Technical Forum

Process Instrumentation / Analytics / Weighing Systems SIWAREX

Clamp-On Ultrasonic Flow Meter giving F fault

Thread Starter: Preetbrar   Started: 5/2/2012 11:23 AM   Replies: 4

« Previous thread Next thread »
Page 1 of 1 (5 items)
  5/2/2012, 11:23 AM
Joined 4/29/2012
Last visit: 3/31/2013
Posts: 46
Rating:
Rated: Excellent [5 out of 5 / rated 1 time(s)]. (1) 
Rated: no ratings [0 out of 5 / rated 0 time(s)]. (0) 
Dear Sir,

Our customers in Oil and Gases have installed 3 Nos of Siemens Ultrasonic Clampon Flow Meters in Refinery on same Metal Pipe for redundant values. There are 2 pumps running for this application with 1 in standby, during routine shift change standby starts and other pump stops. At this perticular time for 20-30 Seconds all flow meters show "F" fault. Can anybody advise what is this error and how to rectify it?

Appreciating your earliest feedback.

Regards,

Davinder Singh
Top
  5/2/2012, 3:28 PM
Joined 12/15/2010
Last visit: 5/2/2012
Posts: 7
Rating:
Rated: no ratings [0 out of 5 / rated 0 time(s)]. (0) 
Rated: no ratings [0 out of 5 / rated 0 time(s)]. (0) 
Without diagnostic data this is difficult to address, however, the "F" fault indication on the screen means that the meter has lost signal from the sensors. Pump cavitation or short term entrained air can cause this.


If the sensors are mounted in "reflect mount" mode, changing to "direct mount" mode can increase base signal strength and may help address this issue. Without information on the signal strength, this is one possible cause.

William Patterson
Head of Technical Support Services
CoC Ultrasonic Flow
Siemens Industry, Inc.

Top
Thank you for this post from:
  5/5/2012, 10:52 AM
Joined 4/29/2012
Last visit: 3/31/2013
Posts: 46
Rating:
Rated: Excellent [5 out of 5 / rated 1 time(s)]. (1) 
Rated: no ratings [0 out of 5 / rated 0 time(s)]. (0) 
Dear Sir,

Thanks for your feedback, I'll check it from site and comeback to you shortly.

Regards,

Davinder Singh
Top
  6/12/2012, 9:26 PM
Joined 4/29/2012
Last visit: 3/31/2013
Posts: 46
Rating:
Rated: Excellent [5 out of 5 / rated 1 time(s)]. (1) 
Rated: no ratings [0 out of 5 / rated 0 time(s)]. (0) 
Dear Sir,

I tried doing direct mode but still getting F error during pump changeover. I would like to give you a brief of actions taken by me:
Installed Model: 7ME3531-1DA00-0FA1-Z-K02
Using Magnetic Wand I started doing the entering the data, after entering pipe & transducer data it asked install the transducer? i clicked yes. Then shown Drive 60-70....till a stage reached when it states the index number. We installed transducer, as per the index number. Then further, it is installed only. Now after changing the pump again flow meter starts showing F fault.

I am fully convinced that it is happening due to the cavitation or air bubbles in side the pipe.We noticed Vaer Value=15-25%. Now this F error is showing only during the change over of standby pump i.e. for 4-5 secs only. As these flow meters are connected to ESD system I would like to know if there is any way I can hold the previous value showing on screen of instrument instead of f showing error?

Urgently I need the feedback.

Regards,

Davinder Singh
Top
  6/13/2012, 2:31 AM
Joined 3/28/2010
Last visit: 4/26/2013
Posts: 121
Rating:
Rated: Excellent [4.43 out of 5 / rated 21 time(s)]. (21) 
Rated: no ratings [0 out of 5 / rated 0 time(s)]. (0) 

Check out the italicized first to see if the conditions match

FUS1010 manual

7.9 Operation Adjust Menu Settings
The [Operation Adjust] menu becomes available after picking a meter type and measurement channel. It is recommended that you use it after the sensors are installed and operating to "fine-tune" the meter’s output characteristics.
<snip>  You can also select the flowmeter response to a continuous Fault condition.

Memory/Fault Set (Page 119, paper)
Certain situations will interrupt data production (e.g., an empty pipe or excessive aeration).

Use Memory/Fault Set to select the flowmeter response to such an interruption. The Fault setting (default) will zero the flow rate output and declare an alarm on a flow display screen, Datalogger report and an assigned relay output.

For some applications, occasional temporary Fault conditions may be a normal part of the process and would not require an alarm response. The flowmeter offers a Memory operating mode to support such an application. Memory Mode suspends the flowmeter Fault response by preventing the flow outputs from dropping to zero for the interval specified in the Memory Delay menu cell. During the Memory duration, the flowmeter will maintain the last valid flow reading measured before the onset of the fault condition. The default Memory Delay is 60 seconds. You may select any duration from 3 to 604,800 seconds (one week).

Selecting Memory Mode
1. From the [Dual Path Flow] menu scroll to the [Operation Adjust] menu and press <Right Arrow>.
2. Scroll to the [Memory/Fault Set] and press <Right Arrow> to access option list.
3. Move the cursor down to [Memory] by pressing <Up/Down Arrow>.
4. To make selection press <ENT>.
5. This moves the highlight to [Memory Delay <s>].

Memory Delay (s)
Selecting [Memory Delay <s>] activates the suppressed [Memory Delay] menu cell. It allows you to specify the number of seconds that the flowmeter maintains its last valid flow reading.  When the memory delay expires, it triggers the fault alarm response described previously.

Setting Memory Delay
1. To enable numeric entry press <Right Arrow>.
2. Use the number keys to type the delay in seconds.
3. To register the new value press <ENT>.

Top
Page 1 of 1 (5 items)
Actions