Convenient and accurate air and gas flow meter with digital interface — VA 500

VA 500 Air and Gas Flow Meter with Digital Interface

In production, controlling energy costs begins with accurate measurement of air and gas consumption. Losses due to leaks or incorrect equipment settings can amount to up to 30% of the enterprise's budget. The VA 500 immersion air and gas flow meter helps solve this problem. This modern digital device allows accounting without stopping production or reconstructing the pipeline.

If you need to request additional technical documentation for the product or get expert consultation, we recommend contacting the specialists at "Izmerkon".

The VA 500 is an immersion flow meter designed to measure the mass flow and total consumption of air and various gases. Unlike standard devices, this gas flow meter determines flow parameters directly, without requiring additional correction for temperature or pressure. The device is mounted directly into the pipe through a standard 1/2" ball valve, making it an optimal choice for existing pneumatic systems.

Features and Advantages of the VA 500 Flow Meter

The main advantage of the model lies in the combination of accuracy and durability. The immersion design ensures stable operation under a wide range of operating conditions.

• Installation under pressure. The sensor can be installed without shutting down the system. Using a special tool for drilling under pressure and a ball valve, a flow measurement point can be organized at any section of the pipeline.
• Wide dynamic range. The device detects both minimal flow velocities (important for leak detection) and ultra-high velocities (up to 224 m/s in the High-Speed version).
• Digital data transmission. The standard RS485 interface (Modbus-RTU) or optional Ethernet interface (Modbus-TCP) allows easy integration of the electronic gas flow meter into the information and measurement system of any enterprise.
• No pressure loss. Unlike rotameters and diaphragms (restrictive devices), the immersion probe creates almost no flow resistance, significantly reducing pressure losses.
• Various immersion probe lengths. Device modifications with different immersion part lengths (from 120 to 700 mm) allow using the same digital flow meter on pipes of different diameters — from DN 15 to DN 1200.

Along with this device, the following similar instruments may also be of interest:

• Izmerkon VT 470 Vortex Flow Meter for measuring steam, gases, liquids, suspensions.
• Izmerkon TM 470 Flanged Thermal Mass Flow Meter for measuring air and gas flow.
• Izmerkon TM 450 Immersion Thermal Mass Flow Meter for measuring air and gas flow.

General Information on Measurement Technology and Operating Principle

Manufacturers of liquid and gas flow meters offer many solutions, but for gaseous media, the calorimetric method is recognized as the most effective. The VA 500 belongs to the type of thermal mass sensors.

The operating principle of Izmerkon thermal mass flow meters is based on measuring the electrical power (current) required to maintain a constant temperature difference between two platinum resistance thermometers located in the gas flow.

Measurement process:

• One thermometer measures the current temperature of the gas flow;
• The second thermometer is heated (using direct current) to a higher temperature;
• When the heated thermometer is cooled by the gas flow;
• The electrical power required to maintain a constant temperature difference between the two thermometers is proportional to the mass velocity of the gas.

Parameter calculation:

By measuring the voltage drop across the sensitive element and the current in its circuit, and knowing the physical properties of the sensitive element material, gas parameters, and the internal diameter of the pipeline where the flow meter is installed, it is possible to determine:

• Local flow velocity.
• Volumetric gas flow rate normalized to "standard" conditions.

Normalization to "standard" conditions

Izmerkon flow sensors provide air and gas flow values normalized to "standard" conditions. This means that the gas quantity is expressed as the volume that the gas would occupy at: atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 20°C. These conditions are regulated by standards GOST 2939-63 and ISO 8778.

The design includes an electronic measuring part "head" with a display showing the current flow and total accumulated value. This turns the device into a full-fledged gas accounting unit, convenient for local operator control.

Applications of the Immersion Flow Meter for Various Media

The device is universal for measuring almost any technical gas in production. It is enough to select the required gas type in the device settings or order factory calibration for a specific mixture.

Nitrogen and Argon Flow Meter

In metallurgy and the food industry, nitrogen is often used to create an inert atmosphere. The VA 500 nitrogen flow meter helps control its supply to packaging machines or furnaces. Similarly, when welding high-alloy steels, the argon flow meter ensures optimal consumption of the expensive gas, preventing its overuse.

Oxygen and CO2 Control

In the chemical industry and medicine, the oxygen flow meter is in demand. The VA 500 in a special version (cleaned from oils and fats) guarantees safety and accuracy when working with oxidizers. The device is also effective as a carbon dioxide (CO2) flow meter in beverage production or fire suppression systems. Its ability to detect small leaks makes it indispensable for environmental monitoring.

Industrial Air Accounting

In industrial production, compressed air is a full-fledged energy carrier, the production of which involves significant electricity costs. The main difficulty in accounting for it is related to the high compressibility of the gas: the volume significantly depends on changes in pressure and temperature. When using traditional volumetric flow meters, discrepancies arise between sections, complicating the formation of an accurate energy balance.

Flow Meter Properties and Technical Parameters

To correctly select and purchase a gas flow meter, it is necessary to rely on the technical characteristics of the flow meter. The VA 500 has the following main parameters:

• Measured quantities: m³/h, m³/min, l/min, l/s, ft/min, cfm, m/s, kg/h, kg/min
• Accuracy: ± 1.5% of the measured value ± 0.3% F.S., optionally ± 1.0% of the measured value ± 0.3% F.S.
• Operating pressure: up to 50 bar.
• Temperature range: -30...100 °C for the probe, -20...70 °C for the housing
• Analog output signals: 4-20 mA and pulse output (galvanically isolated).
• Probe material: stainless steel 1.4301 / 1.4404

Where to Buy an Industrial Gas Flow Meter?

When choosing a supplier, it is important to consider not only the cost of the equipment but also the level of technical support. The price of the flow meter is formed based on the length of the probe, the presence of a display, high-speed version, type of measured medium, and required certificates (for example, explosion-proof version).

The company «Izmerkon» is a reliable partner, providing direct supplies of equipment from leading global manufacturers and offering comprehensive solutions for specific tasks — from selecting the optimal model to configuring communication interfaces. As a manufacturer of flow meters for liquids and gases, we clearly understand the features of installation and operation of equipment in Russian industrial facilities.

When upgrading the accounting system and the need to implement an industrial gas flow meter, contacting «Izmerkon» ensures the supply of equipment with valid calibration and official manufacturer warranty. A properly selected digital gas flow meter usually pays off within 3–6 months by identifying and eliminating leaks in the compressed air system and optimizing its consumption.