Page 1 Sensing & Inspection Technologies TransPort™ PT878GC Portable Gas Flowmeter User’s Manual...
Page 2 Sensing & Inspection Technologies TransPort™ PT878GC Portable Gas Flowmeter User’s Manual 910-229B3 April 2009...
Page 3 Liability under this warranty is limited to restoring the instrument to normal operation or replacing the instrument, at the sole discretion of GE Infrastructure Sensing, Inc. Fuses and batteries are specifically excluded from any liability. This warranty is effective from the date of delivery to the original purchaser.
Page 4 (RAN), and shipping instructions for the return of the instrument to a service center will be provided. 2. If GE Infrastructure Sensing, Inc. instructs you to send your instrument to a service center, it must be shipped prepaid to the authorized repair station indicated in the shipping instructions.
Page 5: Table Of Contents
April 2009 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Features and Capabilities Overview ............1-1 System Description .
Page 6 April 2009 Table of Contents (cont.) Installing Dampening Material ....... . 3-25 Installing DMP-1 Dampening Material .
Page 7 April 2009 Table of Contents (cont.) Chapter 5: Creating and Managing Sites The Site Manager ..........5-2 Creating a New Site .
Page 8 April 2009 Table of Contents (cont.) Changing Date and Time Appearance (Locale) ....7-9 Adjusting the Contrast ........7-12 Setting Backlight Timeout .
Page 9 April 2009 Table of Contents (cont.) Setting up the Thickness Gauge ....... . 9-5 Measuring Pipe Wall Thickness .
Page 10 April 2009 Table of Contents (cont.) Chapter 11: Specifications Operation and Performance........11-2 Fluid Types .
Page 11 April 2009 Table of Contents (cont.) Clamp-On Ultrasonic Flow Transducers ......11-6 Temperature Range(s) ........11-6 Transducer Materials .
Page 12: Chapter 1: Features And Capabilities
April 2009 Chapter 1 Features and Capabilities ® The TransPort Model PT878GC is a transit-time clamp-on gas flowmeter which combines all the features of a full-size gas flowmeter with the advantages of a portable instrument. This section describes the TransPort features and general system, and explains the theory of operation.
Page 13 April 2009 Overview (cont.) The TransPort has the ability to store site data in files which can be accessed at a later time. Within the Main Menu, a set of forms (windows) asks you all the necessary setup information for a particular site.
Page 14: System Description
April 2009 System Description The TransPort is only one part of the flowmeter system. The other part of the system is the flowcell, which consists of the pipe and the transducers. The Flowcell The flowcell is that part of the system that uses ultrasonic pulses to interrogate the flow.
Page 15: Electronics Package
April 2009 Electronics Package The TransPort consists of circuits that generate, receive, and measure the travel time of the ultrasonic pulses. It also contains a microcomputer that controls operation and calculates flow measurement parameters. Specific circuits function as follows: A. TRANSMIT SIGNAL GENERATOR - The transmit signal generator, under control of the microcomputer and timing circuit, synthesizes the signal that drives the transmitter.
Page 16: Theory Of Operation
April 2009 Theory of Operation The TransPort is a transit-time ultrasonic flowmeter. When ultrasonic pulses are transmitted through a moving liquid or gas, the pulses that travel in the same direction as the fluid flow (downstream) travel slightly faster than the pulses that travel against the flow (upstream).
Page 17: Chapter 2: Initial Setup
April 2009 Chapter 2 Initial Setup Before making measurements, you must prepare the TransPort for operation. This includes the following procedures: • Making Electrical Connections • Charging and/or Replacing Batteries • Powering On and Off • Using the Screen and Keypad •...
Page 18: Making Electrical Connections
April 2009 Making Electrical Connections Before making measurements with the TransPort, you must make all the necessary connections to the unit. This section describes how to connect the following: • Power • Transducer • Analog Input/Output • Infrared Interface Make all connections to the top of the TransPort unit as shown in Figure 2-2 below.
Page 19: Power Connections
April 2009 Power Connections The PT878GC is powered by either a 100-120/200-260 VAC wall mount plug-in module, or by 5 internal C -size NiCad high- energy rechargeable batteries or by a pack of 3.0 Ahr NiMH batteries. (An optional power supplement, part #703-1283, uses 6 AA alkaline batteries.) When you receive the PT878GC, the batteries are not charged;...
Page 20: The Infrared Wireless Interface
April 2009 Analog Input/Output Connections (cont.) Table 2-1: Cable Assembly for Analog Inputs/Outputs Pin Number Wire Color Description Black Analog Out 1 16 V (switched) White Input A (Temperature or Pressure) Yellow Input B (Temperature or Pressure) Green Analog Ground Orange Digital Output Blue...
Page 21: Charging And/Or Replacing Batteries
April 2009 Charging and/or Replacing Batteries The PT878GC comes with self-contained, built-in rechargeable batteries to support portable operation. For optimum performance, these batteries require a minimum of maintenance. Charging the Batteries When you receive the PT878GC, you will need to initially charge the batteries.
Page 22: Replacing The Batteries
(see Figure 2-3 below). Battery Location (Behind Panel) Figure 2-3: Rear View of PT878GC To further extend the battery power on the PT878GC, the GE Sensing Part #705-1283 power pack option uses 6 AA alkaline batteries. Initial Setup...
Page 23: Powering On And Off
GE Sensing logo and the software version and emits a long beep. If the meter fails any of these tests, contact GE Sensing. Caution! If the meter fails the backup battery test, you must send the unit back to the factory for a battery replacement.
Page 24 April 2009 Powering On and Off (cont.) After the meter conducts all the self checks, the screen then appears similar to the one shown in Figure 2-4 below. ABC.SIT 2004/11/30 09:53 AM Velocity, ft/s Signal, dB 0.00 Volume, l/s Delta-T, ns 0.10 E0: No Errors Figure 2-4: Screen After Powering On...
Page 25 April 2009 Powering On and Off (cont.) To turn the PT878GC off, press the red key for 3 seconds. The screen now appears similar to Figure 2-5 below. Velocity, ft/s Signal, dB SHUTDOWN: Meter OFF SLEEP: Meter Idle CANCEL: Resume Operations Volume, l/s Delta-T, ns Resume...
Page 26: Using The Screen And Keypad
April 2009 Using the Screen and Keypad The essential features for operating the TransPort are the screen and keypad. Although these features are common on portable instruments, the PT878GC design offers unique features to simplify and speed operation. Screen The primary function of the screen is to display information in order for you to accurately and easily take measurements.
Page 27 April 2009 Screen (cont). The middle of the screen is the work area, which displays the measured parameters, numeric measurements, and both bar and line graphs. (When you enter a selection on the Main Menu discussed in Chapter 4, Programming Site Data, this area displays menu prompts.) A line at the bottom of the area also displays error code messages, which are described in more detail in Chapter 10, Diagnostics and Troubleshooting.
Page 28: Keypad
April 2009 Keypad The PT878GC keypad has 25 keys. The functions for each key are as follows (see Figure 2-7 on the next page): • [F1] [F2] [F3] 3 function keys ( ) — enable you to select the special functions which appear at the bottom of the screen. •...
Page 29 April 2009 Keypad (cont.) Figure 2-7: The TransPort PT878GC Keypad Initial Setup 2-13...
Page 30: Obtaining On-Line Help
April 2009 Obtaining On-Line Help The TransPort offers on-line help screens that describe various features. You can access on-line help at any time by pressing the [?] key. The screen appears similar to Figure 2-8 below. Help Velocity, ft/s Signal, dB Table of Contents Use the arrows and the enter key to select from the links below.
Page 31: Chapter 3: Installing The Dampening Material, Transducers And Fixtures
Since the PT878GC is specifically designed for gas measurement with clamp-on transducers, it requires the use of specially designed fixtures and dampening material to maintain the highest possible measurement accuracy. GE Sensing supplies the CFG series of fixtures: • The V1 clamping fixture for pipes with diameters between 0.75 and 1.25 in.
Page 32 April 2009 CFG-V1 CFG-V1 CFG-V4 CFG-V8 CFG-V8 CFG-V12 Layout Wrap PI Fixture Dummy Block Chain Strap Figure 3-1: The V Series and PI Fixtures Choosing the transducer installation locations on the pipe is an important aspect of proper flow measurement. Specifications assume a fully developed flow profile typically requiring 20 diameters upstream and 10 diameters downstream of straight pipe run.
Page 33: Application Requirements
April 2009 Application Requirements Before you begin to use the PT878GC, you should ensure that your meter can handle the frequencies required for your particular application. To check the capabilities of your particular PT878GC, refer to the back label of the PT878GC, shown in Figure 3-2 below.
Page 34 April 2009 Application Requirements (cont.) • For air, nitrogen, oxygen or argon, refer to Table 3-1 on the next page. • For natural gas, refer to Table 3-2 on page 3-7. • For steam, refer to Table 3-3 on page 3-9. 1.
Page 35 April 2009 Table 3-1: PT878GC Installation Requirements for Air, Nitrogen, Oxygen or Argon Maximum Velocity, ft/s (m/s) Transducer Min. Pressure Single Dual Triple Four Five Pipe Size ANSI (DIN) Pipe Wall Inches (mm) psig (bar) Traverse Traverse Traverse Traverse Traverse 3/4 (20) <0.07 (1.8) 60 (5.1)
Page 36 April 2009 Table 3-1: PT878GC Installation Requirements for Air, Nitrogen, Oxygen or Argon (Continued) Maximum Velocity, ft/s (m/s) Transducer Min. Pressure Single Dual Triple Four Five Pipe Size ANSI (DIN) Pipe Wall Inches (mm) psig (bar) Traverse Traverse Traverse Traverse Traverse 12 (300) <0.38 (9.7)
Page 37 April 2009 Table 3-2: PT878GC Installation Requirements for Natural Gas Maximum Velocity, ft/s (m/s) Pipe Size ANSI Pipe Wall Inches Transducer Min. Pressure (DIN) (mm) psig (bar) Single Traverse Dual Traverse Triple Traverse Four Traverse 2 (50) <0.16 (4.1) 200 (14.8) 110 (33.5) 88 (26.8) 66 (20.5)
Page 38 April 2009 Table 3-2: PT878GC Installation Requirements for Natural Gas (Continued) Maximum Velocity, ft/s (m/s) Pipe Size ANSI Pipe Wall Inches Transducer Min. Pressure (DIN) (mm) psig (bar) Single Traverse Dual Traverse Triple Traverse Four Traverse 18 (450) <0.38 (9.7) 300 (21.7) 78 (23.8) 59 (18.0)
Page 39 April 2009 Table 3-3: PT878GC Installation Requirements for Steam Maximum Flow Velocity Pipe Pipe Wall Min. ft/s (m/s) Size in. Inches Transducer Pressure Single (mm) (mm) (MHz) psig (bar) Traverse 3 (80) <0.22 (5.6) 110 (8.6) 120 (36.6) <0.3 (7.6) 200 (14.8) 4 (100) <0.24 (6.1)
Page 40: Preparing The Pipe
April 2009 Preparing the Pipe 1. Locate a transducer measurement point with 20 diameters of upstream straight run pipe and 10 diameters of downstream straight run pipe. In addition, the point should be at least 10 diameters from any butt welds or flanges. Keep appropriate clearance on either side of the pipe for easy transducer installation: •...
Page 41: Performing A Pipe Survey
April 2009 Performing a Pipe Survey Finding a location where the pipe is concentric is important for optimum accuracy and performance. If possible, perform a pipe survey with an ultrasonic thickness gauge to find the best location. 2. Clear rust or loose paint and measure the wall thickness at five points along the pipe axis at 25 mm (1-in.) intervals using an ultrasonic thickness gauge, as shown in Figure 3-4 below.
Page 42 April 2009 Performing a Pipe Survey (cont.) 4. Now measure the OD and the wall thickness at eight points along the pipe circumference at 45° intervals (shown in Figure 3-6 below), three times per point, and record the mean values. Figure 3-6: Measuring the OD and Pipe Wall Thickness 5.
Page 43: Obtaining The Transducer Spacing
April 2009 Obtaining the Transducer Spacing 1. Using the measured OD and the pipe wall thickness, program the PT878GC (discussed in Chapter 4, Programming Site Data) to determine the required transducer spacing. 2. To determine the PT878GC correction factor, calculate the mean inside pipe diameter (ID) and the pipe ID at the transducer locations.
Page 44: Installing The V Series Clamping Fixture And Transducers
9 o’clock position. Figure 3-7 below shows the two mounted halves. Note: If you are using a V4 fixture with a 1.5 to 2-in. pipe, GE Sensing suggests removing the set screws and the mounting bracket, rotating them and the transducer yoke 180°, and replacing the bracket, yoke and screws for a...
Page 45 April 2009 Installing the Fixture (cont.) The two fixture halves have measuring scales; ensure that the scales are on the same side of the fixture, so that both zeros start at the same origin, as shown in Figure 3-8 below. Figure 3-8: Fixture with Scale Origins Properly Aligned 3.
Page 46: Installing The Transducers
April 2009 Installing the Transducers 1. Apply a bead of couplant 6 mm (0.25 in.) wide along the entire length of each transducer face, as shown in Figure 3-10 below. Figure 3-10: Couplant on Transducer Face Note: Do not slide the transducer with couplant along the surface of the pipe when mounting the transducer.
Page 47 April 2009 Installing the Transducers (cont.) 3. Slide the second mounting block to the calculated spacing plus the initial scale number selected for the first mounting block. For example: a. Initial convenient number for the first mounting block = 5 cm or 2 in. b.
Page 48: Installing The Pi Fixture And Transducers
The PI clamping fixture holds transducers on pipes from 8 to 24 in. in diameter. It comes with either a chain or strap, depending on the selection made with the initial order from GE Sensing. To install the fixture and transducers, complete the following steps: Surveying the Pipe 1.
Page 49 April 2009 Surveying the Pipe (cont.) Figure 3-14: Marking the 3 o’Clock Position 4. To find the coinciding point on the opposite site of the pipe (180° away from each other), divide the measured circumference by 2 and measure this distance along the circumferential lines from the zero point, as shown in Figure 3-15 below.
Page 50 April 2009 Surveying the Pipe (cont.) Figure 3-16: Measuring the 180° Point from Top and Bottom 3-20 Installing the Dampening Material, Transducers and Fixtures...
Page 51: Installing The First Bracket With A Chain Or Strap
April 2009 Installing the First Bracket with a Chain or Strap The following steps describe how to install the PI fixture with a supplied chain or strap. 1. Carefully wrap the chain or strap around the pipe, taking care not to twist it. 2.
Page 52: Installing The Second Bracket With A Chain Or Strap
April 2009 Installing the Second Bracket with a Chain or Strap Note: The following step requires the transducer spacing discussed on page 3-7. 1. Measure the spacing from the zero point (the point of circumferential origin). Mark the spacing point with a crosshair on the opposite side of the pipe, 180°...
Page 53: Installing The Transducers
April 2009 Installing the Second Bracket (cont.) The spacing should now appear similar to that shown in Figure 3-21 below. Figure 3-21: The Installed CFG-PI Fixture, with Calculated Spacing Installing the Transducers 1. Check to be sure the second CFG-PI holder bracket is correctly positioned.
Page 54 April 2009 Installing the Second Bracket (cont.) Note: Do not slide the transducer with couplant along the surface of the pipe when mounting the transducer. 3. With one hand, mount one transducer into the PI fixture. With the other hand, tighten the transducer hold down screw, gradually pushing the transducer down to the pipe surface.
Page 55: Installing Dampening Material
The pipe is old, with a history of scaling or rust, • The pipe experiences condensation on the outside. Note: Consult a GE Sensing flowmeter applications engineer or sales engineer if you have any questions regarding dampening material. Installing the Dampening Material, Transducers and Fixtures...
Page 56: Installing Dmp-1 Dampening Material
April 2009 Installing DMP-1 Dampening Material 1. Be sure the CFG-V clamping fixture is installed on the pipe with the transducers as described in the section Installing the V Series Clamping Fixture and Transducers on page 3-14. With a marker, mark scribe lines on the inside edges of the brackets onto the pipe.
Page 57 April 2009 Installing DMP-1 Dampening Material with CFG-V Series Fixtures (cont.) 7. With a marker, trace around the transducer footprint, as shown in Figure 3-24 below. Figure 3-24: DMP-1 Material with Transducer Footprint Traced 8. Remove the fixture and transducers. Then use a utility knife to cut out the area under the transducer footprint, and peel the cut material off the pipe, as shown in Figure 3-25 below.
Page 58 April 2009 Installing DMP-1 Dampening Material with CFG-V Series Fixtures (cont.) 11. Lay the second strip of dampening material flat. Then cut the strip into two pieces, each 4.5-in. (12 cm) wide. 12. Wrap each of these strips around the pipe on the outside edge of the clamping fixture, one upstream and one downstream.
Page 59: Installing Dmp-1 Dampening Material With Pi Fixture
April 2009 Installing DMP-1 Dampening Material with PI Fixture 1. Be sure the PI clamping fixture is installed onto the pipe with the transducers as described in the section Installing the PI Fixture and Transducers on page 3-18. 2. Approximate the axial distance from one transducer face to the other transducer face, as shown in Figure 3-27 below.
Page 60 April 2009 Installing DMP-1 Dampening Material with PI Fixture (cont.) Figure 3-28: Completed DMP-1 Installation 3-30 Installing the Dampening Material, Transducers and Fixtures...
Page 61: Installing Dmp-3 Compound With All Fixtures
April 2009 Installing DMP-3 Compound with All Fixtures 1. Be sure the fixture and transducers are installed on the pipe as described in the previous sections of this chapter. 2. Remove the fixture and transducers, but be sure to mark the approximate area of installation.
Page 62 April 2009 Installing DMP-3 Compound with All Fixtures (cont.) 6. Spread the DMP-3 material so that it covers the whole area under the fixture to a thickness of about 0.25 in. (6.4 mm), as shown in Figure 3-31a below. Figure 3-31: Spreading the DMP-3 (a) and Reinstalling the Fixture (b) 7.
Page 63: Installing The Pdj Dampening Jacket
April 2009 Installing the PDJ Dampening Jacket If the pipe temperature is over 150°F, you must use the PDJ pipe dampening jacket with preapplied DMP-3. As the dampening material dries out over several hours after installation, its effectiveness increases. The jacket is available in standard pipe sizes from 4 to 12 in.
Page 64 April 2009 Installing the PDJ Dampening Jacket (cont.) !WARNING! The pipe and the dripping fluid will cause severe burns upon contact with bare skin. Also, be sure not to inhale the fumes generated during the DMP-3 curing cycle. 4. Install the fixture over the jacket, adjusting the spacing to match the prestamped transducer holes and PT878GC spacing calculations.
Page 65: Chapter 4: Programming Site Data
April 2009 Chapter 4 Programming Site Data On the PT878GC, a Program Menu (part of the Main Menu) enables you to enter information that is specific to each site: • Transducer types and paths • Pipe materials and linings • Fluid types •...
Page 66: Entering The Program Menu
April 2009 Entering the Program Menu [MENU] To enter the Program Menu, press the key at the lower right of the PT878GC keypad. The Menu Bar replaces the Status Bar at the top of the screen. Press the [ ] arrow key once to scroll from the Site Menu to the Program Menu.
Page 67: Entering Transducer Parameters
Use the [ ] and [ ] keys to scroll between the two types. b. Press [ENTER] [SEL] to confirm the choice. IMPORTANT: While wetted transducers are listed as a choice, the PT878GC is designed for use with Shear wave clamp-on transducers. Consult GE before selecting wetted transducers. Programming Site Data...
Page 68 April 2009 Entering Transducer Parameters (cont.) Note: The choices made earlier in the Transducer and Pipe options determine the prompts available later. If the PT878GC does not scroll to a particular parameter, it is not necessary for that transducer or pipe type. 2.
Page 69: Parameters For Special Transducers
From the Frequency prompt, press the [ ] key to reach the [ENTER] Tw prompt, and press b. Use the numeric keys to enter the GE Sensing-supplied [ENTER] time delay and press 5. When calculating the flow rate, the PT878GC must take into account the wedge angle, the angle of the ultrasonic transmission.
Page 70 ] key to reach [ENTER] the Wedge SS prompt, and press b. Use the numeric keys to enter the GE Sensing-supplied [ENTER] wedge sound speed (in ft/sec or m/sec) and press Pressing the [ ] key returns the meter to the Transducer tab at the top.
Page 71: Entering Pipe Parameters
April 2009 Entering Pipe Parameters To enter the Pipe option, scroll to the Pipe entry on the Program [ENTER] Menu and press . (From the Transducer window, you can scroll back up to the Transducer tab and press the [ ] arrow key [ENTER] to reach the Pipe window and press .) The screen appears...
Page 72 April 2009 Entering Pipe Parameters (cont.) 1. The first prompt asks you to select the pipe material. a. Press [ENTER] to enter the material prompt. b. A drop-down list of materials opens. Table 4-1 below lists the available preprogrammed materials on the list. Press the [ ] or [ ] keys to scroll to the appropriate material,...
Page 73 April 2009 Entering Pipe Parameters (cont.) 2. At this point, the program follows one of two paths: a. If you have selected a preprogrammed material, the PT878GC automatically supplies the correct sound speed, and proceeds to step 3. b. If you have selected “Other,” the meter prompts you to enter the sound speed.
Page 74 April 2009 Entering Pipe Parameters (cont.) If you select a material that has the Schedule option: a. The prompt asks if you wish to apply DIN (the DIN [ENTER] schedule). Press to select (or deselect) the DIN box. (If you do not select the DIN option, the prompt moves to the OD text box, and you enter the parameters for the Diameter alternative as discussed on the previous page.)
Page 75: Entering Pipe Lining Parameters
April 2009 Entering Pipe Lining Parameters To enter the Lining option, scroll to the Lining entry on the [ENTER] Program Menu and press . (From the Pipe window, you can scroll back up to the Pipe tab and press the [ ] arrow key to [ENTER] reach the Lining window, and press .) The screen appears...
Page 76 April 2009 Entering Pipe Lining Parameters (cont.) Note: If your pipe lining is not on the drop-down list, consult GE Sensing for further information. 2. The program follows one of two paths: a. If you have selected a preprogrammed material, the PT878GC automatically supplies the correct sound speed, and you proceed to step 3.
Page 77: Entering Fluid Types And Speeds
April 2009 Entering Fluid Types and Speeds To access the Fluid option, scroll to the Fluid entry on the [ENTER] Program Menu and press . (If you are already in the Transducer/Pipe form, press the [ ] arrow key to reach the Fluid [ENTER] window, and press .) The screen appears similar to Figure...
Page 78 April 2009 Entering Fluid Types and Speeds (cont.) b. Scroll to the appropriate entry. If you do not see your fluid on the list, select “Other.” c. Press [ENTER] to confirm your selection. If you have selected a preprogrammed gas, the PT878GC supplies the sound speed.
Page 79: Entering The Signal Path Parameters
April 2009 Entering the Signal Path Parameters To enter the Path option, scroll to the Path entry on the Program [ENTER] Menu and press . (From the Lining window, you can scroll back up to the Lining tab and press the [ ] arrow key to reach the [ENTER] Path window, and press .) The screen appears similar to...
Page 80: Path Parameters For Clamp-On Transducers
If you enter an invalid entry, the PT878GC rejects the entry and displays an error message. Note: GE Sensing does not recommend using a spacing other than the one calculated by the PT878GC. After you enter the spacing, pressing the [...
Page 81: Entering The Standard Volume
April 2009 Entering the Standard Volume/ Mass Flow Parameters The Standard Volume/Mass Flow option enables you to correct standard volumetric units for pressure and temperature, as well as to disable or enable mass flow. To enter this option, scroll to the [ENTER] Std Vol/Mass Flow entry on the Program Menu and press The screen appears similar to Figure 4-7 below.
Page 82 April 2009 Entering the Standard Volume Parameters (cont.) 2. The next prompt asks for the base pressure. a. Press [ENTER] to enter the text box. b. Use the numeric keys to enter the known pressure. c. Press [ENTER] to confirm the entry. 3.
Page 83: Entering Inputs In The Standard Volume Option
April 2009 Entering Inputs in the Standard Volume Option To enter input parameters in the Standard Volume/Mass Flow option, return to the Settings tab at the top of the Standard [ENTER] Volume window. Press the [ ] arrow key and to open the Inputs window.
Page 84 April 2009 Entering Inputs in the Standard Volume Option (cont.) 2. The next prompt appears if you have selected a fixed pressure. The PT878GC asks for the fixed pressure value. a. Press [ENTER] to open the text box. b. Use the numeric keys to enter the known pressure. c.
Page 85 April 2009 Entering Inputs in the Standard Volume Option (cont.) Note: If you have switched both active inputs to #A (or to #B), the PT878GC automatically switches one input to the other letter. This change ensures that only one analog input is assigned to one measurement type.
Page 86: Entering Mass Flow Parameters
April 2009 Entering Mass Flow Parameters To enter mass flow parameters in the Standard Volume/Mass Flow option, press the [ ] arrow key until you reach the Mass [ENTER] Flow tab, and then press to open the Mass Flow window. The screen appears similar to Figure 4-9 below.
Page 87 April 2009 Entering Mass Flow Parameters (cont.) 2. If you have enabled Mass Flow, the next prompt asks for the calculation method. Three options are available: static density, saturated steam, and steam. a. Press [ENTER] to open the drop-down menu. b.
Page 88: Entering Skan/Measure Parameters
Entering Skan/Measure Parameters IMPORTANT: Do not change the Skan/Measure parameters unless recommended by GE Sensing. If you select one of the Skan/Measure modes in the Measurement mode window in the Signal Setup option (see page 9-24), the PT878GC requires you to set up the appropriate parameters. You can enter this option in either of two ways: •...
Page 89 M>S Switch value. The default value is 5.0 µsec and values from 0 to 250 µsec are acceptable. Note: Do not change this value without consulting GE Sensing. If you wish to use Skan only, set the M/S Switch to a value of 0.
Page 90 April 2009 Entering Skan/Measure Parameters (cont.) Pressing the [ ] key highlights the Advanced prompt. To enter [ENTER] advanced parameters for the Skan/Measure modes, press The screen now appears similar to Figure 4-11 below. In each case, to enter a value: a.
Page 91 April 2009 Entering Skan/Measure Parameters (cont.) 6. The next prompt enables you to reset the size of the transmit window. Normally, the PT878GC calculates the size of both transmit and receive windows based on pipe size and fluid sound speed. However, for special diagnostic purposes, it may sometimes be necessary to reset the window size.
Page 92: Entering Skan/Measure Integrate Parameters
April 2009 Entering Skan/Measure Integrate Parameters To enter parameters for the Skan/Measure Integrate mode in the Skan/Measure option, press the [ ] arrow key once to reach the [ENTER] Integrate tab. Then press to open the Integrate window, which appears similar to Figure 4-12 below. Skan/Measure Integrate Count...
Page 93 April 2009 Entering Skan/Integrate Parameters (cont.) 3. If you wish to use Measure Times only (instead of both Skan [ENTER] and Measure times), press at the Measure Only [ENTER] prompt. (You can also press to deselect the prompt.) Pressing the [ ] key returns the meter to the A Divisor entry, and pressing the [ ] key returns the meter to the Integrate tab.
Page 94: Entering Skan/Measure Count Parameters
April 2009 Entering Skan/Measure Count Parameters To open the Skan/Measure Count window in the Skan/Measure option, press the [ ] arrow key twice (from the All tab) to reach [ENTER] the Count tab. Press , and the screen appears similar to Figure 4-13 below.
Page 95 April 2009 Entering Skan/Measure Count Parameters (cont.) 3. The next prompt asks for the percentage of Noise Level. a. Press [ENTER] to enter the text box. b. Use the numeric keys to enter the recommended value. c. Press [ENTER] to confirm the entry. 4.
Page 96: Entering Skan/Correlation Parameters
April 2009 Entering Skan/Correlation Parameters To open the Skan/Correlation window in the Skan/Measure option, press the [ ] arrow key three times (from the All tab) to [ENTER] reach the Correlate tab, and press . The screen appears similar to Figure 4-14 below. Skan/Measure Integrate Count...
Page 97 April 2009 Entering Skan/Correlation Parameters (cont.) 2. Repeat step 1 to enter the maximum percentage of peak. 3. The next prompt asks for the Percent of Peak, which is used to calculate the transit times and Delta-T. a. Press [ENTER] to enter the text box.
Page 98: Entering Analog Inputs
April 2009 Entering Analog Inputs The Analog Inputs option enables you to specify parameters for general purpose or standard volume inputs. To enter the Analog Inputs option, scroll to the Analog Inputs entry on the Program [ENTER] Menu and press .
Page 99 April 2009 Entering General-Purpose Analog Inputs (cont.) 2. The next prompt asks you to create a label for the input. The label corresponds to the measurement type (i.e., velocity or temperature), while the units symbol corresponds to the measurement units (i.e., feet/sec or degrees F). a.
Page 100 April 2009 Entering General-Purpose Analog Inputs (cont.) 3. The next prompt asks for the Units Symbol. a. Press [ENTER] to reopen the text creation window. b. Repeat the procedure used for the Label (on the previous page) to create the Units Symbol. c.
Page 101: Entering Analog Inputs In Standard Volume
April 2009 Entering Analog Inputs in Standard Volume or Mass Flow Option If you have enabled the Standard Volume or Mass Flow options, the screen displays different options, as shown in Figure 4-17 below. Analog Input Input A Input B Pressure Function Label...
Page 102 April 2009 Entering Analog Inputs in the Standard Volume or Mass Flow Option (cont.) You have completed entering parameters in the Analog Inputs option. • [F3] To confirm the entries and return to Operate mode, press (OK). The PT878GC returns to Operate Mode. •...
Page 103: Entering The Analog Output
April 2009 Entering the Analog Output The Analog Output option enables you to enter information to set up output parameters. To enter the option, scroll to the Analog [ENTER] Output entry on the Program Menu and press . The screen appears similar to Figure 4-18 below.
Page 104 April 2009 Entering the Analog Output (cont.) 2. The next prompt asks you to select the analog output type from a number of choices, as shown in Figure 4-19 below. Select Measurement Diagnostics Velocity Temperature Pressure Volume UserFunction Aux Input A Aux Input B Skan/Measure Mass Flow...
Page 105 April 2009 Entering the Analog Output (cont.) 3. The next prompt asks you to enter the zero (base) value for the analog output. This value represents the 0/4 mA output (in flow units). a. Press [ENTER] to open the text box. b.
Page 106: Entering The Digital Output
April 2009 Entering the Digital Output While resembling the Analog Output option, the Digital Output option enables you to set up parameters necessary for a digital output. To enter the option, scroll to the Digital Output entry on [ENTER] the Program Menu and press .
Page 107 April 2009 Entering the Digital Output (cont.) a. Press [ENTER] to open the drop-down menu. b. Scroll to the desired function. c. Press [ENTER] to confirm your selection. Note: If you select Off, you will not be able to access any other parameters in this option.
Page 108 April 2009 Entering the Digital Output (cont.) d. The prompt then moves to a list of unit types. (The available units depend on the selection made at the Data Source prompt.) Scroll to the desired output unit. e. Press [F3] (OK) to confirm your selection.
Page 109 April 2009 Entering the Digital Output (cont.) If you entered Test Points: The prompt asks for the signal type from two choices: transmit or receive. a. Press [ENTER] to open the drop-down menu. b. Scroll to the required signal. c. Press [ENTER] to confirm your selection.
Page 110: Entering User Functions
April 2009 Entering User Functions User functions enable you to perform mathematical equations on each measurement. You can also use any parameter in the meter to calculate a different parameter. To enter the User Functions option, scroll to the User Functions entry on the Program Menu [ENTER] and press .
Page 111 April 2009 Entering User Functions (cont.) 2. The next prompt asks you to create a label for the function. The label corresponds to the measurement type (i.e., velocity or temperature), while the units symbol corresponds to the measurement units (i.e., feet/sec or degrees F). a.
Page 112 April 2009 Entering User Functions (cont.) 3. The next prompt asks for the Units Symbol. a. Press [ENTER] to reopen the text creation window. b. Repeat the procedure used for the Label (on the previous page) to create the Units Symbol. c.
Page 113 When you have completed entering the function, press [F3] (OK) to confirm the entry and return to the User Function window. 6. GE Sensing recommends pressing [F2] (Check) to test the validity of the function. The PT878GC displays either “OK”...
Page 114: Entering Correction Factors
April 2009 Entering Correction Factors The final option in the Program Menu, Correction Factors, allows you to enter and modify three correction factors: Reynolds Correction, Kinematic Viscosity and Calibration Factor. To enter the Correction Factors option, scroll to the Correction Factors [ENTER] entry on the Program Menu and press .
Page 115 April 2009 Entering Reynolds Correction (cont.) b. Press [ENTER] to confirm your selection. Note: If you disable Reynolds Correction, you will not be able to enter any other values in this window. 2. If you enable Reynolds Correction, you will also need to enter the Kinematic Viscosity of the gas (available in the brochure Sound Speeds and Pipe Size Data, 914-004).
Page 116 April 2009 Entering Reynolds Correction (cont.) b. Enter the desired measurement and units as described on page 4-40. c. Press [F3] (OK) to confirm your selection. 4. The prompt then asks if you wish to edit the Reynolds Correction table. a.
Page 117: Entering A Calibration Factor
April 2009 Entering Reynolds Correction (cont.) e. When you have completed entering values, press [F3] (OK) to confirm the table and return to the Correction Factors window. You have completed entering data for a Reynolds Correction table. • [F3] To confirm the entries, press (OK).
Page 118 April 2009 Entering a Calibration Factor (cont.) 1. The first prompt asks if you wish to enable the calibration factor. a. Use the [ ] and [ ] keys to scroll to the appropriate radio button. b. Press [ENTER] to confirm your selection. 2.
Page 119 April 2009 Entering a Calibration Factor (cont.) b. Enter the desired measurement and units as described on page 4-40. c. Press [F3] (OK) to confirm your selection. 4. The prompt then asks if you wish to edit the K factor table. a.
Page 120 April 2009 Entering a Calibration Factor (cont.) You have completed entering data for correction factors. • [F3] To confirm the entries and return to Operate Mode, press (OK). • To leave the window without confirming the entries and return [F2] [ESC] to Operate mode, press (Cancel) or the...
Page 121: Chapter 5: Creating And Managing Sites
April 2009 Chapter 5 Creating and Managing Sites The PT878GC can store site data in files for current and future access. (To learn how to program setup data, refer to Chapter 4, Programming Site Data.) After you answer the necessary questions, simply save the information to a site file.
Page 122: The Site Manager
April 2009 The Site Manager [ENTER] From the Site Menu, press to open the Site Manager. The screen appears similar to Figure 5-2 below. Site Manager File Site Sort Info: DEFAULT:SIT DEFAULT New Site **CURRENT SITE** 03/04/04 14:51:10 5111 bytes 118272 bytes free Refresh Exit...
Page 123 April 2009 The Site Manager (cont.) Site Manager File Site Sort Info: DEFAULT:SIT DEFAULT Open New Site Save Save As Refresh Rename 09/04/04 14:51:10 Delete 5111 bytes 118272 bytes free Refresh Exit Figure 5-3: The Site Manager Menu • To create a new site, go to page 5-4. •...
Page 124: Creating A New Site
April 2009 Creating a New Site [MENU] To create a new site in the Site Manager, press in the Site Manager. Be sure the option New is highlighted, and then press [ENTER] . The screen appears similar to Figure 5-4 below. New Site Delete Cancel...
Page 125 April 2009 Creating a New Site (cont.) New Site New Site Use the selected site ‘DEFAULT.SIT’ as a template? Figure 5-5: Template Confirmation Window The meter returns to Operate Mode, with the new site name displayed in the upper left corner of the screen. Creating and Managing Sites...
Page 126: Opening An Existing Site
April 2009 Opening an Existing Site If you want to return to a second site that you have previously saved, first highlight the replacement site in the left window of [MENU] the Site Manager. Then press to open the File Menu. [ENTER] Scroll to the Open option, and press .
Page 127: Saving A Site
April 2009 Saving a Site You can save the current site in one of two ways: • From the Site Menu, you can scroll down to the Save Now [ENTER] option and press , or • [MENU] From within the Site Manager, press , scroll to the Save [ENTER] option, and press...
Page 128: Saving A Site With A Different Name
April 2009 Saving a Site with a Different Name If you want to save the current site with a different name, open [MENU] the Site Manager, press to open the File Menu, scroll to [ENTER] the Save As option, and press .
Page 129: Refreshing A Site
April 2009 Refreshing a Site You can refresh a site (updating the display with the most current information) in one of two ways: • [F2] Press , Refresh, to refresh the highlighted file. • From the File Menu, scroll to the Refresh option and press [ENTER] The updated information on the highlighted file appears in the window on the right.
Page 130: Deleting A Site
April 2009 Deleting a Site To delete a site in the Site Manager, first be sure you have highlighted that site in the left window of the Site Manager. Then [MENU] [ENTER] press , scroll to the Delete option, and press .
Page 131: Creating A Site Message
April 2009 Creating a Site Message The Site Message option allows you to add an explanatory message (with up to 30 characters or spaces) for any given site. To create a site message: 1. Press [MENU] to enter the File Menu. Then press the [ ] arrow key once to scroll from the File Menu to the Site Menu.
Page 132 April 2009 Creating a Site Message (cont.) “ ‘ < > Delete Cancel Figure 5-12: The Text Creation Window 3. Use the four arrow keys to scroll to the desired letter or [ENTER] symbol, and press to add the letter to the message. Note: Pressing [SEL] causes the screen to alternate between a...
Page 133: Printing A File
April 2009 Printing a File [MENU] To print a file from the Site Manager, press to enter the File Menu, press the [ ] arrow key once, scroll to the Print [ENTER] option, and press . The PT878GC shows a message indicating that its infrared scanner is looking for a receiving device.
Page 134: Transferring A File As Text
April 2009 Transferring a Site to a PC (cont.) Figure 5-13: The IR_Inbox Folder with Transferred Site File Transferring a File as Text If you want to review site programming data as text, the PT878GC can transfer a site file to a PC in a Unicode text format that can be opened by text editors such as Notepad or Word.
Page 135: Transferring A File From A Pc To The Pt878Gc
April 2009 Transferring a File from a PC to the PT878GC Once you have stored site or meter files to a PC, you can then transfer them back to the PT878GC over the IR interface. The PT878GC only accepts files with a .sit (site) or .met (meter) extension.
Page 136 April 2009 Transferring a File from a PC to the PT878GC (cont.) QuickBeam opens a window indicating that it is downloading the file. If you close and reopen the Site Manager, the file appears as one of the listed sites. Note: While sending or receiving files, the PT878GC continues to perform measurements, but at a slower rate than normal.
Page 137: Listing Files By Name
April 2009 Listing Files by Name If you want to list your files alphabetically by site name within [MENU] the Site Manager, press to open the File Menu. Then press the [ ] arrow key twice to scroll from the File Menu to the Sort [ENTER] Menu, shown in Figure 5-15 below.
Page 138: Chapter 6: Displaying And Configuring Data
April 2009 Chapter 6 Displaying and Configuring Data The PT878GC allows you to view from one to four different measurement parameters simultaneously. The screen can show these parameters not only in numeric format, but as line or bar graphs as well. You can configure any given measurement for your particular requirements.
Page 139: The Format Option
April 2009 The Format Option The first option on the menu, Format, allows you to specify the type of notation and the number of decimal places for the [ENTER] measurement in that window. Press and the submenu shows two options, Decimal Place and Notation. Press the [ ] or [ENTER] ] arrow keys to select either entry, and press...
Page 140 April 2009 The Format Option (cont.) 2. The second step asks you to choose the number of decimal places to be displayed. Available choices range from 0 to 4 places. a. Press [ENTER] to open the drop-down list. b. Scroll to the appropriate number. c.
Page 141: The View Option
April 2009 The View Option The second option, View, allows you to select the presentation of a parameter in one of three formats: numeric, line graph or bar graph. 1. From the Display Menu, press the [ ] key once to reach the [ENTER] View option, and then press 2.
Page 142: The Limits Option
April 2009 The Limits Option Once you have configured a parameter as a line or bar graph, you might need to change its presentation or values. The Limits option (replacing the Format option for line and bar graphs) enables you to program the minimum or maximum values displayed, the time interval and the display of the average value.
Page 143 April 2009 The Limits Option (cont.) 4. The first prompt asks for the minimum value shown in the graph. a. Press [ENTER] to open the text box. b. Use the numeric keys to enter the desired value. c. Press [ENTER] to confirm the value.
Page 144: The Measurement Option
April 2009 The Measurement Option On occasion, you might need to change the actual parameter measured in a given window.The Measurement option enables you to reconfigure the window with one of five categories of data source (velocity, volume, forward or reverse totalizer, or diagnostics) and appropriate English or metric measurement units.
Page 145 April 2009 The Measurement Option (cont.) Select Measurement Programming Diagnostics Delta-T Delta-T Velocity Amplitude Up Amplitude Down Temperature T Up Pressure T Down Volume Gain Up Fwd Totalizer Gain Dn Rev Totalizer Signal Up StdFwdTotalizer Signal Down Threshold Up StdRevTotalizer Threshold Down User Function Norm Factor...
Page 146: Customizing The Display Screen
April 2009 Customizing the Display Screen You might wish to display one or two parameters, or customize the soft keys to quickly access particular menus. The Site Menu enables you to make more comprehensive changes in your display screen. [MENU] To enter the Site Menu, press the key at the lower right of the PT878GC keypad.
Page 147: Specifying The Number Of Displayed Parameters
April 2009 Specifying the Number of Displayed Parameters As mentioned earlier, the PT878GC can display one to four different measurement parameters simultaneously. However, sometimes you might wish to display only one or two parameters. To change the number of open display windows: 1.
Page 148: Customizing Softkeys
April 2009 Customizing Softkeys When the screen is in Operate mode, you might wish to access a particular submenu frequently without the trouble of scrolling through menus. Customizing the softkeys (the function keys — [F1] [F2] [F3] ) allows you to access up to three submenus by pressing the associated softkey.
Page 149 April 2009 Customizing Softkeys (cont.) Configure FKey Select a menu item (CLEAR) Site Manager Save Now 1 View 2 Views Cancel Figure 6-9: The Configure FKey Window 4. Press [ENTER] to open the menu drop-down list. Then use the ] or [ ] arrow keys to scroll to the desired submenu (for example, Contrast).
Page 150 April 2009 Customizing Softkeys (cont.) 2004/3/30 09:53 AM ABC.SIT Velocity, m/s Gain, dB 5000 -1.5121 -5000 Volume, ft Delta-T, ns -1.65 E2: Soundspeed Contrast Figure 6-10: The Display Screen with Modified Softkey • To clear a softkey: 1. Press [MENU] 2.
Page 151: Managing Files - The Drive Manager
April 2009 Managing Files — The Drive Manager On occasion, you might want to review, print or transfer some or all of the files in the PT878GC. The Drive Manager allows you to view all the files stored in the meter. To open the Drive Manager: 1.
Page 152 April 2009 Managing Files — The Drive Manager (cont.) File Manager Sort File Transfer Info: SYSLOG.MET SYSLOG. Refresh DEFAULT. Delete GLOBAL. TABLE.MET FUNCTIO AAA.LOG 03/15/04 10:39:20 BBB.LOG 6402 bytes CCC.LOG 91136 bytes free Q.LOG Refresh Exit Figure 6-12: The File Manager Menu To transfer, refresh or delete a file, first be sure the file is [MENU] highlighted in the window on the left.
Page 153: Refreshing A File
April 2009 Refreshing a File You can refresh a file (updating the display with the most current information) in one of two ways: • [F2] Press , Refresh, to refresh the highlighted file. • From the File Menu, scroll to the Refresh option and press [ENTER] The updated information on the highlighted file appears in the window on the right.
Page 154: Transferring A File From A Pc To The Pt878Gc
April 2009 Transferring a File to a PC (cont.) Figure 6-13: The IR_Inbox Folder with Transferred File Transferring a File from a PC to the PT878GC Once you have stored site or meter files to a PC, you can then transfer them back to the PT878GC over the IR interface.
Page 155 April 2009 Transferring a File from a PC to the PT878GC (cont.) Note: For Windows NT 4.0, check that the QuickBeam software (available through the path C:\Program Files\QuickBeam Suite) is running, and that the IR beam on the PT878GC has clear access to the IR sensor connected to the PC port.
Page 156: Deleting A File
April 2009 Deleting a File To delete a file in the File Manager, first be sure you have highlighted that site in the left window of the File Manager. Then [MENU] [ENTER] press , scroll to the Delete option, and press .
Page 157: Listing Files By Name
April 2009 Listing Files by Name If you want to list your files alphabetically by site name within [MENU] the File Manager, press to open the File Menu. Then press the [ ] arrow key to scroll from the File Menu to the Sort Menu, [ENTER] shown in Figure 6-16 below.
Page 158: Accessing Meter Data -The About Option
To open the About window, scroll to the About option on the Site Menu and press [ENTER] . The screen appears similar to Figure 6-17 below. GE Industrial Sensing PT878GC Portable Flowmeter Copyright ©2002 General Electric Co. All rights reserved.
Page 159: Chapter 7: Programming Meter Settings
April 2009 Chapter 7 Programming Meter Settings Along with display formats and site data, PT878GC users can program global settings for the meter that suit their individual preferences. The global settings include: • English or Metric measurement units • Battery power •...
Page 160: Entering The Meter Menu
April 2009 Entering the Meter Menu [MENU] To enter the Meter Menu, press the key at the lower right of the PT878GC keypad. The Main Menu replaces the Status Bar at the top of the screen. Press the [ ] arrow key twice to scroll from the Site Menu to the Meter Menu.
Page 161: Selecting Measurement Units
April 2009 Selecting Measurement Units The first option, Units, enables you to select either English or Metric units as global measurement units for the PT878GC. The selected units then become the default settings for every measurement that has the option for metric/English units. In addition, you can select the type of pressure units displayed.
Page 162 April 2009 Selecting Measurement Units (cont.) a. Press [ENTER] to open the drop-down menu. b. Use the [ ] and [ ] arrow keys to scroll to the desired choice: • PSIA • • Bars • MMGH c. Press [ENTER] to confirm the entry.
Page 163: The Battery Charger
April 2009 The Battery Charger The Battery option allows you to monitor the current run time and status of the internal rechargeable batteries, as well as to condition NiCad batteries to maintain the maximum life possible. Conditioning NiCad batteries (a process that can take up to 12 hours for a fully charged pack) discharges the pack completely and then performs a fast charge.
Page 164 April 2009 The Battery Charger (cont.) 3. To condition the batteries, press the [ENTER] key. The “Condition Battery” window should now read “Stop.” The status line should change to “Discharging.” (Updating the status could take up to 30 seconds.) Note: It is advisable to condition NiCad batteries when their run time is reduced to 50% of their previous run time.
Page 165: Entering Date And Time
April 2009 Entering Date and Time In Operate mode, the Status Bar displays the current date and time above the measurements in the upper right corner of the screen. The Date/Time option allows you to set the date or time, which are required for correct data logging operation.
Page 166 April 2009 Entering Date and Time (cont.) To set the date: 1. From the date text box, press the [ ] key once to scroll to the time text box. This box displays the current meter time. 2. Press [ENTER] to enter the text box.
Page 167: Changing Date And Time Appearance (Locale)
April 2009 Changing Date and Time Appearance (Locale) In addition to setting the correct date and time, you can also change its presentation to suit local preferences. You can select a time display of AM/PM or 24-hour time To alter the time and date display: 1.
Page 168 April 2009 Changing Date and Time Appearance (cont.) 2. The first series of prompts asks you to select separator symbols for the date, time and decimal. You can choose from a dash, comma and slash (/) for the date; from a period and colon for the time: and from a period or comma for the decimal place.
Page 169 April 2009 Changing Date and Time Appearance (cont.) A line at the bottom, the Date/Time, Decimal Formats, displays how the format and separator selections will appear on the screen. Pressing the [ ] arrow key returns the PT878GC to the Locale tab.
Page 170: Adjusting The Contrast
April 2009 Adjusting the Contrast For more comfortable viewing in a particular environment, the PT878GC enables you to adjust the screen contrast. To adjust the screen contrast: 1. From the Meter menu, scroll to the Contrast entry and press [ENTER] .
Page 171 April 2009 Adjusting the Contrast (cont.) • [F3] To confirm the entries and return to Operate mode, press (OK). • To leave the window without confirming the entries and return [F2] [ESC] to Operate mode, press (Cancel) or the key. Programming Meter Settings 7-13...
Page 172: Setting Backlight Timeout
April 2009 Setting Backlight Timeout By using the Backlight Timeout option, you can set a specified time that the PT878GC backlight will remain on before turning itself off. Automatic turnoff enables the PT878GC to conserve battery power. To set the backlight timeout: 1.
Page 173: Changing Communications Parameters
2. The first prompt asks for the node identification number, which can be any number from 1 to 240. IMPORTANT: Do NOT change the node ID unless instructed by GE Sensing. a. Press [ENTER] to open the text box. b. Use the numeric keys to enter the node ID.
Page 174 April 2009 Changing Communications Settings (cont.) 3. The next prompt asks you to select the communications interface from two options: IrDA (Infrared Data Association) and the IR232 virtual interface. You must use IrDA when using an IR printer or transfer application such as QuickBeam. Use the [ ] and [ ] keys to scroll to the desired selection, [ENTER] and press...
Page 175 April 2009 Changing Communications Settings (cont.) 6. The next prompt asks you to select either one or two stop bits.The default number is one. Use the [ ] and [ ] keys to [ENTER] scroll to the desired number, and press 7.
Page 176: Resetting Forward And Reverse Totals
April 2009 Resetting Forward and Reverse Totals On occasion, it might be necessary to clear and reset the forward and reverse totals computed by the Forward and Reverse Totalizers. To reset the totals: 1. From the Meter menu, scroll to the Totals entry and press [ENTER] .
Page 177: Setting Up User Tables
April 2009 Setting Up User Tables When you program user functions (see page 4-46), you can also support them with up to six user tables of non-linear or empirical data. To program one or more user tables: 1. From the Meter menu, scroll to the User Tables entry and [ENTER] press .
Page 178 April 2009 Setting up User Tables (cont.) 3. The next step is to create a Table ID. a. Press [ENTER] to open the window. The screen now appears similar to Figure 7-9 below. UserTable1 “ ‘ < > Delete Cancel Figure 7-9: The Text Creation Window b.
Page 179 April 2009 Setting up User Tables (cont.) 4. The final prompt asks you to enter or change data in the user table. a. Press [ENTER] to open the window. The screen appears similar to Figure 7-10 below. Edit User Table 1 Programming UserTable1 Cancell...
Page 180 April 2009 Setting up User Tables (cont.) e. Repeat steps b, c and d on page 7-21 until you have completed entering data for the table. f. When you have finished, press [F3] (OK) to confirm the [F2] entries or (Cancel) to leave the window without confirming the table.
Page 181: Taking A Bitmap Capture Of A Current Screen
April 2009 Taking a Bitmap Capture of a Current Screen The Snapshot option enables you to take a “screen capture” of the current screen in bitmap format (.bmp) for display or storage in a Windows-based PC. To take a “snapshot” of the screen: 1.
Page 182: Chapter 8: Logging Data
April 2009 Chapter 8 Logging Data A powerful and flexible feature of the PT878GC is data logging. The meter enables you to choose up to 12 parameters to log. You can also select the start time and date, end time and date, and time interval.
Page 183: Entering The Logging Menu
April 2009 Entering the Logging Menu [MENU] To enter the Logging Menu, press the key at the lower right of the PT878GC keypad. The Main Menu replaces the Status Bar at the top of the screen. Press the [ ] arrow key three times to scroll from the Site Menu to the Logging Menu.
Page 184: The Log Manager
April 2009 The Log Manager The Log Manager offers users a way to check the status and memory size of all the logs currently pending, running or finished. To select Log Manager, scroll to the Manager entry on [ENTER] the Logging Menu and press .
Page 185: The File Menu
April 2009 The File Menu The File Menu allows you, not only to create new logs, but also to copy, rename or delete logs, as well as to print them or transfer them to a PC. To open the File menu from the Log Manager, press [MENU] [ENTER] key and then...
Page 186: Setting Up A New Log
April 2009 Setting up a New Log The New Log option enables you to create and set up parameters for a new log. You can access this option in two ways: • by scrolling to the New Log option in the Logging Menu (as [ENTER] shown in Figure 8-1 on page 8-2) and pressing , or...
Page 187 April 2009 Setting up a New Log (cont.) Measurements General Log Name 10SEC.LOG Format Circular Linear Type Error Standard Start Date/Time 01:38:08 2004/11/01 09:38:08 End Date/Time 2004/11/01 Logging Interval secs Activate Cancel Figure 8-5: The General Log Format Window To step through each parameter, press the [ ] key. 1.
Page 188 April 2009 Setting up a New Log (cont.) 3. The next prompt asks for the starting date and time. a. Press [ENTER] to enter the text box. The meter highlights the first number. Use the [ ] and [ ] keys to scroll to any number you wish to change, or the [ ] key to scroll to the time box.
Page 189 April 2009 Setting up a New Log (cont.) General Measurements NO UNIT NO UNIT NO UNIT NO UNIT NO UNIT NO UNIT NO UNIT NO UNIT NO UNIT NO UNIT NO UNIT NO UNIT Activate Cancel Figure 8-6: The Log Measurements Window To step through each entry, press the [ ] key.
Page 190 April 2009 Setting up a New Log (cont.) Select Measurement Pressure Diagnostics Velocity Temperature Volume Fwd Totalizer Rev Totalizer StdFwdTotalizer StdRevTotalizer Cancel No Unit Figure 8-7: The Select Measurement Window 2. Scroll to the desired output type. 3. Press [SEL] to confirm your selection.
Page 191: Copying (Cloning) A Selected Log
April 2009 Copying (Cloning) a Selected Log In the Clone Selected Log option, you can copy the parameters of a particular log, modify the parameters, and start the copy. To copy a log: 1. First, select the log you wish to copy in the Log Manager (shown in Figure 8-3 on page 8-4).
Page 192: Renaming A Log
April 2009 Renaming a Log To rename a log: 1. First, select the log you wish to rename in the Log Manager (shown in Figure 8-3 on page 8-4). 2. Then open the File menu, scroll to the Rename option, and [ENTER] press 3.
Page 193: Deleting All Logs
April 2009 Deleting a Log (cont.) Log Manager Delete File Programming Info:DEFAULT DEFAULT Delete Log ‘555.LOG?’ GLOBAL 1 View Figure 8-8: The Delete Confirmation Window Deleting All Logs To clear the Log Manager and memory of all logs, open the File [ENTER] menu, scroll to the Delete All Logs option, and press [F2]...
Page 194: Printing A Log
April 2009 Printing a Log To print a file from the Log Manager: 1. Highlight the desired log in the window on the left of the Log Manager. 2. Press [MENU] [ENTER] , scroll to the Print option, and press The PT878GC shows a message indicating that its infrared sensor is looking for a printer.
Page 195: The Log Menu
April 2009 The Log Menu The Log Menu allows you to pause, restart or end any or all logs that are currently pending or running. (However, you cannot restart any finished logs, even if they were finished before the programmed end time.) To open the Log Menu in the Log [MENU] Manager, press .
Page 196: Stopping (Pausing) A Log
April 2009 Stopping (Pausing) a Log To stop a log that is currently pending or running, 1. First, select the log you wish to pause in the Log Manager (shown in Figure 8-2 on page 8-4). 2. Then open the Log menu, scroll to the Pause option, and press [ENTER] The PT878GC returns to the Log Manager, which displays the highlighted log with “Paused”...
Page 197: Pausing All Logs
April 2009 Pausing All Logs To pause all logs that are currently pending or running, open the [ENTER] Log menu, scroll to the Pause All Logs option, and press The PT878GC returns to the Log Manager, which displays all logs programmed to run now or in the future with a status of “Paused.”...
Page 198: The View Menu
April 2009 The View Menu Through the View menu, you can view the data of individual logs in graphical or spreadsheet formats. To open the View menu from [MENU] the Log Manager, press . Scroll to the View menu, and [ENTER] press .
Page 199: Displaying Log Details
April 2009 Displaying Log Details To view details of a given log, be sure the log is highlighted in the left window of the Log Manager. Then scroll to the View menu [ENTER] [ENTER] and press . Scroll to the Details option and press The screen now appears similar to Figure 8-11 below.
Page 200: Displaying Log Data In Graphical Form
April 2009 Displaying Log Data in Graphical Form To view a log in graphical form, be sure the log is highlighted in the left window of the Log Manager. 1. Scroll to the View menu and press [ENTER] 2. Scroll to the Graph option and press [ENTER] 3.
Page 201 April 2009 Displaying Log Data in Graphical Form (cont.) AAA.LOG (Dew Point, °C) Y-Axis -52.0 Limits Range Minimum 0.1234 Maximum 0.5678 2004/03/01 2004/03/01 13:53:41 PM 13:23:41 PM Cancel Figure 8-13: The Y-Axis Window The Y-Axis window allows you to specify whether the Y axis on the graph extends to the maximum value (Max), over the entire range (Range) or between certain specified values (Set).
Page 202 April 2009 Displaying Log Data in Graphical Form (cont.) [F2] If you wish to alter the time scale, press (Time). The Enter Time window appears similar to Figure 8-14 below. AAA.LOG (P#Up) -52.0 Enter Time Start Date Start Time 2004/03/01 13:23:41 PM End Date End Time...
Page 203: Displaying Log Data In Spreadsheet Form
April 2009 Displaying Log Data in Spreadsheet Form To view a log in spreadsheet form, be sure the log is highlighted in the left window of the Log Manager. Then scroll to the View [ENTER] menu and press . Scroll to the Spreadsheet option and [ENTER] press .
Page 204: The Sort Menu
April 2009 The Sort Menu The Sort Menu within the Log Manager allows you to arrange your log list either alphabetically (By Name) or chronologically (By Date). Log Manager Sort File View By Name Info: AAA.LOG State: Finished By Date S:03/01/04 13:13:41 E:03/01/04 13:23:41 Interval: 10 Seconds...
Page 205: Chapter 9: Servicing The Pt878Gc
April 2009 Chapter 9 Servicing the PT878GC For user convenience, the PT878GC offers a Service Menu. This menu enables users to perform a variety of functions that they might occasionally require: • print out reports • calibrate the PT878GC • run diagnostics •...
Page 206: Entering The Service Menu
April 2009 Entering the Service Menu [MENU] To enter the Service Menu, press the key at the lower right of the PT878GC keypad. The Main Menu replaces the Status Bar at the top of the screen. Press the [ ] arrow key four times to scroll from the Site Menu to the Service Menu.
Page 207: Printing Reports
April 2009 Printing Reports When used with an IR-compatible printer, the PT878GC can print out a variety of data (current site, logs, drive contents, and user functions, tables, and settings) in the Reports option. To enter the Reports option, scroll to the Reports entry on the Service Menu [ENTER] and press .
Page 208 April 2009 Printing Reports (cont.) Figure 9-3: Printout of a Typical Drive Report Servicing the PT878GC...
Page 209: Setting Up The Thickness Gauge
April 2009 Setting up the Thickness Gauge For greatest accuracy in flow applications, the PT878GC can measure pipe wall thickness using an optional thickness gauge transducer, instead of relying on the nominal pipe wall thickness. In Thickness Gauge mode, the PT878GC does not measure flow, but it can determine the thickness of most standard metal and plastic pipe materials over a range from 0.05 to 3 in.
Page 210 April 2009 Setting up the Thickness Gauge (cont.) Calibrating the thickness gauge involves up to two additional steps: 4. Calibrating the thickness gauge itself (in the Zero window on page 9-12), and 5. Calibrating the velocity of sound in the pipe material (in the Velocity window on page 9-14), if possible and if the pipe material is not the material entered in the Zero window.
Page 211: Measuring Pipe Wall Thickness
April 2009 Measuring Pipe Wall Thickness Entering the Material and Sound Speed IMPORTANT: GE Sensing recommends calibrating the thickness gauge periodically (as discussed on page 9-12) before measuring thickness. To enter the Thickness Gauge Display option, scroll to the [ENTER] T-Gauge Display entry on the Service Menu and press The screen appears similar to Figure 9-5 below.
Page 212 April 2009 Entering the Material and Sound Speed (cont.) If you have selected a preprogrammed material, you have completed entering data in this window. Pressing the [ ] key returns the program to the Material tab. But if you selected “Other,”...
Page 213: Measuring Thickness In Numeric Format
April 2009 Measuring Thickness in Numeric Format To measure the actual thickness of a pipe, apply couplant to the calibrated thickness gauge transducer and hold the transducer steady against the pipe. Then press the [ ] or [ ] arrow key [ENTER] until you reach the Display tab and press .
Page 214: Displaying The Receive Signal In Graphical Format
April 2009 Displaying the Receive Signal in Graphical Format Used chiefly for diagnostic purposes, the Graph option helps to determine why the thickness gauge is not working if you suspect a problem. The graph shows an image of the acoustic signal. If the display does not show a signal image similar to Figure 9-7 below, you may have a problem with the transducer, couplant, or ®...
Page 215 April 2009 Displaying the Receive Signal in Graphical Format (cont.) Thickness Gauge Measure Display Material Graph Velocity Zero Signal Display Figure 9-8: The Graph Window in Zoom Format • [F1] Press (In) to zoom in to magnify screen details. • [F2] Press (Out) to zoom out fully.
Page 216: Calibrating The Thickness Gauge Transducer
See Appendix C for more information. 3. The next prompt asks you to enter the length of Block 1. (If you are using a GE Sensing-supplied test block, the length is [ENTER] printed on the block.) Press to open the text box.
Page 217 IMPORTANT: Be sure to hold the transducer steady until the GE Sensing wait cursor disappears. 7. If you have chosen dual calibration, repeat Steps 3 through 6 above for Block 2. 8. The PT878GC asks for confirmation of the calculated and current values.
Page 218: Calculating Velocity (Pipe Material Sound Speed)
April 2009 Calculating Velocity (Pipe Material Sound Speed) The nominal sound speed for your pipe material will give thickness measurements of reasonable accuracy. However, for greater accuracy, calibrate pipe material sound velocity. IMPORTANT: This step is necessary only if the actual pipe material sound speed differs from the sound speed of the material used in the calibration block.
Page 219 April 2009 Calculating Velocity (Pipe Material Sound Speed) (cont.) 2. To enter the block length (here, the thickness of the sample as measured with a caliper or calibrated sample), press the [ [ENTER] arrow key and then press to open the Block Length text box.
Page 220 April 2009 Calculating Velocity (Pipe Material Sound Speed) (cont.) 7. The “Calculated” box shows the thickness value measured. The PT878GC asks for confirmation of the calculated and [ENTER] current values. Press to commit (accept) the calculated value (in which case it becomes the current value), and to recalculate the value (which becomes the new “Calculated”...
Page 221: Programming The Thickness Gauge
• Detection Threshold IMPORTANT: The thickness gauge programming settings are entered at the factory. You should not change them unless instructed by GE Sensing. The Programming window appears similar to Figure 9-12 below. Thickness Gauge Setup Programming Low Signal Thresh Transducer Delay µs...
Page 222 April 2009 Programming the Thickness Gauge (cont.) 1. Press the [ ] arrow key to enter the window. 2. The first prompt asks for the low signal threshold. If the signal strength falls below this value, a “Low Signal” message appears on the screen.
Page 223 April 2009 Programming the Thickness Gauge (cont.) 6. The final value, the detection threshold, represents the percent of peak the PT878GC uses to make measurements. It will consider anything above the entered percentage as part of the signal. To change this value: a.
Page 224: Displaying Diagnostic Parameters
April 2009 Displaying Diagnostic Parameters The Diagnostics option enables you to view current diagnostic parameters without having to open a display window in Operate Mode. To enter the option, scroll to the Diagnostics entry on the [ENTER] Service Menu and press .
Page 225: Calibrating The Analog Output And Inputs
April 2009 Calibrating the Analog Output and Inputs The Calibration option allows you to calibrate the analog output and inputs. To enter the option, scroll to the Calibrate entry on the [ENTER] Service Menu and press . The screen appears similar to Figure 9-14 below.
Page 226 April 2009 Calibrating the Analog Output (cont.) 1. Connect a digital multimeter or ammeter to the analog output. 2. The next prompt asks for the setpoint (4 or 20 mA). Use the [ ] and [ ] arrow keys to move to the appropriate radio [ENTER] button and press 3.
Page 227: Calibrating Inputs
April 2009 Calibrating Inputs To open the Inputs window, press the [ ] arrow key and press [ENTER] . The screen appears similar to Figure 9-15 below. Note: Calibrating the analog inputs requires use of a current source. Calibrate/Test I/O Analog Input Analog Output Input#...
Page 228 April 2009 Calibrating Inputs (cont.) 4. Connect the current source to the input and set it to deliver the value entered in the previous step. 5. Press the [ ] arrow key to move to the Read box, and then [ENTER] press to read the low input.
Page 229: Setting Up Signal Parameters
April 2009 Setting up Signal Parameters The Signal Setup option enables you to set parameters that affect the transducer signal: • Delta-T Offset • Transmit Sample Size • Zero Cutoff • Velocity Averaging • Errors Allowed • Peak Detection Method •...
Page 230 2. The first prompt asks for the Delta-T offset. Delta-T is the difference between the upstream and downstream transit times of the transducers. The Delta-T offset should normally be set to zero. Note: Consult GE Sensing before performing this step. a. Press [ENTER] to open the text box.
Page 231 April 2009 Setting up Signal Parameters (cont.) 5. The next prompt asks for velocity averaging, the number of velocity measurements to average together to smooth out noise in the system. a. Press [ENTER] to open the drop-down list. b. Use the [ ] or [ ] arrow keys to scroll to the desired number.
Page 232: Setting Up The Measurement Mode
Note: Do not change the measurement mode or values unless recommended by GE Sensing. From the Signal Parameter tab, press the [ ] arrow key to move to the Meas Mode tab. The window appears similar to Figure 9-17 below.
Page 233 April 2009 Setting up Measurement Mode (cont.) The first prompt asks for the measurement mode detection method. Use the [ ] and [ ] arrow keys to move to the [ENTER] appropriate radio button and press You must now enter the setup data covered on page 4-23, if you have not already done so.
Page 234: Setting Up Pulse/Code Parameters
April 2009 Setting Up Pulse/Code Parameters When you select the Skan detection method, you must also choose what type of signal to send to the transducers: either a coded signal at 1, 2, 4, 11 or Twin bits, or a specific number of pulses to be sent.
Page 235 April 2009 Setting Up Pulse/Code Parameters (cont.) 2. The next prompt asks if you want to send a specific number of [ENTER] pulses. Press to select or deselect the pulse option. Note: If you do not select this option, pressing the [ ] key returns the meter to the Transmit Code prompt.
Page 236: Setting Error Limits
April 2009 Setting Error Limits The Error Limits option enables you to set limits for an incoming signal. When the signal falls outside the programmed limits, an error indication appears. To enter this option, scroll to the Error [ENTER] Limits entry on the Service Menu and press .
Page 237 April 2009 Setting Error Limits (cont.) d. Press the [ ] arrow key to move to the maximum signal box, and repeat steps a, b and c. e. Press the [ ] arrow key to return to the minimum signal box, and the [ ] key to move to the next limit.
Page 238 April 2009 Setting Error Limits (cont.) Note: For the velocity and acceleration boxes, the F1 softkey toggles between English and metric measurements. Thus, the key will always display the opposite measurement [F1] from that which is currently active. Press to display the measurement in the alternate format.
Page 239: The Test Option
April 2009 The Test Option Within the Service Menu, the Test option includes seven tests to ensure that the PT878GC is performing properly: Test Screen, Test Keys, Watchdog Test, Impulse Response, Wave Snapshot, Simulate and Battery Test.To enter this option, scroll to the Test [ENTER] entry on the Service Menu and press .
Page 240: Testing The Screen
Pressing the key through this sequence should return the PT878GC to Operate Mode. If the test does not proceed according to this sequence, please consult GE Sensing. 9-36 Servicing the PT878GC...
Page 241: Testing The Keys
Pressing the key returns the meter to the Operate Mode. If any key does not appear on the screen or does not darken when pressed, contact GE Sensing. Note: The power key does not appear in this test. Servicing the PT878GC...
Page 242: Testing The Watchdog Timer Circuit
(No) to cancel the test and return to the Menu screen, or [F3] press (Yes) to start the test. The PT878GC should go blank for a few seconds, and then restart. If it does not follow this sequence, consult GE Sensing. 9-38 Servicing the PT878GC...
Page 243: Setting Impulse Response
April 2009 Setting Impulse Response The Impulse Response option enables you to force the meter to transmit in one direction only, without changing the AGC setting. You can then diagnose problems with transducer, pipe, or fluid configurations. To enter the option, scroll down to the Impulse [ENTER] Response entry in the Service Menu and press .
Page 244: Taking Wave Samples For Diagnosis
April 2009 Setting Impulse Response (cont.) 2. The second prompt asks for the percent of gain. a. Press [ENTER] to open the text box. b. Use the numeric keys to enter the desired percentage. c. Press [ENTER] to confirm your entry. You have completed entering data for the Impulse Response option.
Page 245: Testing The Battery
April 2009 Testing the Battery The Battery Test option provides additional battery information for service troubleshooting. To enter the option, scroll down to [ENTER] the Battery Test entry in the Service Menu and press . The screen appears similar to Figure 9-25 below. Service Battery Form Status: Fast Charge Run Time...
Page 246: Resetting To Factory Default Parameters
April 2009 Resetting to Factory Default Parameters For various reasons, you might wish to return the PT878GC to its original settings. The Factory Defaults option enables you to return the meter to its preprogrammed default settings. To enter the option, scroll down to the Factory Defaults entry in the [ENTER] Service Menu and press .
Page 247: Updating Pt878Gc Software
• IrCOMM, an infrared standard supported by certain Microsoft operating systems. GE Sensing recommends updating software via the IrOBEX standard; however, the IrCOMM standard is available for users who have problems with IrOBEX. This section covers procedures for both standards.
Page 248: Updating Software Via Irobex
4. The meter asks for confirmation. Repeat the options shown in Step 1 above. After the PT878GC reboots, the screen appears similar to Figure 9-28 below. GE Sensing PCI Loader v3.0 2/26/04 [HW Rev3+] Backup Battery: OK Firmware CRC: Valid...
Page 249 April 2009 Updating Software Via IrOBEX (cont.) 5. The meter now asks if you wish to reload the flash memory via the infrared communications port. • [F1] Press (Yes) to begin reloading via OBEX, or • [F2] Press (No) to stop the reloading procedure. Be sure the infrared sensor on the meter has a clear path to the infrared adapter on the PC.
Page 250: Updating Software Via Ircomm
April 2009 Updating Software Via IrCOMM Note: While Windows 95/98/98SE and NT (with QuickBeam) support IrCOMM, Windows 2000 and XP do not. Refer to Appendix B. Before you install new coding, you must be sure that the PC has the correct protocols to transmit the software to the meter. Setting up the PC Note: The use of Hyperterminal is shown here as an example.
Page 251 April 2009 Setting up the PC (cont.) Figure 9-29: Port Settings for COMM 4 Installing New Software To begin the loading procedure, scroll down to the Flash Update [ENTER] entry in the Service Menu and press . The screen appears similar to Figure 9-30 below.
Page 252 2. The meter asks for confirmation. Repeat the options shown in Step 1 above. The screen on both the PC and the PT878GC now appears similar to Figure 9-31 below. GE Sensing PCI Loader v3.0 2/26/04 [HW Rev3+] Backup Battery: OK...
Page 253 April 2009 Installing New Software (cont.) 1. In the Hyperterminal window, pull down the Transfer menu and click Send File. A window opens similar to Figure 9-32 below. Figure 9-32: The Send File Window in the Transfer Menu 2. Click on the replacement software (designated by a .cod extension) from the folder where it has been stored.
Page 254: Chapter 10: Diagnostics And Troubleshooting
April 2009 Chapter 10 Diagnostics and Troubleshooting The TransPort PT878GC is a reliable instrument that is easy to maintain. It will provide accurate flow measurement readings as long as it is operated as described in this manual. If problems do...
Page 255: Error Code Messages
Use Table 10-1 on page 10-3 to isolate and remedy the problem. If you are unable to remedy the problem, contact GE Sensing. Note: We suggest that, in order to isolate the indicated problem more easily, you obtain a test flowcell.
Page 256 April 2009 Table 10-1: Error Messages Error Possible Message Problem Cause Action No error. Displays briefly None required. Mea- after the dis- surement is valid. play of another error message Low Signal - Broken cable. Check transducer Poor ultra- Flowcell prob- cable.
Page 257 April 2009 Table 10-1: Error Messages (cont.) Error Possible Message Problem Cause Action Velocity Programming Make sure the maxi- Range - error, poor flow mum velocity range Velocity conditions, or is within the range exceeds pro- bad transducer listed in Table 3-1 on grammed spacing.
Page 258 April 2009 Table 10-1: Error Messages (cont.) Error Possible Message Problem Cause Action Cycle skip, Poor flow con- Check transducer Acceleration ditions or bad spacing as pro- transducer spac- grammed and as set ing. on pipe.See Flowcell Problems on page 10- 9 and Transducer Problems on page 10- Analog Out...
Page 259: Displaying Diagnostic Parameters
April 2009 Displaying Diagnostic Parameters As part of its measurement menu, the PT878GC offers a list of diagnostic parameters to aid in troubleshooting in the event of flowcell, transducer, or electrical problems. You can select any diagnostic parameter for display as a measurement as discussed in Chapter 6 on pages 6-7 and 6-8.
Page 260 April 2009 Table 10-2: Diagnostic Parameters (cont.) Diagnostic Displays Good Parameter Soundspeed Displays the measured sound Check the sound speed (m/s or f/s) speed of the fluid. of fluid in Sound Speeds and Pipe Size Data. P#up Displays signal peaks for the 100- <100, >900 upstream transducer.
Page 261 April 2009 Table 10-2: Diagnostic Parameters (cont.) Diagnostic Displays Good Parameter Qdown Displays the signal quality for ±300 or between the downstream transducer. higher ±100 Norm Factor Displays the normalization 0.85 - <0.85 factor. Threshold Up Displays the Percent of Peak for the upstream transducer.
Page 262: Flowcell Problems
Most gas-related problems can be solved by proper design of the flowmeter installation and the proper choice of transducer frequency. Contact GE Sensing if you cannot solve a gas-related problem. If the physical installation of the system meets the recommended specifications, it is possible that the gas itself may be preventing accurate flow rate measurements.
Page 263: Pipe Problems
4-13 and 4-14. Pipe Problems Improper pipe conditions and/or flowcell installation can cause problems with measurement of the gas flow. Contact GE Sensing if you cannot solve pipe-related problems. By far, the most common pipe problems are the following 1. THE COLLECTION OF MATERIAL AT THE TRANSDUCER LOCATION(S).
Page 264: Transducer Problems
Note: Transducers must be replaced in pairs. Refer to Chapter 4, Programming Site Data, to program the replacement transducer data into the meter. Contact GE Sensing if you cannot solve a transducer-related problem. Diagnostics and Troubleshooting 10-11...
Page 265: Specifications
April 2009 Chapter 11 Specifications This section contains specifications for the following: • Operations and Performance • Electronics • Clamp-on Transducers • Thickness Gauge Option • Additional Options Specifications 11-1...
Page 266: Operation And Performance
April 2009 Operation and Performance Fluid Types Acoustically conductive gases with minimum density requirements. See Table 3-1 on page 3-5, Table 3-2 on page 3-7 and Table 3-3 on page 3-9. Pipe Sizes 0.75 to 12 in. (20 to 300 mm) with PT878GC-01 electronics 4 to 24 in.
Page 267: Pressure Requirements, Air, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon
See Table 3-2 on page 3-7. Pressure Requirements, Steam See Table 3-3 on page 3-9. Pressure Requirements, Other Gases Dependent upon gas composition, and pipe size and material. Consult GE Sensing. Measurement Parameters Standard and actual volumetric flow, flow velocity and mass flow. Specifications...
Page 268: Electronics
April 2009 Electronics Flow Measurement Patented Correlation Transit-Time mode Enclosures Submersible IP67 Dimensions Weight: 3 lb (1.36 kg) Size: (h x w x d) 9.4 x 5.5 x 1.5 in. (238 x 138 x 38 mm) Display 240- x 200-pixel backlit LCD graphic display Keypad 25-key rubberized tactile membrane keypad Internal Battery...
Page 269: Standard Inputs/Outputs
April 2009 Standard Inputs/Outputs • One 0/4- to 20-mA current output • One user-selectable pulse (solid state, 5-V maximum) or frequency (5-V square wave; 100 to 10,000 Hz) • Two 4- to 20-mA analog inputs with switchable power supply for loop-powered temperature or pressure transmitters Digital Interfaces Infrared communication port for printer or PC interface Site Parameter Programming...
Page 270: Clamp-On Ultrasonic Flow Transducers
April 2009 Clamp-On Ultrasonic Flow Transducers Temperature Range(s) Standard: –40° to 130°C (–40° to 266°F) Optional (overall range): –40° to 230°C (–40° to 446°F) Transducer Materials Stainless steel and plastic Fixture Materials Anodized aluminum blocks with stainless steel rod, chain or strap Mountings Portable gas-transducer clamping fixtures in polycarbonate carrying cases:...
Page 271: Transducer Cables
April 2009 Transducer Cables • Standard: One pair of LEMO® coaxial transducer connectors with 25-ft (8-m) cables • Optional: 500-ft (152-m) extension cables available for most transducers Specifications 11-7...
Page 272: Thickness Gauge Option
April 2009 Thickness Gauge Option Transducer GE Sensing dual element transducer Pipe Thickness Range 0.05 to 3 in. (1.3 to 76.2 mm) Pipe Materials Most standard metal and plastic pipe materials Accuracy ±1% typical or ±0.002 in. (±0.05 mm) Thermal Exposure Continuous operation to 37°C (100°F);...
Page 273 April 2009 Appendix A Menu Maps Menu Service Program Meter Logging Site See Figure See Figure A-10 Figure Figure A-2 Figures to A-7 Figure A-1: The Main Menu Menu Maps...
Page 274: Appendix A: Menu Maps
April 2009 Menu Site Manager Save Fkeys 1 View 2 Views 3 Views 4 Views Clear Clear Clear Menu Item File Site Sort Transfer Message Print Transfer Name Date as Text Drive Manager File Sort Save Save Refresh Rename Open Delete Name File Name File...
Page 275 April 2009 Menu Program (See Figure A-5) (Clamp-on) Transducer Lining Pipe Fluid Path (See Figure A-4) Fluid (Wetted) (Clamp-on) Wetted Clamp-on Natural Steam Other Path Length Traverses Axial Length Spacing Sound Speed (Preprogrammed Special Units) Frequency Wedge Temperature Time Delay (Wetted) (Clamp-on) Material...
Page 276 April 2009 Menu Program Pipe Material Steel Aluminum Brass Copper Glass Gold Inconel Iron Monel Nickel Plastic Tin Titanium Tungsten Zinc Other Sound Speed (For cast iron, steel, PVC, CPVC) Note: Press [F2] (Cancel) to cancel the entries and return to Menu. ANSI? Press [F3] (OK) to confirm the entries and return to Menu.
Page 277 April 2009 Menu Program (See Figures A-3 and A-4) (See Figure A-6) Standard Volume Mass Flow Inputs Settings Pressure Disabled Enabled Fixed Active Disabled Enabled Base Pressure Pressure Input # Calculation Method Atmospheric Pressure Static Saturated Steam Base Temperature Density Steam Temperature Value...
Page 278 April 2009 Menu Program (See Figure A-5) (See Figure A-7) Analog Output Analog Input Scan/Measure Function Input A Input B 0-20 mA 4-20 mA Correlate Integrate Count (If Standard Min Threshold (If Standard Cycle Number A Divisor % of Peak Volume or Mass Volume or Mass Data Source...
Page 279 April 2009 Menu Program See Figure User Digital Functions Correction Factors Output Function Pulse Frequency Gate Input Test Points Function Calibration Factor Reynolds Correction Totalizer User1 User2 User4 User3 Reynolds Correction Calibration Factor Gate Active Data Source (Pulse Totalizer) (Frequency) Contact Contact Closed...
Page 280 April 2009 Note: Press [F2] (Cancel) to cancel Menu the entries and return to Menu. Press [F3] (OK) to confirm the entries Meter and return to Menu. Battery Snapshot Date/Time Contrast Backlight Units Locale User Tables Totals Date Backlight Reset Time NiCd NiMH...
Page 281 April 2009 Menu Note: Press [F2] (Cancel) to cancel Logging the entries and return to Menu. Press [F3] (OK) to confirm the entries and return to Menu. Log Manager New Log Name Format Sort File View Linear Circular Name Date Type Details Graph Spreadsheet Standard...
Page 282 April 2009 Menu Note: Press [F2] (Cancel) to cancel entries and return to Menu. Press [F3] (OK) to confirm entries and return to Menu. Service T-Gauge T-Gauge Diagnostics Calibrate Factory Flash Reports Error Limits Test Signal Setup Setup Display Defaults Update Min Signal Output...
Page 283 April 2009 Menu Meter Communications Node ID Comm Interface IrDA IR 232 Baud Rate 300 600 1200 2400 4800 9600 19.2K 38.4K 57.6K 115.2K Parity None Mark Space Even Stop Bits Data Bits Note: Press [F2] (Cancel) to cancel the entries and return to Menu. Press [F3] (OK) to confirm the entries and return to Menu.
Page 284: Appendix B: Establishing Ir Communications With The Pt878Gc
IR port (available on most laptops) or an IR dongle (IR to RS232 adapter for PCs without a built-in IR port). If your PC does not have an IR dongle, GE Sensing recommends the ActiSys ACT-IR220L+ infrared to RS- 232 adapter, which has been tested for compatibility with the PT878GC.
Page 285: Windows 2000/Xp
April 2009 Table B-1: IrDA Compatibility of Windows Operating Systems Operating System IrCOMM OBEX Windows XP Windows 2000 Windows NT 4.0 QuickBeam* QuickBeam* Windows Me* Windows 98 SE* Windows 98* Windows 95* Windows 3.1 DOS 6.22 *May require QuickBeam installation under some circumstances when Windows built-in support fails.
Page 286: Windows Nt4.0
April 2009 Windows NT4.0 For IR use, Windows NT4.0 requires installation of QuickBeam software from Extended Systems (www.extendedsystems.com). Desktop PCs and laptops without built-in IR ports also require adding an IR dongle. While laptops with a built-in IR port normally do not require a dongle, its addition might be necessary in some cases.
Page 287: Appendix C: Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge Theory Of Operation
April 2009 Appendix C Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge Theory of Operation All ultrasonic thickness gauging involves timing the round trip of a sound pulse in a test material. Because solid metal has an acoustic impedance that differs from that of gases, liquids, or corrosion products such as scale or rust, the sound pulse will reflect from the far surface of the remaining metal.
Page 288: Factors Affecting Performance And Accuracy
April 2009 Factors Affecting Performance and Accuracy A. Surface Condition - Loose or flaking scale, rust, corrosion or dirt on the outside surface of a test piece will interfere with the coupling of sound energy from the transducer into the test material.
Page 289 April 2009 Factors Affecting Performance and Accuracy (cont.) B. Transducer Positioning/Alignment - For proper sound coupling the transducer must be pressed firmly against the test surface. On small diameter cylindrical surfaces such as pipes, hold the transducer so that the sound barrier material visible on the probe face is aligned perpendicular to the center axis of the pipe.
Page 290 April 2009 Factors Affecting Performance and Accuracy (cont.) Remember that an ultrasonic test measures thickness at only one point within the beam of the transducer, and that in corrosion situations wall thicknesses often vary considerably. Test procedures usually call for making a number of measurements within a defined area and establishing a minimum and/or average thickness.
Page 291 April 2009 Factors Affecting Performance and Accuracy (cont.) D. Taper or Eccentricity - If the contact surface and the back surface are tapered or eccentric with respect to each other, the return echo again becomes distorted and the accuracy of measurement is diminished.
Page 292 A variety of couplants are available for use with GE Sensing transducers. To obtain a material safety data sheet (MSDS) for any couplant GE Sensing supplies, go to the GE Sensing web site and enter the Technical Support portal. Material Safety Data Sheets for Couplants...
Page 293: Analog Outputs
April 2009 Index About Option......... . . 6-21 Acceleration Limit.
Page 294 April 2009 Index (cont.) Calibration Analog Input ......... 9-21 Analog Output .
Page 295 April 2009 Index (cont.) Dampening Material ........3-25 Data Acquisition .
Page 296: File Menu
April 2009 Index (cont.) Electrical Connections ......... . 2-2 Electrical Connections .
Page 297 April 2009 Index (cont.) Graph Display ......... . . 6-4 Help .
Page 298 April 2009 Index (cont.) Limits Option..........6-5 Line Graph Display .
Page 299: Main Menu
April 2009 Index (cont.) M>S Switch ..........4-25 Main Menu Menu Map.
Page 300 April 2009 Index (cont.) On-Line Help ......... . . 2-14 Getting .
Page 301 April 2009 Index (cont.) Parameters, Displayed ........6-10 Path for Clamp-on .
Page 302 April 2009 Index (cont.) Range ..........11-2 Rangeability .
Page 303 April 2009 Index (cont.) Sampling Waves........9-40 Schedule for Pipe Dimensions .
Page 304 April 2009 Index (cont.) Sound Speed, Calculating ......9-14, 9-15 Span (Full Scale) Value for Analog Output .
Page 305 April 2009 Index (cont.) Task Keys ..........2-12 Temperature Operating .
Page 306 April 2009 Index (cont.) Entering Data for ........4-3 Materials .
Page 307 April 2009 Index (cont.) Watchdog Test ......... 9-38 Wave Sampling .
Page 308 DECLARATION Sensing CONFORMITY Panametrics Limited Shannon Industrial Estate Shannon, County Clare Ireland declare under our sole responsibility that the ™ TransPort PT878 Portable Ultrasonic Flowmeter ™ TransPort PT878GC Clamp-On Portable Ultrasonic Flowmeter to which this declaration relates, are in conformity with the following standards: •...
Page 309 DECLARATION Sensing CONFORMITE Nous, Panametrics Limited Shannon Industrial Estate Shannon, County Clare Ireland déclarons sous notre propre responsabilité que les ™ TransPort PT878 Portable Ultrasonic Flowmeter ™ TransPort PT878GC Clamp-On Portable Ultrasonic Flowmeter rélatif á cette déclaration, sont en conformité avec les documents suivants: •...
Page 310 Sensing KONFORMITÄTS- ERKLÄRUNG Wir, Panametrics Limited Shannon Industrial Estate Shannon, County Clare Ireland erklären, in alleiniger Verantwortung, daß die Produkte ™ TransPort PT878 Portable Ultrasonic Flowmeter ™ TransPort PT878GC Clamp-On Portable Ultrasonic Flowmeter folgende Normen erfüllen: • EN 61326:1998, Class A, Annex C, Continuous Unmonitored Operation gemäß...
Page 311 1100 Technology Park Drive Billerica, MA 01821-4111 Web: www.gesensing.com Ireland Sensing House Shannon Free Zone East Shannon, County Clare Ireland...

GE TransPort PT878GC User Manual

Chapter 1: Features and Capabilities

Chapter 2: Initial Setup

Chapter 3: Installing the Dampening Material, Transducers and Fixtures

Chapter 4: Programming Site Data

Chapter 5: Creating and Managing Sites

Chapter 6: Displaying and Configuring Data

Chapter 7: Programming Meter Settings

Chapter 8: Logging Data

Chapter 9: Servicing the PT878GC

Chapter 10: Diagnostics and Troubleshooting

Chapter 11 : Specifications

Appendix A: Menu Maps

Appendix B: Establishing IR Communications with the PT878GC

Appendix C: Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge Theory of Operation

Quick Links

Related Manuals for GE TransPort PT878GC

Summary of Contents for GE TransPort PT878GC