http://www.flowline.com A globally recognized and respected supplier of industrial instrumentation, Flowline designs, manufacturers and markets level measurement and control solutions for corrosive chemical, water and wastewater applications. Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:32:00 PDT en-us http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?1_19_09_email.lasso~main http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?1_19_09_email.lasso~main Mon, 19 Jan 2009 8:00:00 PDT The oil and energy production industry is gearing up for the next big oil boom. At this time, hundreds of well heads are being un-capped, and exploration for new wells is underway. One of the central processes of bringing oil from the ground and into the pipeline is the seperation of oil from the brine or salt water. Once the brine is lifted from the oil, it's stored in settling tanks and after treatment, injected back into the ground. EchoSafe is an ideal two-wire level transmitter for this application due to its large measuring range and explosion proof design. An advantage of EchoSafe over its competition is how close it can be mounted to the sidewall of a tank, making it easy for operators on the cat walk to install or service. The operator on this oil lease said, "The accuracy and reliability of EchoSafe insures that we can pump to maximum capacity without being concerned of a tank overflow, which creates fines and loss of production." http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?1_26_09_email.lasso~main http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?1_26_09_email.lasso~main Mon, 26 Jan 2009 8:00:00 PDT EchoPod is the multi-function level measurement, switch and control solution that replaces float, capacitance or pressure sensors in day tank, sump, IBC tote, pump lift station and mini-bulk storage tank applications. The loop powered sensor provides non-contact level detection up to 98.4" (2.5m) with (4) SPST relays and a two-wire, 4-20 mA measurement output. In addition, the embedded relay controller can replace or compliment external automation hardware with switch-alarm, pump or valve control and process fail-safety functions. EchoPod is easily configured via our free WebCal software and features an intuitive interface with pre-programmed menus, tank set point graphics, custom PDF wiring diagrams and configuration control. EchoPod is well suited for a variety of corrosive, sticky or dirty liquids. http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?2_2_09_email.lasso~main http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?2_2_09_email.lasso~main Mon, 2 Feb 2009 8:00:00 PDT Float, conductance and pressure level sensors often fail due to prolonged contact with corrosive, sticky or dirty liquids. Such failures create expensive maintenance or replacement costs that go well beyond the initial cost of the sensor. EchoPod is the reliable, non-contact ultrasonic level switch, control and measurement solution that meets the unique functional and size requirements of small tank applications. EchoPod lowers your total cost by reducing process downtime and eliminating external control or I/O hardware. Designed for plug-n-play integration, EchoPod is offered in four single and multi-function models with a variety of outputs. Select the model that's a direct replacement for your existing system design and field retrofit requirements. Then consider how use of the embedded control functions or alternative signal outputs would enable you to eliminate system hardware and further reduce cost. http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?02_09_09_email.lasso~main http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?02_09_09_email.lasso~main Mon, 9 Feb 2009 8:00:00 PDT The International Association of Fire Chiefs indicates that 87% of fire related deaths, tragically occur in single and multi-family dwellings. While fire suppression technology is widely used in industrial and commercial buildings, less than 3% of US residences have fire sprinklers. But that's about to change. City, county and state legislators are moving toward the mandate of fire sprinklers in new home construction consistent with the 2009 International Residential Code which establishes minimum building and safety regulations for 1-3 story, single and multi-family dwellings. In fact, many residential fire sprinklers mandates are underway in places such as Cobb County-GA, Greenburgh-NY, Orange County-FL, Anaheim-CA, Scottsdale-AZ, King County-WA and Prince George's County-MD. The system often includes a water storage tank which provides a surge or emergency source in the event of water supply loss. The EchoSwitch II was selected because it provides a total solution for water tank level detection with automatic valve control and high-low alarms. http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?2_23_09_email.lasso~main http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?2_23_09_email.lasso~main Mon, 23 Feb 2009 8:00:00 PDT Available for download in both English and Chinese language versions, WebCal 5.14 incorporates valuable new features and functions, and is backward compatible with all WebCal enabled sensors. Included in WebCal 5 is our current V27 DSP firmware that provides enhanced measurement performance. Should you elect to update the sensor firmware prior to configuration, simply click browse on the update tab, and select the appropriate firmware based on the part number of the attached sensor. WebCal 5 also supports the new DL24 2.5m EchoPod ultrasonic level transmitter, switch and controller that begins shipping on 3-1-09. In addition, we added a new single pump and three alarm configuration which provides automatic pump control with three independent alarms for the EchoPod DL14, DS14 & DL24 switch products. Last, we incorporated our demonstration page which allows users to simulate operation by moving the attached sensor perpendicular to a flat surface, while watching the digital display and/or relay indicators correspond to their configuration. http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story61/3_23_09_email.lasso~main http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story61/3_23_09_email.lasso~main Mon, 23 Mar 2009 8:00:00 PDT The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which monitors US temperature, precipitation, reservoir and ground water levels, forecasts serious continued drought throughout the Southwest, South-Central and Southeast regions, placing increased demand on the water resources to the North. As snow pack states attempt to gain better control over their water assets, monitoring equipment and their resulting data is critically important to decision makers. This requirement is pushing monitoring deeper up the water supply chain into remote areas where the resource originates. EchoPod is the ideal solution for pipe or open channel flow measurement applications, including those which require battery power. http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story62/4_1_09_email.lasso~main http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story62/4_1_09_email.lasso~main Mon, 1 Apr 2009 8:00:00 PDT We've transformed our culture and business practices consistent with the IS0 9001 quality standard. Based on our enhanced quality and product robustness, Flowline now offers a free optional 1-year warranty extension on our non-contact ultrasonic level products that increase the warranty period on such products for a period, which is equal to the shorter of two years from the date of purchase or three years from the date of manufacture. To receive the extended warranty, simply register your qualifying product at www.flowline.com within thirty (30) days of purchase by providing your valid part number, serial number, name, company and email address. An extended warranty registration receipt will be emailed to you for reference. http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story63/4_27_09_email.lasso~main http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story63/4_27_09_email.lasso~main Mon, 27 Apr 2009 8:00:00 PDT The disinfection of fresh produce and associated processing equipment is essential to public health. Fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, head lettuce, tomatoes, oranges and artichokes are susceptible to bacterial and viral contamination. Each year, approximately 40k Americans succumb to Hepatitis A food poisoning. Adults who become ill miss an average of 27 work days. Eleven percent of them are hospitalized and 100 people die each year from acute liver failure. Good Manufacturing Practices and new FDA recommendations call for the disinfection of all fresh produce and processing equipment. To accomplish this, produce suppliers are deploying automated systems that generate, inventory and inject chlorine dioxide into their processes. These are typically small systems that use 55-gal-drum or mini-bulk tanks for chemical make up and storage. From inventory to data-logging, level is critical in these highly corrosive applications. EchoPod is the reliable, level measurement, switch and control solution for chlorine disinfection systems. http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story64/5_04_09_email.lasso~main http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story64/5_04_09_email.lasso~main Mon, 4 May 2009 8:00:00 PDT With global demand at 57M tons per year, sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda, is the most widely used chemical base. Pure caustic, a white pelletized solid, is handled as an aqueous solution to neutralize acidic material or drive chemical process reactions. Typical applications include water & wastewater treatment, metal etching, food preparation, aluminum production, cleaners and detergents. When exposed to air, caustic undergoes an exothermic reaction and crystallizes, coating everything it contacts. The EchoSonic II, two-wire ultrasonic transmitter is the non-contact solution for reliable sodium hydroxide level measurement. http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story65/5_18_09_email.lasso~main http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story65/5_18_09_email.lasso~main Mon, 18 May 2009 8:00:00 PDT Refined chemicals are the building blocks of modern products from plastic to aspirin, paint to fertilizer and clothing to detergent. Worldwide there are more than 2900 petrochemical plants in 4300 locations that manufacture refined chemicals from petroleum and hydrocarbon based material. The majority of these manufacturers are located in North America and Europe, but new production facilities are shifting to Austral Asia. Chemical plants are hazardous environments that require explosion proof or intrinsically safe certified instrumentation. Here, an EchoSafe explosion proof ultrasonic level transmitter is installed on the man-way cover of an underground wastewater bulk storage tank. The patented digital signal processing technology features an industry leading 3" beam width that enables installation in close proximity to the 6" suction pipe. http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story66/5_26_09_email.lasso~main http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story66/5_26_09_email.lasso~main Mon, 26 May 2009 8:00:00 PDT North American thermoelectric power plants use 225M gallons of water per day in their steam turbines and cooling towers. Most US plants are located in the Coastal and upper Mid West states with easy access to abundant ocean or lake resources. These facilities have lots of sumps that collect and pump transfer water into treatment for reuse or release to the environment. But sumps capture much more than water including grease, oil, chemical and trash, that coats everything in the pit. Here, an EchoSpan ultrasonic level transmitter is installed over the sump man-way. The patented digital signal processing technology features an industry leading 3" beam width that enables installation in close proximity to the ladder and side wall. http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story67/5_29_09_email.lasso~main http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story67/5_29_09_email.lasso~main Mon, 29 May 2009 8:00:00 PDT The $41B global adhesive and sealant market produces 26B tons of product each year. The largest consumer segments are paper, building materials, packaging, transportation and manufacturing assembly. From glues to epoxies, silicones to polyeurythenes, the world is held together with adhesives. For this very reason, bulk users are challenged in selecting compatible handling and dispensing equipment. Here, an EchoPod ultrasonic level transmitter is installed on a glue tank. The non-contact sensor provides reliable measurement of adhesives. http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story68/6_08_09_email.lasso~main http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story68/6_08_09_email.lasso~main Mon, 8 Jun 2009 8:00:00 PDT According to college.gov, "More education can make a huge difference in your life." In the industrial, municipal and chemical industries, knowledge of level solutions is vital to keeping your systems and processes running smoothly. Thats why Flowline has introduced Level Learning, to educate users on the many aspects of level success. Our first lesson "What is Beam Width" is available now. http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story69/6_15_09_email_site.lasso~main http://www.flowline.com/index.lasso?a_success_story69/6_15_09_email_site.lasso~main Mon, 15 Jun 2009 8:00:00 PDT About 1.3M polyethylene tanks are sold in North America each year ranging in size from 1 to 15,000 gallons. Most of these are less than 6' in height with capacities under 500 gallons. The largest markets are industrial manufacturing, municipal, agriculture and residential in chemical, water & wastewater applications. Over the past 10 years, customers have moved toward the use of smaller storage tanks with increased automation to lower cost through functional efficiencies. Today, mini-bulk tanks are a major product category and Flowline has developed a new multi-function sensor to meets the needs of this growing market. The DL24 EchoPod puts non-contact level measurement, relay switch and advanced control functions in the palm of your hand. http://www.flowline.com/how_to_install_a_standpipe.lasso http://www.flowline.com/how_to_install_a_standpipe.lasso Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:00:00 PDT Flowline explains how and why to use a stand-pipe with ultrasonic level sensors. Installing your sensor in a stand-pipe improves performance of an ultrasonic sensor in applications with extreme foam, turbulence and vapor. This video explains proper stand-pipe component selection and assembly techniques to ensure reliable level measurement. http://www.flowline.com/a_success_story71/6_29_09_email_site.lasso http://www.flowline.com/a_success_story71/6_29_09_email_site.lasso Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:00:00 PDT Millions of gallons of waste oil are collected, stored, transported and recycled each year. The EPA defines waste oil as any petroleum, synthetic or seed based oil which has become impure through use. The largest waste oil producers are in the automotive, industrial, transportation and food industries. Recycled oil demand has grown steadily over the past decade, driven by rising petroleum and transportation costs. Non-contact ultrasonic is the ideal level measurement solution for dirty, viscous waste oil. Here, an EchoTouch intrinsically safe ultrasonic level transmitter is installed on each waste oil storage tank. Click here, for information on EchoTouch. http://www.flowline.com/range,height,fill,deadband.lasso http://www.flowline.com/range,height,fill,deadband.lasso Mon, 6 Jul 2009 15:00:00 PDT Flowline explains Range, Tank Height, Fill Height and Dead Band. Understanding this terminology will assist in the selection and configuration of an ultrasonic sensor. http://www.flowline.com/a_success_story73/7_13_09_email_site.lasso http://www.flowline.com/a_success_story73/7_13_09_email_site.lasso Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:00:00 PDT There are 200k US sewer pump lift stations that collect waste from residential, commercial and industrial sources, and automatically transfer it into our municipal wastewater treatment facilities. These stations are harsh environments that collect everything from human waste to trash, chemicals to grease, and particulates to solids. As a result, the maintenance or replacement of associated pumps and contact type level sensors is an ongoing challenge. Flowline's non-contact ultrasonic level transmitters and multi-point level switches are the solution, delivering reliable, maintenance-free level measurement or control in your municipal pump lift stations. http://www.flowline.com/a_success_story74/7_27_09_email_site.lasso http://www.flowline.com/a_success_story74/7_27_09_email_site.lasso Mon, 27 Jul 2009 8:00:00 PDT Municipalities collect, treat and redistribute millions gallons of water to the communities they serve, and level control is critical to their water treatment processes. From pump lift stations to open channel weirs and chemical feed tanks to clarifiers, Flowline non-contact ultrasonic transmitters deliver reliable level measurement. Here, wastewater operator Jim Hanson installs an EchoSonic II two-wire ultrasonic level transmitter in a 28' pump lift station, "The sensor configuration was easy with their free WebCal software and I'm very satisfied with it's performance." http://www.flowline.com/mounting.lasso http://www.flowline.com/mounting.lasso Mon, 10 Aug 2009 8:00:00 PDT This level learning video describes proper fitting selection and basic mounting guidelines to maximize the performance of your Flowline non-contact ultrasonic level sensor. http://www.flowline.com/a_success_story76/8_17_09_email_site.lasso http://www.flowline.com/a_success_story76/8_17_09_email_site.lasso Mon, 17 Aug 2009 8:00:00 PDT EchoPod is featured in what FOX News calls, "The greenest house in the world". Florida's Green House spotlights residential conservation technologies for EPA, university, engineer and architect study. As the nations water resources further decline, reclamation is core to the solution. The average US citizen consumes 88 gallons of water per day. About 65% of indoor use occurs in the bathroom and 1/3 of that flushes down the toilet. Reclamation systems collect and filter grey water from sinks, showers, baths, laundry and the yard for reuse in flushing toilets and irrigation. The system includes a 30-120 gallon underground water cistern. Each tank is plumbed with an overflow drain, freshwater inlet, fill valve, recirculating pump and level control. EchoPod measures the level, and when necessary, opens the fill valve to ensure that water is available to the system. http://www.flowline.com/a_success_story77/8_24_09_email_site.lasso http://www.flowline.com/a_success_story77/8_24_09_email_site.lasso Mon, 24 Aug 2009 8:00:00 PDT Depending on the metal substrate and desired finish hardness, the chrome plating process uses a variety of corrosive chemicals for stripping and etching. These include sodium hydroxide, ferric chloride, hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, sulfuric, chromic and acetic acids. Solution temperatures are maintained from 32º to 50º C. via submersion heaters, and evaporation is a constant challenge. Here, an EchoPod ultrasonic level transmitter, switch-controller is installed in each acid and deionized water bath with a stand-pipe. The compact, multi-function sensor, automatically refills each bath to maintain liquid level, and transmits a 4-20 mA measurement signal to the PLC for process monitoring. http://www.flowline.com/why_echopod.lasso http://www.flowline.com/why_echopod.lasso Mon, 31 Aug 2009 8:00:00 PDT Describes the similarities and differences between each EchoPod, detailing each models function(s) to assist in selecting the best EchoPod sensor for your level application.