The Kobold MIK electromagnetic flowmeter expands the possibilities of measuring neutral and aggressive media

There are many types of flow meters and dosing meters because different media place different demands on the measurement equipment. Therefore, the development engineers at KOBOLD Messring GmbH set themselves the goal of developing a modular electronic control solution with maximum flexibility that is equally suitable for use in all applications and media, without compromising the precision and resistance of the material. To achieve this, MIK uses the new, compact U-PACE electronics, which takes care of simultaneous flow display and dosing, instead of the need for separate evaluation electronic devices. To ensure the flexibility of the new solution, a chemically resistant flowmeter and a precision flow monitor have been combined in one device and optimized for a wide range of applications. This makes KOBOLD’s MIK suitable for almost all applications such as flow measurement, flow control, filling and quantity recording, for example in the food, chemical and paper industries, as well as for aggressive fluids found in the construction industry. Measuring ranges are designed from 0.01 to 700 liters per minute and are suitable for all requirements.

“The global electromagnetic flowmeter market is stable with over five million devices” says Dipl.Ing. Manfred Heil, Development Director at KOBOLD Messring GmbH. This is hardly surprising, because this type of measurements are based on a proven physical principle, according to which, according to Faraday’s law of induction, a voltage is induced in a conductor moving in a magnetic field. An electrically conducting measurement medium corresponds to a moving conductor. Manfred Heil explains further: “The voltage induced by a liquid is proportional to the flow velocity and is therefore a measure of the volumetric flow rate. The induced voltage is fed to the electronics via two electrodes. The volume flow is calculated and derived from the known internal diameter..

However, the measurement result depends largely on how the appropriate electronics are designed to provide the optimal result for a given application. For many system operators, this means accepting trade-offs at one point or another. This means that a large number of different measuring devices must be integrated. Manfred Heil explains: “We wanted to solve this problem by combining proven technology in such a way that the range of its applications automatically expands without having to sacrifice precision. We have therefore further developed two proven products, the MIK electromagnetic flowmeter and the U-PACE compact electronics.”

Compact electronics with versatile configuration options

Flexibility and durability are the most important issues in control systems. For KOBOLD, the name U-PACE was a logical further development of existing electronics concepts and stands for “Universal Precision and Control Electronics” with the subtitle “Precise control – increased efficiency”. Thanks to this concept, it was possible to connect a large number of different measuring devices within a unified, intuitively operated electronic system in order to take advantage of synergies. “Engineers and technicians in the plant have neither the inclination nor the time to read huge amounts of manuals for each new product. Therefore, the assumption of our development was: one electronic system for everything, very easy to use. says Heil. Thanks to the proven compact U-PACE electronics, the new MIK has two individually configurable outputs that can be operated intuitively and which can be set by the customer, for example, as pulse, frequency, alarm or analog outputs. Additionally, MIK provides reliable flow measurement of electrically conductive liquids without moving parts. Wear and mechanical failures are therefore excluded. This maintenance-free device takes up little space, measures bi-directionally and at low and high flow. Short inlet and outlet sections enable MIK installation even in limited spaces.

MIK is insensitive to changes in viscosity, density, temperature or pressure and generates a negligible pressure loss. At the same time, the instruments are resistant to corrosive acids and alkalis thanks to optional material combinations. “MIK is also suitable for water and water-like liquids, especially groundwater, cooling water and sewage of various compositions” explains Manfred Heil, ”during development, special attention was paid to electrodes that are in direct contact with the liquid. For technical reasons, stainless steel electrodes are suitable for most liquids. For special challenges, electrodes made of Hastelloy^® or tantalum are also available. They are resistant to almost all aggressive substances.”

Connection to existing automation systems via IO-Link

Like many KOBOLD measurement devices, U-PACE uses proven IO-Link technology, a standardized real-time communication standard for connecting sensors and actuators to an intelligent automation system. This enables measurement technology to be integrated into almost all common processes and system concepts and offers real added value thanks to short response times.

It is important to highlight the user tips and range of functions here. The color multi-display can be digitally rotated in 90° increments, so no different model is needed when changing location, and the display is independent of the connector position. The desired dosing process can be started and stopped both locally on the display and via an external control input. The desired quantity is set using four buttons, which also allow you to select all settings. Functions such as temperature measurement, partial quantity display or maximum flow can be assigned to the shortcut keys, so there is no need to constantly navigate through several control levels in the menu. This can also be done safely using most gloves. In addition, the multi-line display provides a better overview than comparable devices and shows the corresponding unit or other additional information next to the measured value. This transparency is further enhanced by the multi-color display: for example, the color changes when a certain flow volume is reached. This allows the user to see from a distance when a certain amount has been dispensed or a limit value has been exceeded. “We are already very excited about customer feedback and experiences. The challenge with any new and further development is to integrate point knowledge in the fields of measurement and process technology at the right time, in line with market requirements, and produce new devices.” Heil sums up.