Current position > Product detail
『Explosion Proof Clamp On Flow Meter: ATEX Zone 1 Certified Pipeline Sensors』Related information(v cone flow meter|rotary gas meter|gallon meter|gear meter|metal tube rotameter|glass tube rotameter|nutating disk meter|transit time ultrasonic flow meter|wedge flow meter|pd meters|hydraulic flow meter|ultrasonic water flow meter|water flow meter|air flow meter|magnetic water flow meter|oxygen flow meter|gas flow meter|argon flow meter|air velocity meter|gasoline flow meter|fuel flow meter|ultrasonic water meter|digital water meter|nitrogen flow meter|solid flow meter|Oxygen tank flow meter|digital water flow meter|diesel fuel flow meter|steam flow meter|02 flow meter|compressed air flow meter|oil flow meter|liquid flow meter)
Explosion Proof Clamp On Flow Meter: ATEX Zone 1 Certified Pipeline Sensors
Quick Answer: If you need flow measurement in a hazardous area without cutting pipes or shutting down the process, an ATEX Zone 1 certified clamp-on flow meter is the direct solution. Silver Instruments supplies explosion-proof ultrasonic clamp-on sensors that mount on the outside of the pipe, work with metal and plastic pipelines, and output 4-20 mA HART, Modbus, or pulse signals to your control system.
What makes a clamp-on flow meter suitable for ATEX Zone 1
An ATEX Zone 1 certified clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter carries Ex db or Ex ia protection methods. The electronics housing is flameproof. The transducers are intrinsically safe or housed in a robust flameproof enclosure. This means you can install the sensor head directly in a gas or vapor atmosphere that is likely to occur during normal operation. All wiring goes through certified cable glands. No hot work permits are needed during installation because there is no pipe cutting. A paint manufacturer in Thailand chose this method to measure solvent flows inside a classified blending area. They had zero downtime during installation. That is the kind of practical safety engineers look for.
Pipe sizes, materials, and fluid conditions that work
These explosion-proof sensors cover pipe diameters from DN15 up to DN3000. Common pipe materials are carbon steel, stainless steel 304 and 316, PVC, and GRP. The clamp-on meter does not contact the fluid so it handles clean water, wastewater, chemicals, acids, and hydrocarbon liquids. For liquids with slight solids or bubbles, the signal processor uses advanced filtering. You need a minimum pressure of around 1 bar to suppress cavitation at high temperatures. Fluid temperature range is from -40 °C to 200 °C. We integrate a PT100 RTD on the pipe surface for heat quantity measurement. The flow range starts at 0.01 m/s and goes well beyond 12 m/s. In practice, a CO2 extraction plant in Colombia used a DN80 clamp-on meter on a refrigerated line at -20 °C and reported accuracy better than 1% of reading after onsite calibration.
Outputs and integration with your DCS or SCADA
The transmitter provides isolated 4-20 mA with HART protocol as standard. You can add Modbus RTU, Profibus DP, or digital pulse output for totalization. All terminals are inside the flameproof enclosure. The display is often a local backlit LCD with touch buttons, but you can also configure the meter via the HART handheld or the USB port on the electronic board. A wastewater treatment project in Malaysia used the Modbus output to connect six clamp-on flow meters on sludge and biogas condensate lines to their SCADA. They log flow rate in m3/h and totalized volume. The trend data is smooth and free of spikes, which matters a lot for their environmental compliance reports.
Installation on a live pipeline without shutdown
Here is the thing. You do not need to drain the line or vent hazardous gases. Use the mounting frame and stainless steel straps to fix the transducer pair on the outside of the pipe. Apply acoustic coupling gel or use solid coupling pads for permanent installation. The transmitter electronics can be wall-mounted up to 200 meters away in a safe area if needed. But if you mount the transmitter in the Zone 1 area, you must follow local wiring codes for armored cable and Ex d cable entries. Most engineers skip the part about pipe surface preparation. A rough, rusty surface will kill the signal. Light sanding and a clean degreased surface take five minutes but save hours of tro
How Silver Instruments helps you select and buy
Silver Automation Instruments keeps ready stock of ATEX certified clamp-on ultrasonic flow meters for pipes DN25 to DN600. Larger sizes are assembled to order within 4 weeks. The factory calibration certificate is included with every shipment. We supply the complete kit: transducers, mounting rail, coupling compound, cables, signal converter with Ex d enclosure, and an installation manual in English. If you are a contractor in Oman or Nigeria, we can prepare the shipping documents and Ex certificate copies for customs clearance. For replacement jobs, share the old flow meter make and model. We can match the process connection dimensions and outputs to avoid control panel rewiring.
Price factors and how to get a quotation
The price of an explosion-proof clamp-on flow meter depends on the transducer type, the pipe diameter, the transmitter features, and the cable length. A basic DN50 to DN100 ATEX clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter kit starts around USD 2,800 to USD 4,500 ex-works. Larger pipe sizes, high-temperature transducers up to 200 °C, and dual-channel setups cost more. The return on investment comes from zero pipe modification and zero leaks. One of our distributors in Peru sold sixteen units to a mining project and saved the client weeks of shutdown time compared to inline magnetic flow meters. That is what makes clamp-on technology sticky in hazardous applications.
FAQ
What does ATEX Zone 1 certification mean for a clamp-on flow meter?
It means the sensor and transmitter can operate safely in an area where an explosive gas atmosphere is likely during normal operation. The equipment carries an EU-type examination certificate with Ex marking and complies with the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU.
Can a clamp-on ultrasonic meter handle gas flow measurement in hazardous areas?
The standard clamp-on meter is for liquids only. For gases you need a different technology like thermal mass or Coriolis. We do offer ATEX versions of those as well. Tell us your gas composition and pipe size and we will recommend the right sensor.
What pipe materials and sizes are compatible with the explosion-proof clamp-on sensor?
The meter works on metal pipes (carbon steel, stainless steel, copper) and dense plastic pipes (PVC, HDPE). Pipe diameters from DN15 to DN3000 are supported. Lined pipes and heavily corroded pipes need a site feasibility check.
How do you install the sensor on a live pipeline without shutdown?
You strap the transducer blocks onto the outside of the pipe, connect the cables, and power up the transmitter. No cutting, welding, or process interruption. It takes about 30 minutes for a typical DN100 pipe.
What output signals does your explosion-proof clamp-on meter offer for SCADA integration?
The standard model includes 4-20 mA with HART, and you can choose optional Modbus RTU, Profibus DP, or pulse output. All outputs are galvanically isolated inside the Ex d housing.
Send us your process data for a firm offer
If you need a quotation, send us your pressure (bar), temperature (°C), pipe size (DN), and flow range. Let us also know the pipe material and if a local LCD display is required. You can reach Silver Instruments by phone at +86-135-1213-1526, by Whatsapp at 86-135-12131526, or by WeChat at +86 13512131526. Our application engineers will reply with a datasheet, pricing, and delivery time within one working day.