profiles 2002 / Vol.3 New: BK-G40 and BK-G65 Industrial Diaphragm Meter BK-G1.6: The Meter that Takes the Lead

Transcripción

1 profiles New: BK-G40 and BK-G65 Industrial Diaphragm Meter Gas Market in Mexico is Booming BK-G1.6: The Meter that Takes the Lead / Vol.3

2 editorial Changes, Challenges and New Developments For more than half a century, ELSTER-AMCO has been a leading supplier to the gas distribution industry in Latin America. During much of this time, the gas industry moved from the manufacturing and distribution of town gas to the distribution of natural gas due to growing gas reserves and the ecological benefits of natural gas over other energy sources. ELSTER-AMCO has adapted our product designs and capacities to accommodate these changing requirements, while our commitment to quality and reliability remains the same. In recent years, changes in the Latin American gas industry have been particularly dramatic. Significant new gas reserves have been discovered. The availability of natural gas has expanded with the construction of new pipelines and distribution systems. The ELSTER-AMCO Group is uniquely positioned to service these operative requirements based on North American and European technology and standards. We provide a broad portfolio of products including: > meters and regulators for residential applications > turbine, rotary and diaphragm meters for commercial & industrial projects > regulators for commercial and industrial applications > measurement data reading systems and speciality piping products > transmission, distribution and industrial stations We recently introduced the BK-G1.6 residential meter to meet the specific requirements of the Latin American market. The BK-G1.6 is an extension of the Kromschroeder BK series of meters, a leading metering technology. We have extended American Meter s line of residential meters with the AR-250, which introduced innovative technology and is now being utilized in Latin America. New residential regulators including the CR 4000, a smaller and low cost regulator as a companion for our new meters, has been introduced and we will launch the CR 2000 regulator in 2003, a new companion regulator for the meters utilized in Latin America applications. To be responsive to our customer requirements, we have established direct sales offices and manufacturing facilities in Latin America. Currently, such companies as ELSTER- AMCO de Sud America, based in Argentina, manufactures the Kromschroeder BK series of meters and offers sales and service support in the region for all ELSTER-AMCO group products. The San Luis Potosi factory, located in Mexico, is the site of ELSTER-AMCO de Mexico, where the BK-G1.6 meter, CR 4000 Regulator, meter risers and other products are manufactured. We will continue to expand our presence in Latin America to meet the ever-growing needs of our customers. We are looking forward to facing the challenges of meeting our customer requirements in Latin America with the continued growth of the Latin American gas industry. Gerald Lauzze President and CEO, American Meter Company, USA 2 ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3

3 editorial Cambios, desafíos y nuevos desarrollos Por más de medio siglo, ELSTER-AMCO ha sido un proveedor principal para la industria de distribución de gas en Latinoamérica. Durante mucho de este tiempo, la industria de gas pasó de la fabricación y distribución de gas ciudad a la distribución de gas natural debido a las crecientes reservas de gas y a los beneficios ecológicos del gas natural sobre las demás fuentes de energía. ELSTER-AMCO ha adaptado nuestros diseños y capacidades de productos para acomodar estos requisitos cambiantes, a la vez que ha mantenido sin cambios nuestro compromiso con la calidad y confiabilidad. En años recientes, los cambios en la industria de gas natural en Latinoamérica han sido especialmente drásticos. Se han descubierto nuevas y significativas reservas de gas. La disponibilidad de gas natural se ha expandido con la construcción de nuevos gasoductos y sistemas de distribución. El Grupo ELSTER-AMCO está posicionado privilegiadamente para atender estos requerimientos operacionales en base a tecnologías y estándares norteamericanos y europeos. Proporcionamos una amplia cartera de productos que incluyen: > medidores y reguladores para aplicaciones residenciales > medidores para turbinas, rotatorios y de diafragma para proyectos de comerciales e industriales > reguladores para aplicaciones comerciales e industriales > sistemas de lectura para datos de medición y productos especializados para ductos > estaciones de transmisión, distribución e industriales Hace poco efectuamos el lanzamiento del medidor residencial BK-G1.6 para satisfacer las demandas específicas del mercado latinoamericano. El BK-G1.6 es una extensión de la serie de medidores BK de Kromschroeder, una tecnología líder de medición. Hemos extendido la línea de medidores residenciales de American Meter con el AR-250, que introduce tecnología innovadora y que ahora se usa en América Latina. Se han introducido los nuevos reguladores residenciales incluyendo el CR 4000, un regulador más pequeño y económico como acompañante de nuestros medidores, y lanzaremos el regulador CR 2000 en el 2003, un nuevo regulador acompañante para los medidores usados en aplicaciones latinoamericanas. Para poder responder a las demandas de nuestros clientes, hemos establecido oficinas de venta directa y plantas de fabricación en Latinoamérica. Actualmente, compañías como ELSTER-AMCO de Sudamérica, basada en Argentina, fabrica la serie de medidores BK de Kromschroeder y ofrece apoyo de ventas y servicio en la región para todos los productos del grupo ELSTER-AMCO. La planta de San Luis Potosí, ubicada en México, es el emplazamiento de ELSTER-AMCO de México, donde se fabrican el medidor BK-G1.6, el regulador CR 4000, los medidores de producción y otros productos. Continuaremos ampliando nuestra presencia en Latinoamérica para satisfacer las demandas siempre crecientes de nuestros clientes y enfrentar sus desafíos ante el crecimiento continuo de la industria latinoamericana de gas. Gerald Lauzze Presidente ejecutivo, American Meter Company, USA imprint Publisher : ELSTER Handel GmbH Steinern Strasse Mainz-Kastel, Germany Editorial staff : Gudrun Biedermann, ELSTER Germany Trevor Billington, ELSTER-JEAVONS UK Kerry Peterson, AMCO USA Kevin Sweeney, IGA UK Please write to : Europe / Africa / Middle East : ELSTER Handel GmbH Gudrun Biedermann Steinern Strasse Mainz-Kastel, Germany Phone +49 (6134) biedermann@elster.com The Americas : American Meter Company Kerry Peterson 300 Welsh Road, Building One Horsham, PA , USA Phone + 1 (2 15) kpeterson@americanmeter.com Asia / Australia : ELSTER-AMCO Singapore Philip Lam 80 Marine Parade Rd. # Parkway Parade Singapore Phone philam@elster-amco.com.sg Authors : E. Alaniz, ELSTER-AMCO de Sudamerica J. Cheng, ELSTER-AMCO Singapore Dr. H. Dornauf, ELSTER Germany M. Franz, ELSTER Germany P. Hampel, ELSTER Germany P. Ladage, ELSTER Germany P. Lam, ELSTER-AMCO Singapore R. Masár, PREMAGAS Slovakia K. Peterson, AMCO USA R. Pfeil, ELSTER Germany P. Platschorre, IGA Netherlands J. M. Sauch, Kromschroeder Spain L. Serrano Serrano, Kromschroeder Spain W. Roth, ELSTER Germany W. Xiaogang, ELSTER-AMCO Beijing Translations : Martha E. Galindo David Mackie Design : design werk Hauptstrasse 38, D Wiesbaden Publishing dates : Three times a year Articles signed by the author reflect his / her personal opinion ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3 3

4 products T H E NEW B K-G40 AND B K-G65 Uno Due Tre Quattro! The Italian way of counting, and not the Spanish, leads us to the name of the development project for the new Elster BK-G40 and BK-G65 industrial diaphragm meters. Quattro (and not the Spanish Cuatro ) simply because in these new devices there are up to four measuring units from the Kromschröder BK-G10/16 diaphragm meters in parallel use. This concept is a logical continuation and further development of what has consistently proven to be so successful in the BK-G25 over the last few years. As a result, we have succeeded in extending the well-known advantages of the BK series of meters up to a size of G65. Any technically-minded readers might recognise this concept because whenever the BK-G25 with two parallel measuring units was presented, there regularly came the question, Can t you use three or four units too, so we could.... Of course you can, but in our business you shouldn t say too much too soon. And therefore, we would now like to apologise for holding back a little on the answers to the questions at the time. As with the residential meters, the pneumatically controlled system with these 6-litre measuring units enables the use of mechanical compensation elements to correct temperatures to the relevant base temperature. It will, however, take a little time before we can introduce the option of temperature compensation because the development has still to be completed for BK-G10 and BK-G16 meters. Pneumatic control that also Fig. 2: The patented needle & scale adjustment system for synchronising the units. El sistema de ajuste patentado de aguja y escala para sincronizar las. Fig. 1: The basis for the Quattro: the Kromschröder V6 measuring unit. La base del Quattro: la unidad medidora V6 de Kromschröder. 4 ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3

5 products means low noise operation. Initial comparisons with traditional industrial diaphragm meters have clearly confirmed this. The curve control of the slides the patented K system, the K in the name of the BK meters is also used here and leads to a higher metering accuracy. Naturally, we have also taken into account the susceptibility to dust. The Resistance Power Factor RPF of 0.8 ensures that any impurities in the gas do not really influence the metering behaviour. LOS NUEVOS B K-G40 Y B K-G65 Uno Due Tre Quattro! La manera italiana de contar, y no la española, nos lleva al nombre del proyecto de desarrollo para los nuevos medidores industriales de diafragma BK-G40 y BK-G65 de ELSTER. Quattro (y no el Cuatro español) simplemente porque en estos nuevos dispositivos hay hasta cuatro unidades medidoras en comparación con los medidores de diafragma BK-G10/16 de Kromschröder en uso paralelo. Este concepto es una continuación lógica y desarrollo posterior de lo que se ha probado constantemente que ha tenido éxito en el BK-G25 durante los últimos años. Como resultado, hemos tenido éxito al extender las bien conocidas ventajas de la serie BK de medidores hasta el tamaño del G-65. Todo lector con conocimientos técnicos puede reconocer este concepto porque cada vez que se presentaba el BK-G25 con dos mecanismos paralelos, regularmente surgía la interrogante, No podrían usar también tres o cuatro mecanismos, para que podamos...?. Por sup uesto que se puede, pero en nuestro negocio no se debe decir mucho al comienzo. Y, por lo tanto, nos gustaría disculparnos por no responder mejor las consultas en su momento. Fig. 3: BK-G65: a housing full of measuring units. BK-G65 un bastidor lleno de unidades medidoras. The technical problems involved in coupling together four units was, as with the BK-G25, once again solved in a brilliant and simple manner. In the early design stages of the V6 unit, an adjustment possibility was planned in and this allows an easy synchronisation. Using the patented needle & scale adjustment system from the BK-G4, this can be done in no time. The four measuring units are permanently connected by means of coupling rods and the flow of the measured gas is fed into a collection channel. If anyone thinks that the coupling rods might be critical components and might, because of wear and tear, have negative effects on the metering behaviour, then I can assure you, you are wrong. Other than the function of coupling together the measuring Fig. 4: BK-G40 and BK-G65: a strong team but as light as a feather! BK-G40 y BK-G65: un equipo fuerte pero liviano como una pluma! ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3 5

6 products units, the rods have no significance whatsoever from a metering point of view. Besides, because of the synchronisation, there is practically no physical pressure on the coupling rods during the operation of the meter. The greatest advantage of the Quattros, however, is their low weight of around 30 kg. Depending on the model, these new devices weigh up to 57 kg less than the corresponding products from our competitors. This difference means there are considerable cost savings when the meters are being installed. The meters can be installed more quickly, i.e. fewer man-hours, they can be transported with a smaller vehicle and they don t need any mechanical support during installation. In a nutshell, the ELSTER industrial diaphragm meter has become a really handy device! BK-G40 and BK-G65 modern devices showing the way, with improved accuracy, reduced operating noise levels, easy to handle and light-weight they even float in milk! The BK-G40 and BK-G65 will go into production in the first quarter of We look forward to hearing from you. from Peter Hampel, ELSTER Germany Hampel@elster.com Lo mismo que con los medidores residenciales, los sistemas controlados neumáticamente con estos mecanismos de medición de 6 litros los que permiten el uso de elementos mecánicos de compensación para corregir las temperaturas a la temperatura base relevante. No obstante, tomará un poco de tiempo antes de que podamos introducir la opción de compensación de temperatura porque aún debemos completar el desarrollo de los medidores BK-G10 y BK-G16. El control neumático también significa operación con menos ruido. Las comparaciones iniciales con los medidores de diafragma industriales tradicionales lo han confirmado claramente. El control de curva de las pendientes el sistema K patentado, la K en el nombre de los medidores BK también se usa aquí y conduce a una mayor precisión medidora. Naturalmente que hemos considerado la susceptibilidad al polvo. El factor de potencia de resistencia (Resistance Power Factor RPF) de 0,8 asegura que todas las impurezas en el gas no afecten realmente el comportamiento del medidor. Los problemas técnicos involucrados al acoplar cuatro mecanismos fueron resueltos una vez más de manera brillante, igual que con el BK-G25. En las etapas iniciales del diseño del mecanismo V6, se planificó una posibilidad de ajuste y esto permitió una sincronización simple. Usando el sistema de ajuste de aguja y escala patentado con el BK-G4, esto se puede lograr rápidamente. Las cuatro unidades medidoras están conectadas permanentemente por medio de bielas de acoplamiento y el flujo del gas se alimenta en un canal recolector. Si alguien piensa que las bielas de acoplamiento son componentes críticos y que pudieran, debido al uso y desgaste, tener efectos negativos sobre el comportamiento de medición, le podría asegurar que está equivocado. Aparte de la función de acoplar las unidades medidoras, las bielas no tienen otro significado adicional desde el punto de vista de la medición. Además, debido a la sincronización, no existe prácticamente ninguna presión física sobre las bielas de acoplamiento durante la operación del medidor. Sin embargo, la mayor ventaja de los Quattros es su bajo peso de alrededor de 30 kg. Dependiendo del modelo, estos nuevos dispositivos pesan hasta 57 kilogramos menos que los productos equivalentes de la competencia. Esta diferencia significa que hay ahorros de costos considerables cuando se instalan los medidores. Se pueden instalar de manera más rápida, es decir, menos horas-hombre, se pueden transportar con un vehículo más pequeño y no necesitan ningún soporte mecánico durante la instalación. En resumidas cuentas, el medidor de diafragma industrial de ELSTER se ha convertido realmente en un dispositivo más manejable! BK-G40 y BK-G65 son dispositivos modernos que iluminan la senda, con una precisión mejorada, niveles de ruido por funcionamiento reducidos, facilidad para manipular y livianos incluso flotan en leche! Los BK-G40 y BK-G65 entrarán en producción en el primer trimestre del Esperamos saber de usted Fig. 5: Compact and handy: the BK-G65 in comparison with its predecessor G65K. Compacto y manual: el BK-G6 comparado con su predecesor, el G65K. Peter Hampel, ELSTER Germany hampel@elster.com 6 ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3

7 products T H E WIEGAND-SENSOR Premium quality in detail For many years now, reed switches have proved to be extremely reliable elements to generate low-frequency pulses in gas metering devices. However, there are occasions, albeit rather seldom, where the switches fail because the switch has been jolted or the contacts have stuck together inside the reed pipe. an alternative to the standard pulsers IN-S10 to IN-S12, the Wiegand low-frequency pulser, the IN-W11. Wiegand sensors are free from mechanical wear and tear. They make use of the characteristics of specially-treated magnetic wires. When a magnetic field is suddenly switched from one direction to the opposite, a voltage pulse is generated in an induction coil. This switch in direction is activated by two small permanent magnets in the S1 index (or in the S1D double index in the case of rotary meters). The IN-W11 Wiegand sensor needs the two magnets, unlike the reed switch, which operates with only one magnet. Further user-friendly features of the Wiegand sensors include the two-wire system and the fact that no external power supply is necessary, as is also the case with the reed switches. The Wiegand sensor is certified for use in explosive areas in accordance with ATEX and can be used in temperatures Pin assignment IN-W11 Premium alternative for low-frequency pulses This error becomes apparent when, having transmitted the pulses to a volume corrector, the original mechanical meter reading is different from the reading in the electronic volume corrector. An error in the display may also occur when pulses are generated even if there is in fact no gas in the pipe or when the gas volume is breathing. This error is caused by the fact that the magnet on the last roll of the counter is near the reed switch and any forward or backward movement activates the switch. As a result, the electronic volume corrector registers volumes which have not actually flowed through the meter. These faults are, as already mentioned, really quite rare, otherwise the reed switch would not be so widely used and accepted. Of course, the best way to reproduce the original meter reading in the volume corrector is by using the encoder-index. But also with the low frequency pulser, premium solutions are available. Nevertheless, there are some requirements and applications which call for this last little bit of uncertainty to be eliminated. To meet the highest standards of reliability, ELSTER can now offer, as PCM Imp + between -40 C and +60 C. The pulse width is always greater than 50 ms and, therefore, guarantees that there are no problems when the pulses are processed in volume correctors or data loggers. The IN-W11 is connected to the S1 or S1D indexes, if they are equipped with two magnets, and also has, once again just like the reed switch, a PCM switch monitoring any interruption in the operation. Have you got any special requirements when it comes to generating low-frequency pulses? ELSTER can offer you alternatives to the standard solutions. Why not try them out? from Dr. Harald Dornauf, ELSTER Germany dornauf@elster.com 2 ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3 7

8 products W I NVIEW DATA MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE Flexible, user-friendly and future-oriented The increasing volume of data involved in the registration of meter readings and consumption data requires modern and process-oriented software components. ELSTER has met this challenge with the new data management software WinVIEW, which has already been implemented by a number of energy suppliers. User-friendly software This software is based on Microsoft Office. This means that data analyses can be stored and opened up again, which offers the possibility to call up analyses which have already been completed in order to use them for any tasks currently at hand. Freely-configurable software The user interface of the software is freely configurable, i.e. the screen view can be configured by the user as they wish. While the overview for the simple consumption analysis of a special-contract customer is best displayed in graphic form, if you have an overview of several metering points with a number of meter readings, consumption or metering data, it is probably better to show this data in a table. When doing this, there is virtually no limit to the possibilities concerning format, type-face, colour etc.. Flexible data export No matter how good the software is, it is not possible to display every single area of the business process. The main focus of the WinVIEW software is the processing and display of the data. What is more important is that the interfaces used for transferring the data are flexible and standardised. In this respect,winview meets all the requirements. The direct data export to Word or Excel is just as easy as creating a PDF file, which is suitable for directly transferrring the data to a customer. On top of that, it is possible to export the data in ASCII format and adapt it to any pre-defined system. The data can, of course, also be prepared for use on the internet. Fit for networks Generally speaking, it is common for several employees to have access to the same data. With the help of the user administration (optional), users can be organised into different groups. Different rights of access can then be allocated to these groups and, by doing so, the infrastructure of the available PC network can be used without any additional administrative effort. Extras included The new development of this software has made it possible to incorporate many evaluation possibilities that were not available with the existing WinLIS program. Special analyses, which in the past would have meant the development of a special software, can now be carried out using the standard software version. These include, for example, the comparison of the annual consumption data over a number of years or the flexible analysis and display of several data channels simultaneously. Checking the database for any gaps, the use of standardised export formats (e.g. LPEX), the labelling of metering points in accordance with association agreements and many other additional functions round off the range of features of the software. If you are already using the WinLIS analysis software in your company, then WinVIEW can be used directly with the already-existing database. If you are interested in testing the software, send us an with your address to winview@elster.com. You will then receive a CD with the necessary information. from Rüdiger Pfeil, ELSTER Germany pfeil@elster.com 8 ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3

9 products WI NVIEW SOFTWARE PARA ADMINISTRACIÓN DE DATOS Flexible, amigable y orientado al futuro El creciente volumen de datos implicado en el registro de las lecturas de medidores y en los datos de consumo requiere componentes de software modernos y orientados a los procesos. ELSTER ha cumplido con este desafío a través del nuevo software para administración de datos WinVIEW, el cual ya ha sido incorporado por varios proveedores de energía. Software amigable Este software se basa en Microsoft Office. Ello significa que los análisis de datos se pueden guardar y volver a abrir, lo que ofrece la posibilidad de llamar análisis que ya se han completado para poder usarlos en cualquiera de las tareas que se estén realizando. Software configurable libremente La interfaz del usuario del software es configurable libremente, por ejemplo: la visualización en pantalla puede ser configurada según las preferencias del usuario. Considerando que la revisión de un análisis simple de consumo para un cliente con contrato especial se visualiza mejor en forma gráfica, si tiene una revisión de varios puntos de medición con una cantidad de lecturas de medición, consumos o datos de medición, es probable que sea mejor mostrar estos datos en una tabla. Al hacerlo así, casi no existen límites a las posibilidades en relación a formato, tipo de letra, color, etc. Exportación de datos flexible Sin importar lo bueno que sea el software, no es posible visualizar cada área del proceso comercial. El enfoque principal del software WinVIEW es el proce- samiento y visualización de los datos. Lo que más importa es que las interfaces usadas para transferir los datos sean flexibles y estandarizadas. En este sentido,winview satisface todos los requerimientos. La exportación de datos directa a Word o Excel es tan fácil como crear un archivo PDF, que puede transferir directamente los datos a un cliente. Además, es posible exportar datos en formato ASCII y adaptarlos a cualquier sistema predefinido. Por supuesto que los datos también se pueden preparar para su uso en Internet. Adecuado para redes En general, es común que varios empleados tengan acceso a los mismos datos. Con la ayuda de la administración de usuarios (opcional), los usuarios se pueden organizar en grupos diferentes. A estos grupos se les pueden asignar distintos derechos de acceso y, al hacerlo, es posible usar la infraestructura de red computacional disponible sin ningún esfuerzo administrativo adicional. Entre los extras se incluyen El nuevo desarrollo de este software ha hecho posible incorporar muchas posibilidades de evaluación que no estaban disponibles en el programa WinLIS existente. Los análisis especiales, que en el pasado habrían significado el desarrollo de un software especial, ahora se pueden ejecutar usando la versión estándar del software. Estos incluyen, por ejemplo, la comparación de los datos de consumo anual para un período de años o el análisis y visualización flexibles de varios canales de datos simultáneamente. La comprobación de bases de datos por si hay interrupciones, el uso de formatos de exportación estandarizados (e.g. LPEX), el etiquetado de puntos de medición según acuerdos de asociación y muchas otras funciones adicionales conforman la gama de características del software. Si actualmente en su empresa usted utiliza el software para análisis WinLIS, entonces puede usar directamente WinVIEW con las bases de datos existentes. Si le interesa probar el software, envíenos un mensaje de correo electrónico con su dirección a winview@elster.com. Luego recibirá un CD con la información necesaria. Rüdiger Pfeil, ELSTER Germany pfeil@elster.com ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3 9

10 products ELSTER TURBINE METERS Master Meters for China China is one of the most important markets for ELSTER products. The switch in the energy supply from coal to natural gas combined with the continuing expansion of the natural gas grid has led to an increasing demand for gas metering devices. In this context, ELSTER s extensive product range enables the company to provide a large number of solutions single-handedly. In China, ELSTER s TRZ turbine meters, Q Quantometers, RVG rotary meters and IGZ industrial diaphragm meters are widely used as metering devices. When it comes to volume correctors, compact devices such as the EK-88, and now its successor the EK260, are very popular. Since these devices are now so widespread, there is also a need to inspect them after they have been in use for a certain, pre-defined operating f % Error curves 2 1,5 1 0,5 0-0,5-1 -1, Q m /h time. These tests and recalibrations are carried out on test rigs using air at atmospheric pressure. Besides complete test rigs ELSTER also offers separate high-quality master meters. These meters must prove themselves both in terms of accuracy and repeatability. Prüfschein ELSTER has a great deal of experience and a long reputation in the field of test rig technology. The company supplies complete test rigs as well as high-quality master meters. As a result of this, ELSTER has been chosen as the ideal partner for the supply of four TRZ G 1000 DN 150 turbine meters to be used as master meters in a test rig project run by a large customer in Shanghai. The meters were calibrated by the PTB (German National Institute of Metrology) in Germany. The results underline the high metering accuracy of the meters and confirm that ELSTER was indeed the right choice. from Michael Franz, ELSTER Germany franz@elster.com 10 ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3

11 products A MILESTONE: 250,000 M2R Regulators An M2R made of gold? That must mean something special! Of course it does. On 20th September, 2002, the 250,000th unit left the assembly line. In the course of a small celebratory get-together the segment heads thanked the employees for their effort and contribution over the last few years. Let s have a look at the different stages in a success story that began only 5 years ago. When it appeared in 1997, with a completely new and still unequalled technological and design concept, the M2R 25 very quickly won over our customers. The modular design allows customers to choose from a wide variety of possibilities concerning the connections and fittings so that they can more easily meet their own individual requirements. On top of that, the system is also capable of adapting to further innovative developments. All in all, the M2R was an excellent addition to our already existing range of products. > The design of the integrated safety shut-off valve enables a simple reset action and it is also easy to adjust the set point in the whole set range. > The optional low-pressure cut-off valve with automatic reset is of great value in view of the need to cut costs to meet the increasing demands in the various markets. It is no longer necessary to release the valve by hand after the gas supply has been cut off, which of course saves time and personnel costs. This is particularly useful when the gas is supplied to remote areas since long journeys and, as a result, waiting times can be avoided. U N HITO: Reguladores M2R Un M2R de oro? Eso debe significar algo especial! Por supuesto que sí. El 20 de septiembre de 2002, salió de la línea de ensamblaje la unidad número Mientras se hacía una pequeña celebración, el supervisor del segmento agradeció a los empleados por su esfuerzo y contribución de los últimos años. Veamos las diferentes etapas en una historia de éxito que comenzó hace sólo 5 años atrás. Cuando apareció en 1997, con un concepto de diseño y tecnológico completamente nuevo aún no igualado, la M2R 25 se ganó rápidamente a nuestros clientes. El diseño modular permite a los clientes elegir entre una amplia gama de posibilidades con respecto a las conexiones y accesorios de manera que puedan satisfacer más fácilmente sus propios requisitos individuales. Además, el sistema también es capaz de adaptarse a desarrollos innovadores adicionales. En resumidas cuentas, la M2R fue una excelente adición a nuestra gama de productos existentes. ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3 11

12 products In order to ensure high quality and short delivery times, ELSTER invested in the purchase of a semiautomatic assembly plant in The automatic process control, especially where the screw connections are concerned, ensures that a very high level of quality is achieved and maintained. This clearly shows that we at ELSTER are not standing still and we are always prepared to face any challenges when it comes to the on-going development of the M2R. The 250,000 devices produced since 1997 are ample proof of how well our customers have accepted the M2R. from Paul Ladage, ELSTER Germany ladage@elster.com > El diseño de la válvula de retención integrada permite una acción simple de liberación y también es fácil ajustar el punto de desvío en toda la sección de control. > La válvula de cierre de baja presión opcional tiene gran valor, considerando la necesidad de reducir costos para satisfacer las demandas crecientes de los distintos mercados. Ya no es necesario liberar la válvula manualmente después de que se ha cortado el suministro de gas, lo cual por supuesto ahorra tiempo y gastos en personal. Esto es particularmente útil cuando el gas se suministra a zonas remotas debido a los viajes largos y, como resultado, se pueden evitar los tiempos de espera. Para asegurar una alta calidad y menores plazos de entrega, en 1999 ELSTER invirtió en la adquisición de una planta de ensamblaje semiautomática. El control de proceso automático, especialmente en lo que respecta a las conexiones atornilladas, asegura que se logre y mantenga un alto nivel de calidad. Esto demuestra claramente que en ELSTER no nos estamos quedando quietos y que siempre estamos preparados para enfrentar cualquier desafío cuando se trata del desarrollo continuo de la M2R. Los dispositivos producidos desde 1997 son una prueba irrefutable de lo bien que nuestros clientes le han aceptado. Paul Ladage, ELSTER Germany ladage@elster.com T R I ED AND TRUSTED SYSTEM FROM ELSTER Spring-loaded PN 6 regulators with inlet pressure compensation The MR PN 6 series of regulators is, just like all one-stage Elster regulators, fitted with a diaphragm to compensate the inlet pressure. Inlet pressure compensation? What does that actually mean? A balancing diaphragm ensures that the regulation of the gas is constant even if the inlet pressure fluctuates. This is achieved because the effective diameter of the balancing diaphragm is exactly the same size as the diameter of the orifice. The pressure on the valve disc is equal to the pressure on the balancing diaphragm (Fig. 1). What are the advantages in compensating the inlet pressure? > the regulator is independent from inlet pressure variations; change of inlet pressure does not affect outlet pressure > universal use over the whole inlet pressure range > gives better control > high flow capacity > no change of orifices necessary 12 ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3

13 products With the help of the flow diagrams you can see that outlet pressure values over the entire inlet pressure range between 0.1 and 6 bar lie in a very narrow bandwidth. This is necessary if a large performance area is to be covered (Fig. 2). There is a wide range of outlet pressures in the devices from 18 to 300 mbar, which ensures flexibility when it comes to adapting the devices to the individual requirements and the varying station conditions. SISTEMA PROBADO Y CONFIABLE DE ELSTER Reguladores de resorte PN 6 con compensación de presión de entrada What else can the devices in the MR PN 6 series offer? > The 1" version MR 25 SF 6 is available in a variety of housings. Besides the normal flanged version, there is now also a version with a threaded connection at both the inlet and outlet sides (G1 1/2 male), or there is a very compact design with a flange connection at the inlet side and threaded connection at the outlet. The 2" Version MR 50 SF 6 comes standard with PN 16 flanges (Fig. 4). The body is made of spheroidal graphite cast iron, which guarantees high stability. > The bodies are completely coated with electrophoretic paint providing a reliable protection against corrosion. > The devices are fitted with an integrated safety shut off valve (SSV). The SSV itself can be fitted either with an over pressure shut off (e.g. MR 25 F6) or alternatively with an over and under pressure shut off (e.g. MR 25 SF6). balancing diaphragm inlet orifice Fig. 1: Prinicple of inlet pressure compensation vent plate La serie de reguladores MR PN 6 está, como todos los reguladores de una fase de Elster, equipada con un diafragma para compensar la presión de entrada. adjuster spring working diaphragm impulse pipe outlet Compensación de presión de entrada? Qué significa esto realmente? Un diafragma compensador asegura que la regulación del gas sea constante aunque varíe la presión de entrada. Esto se logra porque el diámetro efectivo del diafragma compensador tiene exactamente la misma dimensión que el diámetro del orificio. La presión sobre el disco de la válvula es igual a la presión sobre el diafragma compensador (Fig.1). Cuáles son las ventajas de compensar la presión de entrada? > El regulador es independiente a las variaciones de presión de entrada y los cambios en la presión de entrada no afectan la presión de salida > Uso universal sobre todo el rango de presión de entrada > Brinda mejor control > Capacidad de alto flujo > No es necesario hacer cambios en los orificios Con la ayuda de los diagramas de flujo usted puede ver que los valores de presión de entrada sobre todo el rango de presiones de entrada entre 0,1 y 6 bar permanecen en un ancho de banda muy angosto. Esto es necesario si se debe cubrir una gran área de rendimiento (Fig. 2). Existe una amplia variedad de presiones de salida en los dispositivos, desde 18 a 300 mbar, lo cual asegura la flexibilidad cuando se trata de adaptar los dispositivos según los requisitos individuales y a las condiciones variables de la estación. Qué otra cosa ofrecen los dispositivos de la serie MR PN 6? > La versión de 1" MR 25 SF 6 está disponible en una variedad de bastidores. Aparte de la versión normal con bridas, ahora también existe una versión con conexión roscada tanto en el lado de entrada como en el de salida (G1 1/2 macho), o bien, existe un diseño muy compacto con una conexión con brida en el lado de entrada y conexión roscada en la salida. ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3 13

14 products > The devices also have an integrated limited capacity relief valve. The leakage gas resulting from an increase in pressure downstream is fed off via a G 1 / 2 " connection. > The control is normally conducted via an internal impulse tube. An external sensing line can also be connected if the design of the station requires it. > As a result of the design principle, an inlet pressure resistance up to 16 bar is guaranteed. The devices in the MR PN 6 series can, in the event of any damage, withstand an inlet pressure up to 16 bar without causing a critical pressure increase in the pipe network downstream. Fig. 2: Flow diagram for MR 50 F6 The compact design together with excellent control behaviour and a high flow capacity have helped to make these devices very popular in many markets throughout the world and their popularity continues to rise. Are you interested in these devices? If so, then ask for our latest data sheet or have a look at our home page. from Paul Ladage, ELSTER Germany working diaphragm measuring unit SSV orifice adjuster spring SSV vent plate regulator body SSV body ladage@elster.com Fig. 3: Cross-section of regulator SSV springs vent limited capacity relief valve balancing diaphragm orifice vent plate La versión de 2" MR 50 SF 6 viene estándar con bridas PN 16 (Fig. 4). El cuerpo está hecho de hierro fundido con grafito esferoidal, lo cual garantiza una alta estabilidad. > Los cuerpos están completamente recubiertos con pintura electroforética que brinda una protección confiable contra la corrosión. > Los dispositivos están equipados con una válvula integrada de retención de seguridad (SSV). La SSV en sí misma puede ser equipada ya sea con un corte de sobrepresión (e.g. MR 25 F6) o con un corte de sobre y subpresión (e.g. MR 25 SF6). > Estos dispositivos también cuentan con una válvula de alivio integrada de capacidad limitada. El gas de escape resultante de un aumento de presión corriente abajo se alimenta a través de una conexión G 1 / 2 ". > El control normalmente es realizado mediante un tubo de impulsión interior. También se puede conectar una línea sensora externa si el diseño de la estación así lo requiere. > Como resultado del principio de diseño, se garantiza una resistencia de presión de entrada de hasta 16 bar. Los dispositivos en la serie MR PN 6 pueden, en caso de cualquier daño, soportar una presión de entrada de hasta 16 bar sin causar un aumento crítico de presión en la red de tuberías corriente abajo. El diseño compacto junto con el excelente comportamiento de control y una alta capacidad de flujo han contribuido a que estos dispositivos sean muy populares en muchos mercados en el mundo y que siga aumentando su popularidad. Está interesado en estos dispositivos? Si es así, entonces pida nuestra última hoja de datos o visite nuestra página web. Paul Ladage, ELSTER Germany ladage@elster.com 14 ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3

15 products Fig. 4: Technical data & dimensions Capacities in natural gas Connections Dimensions Weight [stcm/h] [mm] in kg Model Q max at Q max at Q max at Line Thread/Flanges LF H H1 D approx. p Pemin Pemax 4 mbar 100 mbar 6 mbar MR 25 (S)F DN 25 Flange PN MR 25 (S)F-G DN 25 PN 16 - G 1 1 / 2 " MR 25 (S)G DN 25 G 1 1 / 2 " MR 50 (S)F DN 50 Flange PN Flange: EN , Thread: ISO B K-G1.6 The meter that takes the lead The BK family of measuring units La familia BK de unidades medidoras It was less than three years ago when we presented what was at that point in time the youngest and smallest member of our successful family of BK-type diaphragm gas meters. Today, the title of the youngest family member has been handed over to the new BK-G40 and BK-G65, but, nevertheless the smallest family member has a great success story to tell. Being built in ELSTER-AMCO de Sudamerica and in the new factory of ELSTER-AMCO de Mexico in San Luis Potosi, the BK-G1.6 has taken over as market leader in Latin America within this short period of time. The key to success is the introduction of the BK-G1.6 to the G1.6 class of meters with all the normal features of high-quality metering. This class is normally known as throw-away meters with a design life of eight to ten years but this is a philosophy of the past! Looking at the measuring unit of the BK-G1.6, it is not only the arrangement of the gearing system which is taken from the larger meters but also all the high-grade materials which ensure low wear and tear and which stand for long-term reliability, long-term accuracy and a design life of at least 20 years. The stand-alone measuring unit is embedded in the vertically separated aluminium meter case ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3 15

16 products (patent pending).this allows the possibility of options like a variety of connection types and integration of a reverse-flow valve. The K-gearing system and needle-and-scale system are both patented and it has been proven that they have increased overall accuracy in millions of BK meters. No rotating valve! It might look simple but there are still some serious problems which may arise with a rotating valve. This is why all BK meters, and of course also the BK-G1.6, have small parallel sliding valves. They ensure that the diaphragms always have ample power to drive the meter properly even under the influence of dirt like a car with a strong engine always has enough power when it comes to going uphill. It is, however, not enough to just integrate the internal quality features of the larger BK-meters into the BK-G1.6. The meter can be supplied either with the index type Z4 (5 digits + 3 decimals) or with the index type Z5 with enlarged numerals (4 digits + 3 decimals). Both types are always equipped with pulse magnets, so that at any time later on LF pulsers type IN-Z31 or the AMR system EuroTRACE can be retro-fitted without breaking the metrological seals. True value for the money this is what the BK-G1.6 brought for the first time to the smallest meter size. It has set new standards in accuracy, reliability and durability. Standards which have been set for larger sizes by the BK-family of meters in millions of applications all over the world! from Peter Hampel, ELSTER Germany hampel@elster.com B K-G1.6 Fig. 2: The BK-G1.6 measuring unit embedded in the meter case La unidad medidora BK-G1.6 incorporada en el bastidor del medidor Fig. 3: Retro-fitting EuroTRACE to the BK-G1.6 Adaptación de EuroTRACE con el BK-G1.6 El medidor que toma la delantera Hace menos de tres años que presentamos, en ese momento, el benjamín de nuestra exitosa familia de medidores de gas de diafragma del tipo BK. Actualmente, el título del menor en nuestra familia ha pasado a los nuevos BK-G40 y BK-G65, sin embargo, el más pequeño de la familia tiene un gran historial de éxitos para contar. Fabricado en la nueva planta de ELSTER- AMCO de México en San Luis Potosí, el BK-G1.6 ha asumido el liderazgo del mercado en Latinoamérica dentro de este breve lapso de tiempo. La clave para el éxito es la introducción del BK-G1.6 con las características de medición de alta calidad en la clase G1.6 de medidores. Una clase conocida como medidores desechables con un diseño de vida de entre ocho y diez años pero eso quedó en el pasado! Al examinar la unidad medidora del BK-G1.6, no es sólo la disposición del sistema de engranajes, la cual fue adoptada de los medidores más grandes, sino que también los materiales de alta calidad los que aseguran un bajo desgaste y que permiten confiabilidad y precisión a largo plazo, así como un diseño de vida de al menos 20 años. La unidad independiente está incorporada en el bastidor de aluminio del medidor separado verticalmente (patente en trámite). Esto permite ofrecer opciones como una gama de tipos de conexión e integración de una válvula de contraflujo. El sistema de engranaje K y el sistema de aguja y escala están ambos patentados y han demostrado aumentar la precisión general en millones de medidores BK. Sin válvula rotatoria! Tan simple como se aprecian los problemas severos que pueden aparecer con una válvula rotatoria. A ello se debe que todos los medidores BK y por supuesto que también el BK-G1.6! tienen pequeñas válvulas deslizantes paralelas. Ellas aseguran que los diafragmas siempre tengan la suficiente energía para impulsar apropiadamente el medidor incluso bajo la influencia del polvo como un vehículo con un motor potente que siempre tiene fuerza para subir una cuesta. Pero no suficiente sólo para tener en el BK-G1.6 las características internas de calidad de los medidores BK más grandes. El medidor puede ser abastecido, ya sea con un índice tipo Z4 (5 dígitos + 3 decimales) o con el índice tipo Z5 con números grandes (4 dígitos + 3 decimales). Ambos tipos siempre están equipados con imanes de pulsos, de manera que en todo momento posterior los pulsadores LF tipo IN-Z31 o el sistema AMR de EuroTrace se pueden adaptar sin interferir con los sellos metrológicos. Verdadero valor por la inversión eso es lo que por primera vez el BK-G1.6 lleva al medidor de menor tamaño. Éste está estableciendo nuevos estándares de precisión, confiabilidad y duración. Estándares que se han establecido para medidores más grandes en la familia de medidores BK en millones de aplicaciones en todo el mundo! from Peter Hampel, ELSTER Germany hampel@elster.com 16 ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3

17 products QIANWEI KROMSCHROEDER METERS CHONGQING CO. LTD UNVEILING CEREMONY OF BK-G2.5 BK-G2.5 is now available in China The unveiling ceremony of the BK-G2.5 at Qianwei Kromschroeder was successfully held on Nov. 5 in Chongqing. Finally, the first BK-G2.5 meter rolled off the production line after many months of hard work getting the line equipment in place, testing and calibration, quality control, training of workers, etc. Attending the ceremony were Dr. Hubert Dombrowski, Chairman of Kromschroeder, Johann v. Graevenitz, Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Board of Directors, Joachim Klute, Managing Qianwei Kromschroeder complete range of products on display Duan Youde added that the Joint Venture had made significant progress and development since the first co-operation agreement established in With the BK-G2.5 meter, he is confident that the product will be well accepted by our customers and the company will increase its sales significantly in the coming years. Duan Youde (Qianwei) and Dr. Hubert Dombrowski (Kromschroeder), unveiling the Joint Venture s first BK-G2.5 meter The visitors later proceeded to the factory to have a first-hand view of the manufacturing process of the BK-G2.5. It was a real eye-opener for some of them as they had not seen such advanced and automated equipment used in the manufacturing of gas meters in China. from Philip Lam, ELSTER-AMCO Singapore philam@elster-amco.com.sg Director, Mr. Ingo Prasse, Technical Director and Philip Lam, Regional Director for Asia. Also in attendance were Duan You de, Chairman of Qianwei Kromschroeder, Chen Junsheng, Deputy General Manager of Chongqing gas company and nearly 200 dignitaries from various gas companies in China. Presiding over the ceremony was Meng Li, General Manager of Qianwei Kromschroeder. Dr. Hubert Dombrowski said: I am pleased to announce that the BK-G2.5 residential diaphragm meter is now in full production and ready to go on sale in China. Qianwei Kromschroeder will produce more than 150,000 BK-G2.5 meters in the first year. This figure will grow rapidly to cater to the growing market for residential meters in China. Outside the main office building of Qianwei Kromschroeder, a great team ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3 17

18 applications GROUP PRESENCE IN BRAZIL Kromschroeder S.A. Spain supplies more than one hundred assemblies Kromschroder S.A. together with Teyco Comercial S.I. has received an important contract from the International General Management of Gas Natural SDG for its subsidiary in Rio de Janeiro C.E.G. covering the supply of 100 regulator cabinets for industrial customers and service stations These regulator cabinets include ELSTER rotary meters (mostly RVG DN 80) and ELSTER volume correctors (EK-90). ELSTER GmbH supplied the equipment to Kromschroeder S.A. and the devices were assembled and calibrated in the Kromschroeder workshops. The project was a very important boost for the group s products, especially in Brazil. On top of that, it has consolidated the relationship between the group and one of the most important distribution companies in the world, Gas Natural SDG. Kromschroeder is also aware of the increasing importance of after-sales service. For this reason, a training course was held in Brazil in order to provide the technicians at C.E.G. with the necessary know-how for the installation and maintenance. Josep Maria Sauch jmsauch@kromschroeder.es Laura Serrano Serrano lserrano@kromschroeder.es 18 ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3

19 applications PRESENCIA DEL GRUPO EN BRASIL Kromschroeder, S.A. España suministra más de cien montajes Kromschroeder, S.A. junto con Teyco Comercial, S.L. ha conseguido un importante proyecto a través de la Dirección General Internacional de Gas Natural SDG para su filial en Rio de Janeiro C.E.G.: La exportación de unos 100 armarios de regulación destinados a clientes industriales y estaciones de servicio para automoción. Estos armarios de regulación cuentan con contadores de pistones rotativos ELSTER (en su mayoría RVG DN 80) así como correctores de volumen ELSTER (EK-90K). Estos equipos han sido suministrados desde ELSTER GmbH a Kromschroeder, S.A. en cuyos laboratorios se ha realizado el montaje y la calibración. Este Proyecto ha supuesto para el grupo un lanzamiento muy importante de sus productos en Sudamérica, y en concreto, en Brasil; además de consolidar las relaciones del grupo ELSTER con una de las compañías distribuidoras de mayor presencia y tamaño a nivel mundial: Gas Natural SDG. Así mismo, Kromschroeder es consciente de la creciente importancia del servicio post-venta, para lo cual se realiza un curso de aprendizaje y puesta en marcha en Brasil con el fin de dotar a los técnicos de C.E.G. Brasil de todos los conocimientos necesarios para el mantenimiento de las instalaciones. Josep Maria Sauch jmsauch@kromschroeder.es Laura Serrano Serrano lserrano@kromschroeder.es ELSTER-AMCO GAS METERS Qualified for service in Antarctica Since PREMAGAS s.r.o. has been a member of the ELSTER-AMCO group, we have delivered our gas meters all over the world. Our MKM diaphragm gas meters have even been in service in Antarctica. Some time ago we were asked by Mr. Stewart Whittlestone from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation to supply three gas meters (6 m 3 per hour) which would be able to work in the Antarctic at temperatures as low as -40 C. We took his request as a challenge. After we had supplied our gas meters and after they had been in service for some time, we received an from Stewart Whittlestone with the following product evaluation: The gas meters have performed extremely well, and I am very happy to recommend them to any other Antarctic researchers. It was for us an encouragement for the future and perfect proof of the quality of our meters. from Radoslav Masár, PREMAGAS Slovakia radoslav.masar@premagas.sk ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3 19

20 events S ALES & PRODUCT TRAINING SEMINAR, SINGAPORE Second Asia-Pacific Sales & Product Training Seminar In the beginning of 2002, ELSTER-AMCO Asia organized the 2nd Asia-Pacific Sales and Product Training Seminar at Shangri-La s Rasa Sentosa in Singapore Sentosa Island. The objective for the meeting was to bring together all the agents and distributors in this region as well as various factory managements to work on their strategies for the region. The agents and distributors were collectively given presentations by ELSTER, AMCO, International Gas Apparatus (IGA) and ELSTER-JEAVONS on company performance, visions and new product developments. Most of the factories took this opportunity to launch their new products for this region during this event. This event also welcomed our two new agents Topgas Co., Ltd and Industrious Horizon Sdn Bhd from Thailand and Malaysia respectively. Many of our agents and distributors were already familiar with our organization, but for them it was their first introduction. Fig. 2: (from left) B. Walton (System Control Engineering), Sung Oak Ryu (Sejong AMC), Cheng Meng Hoon (Industrious Horizon), Dr. H. Dornauf (ELSTER Germany) and Wang Bo (ELSTER Beijing) Fig. 3: (from left) P. Lam and Jack Cheng (ELSTER Singapore), P. Hampel (ELSTER Germany), V. Madan and O. Chadha (Oil and Gas Plant), J. Körte (ELSTER Germany) and P. Webster (ELSTER-JEAVONS, UK) 20 ELSTER Profiles 2002/Vol.3 Thereafter, each agent or distributor individually gave a presentation behind closed doors explaining their own local market requirements, sales plans and forecasts with ELSTER, AMCO, IGA and ELSTER-JEAVONS personnel. The session ended with agents and distributors setting their goals and objectives for ELSTER-AMCO products for the next two years. In addition, there was also a training school for all technical support engineers on ELSTER-AMCO group products. The workshop provided all technical engineers with an in-depth understanding of the service, maintenance, commissioning, sizing and selection as well as all the distinct features of ELSTER-AMCO s products. Despite the busy work schedule in the four days of this event, all participants had an opportunity to mingle with one another through an afternoon session of treasure hunt in Sentosa Island and a good evening outing at the Singapore Night Safari. The seminar ended with a gala dinner and a graduation ceremony for the participants of the training school. During the dinner, five distinguished distributors, namely SIPAI (China), Yung Loong Engineering Corporation (Taiwan), Pakmaco Private Limited (Pakistan), DMC Gas Equipment Limited (Hong Kong) and Sejong-AMC Corporation (Korea) were honored for their dedicated efforts to the growth of ELSTER-AMCO products in Asia-Pacific. Apart from this, Vincent Wang of Industrious Horizon Sdn Bhd (Malaysia) was named as best trainee for the training school. We look forward to our next meeting with all our agents and distributors in from Jack Cheng, ELSTER-AMCO Singapore jcheng@elster-amco.com.cn Fig. 1: (from left, top standing) O. Prince-Wright (IGA UK), Leung Hung Kit (DCM Gas), D. Bethune (AMCO), Han Tao (Dalian Wantong), J. Körte (ELSTER Germany) and C. Corso ( Metering) (from left, seated) Jin Gon Ryu (Sejong-AMC), P. Lam (ELSTER Singapore), Wang Hong (ELSTER Beijing) and John Fu (Yung Zian Internat., Shanghai)