TACTICAL FLOW METER TFM5700 Methane and Natural Gas Mass Flow Meter User Manual

TACTICAL FLOW METER TFM5700 Methane and Natural Gas Mass Flow Meter

NOTICES

1. This meter is manufactured for general purpose industrial applications for flow measurements. Do not alter any hardware and software of the product. Any user modifications may cause product damage.
2. All practices for electronic device safety must be observed.
3. Do not use this product in any environment where human safety may be at risk.
4. Only qualified personnel from TacticalFlowMeter.com can perform troubleshooting, TacticalFlowMeter.com is otherwise not liable for any consequences created by customer alteration or misuse of the product.

A SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

1. The product can be utilized to measure and/or monitor the in-line mass flow rate of any clean, dry and preferably gases with constant concentration in industriall applications. For other special gases or variable concentration gases, the product may not function properly or even can be damaged. Please contact Tactical Flow Meter for further information.
2. The operational environments of the product are shown in the product specification section. If the product is used for other applications, the product may not function properly or can even be damaged.
3. Operation, installation, storage, and maintenance of the product must strictly follow the instructions illustrated in this user manual. Otherwise, unintended damage and even injuries or other severe results may occur. All installation, storage, and maintenance of the product must be performed by skilled workers. This user manual should be kept near the product for easy reference.
4. Before using the product, the user should read this user manual completely and in detail so that the user is well versed in all the important instructions. It is recommended that the product be re-calibrated and serviced once every two years, as the elements are nearly digital and do not drift with time.

Features

• Proprietary thermal time-of-flight sensing indicates true mass flow
• Automatic temperature and pressure compensation
• High sensitivity for very low flow measurement
• Excellent turndown of 100:1 and above
• Supports multiple gas measurements and customizable user calibration Instant, Rate, flow rate and Total, accumulated, flow rate
• Remote communication with RS485 Modbus and 4-20mA output
• Easy User Configuration Setup and data access with front panel 3 button user interface Customer configurable alarms 1P 66 /NEMA 4X protection

Applications

Principle of Operation

TFM-5700 series TOF Mass Flow meters feature our proprietary and state-of-the- art MEMS thermal time-of-flight mass flow sensor installed in a laminar flow channel that forms a boundary layer ensuring laminar flow exists in the desired measurement area. The flow measurement, using our innovative time of flight MEM technology, provides superior accuracy over conventional thermal mass flow meters We utilize aa very low power micro heater that is pulsed where we measure the tim the pulse takes to arrive at the measuring point locateda precise distance away. The flow meter is a “mass velocity measuring machine” that measures the gas thermal properties to extract the density for true Mass Flow Rate Indication.

Why is this an improvement over conventional

Thermal Mass Flow Meters? Conventional thermal mass flow meters have sensitivity to the thermal properties of the gas as well as to the gas flow conditions. Our time of flight meter, utilizing thetime of flight of micro pulses of thermal bursts of energy, has no sensitivity to temperature or gas properties when the system is “zeroed” in the desired gas. It is a pure “mass velocity” measuring machine that does not care about gas temperature or composition. Consider conventional thermal mass flow meters you may have used in the past that have to be calibrated for the specific gas and do not do well when the temperature of the gas changes rapidly. This series of Mass Flow Meters has no such sensitivity. As well, these meters are blazing fast compared to conventional thermal mass flow meters, and they take VERY VERY VERY little power to run. Note: Our thermal mass flow meters are an improvement to most “top brand” flow meters on the market, we invite you to investigate them.

Schematic Overview

Dimensions

Installation

The flow me is fully inspected at the time of shipment for product quality and meets all safety requirements. Additional safety measures during the installation should be applied. This includes, but is not limited to leak testing procedures, standard EDS (electrostatic discharge) precautions, DC voltage precautions, and installation precautions. Other tasks such as calibration, parts replacement, repair, and maintenance must only be performed by trained personnel. Upon request, manufacturer ill provide necessary technical support and/or training of the personnel tor larger orders. Do not take the meter apart or alter any part of the product. Any such actions will void the warranty and release our liability tor any damages thereater. The product should ideally be installed horizontally. Flow direction should be aligned with the arrow mark on the meter body. If the flow fluid has any particles or debris, a filter is strongly recommended to be installed upstream of the meter Use the following steps to complete the installation:

• Upon opening the package, the product physical integrity should be inspected to ensure no visual nsI damage.
• Before installation of the product, please ensure that any pipe debris or particles or any other foreign materials are completely removed.
• Cautions during installation:
  • We suggest to install the inlet end of the meter first, and then the outlet end of the meter;
  • To ensure the measurement accuracy, an upstream straight pipe of length no less than 10DN and a downstream straight pipe of length no less than 5DN should be in place. of course installation configuration may dictate otherwise.
  • The Inlet upstream is more important than the downstream value.

If there is requirement for different pipe sizes at either upstream or downstream, the size of the pipe diameters should be larger than that of the meter size. Please see details as below:

expansion of our valVe (in)During installation, please make sure no foreign materials (such as water, oll, dirt, particles, etc.) enter into the pipe.

• Connect electrical wires for power, and then electrical wires for inputs/outputs. Please pay special attention to power supply range (i.e., 5 -24 VDC) and power supply polarity. (see the description in Electrical Intertaces in this manual).
• when connecting the communication wires, please make sure that the wires are correctly connected to the proper ports on your data device/equipment. For ModBUS RTU we have A and B terminals available.
• Turn on the power supply, and make sure that the LCD works correctly. It will initialize invoking a Self Check showing Slave ID and the software version.
• Slowly open the valves at the both ends of the pipeline, and the meter should then start to measure the flow in the pipeline
• The meter may now be utilized.

Cautions

• Do not take the meter apart as this will void the warranty.
• Ensure all electrical wires for the power, and inputs/outputs are properly connected.
• Ensure there are no stresses exerted on the flow meter fittings.
• Avoid proximity to strong electromagnetic sources or vibration to the flow body or pipeline.
• Slowly open/close valves to prevent abrupt flow pulse, or pressure waves, which may damage the product.

Menu Operation

1. Interface illustration The User Interface includes total flow, instant flow, temperature, alarm, battery status, valve status, menu and other process data during setup. See the graphic at the left for details. There are 3 keys on the front of the meter enclosure:

2. Operation The following describes the details for the user interface. Pl ease read carefully,

3. Display at default operation
   Upon power on, the meter will start self-check. Upon self-check, the meter will show the RS485 Modbus address (255) and the firmware version (V0103). After self-check, the meter will display the accumulated, total, flow mode, accumulated flow or total unit is SCF, instant flow unit is SCFH. Briefly press key, and the meter will switch to temperature mode, temperature units are in oC.

4. Password Input In the default operation display, press the key, to enter into the password verification interface. Input the correct password, the Setup Menu will display. If the password is incorrect, the display will not change. For your first time use, the default factory password is 11111.To enter the password, press or key to change the flashing digit when it flashes, and press key to confirm the entry. Repeat this process for all 5 digits and the meter will enter the menu interface. Note: During password input, the flow measurements will not be interrupted.

5. Modbus address, Slave ID, setting When the meter completes the “password verification”, the following menus may be accessed:The main menu will show F2 Addr. ModBus Address, Same as Slave ID The meter address cuses 3 digits, and can be any value from 001 to 255 Press or key to change the digit when it flashes, and press
   key to confirm the change. Slave ID 157 if for factory only.
   After the last digit, press key, the meter will return to F2 Addr menu.

6. Offset calibration Press key, switch to F11 oFFST, to invoke offset calibrationor key to confirmation and return to F11 oFFST menu. Save with YES, abort with no. <<> Only invoke this function when the flow rate is ZERO. This function is used to determine the gas properties, such as density and thermal diffusivity, at the ZERO condition. Setting the Offset with flow will alter the calibration significantly.

7. GCF setting press key, switch to F12 GCF, for the GCF setting.

8. Accumulated flow unit setting Press key to confirm and return to F31 UnT-A menu.

9. Instant flow unit setting Press key to confirm and return to F31 UnT-A menu.

10. Language setting Press key to confirm and return to F39 dISP menu.

11. High instant flow alarm setting The high instant flow alarm function allows the user to set the maximum instant flow. When the instant flow rate is greater than the high instant flow alarm value, the alarm function will be triggered. When the high alarm is triggered the instant flow and alarm icon will flash. key to confirm the change.
    After the last digit, press key, the meter will return to F51 ALm-H menu. e.g.: Set ALm-H to 100.00, when the flow rate is greater than 100.00, the flow rate and alarm icon will flash. The flashing is depicted in the grayed out characters below:

12. Low instant flow alarm setting The low instant flow alarm function allows the user to set the minimum instant flow. When the instant flow is less than the low instant flow alarm value, the alarm function will be triggered and the flow value and alarm icon will flash. The flashing is depicted in the grayed out characters below: to confirm the change. After the last digit, press key, the meter will return to F52 ALm-L menu.

13. Accumulated flow alarm setting The accumulated flow alarm function allows the user to set the maximum accumulated flow or total. When the set value is reached and the flow is still accumulating, the alarm function will be triggered. During alarm the accumulated flow and alarm icon will flash. If the flow is driven to ZERO flow, the alarm will be switched off automatically. If the flow starts again, the alarm will come back on. User can also disable the alarm by resetting the total or accumulated flow value or switch off the flow. The main menu will show F53 ALm-A. The alarm uses 7 digits, and can be any value from 0 to 9999999. digit when it flashes, and press key to confirm the change.After the last digit, press key, the meter will return to F53 ALm-A menu.

14. Password setting For data safety, it is advised that the default or factory set password should be changed when you first use of the product, (The factory preset password is 11111. ) to prevent unauthorized configuration setting. It is advised that your password be kept in a safe location and can be retrieved when it is needed. In the case of a lost password, please contact TacticalFlowMeter to obtain the secret password for access.

15. Reset the accumulated flow function allows user to reset, or zero the accumulated flow value. By selecting this menu, the accumulated flow or total will be set to zero. Press key to confirmation and return to F92 CLr-A menu. Press key to confirmation and return to F92 CLr-A menu.

16. Quit Save with YES and ABORT with no
    The main menu will show F99 qUIT.

17. Button Menu

Communication

This product supports RS485 Modbus RTU protocol.

1. Cable definition NOTE: Wire Color Scheme is on the label of the meter. Below colors are for our standard 8′ Cables
   Red

Black

| VCC

GND

| Power supply (8 – 24 VDC+)

Power/signal ground (-) (Use for 4-20 Output -)

---|---|---
Green| RS485-A| RS485-A
White| RS485-B| RS485-B
Yellow| 4 – 20 mA| 4 – 20 mA output (Use GND for return. Do not apply 24 VDC to the 4-20 mA signal)
2. RS-485 ModBus RTU Protocol
RS485 communication is based on the standard Modbus communication protocol. It supports either single meter communication or multi-meter networking.

1.  **Hardware connection**  

Based on standard ModBus RTU mode, a master (PC or PLC) can communicate with several slaves (TFM-5700) setting parameters or reading data. The hardware layer is TIA/EIA-485-A. The “daisy chain” connection is shown below:

2.  ** ** ** ** **Communication parameters The UART parameters are shown below**********  

RTU
Baud rate(Bits per second)| 9600 bps.. Sele
Start bits| 1
Data bits| 8
Stop bits| 1
Even/Odd parity| None
Bit period| 104.2μs
Byte period| 1.1458ms
Maximum data length| 20
Maximum Nodes| 247

3. **Fram** e  

The framing function is accord with The Standard Modbus RTU framing, which is shown as below:

4.  **Function code**  

TFM-5700 Modbus Function-code is a subclass of Standard Modbus Function-code. By using these function-codes, We can set or read the registers of TFM-5700.
The codes are shown in the following table: Code| Name| Action
---|---|---
0x03| Read register| Read register (one or more)
0x06| Set single register| Write one single 16bit register
0x10| Set multi registers| Write multiple registers
5.

Registers

The TFM-5700 has several registers. We can get the information (such as “total flow”, “flow rate” and so on) by reading these registers, or we can write into some of the registers for setting various parameters of the meter
The registers are shown below:

Detail

| Flowrate = (value(0x003A) * 65536 + value(0x003B) ) /1000

Example:

When the LCD shows 20.34 L/min, we can get “0” form register 0x003A and “20340” form register 0x003B.

Thus, flowrate = (0*65536 + 20340)/1000= 20.340

Accumulated flow| 0x003C ~ 0x003E| WRITE| N
READ| A
Description| The accumulated or total flow value
Value type| UINT32 + UINT16

Details

| V1 = value (0x003C) * 65536 +value;

V2 = value (0x003D); V3 = value (0x003E);

Accumulated flow = (V1 x 65536+ V2 + V3/1000 Example: When the LCD shows 3452.245 cf, we can get “0” from register 0x003C, “3452” from register 0x003D, “245” from register 0x003E.

Then, V1 = 0*65536= 0 V2= 3452; V3= 245;

Accumulated flow=(3452 +245/1000) = 3452.245.

Modbus Address| 0x0081| WRITE| A
READ| A
Description| The Modbus address or Slave ID
Value type| UINT16
Detail| Values from 1 to 255 except 157 (0x9d), 0 is broadcast address.
Baud Rate| 0x0082| WRITE| A
READ| A
Description| Communication BAUD rate
Value type| UINT16

Detail

| 0: 4800, 1: 9600, 2: 19200, 3: 38400, 4: 57600, 5: 115200.

The default value is 1 (BAUD rate: 9600).

Example: Reading “1” from register 0x0082, shows the BAUD

rate is 9600

Detail

| The value is 1000 x the gas correction factor. The default value is 1000.

Note: Need to set write-enable as shown below.

Example: The GCF of air is 1.0, you will get “1000” from register 0x008B.

Acc Alarm| 0x0096 ~ 0x0097| WRITE| A
READ| A
Description| Accumulated, or total flow alarm
Value type| UINT32

Detail

| Acc Alarm= (value(0x0096) * 65536 +value (0x0097)).

When the set value is hit and the flow is still accumulating, the

Acc alarm function will be triggered.

High Alarm| 0x0098 ~ 0x0099| WRITE| A
READ| A
Description| High instant flow alarm
Value type| UINT32

Detail

| High Alarm= (value(0x0098) * 65536 +value (0x0099)). When the instant flow rate is greater than the high instant

flow alarm value, the alarm function will be triggered.

Low Alarm| 0x009A ~ 0x009B| WRITE| A
READ| A
Description| Low instant flow alarm
Value type| UINT32

Detail

| High Alarm= (value(0x009A) * 65536 +value (0x009B)). When the instant flow rate is less than the low instant flow alarm

value, the alarm function will be triggered.

00000~99999.
Offset Calibration| 0x00F0| WRITE| A
READ| N
Description| Calibrate offset value for specific gas (must have gas in meter)
Value type| UINT16, Fixed value 0xAA55
Detail| Set the fixed value 0xAA55 to register 0x00F0.

Note: Ensure there is NO flow in the pipeline when invoking.

OffsetCalibration and Reset Acc Note: You must set write-enable.
Reset Acc| 0x00F2| WRITE| A
READ| N
Description| Reset the accumulated flow
Value type| UINT16, Fixed value 0x0001
Detail| Set the fixed value 0x0001 to register 0x00F2.
Write-enable| 0x00FF| WRITE| A
READ| N
Description| Write-enable for GCF, Offset Calibration and Reset Acc.
Value type| UINT16, Fixed value 0xAA55 30 second timer on write enable
Detail| Example: To allow setting GCF, you must send a fixed valve 0xAA55 to register 0x00FF to enable the write enable function.

Product Selection **

**

0RGHO| ‘1|

& RQQHFWLRQ

| )ORZ 5DQJH
---|---|---|---
6/30| 6&)+| 1&0+
TFM5700-1| 15PP| 1/2″ 137| 600| 1200| 35
TFM5700-2| 19PP| 3/4″ 137| 800| 1700| 50
TFM5700-3| 25PP| 1″ 137| 1200| 1500| 70
TFM5700-4              50PP             2″   137 2400 3000                  140

SPECIFICATION

Safety and Maintenance

Safety Precautions

The product is designed for use with general purpose gases such as air and nitrogen. It is advised that the products are best used for non-explosive clean gases. The sensors cannot be used for gas metrology with fluoride or fluoride containing gases. For updates of the product certification information, please contact manufacturer or visit www.TacticalFlow Meter.com. Use with other gases such as corrosive and toxic gases may cause product failure or even severe damage. Maximum pressure is 116 PSIG (0.8 MPA). Do not exceed this pressure or warranty will be voided. Ensure there are no leaks in the plumbing before use by testing using best practices in the specific application. Power the meter with a voltage between 5 to 24 VDC and use all safety precautions for electrical systems. CAUTION: Any alternation and/or improper use of the product without the permission of the manufacturer can cause unpredicted damages and even injuries or other severe situations. TacticalFlowMeter or any of its employees, subsidiaries shall not be hold and shall be indemnified against such consequences due to such circumstances via improper use of the product.

Cautions for models with optional batteries: When the battery life indicator on LCD shows low, batteries should be changed immediately or switch to AC power. Do not allow battery leakage inside the meter.

Maintenance Attention: without prior permission of thee manufacturer, please do not attempt to alter any part of the product as it may cause unrecoverable damages. If there are questions or doubts, please contact manufacturer immediately by calling 831-455-0418 and ask for Customer Service. Secret code is 85139 All maintenance of the sensor should be done by trained and certified personnel by TacticalFlowMeter.

References

• Tactical Flow Meter, Thermal Mass Flow Meters, MAG and Coriolis Meters
• Tactical Flow Meter, Thermal Mass Flow Meters, MAG and Coriolis Meters

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