{"id":5959,"date":"2016-02-09T10:03:50","date_gmt":"2016-02-09T08:03:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lcm-content.web-email.at\/en\/?p=5959"},"modified":"2019-06-19T12:41:31","modified_gmt":"2019-06-19T11:41:31","slug":"austrian-belgian-project-celebrates-success-in-russia-lcm-and-flow-tronic-measure-liquid-flows-using-radar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lcm-content.web-email.at\/en\/austrian-belgian-project-celebrates-success-in-russia-lcm-and-flow-tronic-measure-liquid-flows-using-radar\/","title":{"rendered":"Austrian-Belgian project celebrates success in Russia LCM and Flow-Tronic measure liquid flows using radar"},"content":{"rendered":"

Linz (Austria), Welkenreadt (Belgium) November 2015 \u2013 \u2018Raven-Eye\u2019 is the name of an internationally successful Austrian-Belgian development that uses radar to measure liquid flows in breweries, creameries, water supply works, as well as in municipal and industrial wastewater sewers. Flow-Tronic, a Belgian company, tasked the Linz Center of Mechatronics GmbH (LCM) with developing the product for launch on the market. As the non-contact, highly precise and simple-to-install Raven-Eye is also low-maintenance, this opens up unforeseen market opportunities. Flow-Tronic is delighted with the boom in orders from Russia, with overall revenues being expected to increase by 20 percent this year. In the meantime, the development coalition has just launched a second system, the \u2018Beluga\u2019, on the market and this measures liquid flows using ultrasound.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was past time for our sector to get a technological boost,\u201d says Karl Gerngross, CFO and partner at Flow-Tronic S.A.\/N.V. \u201cThere were clear market signals that innovations in flow measurements were long overdue.\u201d Because measurement systems must, in many cases, be installed in existing systems, Flow-Tronic developed a system whereby lines didn’t have to be interrupted and processes didn’t need to be stopped. \u201cRadar seemed to be the perfect technology for this \u2013 and LCM the perfect development partner,\u201d emphasises Gerngross. Just how correct he was in this assumption can be seen in the result of the Austrian-Belgian cooperation. Raven-Eye measures the volume of liquid flows with the highest level of precision. LCM developed the entire electronics and software for this and also produced hardware prototypes.<\/p>\n

Years of experience create the perfect algorithm<\/strong><\/p>\n

Precise measurement data and a complex algorithm make this unparalleled level of measurement precision possible. \u201cRaven-Eye uses radar to measure the flow velocity from above the surface of the liquid. Meanwhile, the water level in the channel is calculated at the same time. This data is then used by an algorithm, which takes into account additional factors such as turbulences, waves or interruptions, to calculate the flow volume with unparalleled precision,\u201d says LCM senior researcher Clemens Hesch, describing the principle behind Raven-Eye. All of this was possible thanks to the successful collaboration of LCM and Flow-Tronic, whose competencies perfectly complement one another. LCM has years of experience in sensors and signal processing. Flow-Tronic has unique expertise in the flow behaviour of liquids in channels and ducts of various dimensions and characteristics. \u201cThis experience, which was gathered over many years, coupled with the concrete measurement results had to be translated into an algorithm that would calculate the volume of the liquid flow,\u201d Flow-Tronic founder and CEO Jean-Marie S\u00e9var outlines the greatest challenge of the project.<\/p>\n

Global applications<\/strong><\/p>\n

Raven-Eye is now in use around the world \u2013 from Israel to South East Asia and from South America to Canada in water supply works, breweries, creameries and industrial facilities. \u201cRaven-Eye doesn’t come into contact with the liquid, it works under adverse conditions, it can be easily installed almost anywhere, it does not need an external power supply and it requires minimum maintenance,\u201d Flow-Tronic partner Karl Gerngross summarises the benefits. The market success of the Flow-Tronic\/LCM development is also underlined by the business development. \u201cWe were able to double our sales in each of the last two years,\u201d says Gerngross. Annual sales of roughly EUR 3.5 million are currently being generated by the 25-strong staff of Flow-Tronic. \u201cAnd we expect to grow by a further 20% this year also.\u201d<\/p>\n

Research-driven growth<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, the Belgians have also invested considerably in this growth, having spent EUR1.2 million in research and development in recent years. And the R&D expenditure ratio will continue to be in or around 10%. \u201cFlow-Tronic impressively demonstrates that investments in product developments offer the best return. The fact that LCM played a role here is all the more reason to be pleased,\u201d explains LCM CEO Gerald Schatz. It only took about 18 months to develop Raven-Eye for launch on the market. \u201cBecause the cooperation with LCM went so well, we decided to immediately initiate a second project,\u201d says Gerngross. This project also has a suggestive name: \u2018Beluga\u2019, called after the beluga whale, measures flow quantities directly in the liquid using ultrasound. Like Raven-Eye, the Beluga design is also optimised for minimum energy consumption. This means that both systems can be operated for several months in places that are difficult to reach without having to change the battery.<\/p>\n

Doppler effect for Beluga<\/strong><\/p>\n

The flow measurement system Beluga, positioned directly in the liquid flow, makes use of the Doppler effect. For this, Beluga emits ultrasound signals and these are reflected by particles in the liquid flow \u2013 like air bubbles. \u201cThe difference in the wavelengths of the signal being emitted and the signal being reflected provides the basis for precisely calculating the velocity of the liquid flow,\u201d explains LCM researcher Hesch. As the flow velocity is slightly less at the edges, Beluga generates a velocity profile using a number of measurement results at various positions to illustrate the mean flow rate. As was the case with Raven-Eye, LCM developed the entire electronics and software and produced hardware prototypes from standard components for the launch of Beluga on the market.<\/p>\n

Versatility as a sales generator<\/strong><\/p>\n

The interplay of housing and electronics design for ATEX certification is currently being optimised by LCM for Beluga and for Raven-Eye. This is required for use in explosive environments. \u201cIn wastewater sewers, methane gas is produced which becomes explosive when mixed with air. For this reason, many countries require all devices employed to have ATEX certificates,\u201d Jean-Marie S\u00e9var explains the investments in the versatility of the products. An upcoming EU directive could also prove to be a sales generator. In the future, any rainwater runoff that flows into drains will have to be measured. \u201cThese are precisely the application areas that require a fast, uncomplicated and precise solution. And the Raven-Eye is predestined for this,\u201d says S\u00e9var.<\/p>\n

(Text: Dr. Lachner | Haslinger, Keck. PR Agentur, Linz; photo: Wolfgang Simlinger, Enns)<\/em><\/p>\n

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