Baumer UK - PRODUCT NEWS

ELECTROMAGNETIC FLOW METER MEETS THE CHALLENGES OF TODAY'S WATER PUMPING STATIONS Water, such a precious resource, but let's be honest, something many of us take for granted given the UK's moist and temperate climate. However, threats to water resources are facing increasing threats from pollution, over extraction and the impact of climate change, making it even more critical to conserve and manage. Water pumping stations are a crucial part of the UK's water infrastructure and effective flow monitoring is just one of the essential stages in their overall operation. Whilst it is difficult to pinpoint an exact number of water pumping stations in the UK, there are at least tens of thousands when considering both public and private systems. Flow monitoring is a crucial requirement in pumping stations and other similar industrial water handling applications, helping to ensure efficient operation, optimizing performance whilst preventing more serious potential problems. By continuously monitoring flow rates, pumping stations can be optimised to prevent issues such as pump failures, blockages, and excessive energy consumption. What are the key aspects of efficient flow monitoring? Accessing real-time data provides operators with continuous data on flow rates, pump performance and well levels, allowing for immediate assessment and response. Data from flow monitoring helps identify issues such as pump cavitation or rising main problems enabling proactive maintenance and the prevention of expensive breakdowns. Flow monitoring data can be used for regulatory compliance demonstrating compliance with current regulations, particularly regarding permitted storm and sewage overflows, something very much in the public domain at this time. Cost reductions are always welcomed, and efficient flow management can significantly reduce operational costs and energy consumption. What types of flow monitoring devices are currently in operation at pumping stations? There are two basic types of flow in water systems and pumping stations: open channel and closed channel (closed pipe) while the type of monitoring and measuring devices is quite varied. For example, open channel flow measurement, ultrasonic flow meters, bubbler flow meters, submerged pressure transducers, closed channel flow measurement and venturi nozzle devices. Top of the list are direct flow measurement, sensors, including electromagnetic flowmeters, ultrasonic flowmeters, and Doppler flowmeters. These are also used to monitor pump performance, measuring pump parameters like power consumption, pressure, and runtime, resulting in valuable insights into pump performance. The Baumer group is a worldwide leading manufacturer of sensors, encoders, measuring instruments and components for automated image processing, a range which includes flow monitoring sensors for industrial water applications. A good example of this is their PFM43, a compact, yet robust and reliable electromagnetic immersion flow meter developed for handling high-pressure applications up to 100 bar and pipe diameters up to DN2000. Compared to heavy and more expensive magmeters with a continuous measuring tube, especially for large pipe diameters, the PFM43 immersion flow meter offers significant advantages. For example, simple and quick installation of the sensor, even in existing pipes, leads to considerable time and cost savings. With its high measuring accuracy (measuring deviation <2 %), it ensures efficient operation of systems. The PFM43 is a cost-effective solution for large pipe diameters from DN80 to DN2000 and thanks to its extremely robust design, it can handle water pressures up to 100 bar, differences in height and ability to handling extremely high-water pressures which can occur in pipelines, so it's an ideal choice for use in pumping stations. Over time the ability to measure the volume flow and flow velocity in pipelines, meant magnetic-inductive flow meters with a continuous measuring tube, were the preferred choice. However, this meant prohibitive costs for the purchase of standard magnetic inductive flow meters, plus expensive, time-consuming installation using heavy equipment. With the compact and easy-to-install Baumer PFM43 immersion flow meter, it's now possible to measure volume flow, flow velocity and temperature at water pressures of up to 100 bar in the simplest way. One-man installation of the PFM43, which weighs a maximum of 5 kilograms, is possible even with large diameters, so users benefit from time and cost savings during installation and maintenance, saving high storage costs. To simplify commissioning, the PFM43 can be easily parameterized via USB connection and the Baumer Control Panel (BCP), resulting in a better solution for maximum customer benefit in industrial water applications, including water pumping stations. More Information >> About Baumer Ltd: Baumer Ltd is part of a family owned company which operates on a global scale employing around 2400 people in 38 subsidiaries across 19 countries Worldwide. Baumer is acknowledged as a leading supplier of sensors, encoders, measuring instruments and components for automated image processing. Baumer is your partner for, Food & Beverage Sensing, Food & Beverage Processing, Assembly and Handling, Material Handling, Encoders and Motion Control Solutions. For more information, please contact: Jon Sumner Baumer Ltd. 33 / 36 Shrivenham Hundred Business Park, Majors Road, Swindon, UK, SN6 8TZ Tel: +44 1793 783839 Email: sales.uk@baumer.com Website: www.baumer.com August 2025 Home - Search - Suppliers - Links - New Products - Catalogues - Magazines Problem Page - Applications - How they work - Tech Tips - Training - Events