GE AT868 AquaTrans Ultrasonic Flow Transmitter

GE AT868 AquaTrans ™： Double channel ultrasonic flow transmitter redefines water industry flow measurement

AT868 AquaTrans launched by GE Sensing (now under Baker Hughes) ™ The series of ultrasonic flow transmitters has become the benchmark for accurate and reliable non-invasive flow measurement in the water and wastewater treatment industry since its release. This article focuses on the AT868-2-1-1 model in this series - a 2-channel/1-path configuration designed specifically for industrial water metering scenarios that require high redundancy and stability.

Core technology: Time difference ultrasonic measurement

AT868 uses validated Correlation Transit Time ™ The mode calculates the fluid flow velocity based on the time difference of sound wave transmission between the upstream and downstream transducers. Compared to traditional mechanical or differential pressure flow meters, this technology has no moving parts, no pressure loss, and no requirements for fluid conductivity. The instrument can use two transducers (dual channels) simultaneously to improve measurement accuracy through averaging, addition, or subtraction operations, especially suitable for large diameter pipelines or complex flow environments.

Rich sensors and installation options

GE provides two types of sensors for AT868 to adapt to different operating conditions:

Clamp on: No need to cut pipes, easy to install, suitable for metal or plastic pipes with an outer diameter of 0.5-200 inches, with a maximum working temperature of 260 ℃.

Wetted: In direct contact with fluids, with higher precision, an inner diameter range of 0.04~200 inches, a maximum pressure rating of 3000 PSI, and optional materials such as 316SS, titanium, and Hastelloy.

The sensor cable can reach up to 1000 feet (300 meters) in length, and the electronic unit can be flexibly installed remotely.

Dual channel independent input/output

AT868-2-1-1 is equipped with an independent set of analog outputs (0/4-20mA, maximum load 600 Ω) for each channel and a set of outputs that can be configured as frequency or cumulative pulses. This means:

Channel 1 outputs A (analog) and B (cumulative/frequency)

Channel 2 outputs C (analog) and D (cumulative/frequency)

Each output can be independently mapped to flow rate, flow velocity, mass flow rate, or cumulative measurement. In addition, there is an external cumulative reset switch input for easy on-site operation.

Robust hardware and user-friendly operation

The host adopts powder coated aluminum NEMA 4X/IP66 protective shell, which can work in ambient temperatures ranging from -10 ℃ to 55 ℃. The protection level ensures long-term reliable operation in dusty and humid outdoor environments. The front is equipped with a 2-line x 16 character LCD display screen with LED backlight, adjustable brightness and contrast, and can cyclically display up to 4 measurement parameters (such as flow rate, volumetric flow rate, cumulative volume, and channel status). After connecting to a PC through the built-in RS232 serial port (optional RS485), PanaView can be used ™ Software for remote configuration, data recording, and sensor signal waveform analysis.

Intelligent diagnosis and error code system

AT868 has more than 13 built-in error codes (E0~E13), such as E1 low signal, E2 sound speed exceeding limit, E4 poor signal quality, E6 cycle jump, etc., which can be displayed in real-time with the diagnostic parameter menu:

Upstream/downstream signal strength (SS up/dn)

Fluid Sound Velocity (SNDSP)

Signal quality (Qup/Qdown)

Amplitude (AMP up/dn)

Normalization factor (NF), etc

Users can quickly locate issues such as poor coupling of the transducer, scaling on the inner wall of the pipeline, or fluid bubbles through these parameters, greatly reducing downtime.

CE certification and global applicability

This product complies with the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and the Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC, and bears the CE mark. The power supply supports 85-265VAC (47-65Hz) or 12-28VDC, with a power consumption of only 10W, and can adapt to the global power grid.

Typical application scenarios

Water supply plant inlet and outlet metering

Flow monitoring of sewage treatment plant

Industrial cooling water system

Irrigation and raw water transportation

Pre treatment of seawater desalination