How to display real-time flow rate (l/min) from pulse flow meter on Ch1?
Hello,
I am using a Smart-MAIC D105 Extended Version in Heat meter Ch2 mode with a pulse flow meter connected to Ch1.
My current configuration is:
-Device: D105 Extended Version
-Mode: Heat meter Ch2
-Pulse input: Ch1
-Flow meter: mechanical water meter with pulse output
-Meter constant: 22.8 pulses per liter
-In the heat meter settings I have set:-0.04386 after Ch1(that is 1/22.8=0.04386 l/imp)
The thermal energy calculation works correctly, but I have a question about real-time flow visualization.
I would like to display the flow rate in liters per minute (l/min) on the dashboard.
The issue is that:
-if I use [Ch1] Pulse 1 in a Real-Time widget, I get NaN
- in Virtual Value I can only see:
- Ch1
- Ch2
- TCh1
- TCh2
- there are only Arithmetic operations, but I do not see any function for:
- rate
- time delta
- pulses per second / per minute
My question is:
What is the correct way to visualize the instantaneous flow rate in l/min from a pulse flow meter connected to Ch1?
More specifically:
1. Is there a built-in way in Smart-MAIC to calculate flow rate from a pulse input?
2. Can [Ch1] Pulse 1 be used for real-time l/min, and if yes, how exactly?
3. Is there a specific widget, setting, or virtual function for:
- pulses/min
- pulses/sec
- or counter delta over a time interval
4. If this is not possible directly, what is the recommended way to visualize flow rate from a pulse water meter?
I would appreciate a specific configuration example, if possible.
Thank you in advance.
Customer support service by UserEcho
Hello.
It is not possible to monitor flow rate in real time using impulses.
Flow rate is an instantaneous value, like the speed of a car.
And water consumption using impulses is a cumulative value, like an odometer in a car.
If you want to monitor flow rate in real-time, you should use an input that determines instantaneous values, such as the Analog input of an ADC.
For example, look at the Vortex flow sensors:
https://www.sika-instruments.co.uk/series/vortex-flow-sensors-plastic-version-vvx15-vvx20-vvx25/
It has two outputs:
- Pin2: for real-time flow rate - analog output (0.5...3.5 V) or (0...10 V)
- Pin4: for water consumption - impulses (100 imp = 1 l)