A refinery needed to balance cooling-water distribution across process units and detect blocked or fouled heat exchangers. Because the lines run through classified areas, fixed YF-W200D explosion-proof ultrasonic flow meters were installed to provide continuous velocity and flow data to the control room.
The challenge
- Cooling-water routes pass through zones requiring explosion-proof equipment.
- Large carbon-steel lines made in-line meter replacement costly and disruptive.
- Fouling and liner variations made some non-ultrasonic meters unreliable.
- Operators wanted early warning of reduced flow to critical exchangers.
The solution: YF-W200D
YF-W200D converters were paired with clamp-on transducers on the large cooling-water headers. Relay and analog outputs flag low-flow conditions, while Modbus sends continuous data for balancing and historical trending. See the YF-W200D specifications →
- Ex-rated meters installed directly within the refinery classified areas.
- Clamp-on mounting suits large carbon-steel headers without replacement.
- Low-flow alarm via relay protects critical heat exchangers.
- Built-in totalizer and logging support long-term distribution analysis.
Configuration used in this application
| Instrument | YF-W200D explosion-proof transit-time ultrasonic flow meter |
|---|---|
| Transducers | Clamp-on on lined carbon-steel header |
| Line size / material | DN600 lined carbon steel |
| Fluid | Cooling water, 20–45 °C |
| Accuracy | ±1% of reading |
| Flow velocity | 0.5–3.5 m/s |
| Outputs used | 4–20 mA, low-flow relay, RS485 Modbus |
| Power | AC 220 V optional, 1.5 W |
How it is deployed
- Identify header sections with stable straight run and accessible surface.
- Mount clamp-on transducers over the cleaned pipe surface.
- Install Ex converters locally and land power, analog, relay and bus cabling.
- Configure pipe/liner data and set low-flow alarm thresholds.
What the operator gets
- Balanced cooling-water distribution across process units.
- Early warning of fouled or starved heat exchangers.
- No line replacement or shutdown on the large headers.
- Compliant Ex protection throughout the installation.
Frequently asked questions
Does ultrasound work on lined carbon-steel pipes?
Yes, the YF-W200D supports lined pipes and a range of materials including carbon steel, stainless, cast iron and PVC; signal is validated during commissioning.
Can the meter alarm on low flow automatically?
The relay output can be configured for low-flow or threshold alarms to alert operators or interlock protective systems.
What pipe sizes are supported for cooling water?
The YF-W200D covers DN15 to DN6000, making it practical for both branch lines and large cooling-water headers.
Have a similar requirement?
Send us your pipe size, pipe material, fluid, temperature and quantity. Our engineers will recommend the right configuration and reply with factory-direct wholesale/OEM pricing in English.
Browse our complete range on the Products page.
Questions about your application? Contact our team or request a quote — we respond within 24 hours.