Dual Ethernet board enhances EX~i SFC3000 connectivity

The addition of a Dual Ethernet board provides a widely used communication interface to the SFC3000 flow computer as well as galvanically isolated serial ports. Both Ethernet and serial ports can be used to communicate with Ultrasonic and Coriolis Meters, Gas Chromatographs and other analysers, printers, distributed control systems (DCS), and other supervisory systems. Ethernet ports can also be used for internet interfacing, remote displays, and remote configuration, if security allows. Serial ports can also be used for redundancy (duty/standby flow computers).

The EX~I Flow Dual Ethernet board has two ethernet ports and three isolated serial ports with RS232 and RS485, one with RTS/CTS hardware flow control for legacy line printers.

Designed specifically to meet the needs of the worldwide liquid hydrocarbon and gas flow measurement markets, the SFC3000 flow computer has been created to positively contribute to both management and conservation of the world’s dwindling energy resources by providing both versatile and accurate measurement and incorporating state of the art designs and components.

The SFC3000 is a highly versatile measuring device capable of operating in a stand-alone single stream flow measurement system or may be configured to provide a multi-stream measurement solution for gas flow. Using a SFC3000 to make multiple sample point measurements can offer cost savings by allowing a single emissions analyser to make sequential measurements from many different sample points.

With additional I/O option boards, the number of streams measured by the EX-i SFC3000 flow computer can be increased up to five. While it is possible to have multiple streams on a single I/O board, fiscal measurements require one stream per board. If more than five streams are required these can be spread over more than one flow computer and the data collated together using the supervisor features of the SFC3000.

The SFC3000 offers a great deal more than a conventional dedicated flow computer. It can operate on a number of levels from a supervisory machine to a standalone flow computer or as a system component. Featuring a touch screen VGA display and extensive processing capabilities, combined with simple to use controls and unique operating software, it can function as a complete station supervisor integrated into a flow computer housing.

The SFC3000 flow computer should be considered the “brains” of a flow measurement system and requires a number of peripheral components to take measurements.

SFC3000 flow computer key features:

• Measurement conforming to AGA, ISO, API standards of: dry and wet natural gas, hydrocarbon liquids, other gases e.g., nitrogen, other liquids e.g., water
• NMi certificates to: WELMEC 7.2 and 8.8, OIML R117, MID 2014/32/EU
• Standard features: standalone flow computing function, flow computing combined with supervisory function, up to 2G-byte additional memory for Alarm, Audit, and Data Logging, optional SD card required
• Meter types: pulse generating flow meters, most common ultrasonic flow meters, dp transmitters with orifice or venturi measurements
• Configurable display: system diagrams, trending and graphical displays, language options, interfaces to most types of metering equipment and all popular GC’s, easy installation and interfacing
• Supervisory features, alarm/event/data logging and recording, printer report generation, system diagram display, network communication, station controller functions, valve control and remote operation
• Maintenance functions: stream summation, pid/sampler functions, flow computer specification

The future of gas and liquid measurement and flow control continuously evolves. As a leading manufacturer of flow computers, Ex-i Flow Measurement specialises in researching, developing, and manufacturing products for the gas and liquid measurement industry, with a focus on continuous project development and enhancement.