In demanding hazardous processes, such as those found in chemical, electric power generation, food/beverage, oil/gas, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and water/wastewater treatment plants, pumps must move process fluids and keep their plant cooling systems up and running. When pumps go down with little warning, processes and plants often must grind to a halt as well.
Pumps are critical equipment, expensive to operate and costly to maintain – especially when dry running conditions suddenly occur due to system variable demand, leaks, clogs or other problems that could affect a pump’s seals or bearings. The resulting damage can require expensive, time-consuming repairs, overhauls or even replacement at a much higher cost.
FCI’s fail-safe dual alarm FLT93 Series Flow Switch reliably monitors the flow and temperature of liquids, gases, slurries and more. It is ideal for pump wet/dry detection, where sudden, unexpected reductions in media flow rates can leave pumps vulnerable to over-heating conditions that shutdown process lines and require trouble-shooting, fixes and more. This SIL-2 rated instrument is designed for heavy-duty, hazardous process industry environments and comes with a comprehensive list of global safety approvals.
Featuring a no moving parts design, the FLT93 thermal switch offers a highly robust scheme for pump protection with its fail-safe dual alarm control circuit capability. With Alarm 1, the switch will detect a low flow situation anywhere between 0.01 feet to 3 feet per second FPS [0,003 meters to 0,9 meters per second MPS]. This low flow alarm can be regarded as a pre-warning signal for the control system or operator. The system or operator can then decide to keep the pump running or to shut it down. If an Alarm 2 occurs because the feed line to the pump is running dry, this condition would be an emergency signal to shut down the pump immediately because the bearings now see gas instead of a liquid as a heat transfer media. In such situations, the temperature of the bearings may rise very fast. Using a flow switch prevents permanent damage to the pump’s bearings that will require an overhaul of the pump before more damage occurs.
FCI’s advanced FLT93 switch is a dual-function instrument that indicates both flow and temperature, and/or level sensing in a single device. Dual 6A relay outputs are standard and are assignable to flow, level or temperature. The FLT93 switch can be specified in either insertion or in-line styles for pipe or tube installation.
Designed by FCI for demanding heavy-duty processes, the FLT93 switch is hydrostatically proof pressure tested to 3500 psig [241 bar(g)] at 70°F [21°C]. De-rated with temperature, the maximum operation service recommended is 2350 psig [162 bar(g)] at 500°F [260°C]. Higher ratings with temperature capabilities up to 850 °F [454°C] are available with special construction and test certification. Agency approvals on the full instrument include FM, FMc, ATEX, IECEx, EAC/TR CU, Inmetro, EMSA EQM-Ex, CRN, and CE/PED/LVD.
Leveraged from FCI’s field-proven thermal dispersion experience, the unique sensor technology of the FLT93 Series switches combined with built-in temperature compensation circuitry provides precise performance capabilities. Accuracy combined with temperature compensations results in preventing false alarms or alarm failures, maximizing operator and process safety, and having the option to set alarms within a narrow set point range. The FLT93 is easily field-configured, providing unparalleled flexibility, accuracy and stability for all multiple process sensing and switching requirements.
A DwyerOmega brand, FCI solves flow and level measurement applications with advanced thermal dispersion technologies. With 60+ years’ experience and the largest installed base of thermal flow meters, flow switches and level switches, count on FCI to know your applications and have the solutions.
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