Traditional mechanical flow meters measure water and heat usage with rotating wheels that are easily out of calibration due to frictional wear and contaminants. This results in inaccurate and repetitive meter readings, leading to costly on-site maintenance. These inaccurate readings not only reduce revenue but also hinder leak detection, potentially resulting in the loss of millions of liters of potable water annually. The MAXREFDES70# ultrasonic flow meter is the modern alternative to this outdated technology. This solid-state meter is 10 times more accurate than other mechanical meters. This precise measurement is achieved without the use of bulky batteries; the flow meter operates on a single "A" type battery that can last up to 20 years. Measuring as little as 0.5 liters of water per minute with better than 1% accuracy, its rapid ultrasonic pulses can be customized to the pulse frequencies required by the flow conditions. It can detect even the smallest leaks that mechanical meters will never find. With no moving parts, the MAXREFDES70# flow meter is highly resistant to contaminants, subject to less wear, and requires virtually no maintenance. It delivers uncompromising results, maximizing uptime and providing the most accurate data possible.
At the heart of the MAXREFDES70# reference design is the new MAX35101, a complete analog-terminated (AFE) time-to-digital converter that measures the difference in upstream and downstream ultrasonic pulses. Supporting low-rate flow measurement (<30 l/h), the MAX35101 offers the highest time-to-digital conversion accuracy (20ps).
Key Advantages
• Improves accuracy at lower flow rates: 20ps time-to-digital accuracy (4x better than other ultrasonic designs) with near-boundary detection and multi-stroke capability.
• Easy to deploy: Free schematics, design files, and firmware are available for immediate use and customization; an evaluation kit (EV) with the MAXREFDES70# board, transducers, and USB interface is available with evaluation software.
• Low power consumption: Uses a 4Ah "A" type battery, providing up to 20 years of battery life.
• High integration: Integrates a complete high-speed time-to-digital converter (MAX35101) with 4ps resolution; an AFE sends and receives pulses from external transducers.
