“Hastelloy” is a registered trademark of Haynes International, Inc.
“Ni-Span C” is a registered trademark of Special Metals Corporation.
“HART” is a registered trademark of the HART Communication Foundation.
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All other trademarks are the property of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Thermo Fisher Scientific (Thermo Fisher) makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this
manual. However, we cannot be responsible for errors, omissions, or any loss of data as the result of errors or
omissions. Thermo Fisher reserves the right to make changes to the manual or improvements to the product at
any time without notice.
The material in the manual is proprietary and cannot be reproduced in any form without express written consent
from Thermo Fisher.
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Revision History
Revision Level Date Comments
0.0 08-1996Initial release
A 02-2006Company name and contact information changes.
viii Sarasota FD910, FD950, & FD960 User Guide Thermo Fisher Scientific
Control of
Substances
Hazardous to
Healt
h
Electrical Safety
Important Safety Information
Make sure you know the safety precautions and first aid instructions
before you use a hazardous substance.
Read the label on the container in which the substance is applied.
Read the data sheet applicable to the substance.
Obey the local orders and instructions.
Warning Remove all power from the unit before making any connections.
Electrocution can result if power is present.
Warning Ensure the power supply is isolated. Take suitable precautions to
prevent reinstatement of power while working on the system.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Sarasota FD910, FD950, & FD960 User Guide ix
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Chapter 1
Description
Product Overview
Introduction
The Thermo Scientific Sarasota FD910, FD950, and FD960 liquid density
meters (collectively called “density meters” in this guide) share a common
design that provides a high accuracy density measurement of single phase
liquids and slurries. The different instrument designations relate to the
material of construction. The Sarasota FD910 is constructed of stainless
steel and designed as a general purpose sensor for use with most process
fluids. The wetted parts of the Sarasota FD950 are Hastelloy C276. If
Hastelloy C276 and the process fluid are compatible, the improved
corrosion resistance makes the Sarasota FD950 ideal for aggressive
applications in the petrochemical, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries.
Ni-Span C wetted parts gives the Sarasota FD960 a low temperature
coefficient, making it the ideal instrument for fiscal or custody transfer
applications.
The density meters are supplied with 1” fittings. Normally, they are fitted
onto a sample bypass line, but if the pipe is small enough, they may be
fitted directly into a process plant pipeline. They are suitable for
continuous online operation in an industrial environment, and with an
environmental rating of IP65 (NEMA 4X), they are dust proof and
moisture proof.
Two versions are available. The F option provides frequency output and
4-wire PT100 connections that may be used by a remote density converter
or third-party flow computer. With the H option, an onboard HART
compliant density converter provides a linearized 4–20 mA output.
Product Overview
Operation
The density meters consist of a stainless steel case capable of full secondary
containment to class 300, an electronics housing that contains the
maintaining amplifier, and the headmounted electronics (H option).The
case contains the sensor element, and process connections are flanged to
customer requirements.
Electrical connections to the liquid density meters are via screw terminals
that are mounted in the electronics housing, and there are two 3/4” NPT
cable entries to the electronics housing.
Operation
The density meters continuously measure the density of liquids or slurries
flowing through it. They use the appropriate software in conjunction with
the optional headmounted electronics, a density converter, or flow
computer to measure line density (the density of the fluid inside the density
meter). The line density can then be used to calculate other variables such
as density at reference conditions specific gravity, process gravity,
concentration, Brix, etc.
These guidelines will help ensure problem-free operation:
Keep system temperature and pressures within the specified limits.
Ensure system pipelines do not impose undue loads on the density
meter.
Ensure the density meter is calibrated at regular intervals.
Install the density meter as detailed in this manual.
To prevent any upstream throttling effects, use a downstream valve to
control the flow in the system.
If the process fluid solidifies at ambient temperature, the system should
be heated or the meter removed and cleaned with a suitable solvent
during shutdown periods. If this is not possible, the pipe arrangement
must be designed to allow for online flushing with a cleaning solution.
The sensing element consists of a pair of parallel sensor tubes (stainless steel
for FD910, Hastelloy C276 for FD950, Ni-Span C for FD960). The
sensor is maintained in oscillation at its resonant frequency by a
maintaining amplifier and assembly of electromagnetic drive, pick-up coils,
and armatures.
The drive coils are excited with an electric current that causes the sensor
tubes to oscillate. The electronic amplifier amplifies the pick-up coil voltage
signal and adjusts the phase and gain to produce a current through the
drive coils. This current maintains the sensor tubes at their natural
resonance. The time period of the resonance is proportional to the total
mass of the tubes (a constant) plus the process fluid inside. Changes in the
density of the process fluid will change the mass of tubes plus fluid and,
therefore, the resonant frequency.
The period output from the density meter (Period = 1/Frequency) is used
to calculate the density of product within the meter using the transducer
calibration data and the standard Thermo Scientific Sarasota density
equation.
From the calibration sheet, the following constants are generated during
calibration and are unique for each density meter:
● T0 (period at zero density) in μsec.
● D0 (theoretical density at zero period) in kg/m
●
K (Constant)
● Pressure and temperature coefficients
3
or lb./ft.
3
Each instrument is fitted with a precision PRT temperature element,
allowing accurate correction of both instrument and, if required, fluid
temperature effects.
Pressure compensation may be carried via a preset pressure value or a live
pressure input into the density converter or flow computer.
−
)'0tt(
×=ρ
0D
m
'0t
−
)'0tt(
×+×
K2
,
'0t
where
ρm = measured line density in kg/m3 [lb./ft.3]
T0 = calibration constant of spool in μsec.
t0' = corrected calibration constant of spool in μsec. and
D0 = calibration constant of spool in kg/m3 [lb./ft.3]
K = calibration constant of spool in kg/m3/°C [lb./ft.3/°F]
TEMPCO = temperature coefficient of spool in µsec./°C [µsec./°F]
PRESCO = pressure coefficient of the transducer in µsec./bar
[µsec./psi]
t = measured period in µsec.
T = measured/fixed line temperature in °C [°F]
P = measured/fixed absolute pressure in bar A [psi A]
T
= calibration temperature of densitometer 15°C [60°F]
cal
P
= calibration pressure of densitometer 1.01325 bar A [14.696 psi
Note Installation must be carried out in accordance with local site
requirements and regulations.
Copies of referenced drawings are located in the drawing appendix.
The recommended orientation of the density meter is vertical with
upward flow. Mounting the density meter vertically allows for usage at zero
flow, avoiding problems caused by vapor that can become trapped in the
density meter at low flows.
Mounting the density meter horizontally is acceptable if the flow is greater
than 5 L/min. This is to avoid trapping gas bubbles that cause unsteady
density measurements.
Note For clarity, the horizontal installation drawing shows bypass systems
above the pipeline, but in practice, the bypass system is best installed to one
side of the main pipeline.
In addition to mounting orientation, the following must be considered
prior to installation.
Dimensions: Refer to the dimensional drawing in the drawing
appendix.
Pressure: Place flow restrictors, flow control valves, or pressure control
valves downstream of the density meter in order to maintain full line
pressure in the sensor. This will prevent gas bubbles from forming in
the liquid due to a pressure drop occurring upstream of the instrument.
Support: The weight of the density meter is carried by the adjoining
pipework, which should be supported and correctly aligned to
minimize mechanical loads, such as twisting.
Heat tracing: Where the density meter is to be installed in a system that
requires heat tracing, insulation of the density meter may be required.
Consult Thermo Fisher.
Pycnometer connections: Refer to the vertical installation drawing.
The density meter should be bolted to the adjoining pipework with a
suitable gasket between the coupling flanges. The configuration should
be in the most convenient direction for connection of electrical cables.
Electrical
Considerations
There are also electrical issues to consider prior to installation.
Terminal box: Six core screened cable should be run to the instrument
and inserted into the terminal box through a weatherproof cable gland
screwed into the 3/4" NPT threaded hole in the side of the box. The
bared ends of each wire should have the cable ends crimped or soldered
onto them and then be attached to the terminals in the terminal box.
Cable: As the output from the density transducer is in the form of a
modulated current loop of approximately 8 mA peak-to-peak, the
resistance and reactance of the cable is relatively unimportant provided
a signal no less than 1.3 V peak-to-peak is available at the density
converter or flow computer.
Zener barriers: For intrinsically safe installations, zener barriers or
galvanic isolators must be used. In these cases, cable capacitance,
resistance, and inductance must be within the statutory limits or be as
specified by the certifying authority. Zener barriers or galvanic isolators
must always be mounted in an area allowed by the barrier or isolator
certification.
Screening: Screening is always suggested, but in some cases, it may not
be necessary. When used, it must be earthed to the I.S. bus bar or
grounded only at the control room end of the cable.
The Sarasota FD910, FD950, and FD960 density meters have been
designed to satisfy the requirements of Clause 1.2.7 of the essential Health
and Safety Requirements such that they will not give rise to physical injury
when handled properly. The instruments do not produce excessive surface
temperature, nor do they emit infra red, electromagnetic, or ionizing
radiation.
Before starting installation work, ensure all power connections are isolated,
and take precautions to prevent power from being restored while work is
taking place. Hazardous area installations forbid the use of tools or
equipment that could produce an explosion hazard by causing a spark or
imposing excessive mechanical stress.
Installation
Marking
ATEX
Hazardous Area Installations
The instruments must be installed in a manner to avoid exposure to
thermal or mechanically induced stresses, and, in addition, they must not
be exposed to chemically aggressive substances beyond the expected levels.
The instruments are not intended to be exposed to significant conditions of
dust buildup.
In cases of location in Zone 0 (ATEX Category 1), where impact/abrasion
or other mechanical forces may be expected, appropriate methods of
protection must be used.
The Sarasota FD910, FD950, and FD960 density meters are marked for
use in hazardous areas in accordance with the ATEX Directive. They are
marked as follows.
F option
[BAS000ATEX1175X] II 1 G Ex ia IIC T6 Ga
Installed in the hazardous area
[BAS000ATEX1175X] is marked on the label as shown below:
Figure 2–1.
H option
[BAS01ATEX1002X] II 1 G Ex ia IIC T4 Ga
Installed in the hazardous area
[BAS01ATEX1002X] is marked on the label as shown below: