Ultrasonic meters: accuracy that drops as solids rise

An ultrasonic meter infers a change in density from the change in sound velocity and acoustic impedance. It is used where the meter may need to move, on low percent-solids slurries.

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How an ultrasonic meter reads density

The meter uses the change in sound velocity, and the acoustic impedance of slurry moving through a pipe, to determine the change in density.

It is common where the meter needs to move, with some mining use. It only applies to low percent-solids, low-abrasion slurries. It often stands in for a nuclear gauge on low-density media.

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Where it falls short on slurry

Here is where ultrasonic typically trades off on slurry, as stated in the technology overview.

Low accuracy, and lower accuracy again as solids content rises.
Susceptible to abrasion.
Susceptible to swings in density, percent solids, vibration and temperature.
Difficulties with large diameters and fast-moving slurries.
It requires a multi-variable calibration procedure.
It handles a narrow range of media.

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What a Red Meter does differently

An ultrasonic meter infers density from sound velocity along one path. The Red Meter reads the full bore. You get density, temperature, pressure and vibration from one device at the same moment.

The Red Meter installs inline between flanges, with no bypass and no probe in the flow. It uses a Class 1 laser, so there is no radioactive source to license.

Percent solids comes from a Red Meter alone. Connect an external 4-20 mA flow meter for mass flow and totalized solids. Readings are continuous and an integrated computer records them. Remote support is built in, and you can send readings to a third-party system.

Comparison table

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Ultrasonic against a Red Meter

Left panel: nuclear, microwave, ultrasonic and acoustic sensors on a pipe. Caption: Infers density from a narrow cross section. Right panel: a Red Meter. Caption: Reads all the material moving through the line.


	The Red Meter	Ultrasonic
Principle	Class 1 laser reads deflection of the full bore	Sound velocity and acoustic impedance
What is measured	Full bore	The path the sound takes
Radiation source	No radioactive source	No
Slurry limits	2 in to 40 in pipe, rated for 0 psi and above.	Low percent solids. Low abrasion. Weak on large diameters and fast slurries.
Typical applications	Mining, dredging, oil and gas, and power.	Portable duties. Some mining. Low-density media in place of a nuclear gauge.

Link list

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See the proof and the specs

The Red MeterSee the full specifications.
MiningDensity on mining lines.
Case studiesResults from working lines.
Download specifications

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Percent solids and pipe size decide whether ultrasonic is in range. Tell us both.

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