Signal Conditioner
B220-885 K Factor Scaler and
B220-900 Programming Software Kit
SGN-UM-00282-EN-01 (November 2013)
User Manual
Signal Conditioner, B220-885 K Factor Scaler and B220-900 Programming Software Kit
Page ii November 2013
User Manual
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
OPERATING PRINCIPLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
SPECIFICATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Enclosure Mounting (necessary for CSA certication). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Electrical Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Turbine Meter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Pulse Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Internal Pullup Resistor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
External Pullup Resistor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
STARTUP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Using Optional Programming Software Kit B220-900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Conguration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Setting the K Factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Setting the Output Pulse Width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Setting the Output Level Normally High or Normally Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Setting the Output to Use the Internal or External Pullup Resistor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
K FACTORS EXPLAINED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Calculating K factors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Page iii November 2013
Signal Conditioner, B220-885 K Factor Scaler and B220-900 Programming Software Kit
Page iv November 2013
Turbine Rotor
Magnetic Pickup
User Manual
INTRODUCTION
The Blancett K Factor Scaler is a field adjustable frequency divider, which converts the output signal from a turbine meter
or like device with a magnetic pickup or pulse output to an input compatible with a PLC, RTU, CPU data acquisition card or
similar totalizer device. The adjustable frequency divisor, referred to as a K factor, allows pulses sent from a turbine meter to
accumulate into a unit recognizable by an end device, such as a PLC, for counting and display.
The use of different K factor values allows the device to display in any number of volumetric measurements such as gallons,
cubic meters, liters, barrels, and like units. The calibration sheet usually provided with a turbine meter lists a nominal K factor
tested to a specific volumetric flow rate. The K factor when placed into the K Factor Scaler provides an output pulse for
each unit of volume that passes through the turbine. Any units of volume are possible by recalculating the K factor with the
appropriate conversion factor.
In addition, if the K factor is set to one, the K Factor Scaler becomes a preamplifier converting the frequency from a low output
level turbine meter to the logic level needed by a PLC or CPU data acquisition card.
The programmable K Factor Scaler provides a lower cost alternative to the Blancett model B220-880 K Factor Scaler. The
programmable version uses fewer components, reducing the size of the board and enclosure.
OPERATING PRINCIPLE
Fluid passing through the turbine causes it to rotor to spin at a speed proportional to the fluid velocity. As each rotor blade
passes through the magnetic field, the blade generates an AC voltage pulse in the pickup coil at the base of the magnetic
pickup (see Figure 1). These pulses produce an output frequency proportional to the volumetric flow through the meter. The
output frequency with further processing represents flow rate and/or totalization of fluid passing through the flow meter.
or
Other Frequency
Output Device
Output
Signal
Figure 1: Schematic illustration of electric signal generated by rotor movement
The K Factor Scaler input amplifier modifies the signal generated by the turbine. The amplifier sends the modified signal to an
onboard microcontroller, which counts pulses up to a predetermined number controlled by the K factor value. The range of
the K factor is between 1…999,999,999. The predetermined value once reached triggers a pulse from the output circuitry.
The K factor is user adjustable through the programming interface. The duration of the output pulse is also selectable. At the
end of the output pulse, the internal counters reset to zero and the process starts over.
Page 5 November 2013