With the addition of the Modbus communication protocol to its new ST80 series, recently enhanced ST51A/ST75A series, and ST100 series and multipoint MT100 series, Fluid Components International (FCI) now provides the industry’s broadest selection of Modbus compatible thermal mass air/gas meters.
For Modbus-based measurement and control systems, with air or gas flow rate components, FCI can now provide an optimal, highest value flow meter solution matched to the application. FCI thermal mass flow meters with Modbus I/O are available for line sizes from 6 mm to the largest of stacks and ducts, and every size in-between. They are designed to measure the flow of air and more than 200 different gases, including inert and hydrocarbon-based, in both pure and mixed compositions.
Thermal mass air/gas flow meters are direct mass flow measuring, have no moving parts to foul or clog, and require no routine maintenance that achieve lowest installed cost and superior service life.
READ MORE: FCI T80/ST80L mass flow meters
FCI’s family of Modbus compatible thermal flow meters range from small, compact models to high feature, high performance, high accuracy models. Models are available that carry global agency approvals for Ex installations, both Div.1/Zone1 and Div.2/Zone 2 types. Four of the series’ carry independently evaluated SIL compliance (IEC 61508) ratings for use in safety instrumented system applications.
All FCI thermal flow meters are available in a vast choice of process connections to ensure compatibility with virtually any piping and installation criteria. The instruments are inherently dual function and can provide flow and temperature measurement, as well as totalized flow, outputs over the Modbus connection.
The Modbus option for all five FCI model series flow meters meets the EIA/TIA-485 standard. Transmission is via RTU or ASCII with standard MS (16 bit), standard LS (16 bit) or Daniel extensions (32 bit). They’re ideal for use with PLCs, large SCADA systems or DCS systems.
In addition to Modbus, FCI’s thermal air/gas flow meters also provide 4-20 mA, analogue outputs, pulse outputs, and/or other digital bus communications of HART, Foundation Fieldbus, Profibus-PA and Profibus-DP.