Emerson has introduced the Flexim FLUXUS 631 series, a new line of portable, non-intrusive clamp-on ultrasonic flow meters designed to measure liquids, gases, and steam from a single platform. The company unveiled the technology in July, positioning it as the flagship of its portable flow measurement lineup.
The 631 series (Figure 1) is built to give plant operators a way to take accurate flow readings without cutting into pipes or halting operations—useful in situations where permanent meters aren’t installed or aren’t available. Emerson says the devices let users verify existing flow installations, check the real-world performance of pumps and compressors under actual operating conditions, and support faster decision-making around maintenance and efficiency. Because the meters clamp on externally, they can also help close measurement gaps and reduce the risk of unplanned downtime, according to the company.
Emerson is marketing the 631 series toward a broad set of industries, including oil and gas, chemical processing, power generation, food and beverage, water and wastewater, metals and mining, and life sciences—reflecting the wide range of settings where temporary or supplemental flow data can inform condition monitoring, leak detection, and energy performance analysis.
Design and Performance
The company says the new meters are built for quick deployment, with liquid measurements able to start running in under five minutes. The devices feature an updated interface with a large display that shows installation graphics, live readings, and trend data to simplify field setup. Battery life is rated at more than 25 hours of continuous use, extending up to 80 days in a low-power mode intended for longer-term monitoring.
Housed in an IP65- and IP67-rated enclosure, the 631 series is designed to hold up in harsh industrial environments. Emerson notes the devices include compensation features aimed at maintaining measurement accuracy even in disturbed flow conditions or installations with limited straight-pipe runs.
Different measuring principles and electronics are combined across the platform to handle a range of media, including low-pressure gases, liquids carrying entrained gas or solids, high-viscosity fluids, and both saturated and high-temperature steam. A built-in Dynamic Gas Meter feature is designed to maintain reliable readings even as gas composition varies, and can determine gas density and concentration without a separate chromatograph.
The meters offer dual measurement channels and update rates as fast as 20 milliseconds, with connectivity via Modbus RTU, digital and current outputs, and USB for data transfer and configuration—intended to allow easy integration into existing plant workflows.
Five Models, One Platform
Emerson is offering five models within the 631 series (Figure 2) to cover different measurement needs across liquids, gases, and steam applications.
“Driving efficiency improvements requires greater visibility to all aspects of operations,” said Rebecca Cottrell, product manager for Emerson’s measurement instrumentation business, in the announcement. She added that the ability to measure liquids, gases, and steam with one portable, non-intrusive device is meant to help plant operators make more informed decisions to improve performance.
More information on the Flexim FLUXUS 631 series is available at Emerson.com/FLUXUS631.
—POWER edited this content, which was contributed by Emerson.
