TPT May 2010

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Technology Update
54 M ay 2010 ›
A NEW high-accuracy and low-cost
ultrasonic flowmeter is set to create a
breakthrough in small bore flow metering.
‘The Atrato’ will be launched at this year’s
Mtec Exhibition at The NEC Birmingham. It
uses patented technology that enables the
direct through meter to handle flows from
laminar to turbulent.
With accurate and cost effective flow
measurement becoming increasingly
important to many industries, Titan
Enterprises has developed this exclusive
product with one of the foremost fluid
engineering establishments, Cranfield
University. The Atrato is capable of
monitoring flow over a range of 200:1 and
has an accuracy better than +1.5% but
equally impressive, its simple design and
USB interface make it extremely easy to
install and use.
The device uses the favoured ‘time of
flight’ measurement system where a signal
is passed along the pipe with the flow
and back up the pipe against the flow, the
difference in these signals produces the
flow rate. Until now, this technology has
been deemed expensive and sometimes
inaccurate; however Titan’s founder
Trevor Forster believes the Atrato’s fully
symmetrical, concentric signals coupled
with the ability to achieve desired timing
accuracies makes it a new market leader. It
being largely immune to viscosity makes the
Atrato even more appealing to customers.
Titan’s Atrato is aimed at the wide customer
base and should satisfy critics in industrial
engineering, plant operators, medical
equipment supply, drink dispensing, and
laboratory technicians. According to Mr
Forster, one of the unique aspects of the
Atrato is the computer interface.
He commented: “The USB connection
permits the user to monitor the rate and
total on their laptop in addition to operating
parameters such as the pulse resolution
units. At a later date, data logging and
operation statistics will also be possible.”
Having championed the technology Mr
Forster said: “Fundamentally, my position is
that the future of flow measurement is going
to be ultrasonic or coreolis. They’re the only
two long-term viable technologies because
they’re not intrusive.”
He continued: “I am delighted after
designing flowmeters for around 40 years,
to launch The Atrato, which I believe is a
true contender in challenging conventional
flow meter thinking, the world over.
“We have a successful business selling
well over 250,000 flowmeters and I have an
experienced team of staff and family behind
me. I think it is our integrity and problem
solving approach that has led us to a 95%
repeat business rate and customers in more
than 40 countries.”
Professor Mike Sanderson, Emeritus
Professor of fluid instrumentation, Cranfield
University agreed. He said: “The Atrato’s
unique clean bore construction makes it
ideal for hygienic applications. The use of
low frequency ultrasound and advanced
signal processing to interrogate the flow
ensures that the flowmeter provides high
accuracy over a wide turndown range.
In addition the technology developed for
the Atrato has the flexibility to provide the
basis of a family of flowmeters suitable
for an even wider range of flows and
applications.”
Titan Enterprises – UK
Fax: +44 1935 812890
Email:
Website:
Ultrasonic flowmeter to create
breakthrough in small bore metering
The Titan device uses the time of flight measurement
system that passes a signal along the pipe