Panametrics Water Flow Meters: Boundary Busting Longevity And Quality

Late last millennium, Panametrics installed a model 6068 liquid clamp-on flow meter for the measurement of water in Kinlochleven Hydro Power, a hydroelectric power plant in Scotland, to monitor turbine generator performance.

The measurements are used to determine the performance of the generators on the plant to ensure the actual power output and water flow are consistent with expected power output.

Panametrics has a long and successful track record with the Kinlochleven hydroelectric plant. The model 6068 was estimated to have been installed in the early ´90s.

A dual channel DF868 was later installed in 1999 on the feed pipes when two new turbine generator units running in parallel to the first unit, were added on the station.

The electronics on both meters recently failed after more than 25 years of operation. Impressed by the durability, reliability, accuracy, and longevity of the technology the customer returned to Panametrics to replace and upgrade with equipment that feature digital communication capabilities.

It took the opportunity of replacing the 6068 with an ultrasonic clamp-on Aquatrans AT600 with Modbus. In addition, it replaced the old DF868 with a new DF868 with Modbus rather than repair the original.