Revolutionizing Heat Pumps: Ultrasonic Sensors Minimize Pressure Drop

A new generation of ultrasonic flow meters generates a significantly lower pressure drop in HVAC end devices.

Manufacturers from the sanitary, heating and air conditioning technology thus have access to a new generation of sensors with high measurement accuracy that work more efficiently and economically than all currently available solutions such as impeller or vortex measurement principles.

Ultrasonic Flow Sensors are gradually replacing standard impeller flow meters and similar mechanical measuring devices in many industrial sectors. The reasons for this are the higher measurement accuracy and longer service life.

In addition, the sensors have become competitive in terms of price and becoming more and more noticeable with the new generation of ultrasonic measuring devices - the pressure loss in a line is lower than with any other flow meter on the market

Reduce Pressure Losses
Among other things, the components are the main factor for pressure loss that perturb a liquid flow in a line. In order to compensate for this a pump has to do additional work, which, depending on the level of the pressure drop, consumes a certain amount of energy and thus generates costs, which also has a negative effect on the CO₂ balance.

Since Ultrasonic Flow Sensors measure without mechanical counters or moving parts, they can reduce these losses and can significantly increase the efficiency of heat pumps. It does not make them susceptible to wear or dirt and the high precision of the measurement is retained until the end of its service life.

Increase Energy Efficiency with New Ultrasonic Flow Meter 

Comparison: 
With a generic impeller flow meter, the pressure loss is 390 mbar at 2000 litres per hour. A standard Ultrasonic Flow Meter can reduce this value to a third (130 mbar).

Allengra GmbH, developer and producer of Ultrasonic Flow Meters and various control valves with integrated pressure and temperature sensors in series, was able to further increase the energy efficiency of the components with the new generation of its Ultrasonic Flow Meters and reduce the pressure drop through a flow sensor with full bore to just 7 mbar at 2000 l/h.

For companies who operate within the heating, sanitary and air conditioning industry sectors, this difference has an impact on the energy consumption of their devices and thus also on the CO2 emissions of their products.

High Energy Costs due to Pressure Drops

In a recent study, Allengra examined the influence on the pressure drop in different flow meters on the market. The Impeller (390 mBar), the Vortex models (75 mBar) were above the value currently realized by Allengra. Even commercially available Ultrasonic Flow Meters, including Allengra models, still reach 130 mbar. Although their previous Ultrasonic Flow Sensor is on the lower end of this scale, for Allengra this wasn't enough.

Up to 74% Less Energy Consumption

Allengra's new flow meter, designed with no-dead-spaces and full-bore structure to enhance energy efficiency has zero resistance to water flow, allowing for a seamless passage through the meter's components.
Equipped with low noise emission and high measurement reliability, even in systems with trapped air bubbles.

The higher the pressure drop, the harder a pump works to compensate for the difference and provide the same water pressure at all points. The flow rate in a detached house with a floor space of 200² is around 2000 l/h; when using the new Ultrasonic Flow Meter from Allengra, a pump has to generate just 1550 kWh of power over a period of 15 years, representing a full 74% reduction compared to commercially available components.

High Measurement Accuracy

The hygienic full-bore design of the sensor is also ideal for use in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries with a safe and maintenance-free design that does not require any sealing rings.
The piezo transducers, which are attached to the outside of the tube, ensure maximum measuring accuracy.

The sensor works with a lower minimum flow rate than clamp-on sensors and, in contrast to them, is permanently installed. With a measurement accuracy of 2-3% and a turndown ratio of 1:500, it leaves all other conventional flow sensors on the market far behind. – Learn More about Ultrasonic Techonology

"We know the problems and requirements of HVAC end device manufacturers and have geared the efficiency and measurement accuracy of our Ultrasonic Flow Meters to them." - Raul Junker, founder and owner of Allengra GmbH.