GE Sensing GS868 Specifications

GE

Measurement & Control

™

DigitalFlow

Panametrics Ultrasonic Steam
Mass Flowmeter

GS868

Applications

The DigitalFlow GS868 steam ultrasonic fl owmeter
is a complete ultrasonic fl ow metering system that
measures saturated or superheated steam for:

• Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC)

• Pneumatic power systems

• Food and beverage industry

• Water purifi cation and distillation

• Chemical and petrochemical industries

• Electric power generation

• Steel industry

• Public works

Features

• Bidirectional

• No moving parts

• No pressure drop

• Wide rangeability with 1500 to 1 turndown ratio

• Non-obstructive fl ow measurement

• Tolerance to dirty streams

• Low maintenance

• Suitable for high temperatures

• Two-path measurement available for maximum
accuracy

• Manufacturing

GE imagination at work

Panametrics Ultrasonic Steam Mass
Flowmeter

Wetted transducers

The DigitalFlow GS868 steam ultrasonic fl owmeter is
designed to measure the mass fl ow rate of saturated or
superheated steam. It offers a unique combination of
no pressure drop, wide rangeability, ease of installation,
low maintenance and high accuracy in a full-feature
fl owmeter package.

The DigitalFlow GS868 Flowmeter
Uses the Correlation Transit-Time

™

Technique

Compact ultrasonic transducers are installed in the pipe
or duct, one upstream of the other. The transducers send
and receive ultrasonic pulses through the steam. The
meter measures the difference between the upstream
and downstream transit times, and uses digital signal
processing, advanced signal processing and correlation
detection to calculate velocity and volumetric fl ow rate.
Mass fl ow is calculated from the input of temperature
and pressure and the built-in steam tables.

No Pressure Drop, Low Maintenance

In addition to the standard single-channel model,
an optional two-channel model provides enhanced
accuracy when measuring two paths on a single pipe. It
can also be used to measure a single path on two pipes.

Fluid
fl ow

Ultrasonic signal path

Transit-time fl ow measurement technique

Wide Range of Pipe Sizes and Flow
Conditions

With its broad range of measurement velocities and its
ability to measure fl ow in any pipe from small to very
large, one DigitalFlow GS868 meter does the job of
several conventional meters. It handles pipes from 2 in
to 48 in (50 mm to 1200 mm) in diameter and velocities
from 0.1 to 150 ft/s (0.03 to 46 m/s)―in either direction―in
saturated or superheated steam.

For maximum accuracy, use a two-channel meter to
measure along two different paths at the same location.

A two-channel meter can also measure the fl ow in two
separate pipes for additional cost savings.

Convenient Installation

Low Operational Costs

Conventional steam fl owmeters cause a permanent
pressure drop and have limited rangeability, wasting time
and money. Since the DigitalFlow GS868’s transducers
do not obstruct the fl ow, they generally do not cause any
pressure drop. The DigitalFlow GS868 has no parts that
foul or collect debris, and no moving parts to wear out.
As a result, it requires no lubrication, cleaning or other
routine maintenance.

Digital and Analog Output Options

The DigitalFlow GS868 fl owmeter makes it easy to send
the data where it needs to go, through the standard
digital output, standard or optional analog outputs, or
optional alarms. All outputs are conveniently set up and
calibrated from the keypad or from a computer using
PanaView

™

PC-interface software.

Straightforward installation is another advantage of the
DigitalFlow GS868. The fl owmeter system consists of
one or two pairs of transducers, preamplifi ers and an
electronics console. The transducers can be installed as
part of a fl owcell, or installed directly into the existing
pipeline. The electronics console can be up to 500 ft (150
m) from the transducers. Local and remote programming
and output options allow the DigitalFlow GS868 to fi t in
any process.

Steam Flow Data and Diagnostics

In addition to velocity, volumetric and mass fl ow data, the
DigitalFlow GS868 also provides diagnostic parameters
such as transit times and sound speed, to aid in set­up and troubleshooting. Any of this data can be easily
printed, logged, sent to an analog or digital output, or
read in numeric or graphic format on the dual window
display.