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Discover an Easier Way to Water Balance with the Series 490W

Wireless Hydronic Differential Pressure Manometer, Series 490W

Earlier this year, Dwyer Instruments released its new look and updated features for the wireless hydronic differential pressure manometer, Series 490W. This product is used for applications including: refrigerant pressure testing, hydronic valve balancing, measuring pressure drop across pumps, and measuring pressure drop across chiller and coils for freeze protection.

The original Series 490W hydronic balancing kit was recognized in 2018 at the AHR Expo Innovation Awards as the winner of the Tools and Instruments product category. Prior to this win, the 490W was also recognized as a Silver Award Winner in the Electronic and Hand Tools product category of the Dealer Design Awards Program sponsored by The Air Conditioning Heating & Refrigeration News magazine (ACHR News). Continue reading “Discover an Easier Way to Water Balance with the Series 490W”

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Understanding Air Velocity Sensors

Dwyer Instruments offers a multitude of sensors for monitoring air velocity in HVAC systems. Some of this instrumentation has a simple construction (Pitot tubes, for example) while others are more complex, such as hot-wire anemometers.

The initial term and first “hot-wire anemometer” was developed back in 1914 by Louie Vesso King. He is also accredited for King’s Law, which mathematically describes heat transfer in air flows using a heated wire. As the air moves over the wire, it causes a loss of temperature in the wire and removes some of the wire’s heat energy. Continue reading “Understanding Air Velocity Sensors”

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How Ultrasonic Flowmeters Work

animation of flow moving through ultrasonic flowmeter

animation of flow moving through ultrasonic flowmeterUltrasonic flowmeters use sound waves to determine the velocity of a fluid flowing in a pipe. At no flow conditions, the frequencies of an ultrasonic wave transmitted into a pipe and its reflections from the fluid are the same. Under flowing conditions, the frequency of the reflected wave is different due to the Doppler effect. When the fluid moves faster, the frequency shift increases linearly. The transmitter processes signals from the transmitted wave and its reflections to determine the flow rate. Continue reading “How Ultrasonic Flowmeters Work”

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Semiconductor Tool Parameter Monitoring Solutions

A semiconductor transistor is a part with specific electronic properties that allow it to serve as a component in microchips and modern electronics like phones, laptops, and more. As these components are small and require precise manufacturing methods, there are facilities dedicated to their manufacture.

These facilities consist of several levels including air handlers and scrubbers for exhaust, HEPA room, fab cleanroom, and subfab areas. The control of pressure, flow, and temperature within the facility is essential.

Semiconductor process tools are used for the production of microchips and other microelectronic components. These process tools are highly engineered and have a multitude of applications such as pneumatics, electrical, electronics, fume exhaust, chemical & gas distribution, radio frequency (RF) generation, and ultra-high vacuum. Dwyer products help to ensure that process tools are being monitored and controlled to the system owner’s designated parameters.  Continue reading “Semiconductor Tool Parameter Monitoring Solutions”

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How Paddlewheel Flowmeters Work

Paddlewheel flowmeters use the mechanical energy of the fluid to rotate a paddlewheel (just like a riverboat) in the flow stream. Paddles on the rotor are inserted into the flow to transform energy from the flow stream into rotational energy. The rotor shaft spins on bearings. When the fluid moves faster, the paddlewheel spins proportionally faster. Shaft rotation can be sensed mechanically or by detecting the movement of the paddles.

Paddle movement is often detected magnetically, with each paddle or embedded piece of metal generating a pulse. When the fluid moves faster, more pulses are generated. The transmitter processes the pulse signal to determine the flow of the fluid. Continue reading “How Paddlewheel Flowmeters Work”