full bore meters are virtually unaffected by density, temperature, pressure, and viscosity changes and provide an accurate and reliable long term metering solution for a va...

As a thank you for using DHL as our preferred shipper our warehouse manager Tom Purr was invited to a VIP evening at Towcester Racecourse. Greeted by our account manager and his team, Tom was treated to complimentary drinks and a three course dinner. Tom also took part in the DHL raffle, with all proceeds going to a charity for retired greyhound racing dogs, and was lucky enough to win first prize, a DHL Manchester United shirt, which was awarded to him by the Vice President of UK sales, Neil Kuschel (pictured right).

We would like to welcome Edward Lang to Bell Flow Systems. Edward has worked in the industry for 8 years and has previously provided sales and technical support of flow measurement, water quality, level and telemetry. As our new Business Development Manager Edward will be looking for potential company growth opportunities whilst supporting the sales team and commissioning products.

Come see us and our products This September we are exhibiting both at SPE Offshore Europe in Aberdeen and The Energy Event 2015 in Birmingham. Come and see how we can help you with your flow measurement needs. First up is SPE Offshore Europe, which is one of the world's largest technical conference and exhibitions for the offshore industry. With over 1,500 exhibitors and various keynote sessions from industry leaders, this free to attend event covers all aspects of the oil and gas industry. Over the course of four days (8-11th Sept) we will be exhibiting our flow meters, instrumentation and accessories suitable for both safe and hazardous areas, such as turbines, mag meters, vortex meters and bulk fuel meters. You’ll find us on stand 1A120. View our event profile here . Our next stop is at The Energy Event, which is Europe’s leading and most comprehensive energy procurement and management event. The show will provide access to the services, products and advice of more than 1...

Consistency and control during the brewing process are the key to producing a quality product and flow measurement provides the opportunity to reign in any variability. We recently supplied a brewery in Ireland with BLFT-32 stainless steel turbine flow meters with tri-clamp hygienic connections. Firstly the brewery required a flow meter to measure the volume of sparge water being added to the mash tun in order to produce wort, a sweet liquid created with grains, water and sugar which goes to a boiler where the hops are then added. The BLFT can handle temperatures up +110°C and can meet the demands of sparge water which is typically +90°C. Another BLFT was supplied to measure the volume of filtered beer into storage tanks for final brewing. With an accuracy of ±1%, the BLFT can measure exactly how much beer is being moved around the brewery from tank to tank. As with all food and beverage production hygiene is of upmost importance, the BLFT turbines were supplied with tri-clamp hyg...

Taking you on a journey underwater through a fantasy pirate world of lost treasure, sunken ships and fascinating marine life is the brand new Aquarium located on Skegness seafront. The multi-million pound attraction, which opened on the 25th June, hosts a number of tanks housing an incredible variety of fish, from venomous predators to colourful shoals of tropical fish. The facility has a main large tank and several smaller innovative aquariums. The main tank holds 40,000 litres of water and two storage tanks also hold 40,000 litres each, which are used to condition the water of the main tank, as well as sub-systems. With inherent advantages over more conventional water meters, the ModMag M2000, electromagnetic flow meter from Badger Meter was selected as an element of the water system by the construction company who undertook the project. Construction site manager Peter Kent of K-Net Construction said: “ Building an aquarium is an extremely delicate process and we need ...

Badger Meter recently celebrated their 110th Anniversary with a company executive party, held in a venue by the water of Lake Michigan. The theme of the event — “110 Years of Making Water Visible” — recognises the company’s history of innovation and new products. In 1905 the first ‘frost proof’ water meter was invented by two Milwaukee entrepreneurs, little did they know that their invention would be the foundation for a company that has grown to be a worldwide leader in flow measurement technology.  Today Badger Meter products help water utilities, domestic, commercial and industrial customers measure virtually anything that moves through a pipe. The company’s products measure water, oil, chemicals, and other fluids, and are known for accuracy, long-lasting durability and for providing valuable and timely measurement data.  As a UK representative of Badger Meter, here at Bell Flow Systems we are proud to supply their industry-leading products. To learn more please v...

The ModMag M5000 is a battery-operated electromagnetic meter that provides the flexibility to install a reliable water flow meter virtually anywhere without sacrificing accuracy or performance. Designed, developed and manufactured under strict quality standards, ModMag M5000 features two internal battery packs with more than 20 years operation and a sophisticated processor based signal conversion with accuracies of ±0.5%. Electromagnetic flow meters have inherent advantages over other more conventional technologies, with no moving parts and a choice of liner and electrode materials, these meters can be used to measure conductive fluids, water and wastewater for instance including water containing particles such as sand or gravel. As standard the ModMag M5000 is equipped with a pulse output and an internal datalogger which can be read-out via Modbus RTU protocol. Data can also be retrieved via radio frequency or GSM/GPRS. Thus the data can be centrally collected and evaluated. Although ...

High viscosity fluids or fluids with changeable viscosity can be problematic to meter effectively. Used as an animal feed additive molasses typically has a viscosity in the region of 5000cPs but can reach 10,000cPs based on blend and temperature. Macnaught MX-Series models fitted with high viscosity rotors rated to 1,000,000cPs are used which retain their accuracy regardless of changes in viscosity while providing a low pressure drop. Where fluids are heated to high temperatures but still remain viscous MX-Series models with combination high temperature and high viscosity rotors are used at up to 150c and 1,000,000cPs. For more information about the MX-Series and to buy click here>>

A broad range of factors can influence your choice of clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter  such as the type of liquid to be measured, pipe material and pipe size  and selecting a suitable model requires an understanding of the different features and options available.  Here are 10 Top Tips to help you chose the most suited clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter for your liquid flow application. 1. Why choose a clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter? Flow meters which clamp on to the outside of the pipe offer many advantages over traditional in-line flow meters: easy installation, no moving parts, no pressure loss, no compatibility issues etc. 2. What are the two basic principles? Time of Flight , ultrasonic pulses are timed as they are transmitted and then received within a pipe. Doppler Shift , where suspended solids and bubbles reflect an ultrasonic beam. 3. Which principle is best for me? It depends on your application: clean liquids with little air or suspended particles ...

Kuwait is one of the most water-scarce regions in the world but at the same time has one of the highest per capita water consumption rates at 500 litres per day. In order to monitor this consumption and develop water management strategies, Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity and Water have begun deploying innovative water meters. Working together with an environmental measurement company Bell Flow Systems are undertaking a widespread project to supply and install non-invasive water meters on large domestic properties in Kuwait. With inherent advantages over in-line water meter technologies, the Dynasonics TFX Ultra™ ultrasonic clamp-on flow meters were chosen.  The TFX Ultra™ simply clamps on to the outside of pipes and does not contact the internal liquid, this non-invasive technology means no remedial work needs to be carried out on pipework. Other advantages include zero pressure head loss, no moving parts to maintain and high accuracy. Equipped with Modbus or BACnet communi...

Non-Invasive Flow Measurement Solutions Dynasonics have developed a comprehensive range of ultrasonic clamp-on liquid flow meters with portable, hand-held and fixed models for pipes from 13mm to 5000mm in diameter that really are simple-to-fit! Dynasonics meters easily clamp on to the outside of pipes and do not contact the internal liquid, technology that has inherent advantages including: zero pressure head loss, no moving parts to maintain, no fluid compatibility issues, and a bi-directional measuring range at very low and high flow rates. The most advanced model from Dynasonics is the DXN™ . Incorporating innovative hybrid metering technology the DXN™ can automatically switch between transit time and Doppler modes as needed and can be provided with a heat energy feature. With a colour touch-screen interface, internal data logging, USB connectivity and advanced signal processing the DXN™ is an indispensable tool for energy audits. The TFXL™ is the economical option offered by D...

When a highly accurate flow meter is not essential but simple visual indication will be sufficient, or a good old fashioned mechanical flow switch is required, Bell Flow Systems’ range of flow monitors are more than suitable. Compatible with water, oil, chemicals and gas with the option of ATEX approval they can be used in most flow applications including those in hazardous areas. Ideal for observing and monitoring fluid characteristics such as direction, flow and colour during process conditions, sight indicators are a cost-effective way to visually monitor flow and determine if any problems exist along the process line. Available in a choice of designs and materials there is an option to suit most applications. The rising ball and spinner models are low cost sight indicators that meet the needs of simple flow applications. The rising ball model features a durable PTFE ball inside a borosilicate glass dome, as flow in the pipe rises the ball inside the dome will lift out of its socket...

We have hosted various Flowmax group training sessions recently. Our people are recognised for their product knowledge and commitment to ensuring every customer is well served. Our training sessions cover a range of commercial, product and service training to ensure we maintain our reputation.

Producing over 1 million loaves of bread each week, a prominent bakery based in the North required a solution to measure their steam generation. During a recent refurbishment, the bakery installed a number of sustainable heat sources and required steam meters permissible for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). RHI provides financial support to participants who install renewable heating technologies. Where required, metering is used to measure the heat / steam produced by the renewable heat installation. The large, state of the art bakery required the installation of numerous steam meters so that the heat delivered from the steam boilers could be calculated.  This was achieved using RHI compliant BFVM vortex flow meters suitable for saturated and super-heated steam applications up to +350°C. The BFVM with integral temperature and pressure sensors provides constant measurement of steam mass and steam energy, whilst independently displaying the steam temperature and pressure....

Over the last 25 years Blancett have built up a reputation for producing rugged and accurate stainless steel turbines which remain popular within the oil and gas industry today. The QuikSert is one of Blancett’s innovative turbines which has been designed for quick installation. The QuikSert is an in-line turbine flow meter that provides the same high accuracy and rigorous design of the standard Blancett turbine, but in a wafer-style mounting configuration. It’s unique between flanges design eliminates the need for mating flanges, requires less space in the flow line, lowers costs and provides easy, one-man installation. Turbine flow meters operate by the fluid or gas passing through a turbine, causing the turbine to rotate at a speed proportional to velocity. As each turbine blade passes through the magnetic field generated by the meter's magnetic pick-up, an AC voltage pulse is generated. These pulses provide an output frequency that is proportional to volumetric flow. ...

Monitoring energy consumption and taking manual meter readings can be a time-consuming task for energy managers and the need to monitor across several facilities has become standard. Aqualink is a new highly sophisticated datalogger that enables remote online monitoring and management of water, gas, electricity, steam and building occupancy among others. Combining both hardware and cloud based software, Aqualink is an ideal solution for remote online monitoring of flow, consumption, level, temperature and pressure. The system has been designed to connect to third party utility meters and take real-time readings which are transmitted via Wifi or GSM/GPRS to a user friendly web application where energy consumption can be viewed and analysed. Supplied in a compact IP68 weatherproof case and with a long life battery, the Aqualink hardware has been designed to withstand less than ideal conditions and can be installed in the most remote locations. The integrated communicat...

Manufacturing is one of the main consumers of global energy consumption and with energy prices constantly rising and increased pressure from the Government to improve energy efficiency, energy management is always high on the agenda for plant engineers. Effective metering is fundamental to energy management with meter data proving invaluable for calculating how much energy is being used, finding routine energy waste and ultimately finding those potential energy (and cost) saving opportunities.  These are some of our top energy monitoring solutions: Water Industry is reliant on water for all levels of production but there is too little focus spent on managing water consumption. AquaLink II is a smart constant monitoring system that remotely records water  consumption data from flow meters. • Data transmission via Wifi/ GPRS/ GSM • Real time data from remote locations • Single & multi-channel models • Data retrieval via secure website • Download data to CS...