Advanced Magmeter for Slurries

A group of TECO slurry magmeters ready to be shipped.

Custom magnetic flowmeter manufacturer, Thompson Equipment (TECO), offers a line of magnetic flowmeters with erosion and abrasion resistance. Their designs are capable of withstanding a variety of highly corrosive applications and erosive slurries and are targeted for applications in the mining, dredging, and fracking industries.

The TECO SAM slurry magmeter provides a reliable and accurate flow measurement solution in applications where fluids contain sand, large solids, ore, or pulp. They use a combination of advanced technologies to prevent wear and signal loss. These include liners made from specialty materials, custom electrodes, exotic tube constructions, and specialty coatings.

The TECO SAM

By incorporating these advanced features, the TECO SAM Slurry Magnetic Flowmeter helps businesses in these industries overcome significant maintenance issues revolving around magnetic flowmeter wear. The advanced abrasion and erosion resistance reduces downtime and lowers repair and change-out cost.  Businesses in the mining, dredging, and fracking achieve greater operational results and optimize the utilization of resources.

For more information visit this TECO web page, or call them at 800-528-8997 for immediate service.

Electromagnetic Flow Meters for Accurate Measurement of Flowing Conductive Fluids and Slurries

Magnetic Flow Meter
(Badger Meter)

In general, magnetic flow meters are sturdy, reliable devices able to withstand hazardous environments while returning precise measurements to operators of a wide variety of processes. The magnetic flowmeter has no moving parts. Electromagnetic meters will measure virtually any conductive fluid or slurry. This includes process water and wastewater. They provide low pressure drop, high accuracy, high turndown ratio, and excellent repeatability.  It is however, necessary to fill the entire cross section of the pipe in order to derive useful volumetric flow measurements.

Electromagnetic flow meters employ Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction, whereby voltage is induced when a conductor moves through a magnetic field. The liquid acts as the conductor, with energized coils outside the flow tube creating the magnetic field. The produced voltage is directly proportional to the flow rate. Magnetic flow meter technology is not affected by temperature, pressure, or density of the subject fluid.

Electromagnetic flow meters tend to be heavy in larger sizes and may be prohibitively expensive for some purposes. However, irrespective of price and size, there are multiple reasons why magnetic flow meters are the instrument of choice for certain applications. They are resistant to corrosion and their ability to accurately measure dirty fluids makes them very suitable for wastewater measurement. As mentioned, there are no moving parts in a magnetic flow meter, keeping maintenance to a minimum. Power requirements are also low. Electromagnetic flow meters are available in a wide range of configurations, sizes, and construction materials to accommodate various process installation
requirements.

Severe service flow meter.
(TECO)

Severe application magnetic flow meters provide erosion and abrasion resistant designs, capable of withstanding a variety of highly erosive applications and corrosive slurries. These special-purpose  electromagnetic flow meters utilize liners made from specialty materials like magnesia stabilized zirconia ceramic or aluminum oxide ceramic, have electrodes made of exotic metals such as Hastalloy B/C, titanium, platinum, or tungsten carbide, and include specialized coatings.

Contact Thompson Equipment Company (TECO) with any magnetic flow meter requirement. Their decades of applying, repairing, re-manufacturing, and designing magnetic flow meters will assure a successful implementation.

World's First Magnetic Flowmeter Developed Specifically for Hydraulic Fracing

When suspended solids are mixed with a liquid (such as water), a mud-like substance referred to as a “slurry” is formed. Slurries are challenging because of their abrasive nature. Add a highly caustic or acidic condition to the slurry, and the magnetic flowmeters (Magmeters) used to measure flow become particularly susceptible to failure. In these situations off-the-shelf magnetic flowmeters won’t last, so consideration must be given to custom flowmeters built specifically to withstand the application’s unique requirements. Hydraulic fracturing (fracing) is one industry where the movement and handling of slurries is very common, and specially designed Magmeters should be used.

Thompson Equipment (TECO) is now offering their "Severe Application Meter (SAM)" (patent pending) which is specifically designed as the world's first Magmeter developed specifically for the hydraulic fracing industry. It is designed with an impact and wear resistant ceramic liner, solid tungsten carbide billet electrodes, and quick change Victaulic flanges. The SAM can also be retrofitted to the customers existing electronic secondary system, such as Rosemount, E+H, Yokagawa, etc.

For more information, contact TECO by calling (504) 833-6381 or by visiting https://www.teco-inc.com.

Custom Magmeters for the Most Abrasive and Erosive Slurry Application

Custom magnetic flowmeter with
engineered ceramic
brick liner.

When you have suspended solids, such as cement, coal, or fly ash, mixed with a liquid (such as water), a mud-like substance referred to as a “slurry” is formed. Measuring flow of slurries is often times challenging because of their abrasive nature and the wear and tear flowmeters experience. Add to the challenge a carrier fluid that is highly caustic or acidic, and the flow measurement task becomes geometrically more difficult.

In certain industries this situation is very common. Slurry processing applications in mining, dredging, pulp & paper, fracking, oil and gas exploration (drilling slurries - not the old or gas), and wastewater treatment all have areas that present a variety of highly erosive and corrosive slurries. In these situations off-the-shelf magnetic flowmeters won’t last, so consideration must be given to custom flowmeters built specifically to withstand the application’s unique requirements. A complete understanding of the composition of the chemical and particulate nature of the slurry and the flow conditions is critical.

Dredging is an example of challenging slurry flow measurement. 

Customized magnetic flowmeters with very high erosion and abrasion resistance incorporate specialized materials and unique features that increase the performance and service life for that application. These flowmeters are highly engineered and the selection of a manufacturer with the experience, production capability, and quality control is imperative.

Here is a partial list of specialized features available from custom flowmeter manufacturers:

Specialty liners:

• Magnesia stabilized Zirconia ceramic
• Aluminum Oxide ceramic
• Polyurethane rubber
• Neoprene rubber
• Linatex
• Teflon (PTFE)
• Rotationally molded Tefzel (ETFE)
• PFA

Specialty electrodes: 

• Stainless Steel
• Hastalloy B/C
• Titanium
• Platinum/Iridium
• Tungston Carbide

Exotic Tube Construction:

• 100% Titanium
• Marine Epoxy paints
• Powder coating

In summary, when faced with measuring the flow of a highly erosive and abrasive slurry, it’s best to call upon a company with the expertise and production capabilities to match the flowmeter design exactly with the application requirements. Take the time to do this up front, and resist the temptation to “wing-it” with and install a generically designed flowmeter. Doing so will pay off in service life and overall cost in the long run.