Hinkley Point in Somerset is the site for a new nuclear power station, the first in the UK for a generation. As the 10-year construction scheme begins there are many environmental factors to be considered at each phase. One of these is to ensure that enough water is pumped from the sea to areas where it is required to help preserve marine life following the temporary construction of a new jetty and sea wall, built to allow materials for the construction of the power station to be delivered by sea.
To provide evidence of sufficient pumped water supply, Bell Flow Systems was asked to provide a suitable flow sensor to meet the demands of the application. The flow meter had to be compatible with sea water and designed to cope with the challenging weather conditions found on this beachside installation location. It also had to be internally powered and capable of accurately logging the volume of water pumped. The company decided on the ModMag M5000 from Badger Meter.
The M5000 electromagnetic flow meter is battery powered, giving up to 20 years battery life, and making it suitable for applications where power is not available. The robust amplifier has IP67 or optional IP68 ingress protection, making it suitable for harsh operating environments and the meter itself measures with an accuracy better than ±0.4% of reading. The M5000 also benefits from an integral data logger, able to record and store the volume measured at programmable time intervals which can be downloaded to PC software via the IrDA or RS232 ModBus communication ports.
Electromagnetic measuring technology is maintenance- free and operates without mechanical moving parts, prolonging the life of the meter and allowing it to be used with fluids that may contain solids including sand and organic solids. The available choices of meter liner and electrode materials, makes it an ideal choice for various corrosive and aggressive fluids including sea water.
