Teledyne Hastings Instruments Blog

We at Teledyne Hastings Instruments are pleased to introduce the newest member of our vacuum measurement portfolio, the HVG_PR. The HVG_PR vacuum gauge measures pressures from Atmosphere to 0.1 mTorr (1.3 x 10^-4 mbar / 1.3 x 10^-2 Pascal). It uses the same precision pirani sensor found in our proven HVG-2020B wide range gauge. The HVG_PR is packaged in a compact and cost-effective design that makes it ideal for OEMs, system integration, and process automation.

Accuracy

The HVG_PR measures from Atmosphere through Medium Vacuum (0.1 mTorr / 1.3 x 10^-4 mbar / 1.3 x 10^-2 Pascal). It has great accuracy from 1 mTorr to 100 mTorr while still providing visibility at atmosphere. Most applications use N2 or Air, but the HVG_PR has preset gas correction factors to also cover He, Ar, H2, CF4, and SF6.

System Connections

The HVG_PR is available with two small system connections for system integration: KF-16 flange or 1/8” MNPT. Unlike some pirani vacuum gauges, the HVG_PR can be mounted and operate in any orientation: port facing down, port facing up, port facing sideways, port tilted at an angle, etc.

Analog Output and Digital Communication

Both models offer two choices of common logarithmic analog output signals for simple integration into OEMs and process automation: 1 V/decade (2-9 VDC) or 1.286 V/decade (1.16-10.1620). The user can easily change from one output to the other. In addition, RS485 digital communication is standard on all units. Power, analog output, and digital communication are provided through a single RJ45 connector.

Other Features

A status LED on the top panel flashes to allow you to approximate your pressure with a quick glance.

The gauge offers three simple ways to Zero or Span the unit:

1. Recessed Push Button,

2. Remote Pins 7 & 2

3. RS485

Applications

The HVGPR is ideal for a wide variety of vacuum applications, but it’s compact size and flexibility make it excellent for OEMs, system integration, and process automation.

Common Analytical Instrumentation OEM applications include but are not limited to:

• Vacuum Centrifuge
• Surface Porosity
• Optical Emission Spectrometers
• High Pressure Metrology

Other common applications include:

• Semiconductor
• Foreline Monitoring
• Glass Coating
• Thin Film Deposition
• Freeze Drying
• Vacuum Furnace / Heat Treat
• HVAC / Refrigeration / Ice Machinery
• Oil Reprocessing 

Visit https://www.teledyne-hi.com/en-us/what-we-do/hvg-pr to learn more about the HVG_PR vacuum gauge.

If you have questions about vacuum gauges or vacuum controllers, feel free to contact us by phone (+1-757-723-6531 or 1-800-950-2468), email Hastings_Instruments@Teledyne.com, or via Live Chat on our website www.teledyne-hi.com.

This is the third blog in our series highlighting Teledyne Hastings Instruments’ authorized service partners. These partners are fully authorized to calibrate and repair Teledyne Hastings Instruments’ vacuum gauges, mass flow meters (MFMs), and mass flow controllers (MFCs).

This service partner provides calibration and repair service for all of China as well as the Hong Kong and Macau SARs. Lets meet JeeGa!

Shanghai JeeGa Industrial Co., Ltd. was established in 2014 and is headquartered in one of China's largest cities: Shanghai. In addition, they have a branch office in Wuhan and operate in Hong Kong under the name HK Beimu. JeeGa has been a distributor of Teledyne Hastings Instruments since their start in 2014 and is one of Teledyne's most sophisticated distributors.

JeeGa stocks vacuum gauges, vacuum transducers, mass flow meters (MFMs) and mass flow controllers (MFCs) at their Shanghai site. Most common Teledyne Hastings Instrument products are readily available for quick local delivery. The DV-6R and HPM 4/5/6 products are stocked in extremely large quantities. Teledyne HFM-200 (MFMs) and HFC-202 (MFCs) are stocked in kit format. JeeGa can quickly configure, assemble and calibrate HFM-200 MFMs and HFC-202 MFCs to meet your exact gas type, flow rate and pressure requirements to ship these in a short lead time. All units are assembled and calibrated per Teledyne's standards and specifications. JeeGa has literally manufactured thousands of HFM-200s and HFC-202s in their Shanghai facility.

HFC-2020 MFC kits assembled and calibrated in Shanghai

JeeGa's calibration and repair lab has been in operation for approximately ten years. New calibration equipment is added each year to continuously grow the lab. JeeGa's Service Engineers can test and repair all of Teledyne's vacuum and flow products. These Teledyne factory-trained and certified technicians are capable of calibrating your instrument or repairing it quickly with genuine parts and up-to-date procedures as needed. Most calibration services are completed within 48 hours.

JeeGa has three calibration benches for MFMs/MFCs and one test stand for high vacuum calibration. The lab consists of multiple flow reference standards (Molbloc, DryCal, Teledyne), multiple vacuum reference standards (capacitance manometers), residual gas analyzers (RGA), helium leak detector and more.

Calibration Capabilities:

For more details about services offered by Shanghai JeeGa, please visit: https://www.jeega.com.cn/

Contact Details:

Email: wangxuemei@jeega.com.cn
Phone: +86 (21)-61179398
Address: Room 505, Building 18, 50 Smart Technology Park, No. 423 Wuning Road, Putuo District, Shanghai, 200063, China

For more information on calibration services for vacuum gauges, vacuum transducers, mass flow meters, and mass flow controllers provided by Teledyne Hastings Instruments, please check out: https://www.teledyne-hi.com/en-us/what-we-do/calibration-repair

Teledyne Hastings Instruments introduced the IP-67 Enclosure Version for our high accuracy Digital 300 Series of thermal mass flow meters and flow controllers in 2018. The IP, or Ingress Protection rating, describes the instrument’s ability to operate in challenging environments. The first number, 6, indicates that the flow instrument has total protection against dust (particulate). That’s the highest-level of dust protection achievable under the IP Code. The second number, 7, refers to protection from liquids.

The Digital 300 Series with optional IP-67 enclosure can withstand water immersion up to one (1) meter for thirty (30) minutes. While it may not be obvious to everyone, it offers the liquid protection of the one meter / thirty-minute immersion as well as all lesser liquid codes (from dripping water through powerful water jets).

For more specific details on IP-67 and Ingress Protection ratings, please see our previous blog: Digital Flow Meters and Controllers now protected against dust and water - what that means for you!

What are the benefits of a mass flow meter (MFM) or mass flow controller (MFC) with IP-67 rating? It’s two-fold:

1. Employee safety is every employer’s primary concern. IP-67 enclosures help to protect your employees from making accidental contact with hazardous electrical components and potential electrical shock.
2. IP-67 enclosures also help protect your equipment from the ingress of solid particles and/or liquids. Most MFC enclosures contain a PCB assembly, thermal flow sensor, and a proportional control valve. By protecting your MFC from particulate contamination and/or moisture, you prolong the service-life of those components.
   
   
   

This protection against dust and liquids makes IP-67 MFCs ideal for demanding indoor and outdoor applications. Whether it’s a heavy-dust industrial environment or in a facility with routine sanitary washdown requirements, the Teledyne Hastings Instruments Digital 300 Series IP-67 MFCs endure.

Common applications include:

• Food and Beverage
• Heat Treating/Metals Processing
• Environmental Monitoring
• Biotech/Pharmaceutical
• Chemical/Petrochemical
• Gas Distribution

All internal components of the Digital 300 Series IP-67 MFMs and MFCs are either gasket or o-ring sealed for ingress protection. The electronics interface uses a 12-pin circular connector that facilitates Power (24vdc, Common, and Ground), Analog Input / Output (0-5vdc, 0-10vdc, 4-20mA, or 0-20mA), and Digital Communication (RS232 or RS485). 

All Digital 300 Series models (sizes) are available with the IP-67 option. These sizes combine to offer complete coverage from a minimum Full Scale flow rate of 5 sccm up to a maximum Full Scale flow rate of 10,000 SLM of N2 or equivalent. Selection details for each model are illustrated in this table:

Size	MFM Model	MFC Model	Nominal Tubing	Maximum Flow (N2 Equiv.)	IP-67 Option
S	HFM-D-300A	HFC-D-302A	1/8" and 1/4"	25 SLM
M	HFM-D-301A	HFC-D-303A	1/2" and 3/4"	1,000 SLM
L	HFM-D-305A	HFC-D-307A	1"	3,000 SLM
XL	HFC-D-306A	HFC-D-308A	2"	10,000 SLM

Most features of the Digital 300 Series MFMs and MFCs are supported by the IP-67 version. These include the totalizer, valve over-ride, soft start, fold-over protection and many more.

Visit https://www.teledyne-hi.com/en-us/what-we-do/thermal-mass-flow to learn more about Teledyne Hastings Instruments mass flow meters and mass flow controllers.

If you have questions about mass flow controllers, feel free to contact us by phone (+1-757-723-6531 or 1-800-950-2468), email Hastings_Instruments@Teledyne.com, or via Live Chat on our website www.teledyne-hi.com.

This is the second blog in our series highlighting Teledyne Hastings Instruments’ authorized service partners. These partners are fully authorized to calibrate and repair Teledyne Hastings Instruments’ vacuum gauges, mass flow meters (MFMs), and mass flow controllers (MFCs).

This service partner provides calibration and repair service for the Republic of Korea as well as the large Asia-Pacific region (excluding China). Let’s meet InfoRAD!

InfoRAD Corp. was a part of Applied Engineering which became a distributor for Teledyne Hastings Instruments in 1983. Applied Engineering decided to spin-off InfoRAD in 2003, and InfoRAD immediately began the transition from a pure sales office to a complete sales, calibration, repair, and custom system design facility. They support customers across South Korea from their headquarters in the M-City Tower in Goyang. The office sits on Seoul’s northwest edge which is only 30 minutes to downtown Seoul and about 40 minutes to Incheon International Airport via expressway or airport rail. This convenient location facilitates fast deliveries, quick on-site visits, and smooth travel for visiting engineers. InfoRAD stocks vacuum gauges, vacuum transducers, mass flow meters (MFMs), and mass flow controllers (MFCs). This means you don’t have to wait for long overseas shipments.

InfoRAD has Teledyne factory-trained and certified technicians capable of calibrating your instrument or repairing it quickly with genuine parts and up-to-date procedures as needed. InfoRAD has a complete laboratory with flow reference standards, vacuum reference standards, helium leak detector, and more. 

Do you have too many instruments to ship?

The InfoRAD team will travel anywhere in Korea with portable standards and tools.

Calibration Capabilities:

Custom Flow and Vacuum Projects

From small flow and vacuum setups for universities and research labs to large gas delivery systems, gas mixing systems, and flow measurement test stands, InfoRAD engineers can design one-off systems built exactly to a customer’s specifications. Custom software and interfaces are also available.

For more details about services offered by InfoRAD, please visit: https://en.inforad.co.kr/ 

Contact Details:

Email: info@inforad.co.kr
Phone: +82-70-4640-2580
Address: #11007, Section-Bldg, M-City Tower, 195 Baengma-ro, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10403, South Korea

For more information on calibration services for vacuum gauges, vacuum transducers, mass flow meters, and mass flow controllers provided by Teledyne Hastings Instruments, please check out: https://www.teledyne-hi.com/en-us/what-we-do/calibration-repair

Teledyne Hastings Instruments manufactured several variations of the dependable model CVT vacuum controller for multiple decades. While they are obsolete now, a replacement is available. In most cases, the current model DCVT can fulfill the functions of your CVT.

The CVT was more than a basic vacuum gauge. It was a vacuum controller with setpoints and relays. You could use it to control a pump, a valve, an alarm, an indicator light, or almost any electrical device. The DCVT is also a vacuum controller, but it offers many more features. While the DCVT is dimensionally different and does look quite different, it still uses the same Teledyne Hastings Instruments’ DV Series thermocouple gauge tubes as the CVT. Whether you are using DV-4, DV-5, or DV-6 Series thermocouple gauge tubes, they will all work with the DCVT.

The following sections will assist you in replacing your CVT with the DCVT.

Choose the appropriate gauge:

To choose the appropriate gauge, select the one that corresponds to your thermocouple gauge tube series. Most are color coded for quick identification.

Dial Face vs Digital Display:

The obvious difference between the CVT and DCVT are their displays. The CVT provided a dial-face with needle movement. Some users liked to see the needle movement because the movement rate gave them a feel for their vacuum system’s performance. It also provided a quick-read indication when looking from across a room. While the DCVT does not have the dial-face and needle, it does provide a bright and easy-to-read digital display. The DCVT setpoints for the relays are still accessible from the front panel just as they were on the CVT. 

Dimensions:

Can you fit a square peg in a round hole? For panel mounted gauges, it’s not as difficult as it sounds. If your CVT was panel mounted, you will likely choose to fabricate a new panel or an adapter panel. If you had the gauge resting on a tabletop, it won’t be an issue.

Output Signal / Communication:

The DCVT offers the exact same nonlinear 0-1vdc output curve that was standard on the CVT. In addition, the DCVT offers optional output signals of 0-1vdc linear, 0-5vdc linear, 0-10vdc linear, 4-20mA linear, and 0-20 mA linear.

The DCVT also provides RS232 communication. A certified LabVIEW driver is available.

Terminal Strip Comparison:

The terminal strips look different, but all CVT connections are available on the DCVT. It also gives you the choice of AC input power or DC input power.

Common Applications:

Common Applications for the DCVT (and obsolete CVT) include Vacuum Metallurgy, Vacuum Coating, Vacuum Furnace, Refrigeration (HVAC), Freeze Drying, Lighting Manufacturing, Power/Transformer Maintenance, Cryogenic/Vacuum Insulation, and more.

To learn more about the Teledyne Hastings Instruments Model DCVT Vacuum Controller, visit https://www.teledyne-hi.com/en-us/What-we-do_/Documents/Bulletins/PB-182_Digital%20CVT%20%26%20VT.pdf

If you have questions about vacuum gauges or vacuum controllers, feel free to contact us by phone (+1-757-723-6531 or 1-800-950-2468), email Hastings_Instruments@Teledyne.com, or via Live Chat on our website www.teledyne-hi.com.

Thermal Mass Flow Controllers (MFCs) control the mass flow (or more specifically molecular flow) of gases. If we are measuring flow rates, why are there so may pressure specifications? This blog will attempt to explain the various pressure specifications associated with MFCs.

Standard Temperature and Pressure (or STP):

The volume of a gas changes with temperature and pressure changes; therefore, basic volumetric flow units are almost useless when defining gas flow rates. When you pick up an MFC or look at the calibration report, you always find a value for Standard Temperature and Pressure (or STP. For most MFC applications, it will be listed as STP: 0° C & 760 Torr. This does not mean that the MFC must be used at that temperature and pressure. Some gases may not even be in gas phase at those conditions. STP is a way of defining molar volumetric units. STP allows your gas calculations to be correct when you measure all your experimental data using the same STP values.

Maximum Allowable Working Pressure:

The Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (sometimes expressed as M.A.W.P.) represents the maximum working pressure for which the end user is permitted to operate the MFC. There should be a label on the MFC that defines this value. For safety purposes, the end user should never exceed this limit.

Proof Pressure:

The Proof Pressure is the pressure value to which the MFC manufacturer proof tests the unit. This value is typically 1.5 times the Maximum Allowable Working Pressure. For example: if the Maximum Allowable Working Pressure is 500 PSIG, the manufacture may Proof Test the unit to 750 PSIG. Even though the manufacturer tests the unit to this value, the end user is still not permitted to exceed the Maximum Allowable Working Pressure.

Burst Pressure:

Burst Pressure is the maximum pressure that can possibly be applied to the MFC without physical damage to the pressure containment. It’s typically much higher than the Proof Pressure. MFC manufacturers will define this during product development. This can be modelled using 3D stress analysis and eventually tested using a hydraulic pump. Burst Pressure testing tends to be a favorite for most engineers.

Inlet Pressure & Outlet Pressure:

Some people forget that the MFC contains a proportional control valve. To proportionally control the flow, there must be a pressure drop across the MFC. Inlet Pressure (Up Stream Pressure) is the pressure measured exactly at the MFC inlet fitting. Outlet Pressure (Down Stream Pressure) is the pressure measured exactly at the MFC outlet fitting. To facilitate flow, Inlet Pressure must always be greater than Outlet Pressure. Some MFC manufacturers will define these values on the MFC Serial Number label.

Differential Pressure

Differential Pressure is often abbreviated as dP or ΔP.

dP = Inlet Pressure – Outlet Pressure

Pressure Coefficients:

Even though thermal mass flow values are independent of temperature and pressure changes, the thermal mass flow sensor performance is impacted at higher pressures. The flow sensor consists of a small 316SS capillary tube that is wrapped with several windings of heater wire. When the pressure increases, the capillary tube expands. When that occurs, the heater windings expand with the tube. The error associated with this expansion is represented by the Pressure Coefficient. For example, a typical Pressure Coefficient could be +0.0067%/psi. 

To learn more about the Teledyne Hastings Instruments mass flow meters and mass flow controllers, visit https://www.teledyne-hi.com/en-us/what-we-do/thermal-mass-flow 

If you have questions about mass flow controllers, feel free to contact us by phone (+1-757-723-6531 or 1-800-950-2468), email Hastings_Instruments@Teledyne.com, or via Live Chat on our website www.teledyne-hi.com.

We are starting a new blog series where we will introduce you to our authorized service partners. These partners are fully authorized to calibrate and repair Teledyne Hastings Instruments products.

Our first blog in this series will focus on the EMEA (Europe-Middle East-Africa) Service Center, Chell Instruments. Chell is based in North Walsham, England which is on the east coast near Norwich, about a 3-hour drive northeast of London.

Chell Instruments was established in May of 1976 by Ron and Judith Michell, hence the name Chell. They became a distributor for Teledyne Hastings Instruments shortly after in 1977 and began to distribute Hastings’ vacuum gauges, mass flow meters, and mass flow controllers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Not only is Chell a great distributor, but they also excel at designing and manufacturing their own products and systems. In fact, they have a full engineering team that allows them to provide turnkey system solutions for their customers.

The last component to Chell’s success (and the topic of this blog) is their extensive calibration lab. Chell operates a complete calibration and repair lab capable of servicing instruments that measure Flow (Gas), Vacuum, Pressure, Temperature, and Electrical properties. Chell’s lab is UKAS accredited (fully accredited to ISO/IEC17025:2017). Chell can calibrate and repair nearly all Teledyne Hastings Instruments vacuum gauges, mass flow meters, and mass flow controllers. They also stock spare parts in England to quickly support most mass flow meter and mass flow controller repairs.

CALIBRATION Capabilities:
Flow (Gas):         0.0010 L/min to 1250 L/min (up to 7 bar); Up to 12,500 L/min (at low pressure)
Vacuum:              1x10^-4 Pa / 1x10^-6 mbar / 7.5x10^-7 Torr to 1000 Torr

Complete details can be found at: https://chell.co.uk/calibration

One of the great attributes of Chell is their flexibility. If you have too many instruments to ship to Chell, they will come to you! They offer on-site calibration services for several ranges of instruments, and they offer this service for most of the United Kingdom. Would you like to calibrate your own vacuum gauges? If so, Chell sells a portable vacuum calibration system called the CalCube. Would you like to calibrate your own mass flow meters and mass flow controllers? If so, Chell sells flow calibration standards (Fluke Molbox/Molbloc) and can even manufacture complete flow calibration systems.

For more details about services offered by Chell Instruments, please visit: https://chell.co.uk

Also, be sure to follow Chell on LinkedIn to stay on top of what’s new. Next year will mark Chell’s 50th anniversary, so stay tuned for their big celebration!
https://www.linkedin.com/company/chell-instruments

For more information on calibration services for vacuum gauges, vacuum transducers, mass flow meters, and mass flow controllers provided by Teledyne Hastings Instruments, please check out: https://www.teledyne-hi.com/en-us/what-we-do/calibration-repair

Most people are aware that the HVG-2020B wide range vacuum gauge has an optional display, but not everyone realizes that it's much more than just a display. It's actually a color touchscreen display and is packed with features. Let's take a look.

The HVG-2020B has 5 different display modes. Simply touch the icon on the lower left side to toggle through each one.

Available Views

1. Pressure View: gives the pressure and units. Touching the pressure reading will toggle between decimal notation and scientific notation. Touching the units will cycle through available units (TORR, MBAR, KPA, PSIA, PSIG, ATM, BAR, PA).
2. Pressure and Temperature View: The screen adds a temperature indication. It is only meant to be a visual aid indicating ambient temperature (± 1.5 °C). Touching the temperature will toggle between °C and °F.
3. Setpoint View: The HVG-2020B has two setpoints. This view provides visual indicators of Hi and Lo setpoints. If the indicator is green the setpoint is active. The Hi setpoint is active when the pressure is above its setting and the Lo setpoint is active when the pressure is below its setting. The two settings may be different. Touching the Hi and Lo indicators will bring up a screen allowing the corresponding setpoint to be adjusted. Use the left/right arrows to select the digit and the up/down arrows to change the value of the digit.
4. Bar Graph View: A graphical indication of the current pressure on a log scale. Use it to quickly identify your desired pressure from across the room without having to read a number.
5. Graph View: A graphical indication of the pressure over time. Use it to identify the presence of a chamber leak and differentiate between a real leak and outgassing. Touching the screen anywhere will bring up a screen allowing the user to adjust the time (in seconds) per sample (displayed point). Use the left/right arrows to select the digit and the up/down arrows to change the value of the digit.

Menu Features

There are many more features that can be accessed simply by touching the Menu icon on the lower right side. Useful Menu features include:

• Screen Orientation
• Set Zero
• Device Info
• Analog Output
• Serial Port
• Restore Factory Defaults

One of the most useful features is the ability to change the screen orientation. The HVG-2020B can be mounted in any orientation. This feature allows the user to rotate the screen to a position that is easy to read.

The HVG-2020B is a wide range vacuum gauge that uses both pirani and piezoresistive technology to accurately measure 10^-4 Torr to 1000 Torr. Learn more about the HVG-2020B at:

https://www.teledyne-hi.com/products-services/vacuum-measurement-and-control/hvg-2020b

Time for another blog in our “Employee Spotlight Series.” This time we will meet Chris Bracey. Chris started at Teledyne this past September, and he is a Regional Sales Manager.

Let’s ask Chris some questions and get to know him better.

You’re still somewhat new to Teledyne. Tell us a little about your career prior to joining Teledyne.

I started off with CONCOA in Virginia Beach. They manufacture pressure regulators and gas delivery systems. I was there for a few years and did mostly R&D work. I later worked for Flowserve where I worked on the fluid side of the business as a Customer Service Engineer. That’s where I started moving from Design/Development to the Customer Support side of the business. After that, I had an opportunity to be an account manager for Usui International which is an automotive supplier. They provide high pressure fluid distribution systems. I spent 16 years managing large household name accounts like Cummins, John Deere, Volvo/Mack Trucks, and others. From there, I became the Sales Manager for Asheville Mica and got exposed to the Electric Vehicle industry. I got to work with the development of battery safety blanket systems to prevent runaway EV battery fires.

Tell us a little about your educational background.

I started with an associate degree in drafting. I received a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Old Dominion University. I was later able to complete an MBA with focus on Sales & Marketing also at Old Dominion University.

What do you do here at Teledyne?

I’m the Domestic Regional Sales Manager. I manage our domestic sales channel partners. My role is to support the sales team and our sales channel partners in the field. I’ve been assisting with quotes and sales orders, and I’ll start traveling with our sales force in February.

What’s been the most challenging thing to learn since you joined Teledyne?

There’s a lot to learn. I spent some time in the service department servicing and recalibrating mass flow controllers and vacuum gauges. I’ve also spent a lot of time selecting and sizing flow controllers.

You attended the 2024 Teledyne Hastings distributor training session in October. What were your takeaways?

I quickly found out that I knew more about vacuum gauges and flow controllers than I realized. Working with the service team gave me a great background before going through the sales training. I also got a chance to meet several reps that I may not have met until later down the road. It was nice to meet lots of people in one place before I had a chance to get around to their individual locations.

Outside of work, what do you like to do?

I like to restore cars and motorcycles. I also do home renovation projects. I’m currently building a pantry in my kitchen. I can do electrical, drywall, and whatever needs to be done. I’m currently restoring a 1990 Miata that was parked for a while. I’m also working on two motorcycles: a Kawasaki KZ1000 (1977) and a 1976 Triumph Bonneville Chopper. I also like to read and listen to a lot of audiobooks when not reading auto manuals and schematics. I prefer mostly business & self-help and some science fiction.

Check out more from our blog and read more about our vacuum gauges and mass flow meters and mass flow controllers (and be on the look out for future postings about Teledyne Hastings' employees.)

Thermal mass flow measurement instruments are typically separated into two main categories: Mass Flow Meters and Mass Flow Controllers. It’s estimated that over 90% of mass flow measurement instruments sold are mass flow controllers. So, it’s no surprise that most mass flow application conversations focus on mass flow controllers. Notwithstanding, there are still numerous applications for which mass flow meters are critical.

The following are common applications for mass flow meters (also known as thermal mass flow meters):

One popular application for mass flow meters is leak testing. It’s often used on products where failure is not an option. For that reason, it is widely accepted in the aerospace, automotive, and medical industries. High throughput leak detection using mass flow meters is a nondestructive testing method that offers a fast, clean, precise, and affordable solution for parts manufacturers seeking to perform leak testing on 100% of their products.

A typical test stand is shown in Figure 1. For high throughput leak detection, a pressurized manifold has multiple connections for mass flow meters. On the outlet side of each flow meter is an isolation valve and the test part. When the isolation valve is opened, test part leaks will be noted by the movement of clean dry air across the flow meter. The test part is only exposed to clean dry air.

How does leak detection with mass flow meters compare to alternative methods? It’s faster than pressure decay testing and helium leak detectors. It’s also cleaner than hydrotesting, bubble testing, and liquid penetrate testing.

To learn more, visit our Application Note:

https://www.teledyne-hi.com/resourcecenter/Application%20Notes/PB-172-High_Throughput_Leak_Testing.pdf

Common products for which high throughput leak detection has been implemented include:

• Automotive Parts such as fuel injectors, brake components, exhaust systems, emission components, fuel pumps, fuel tanks, power steering systems, air conditioning systems, engine blocks, cylinder heads, transmission castings
• Aerospace Parts such as jet engine components, heat exchangers, cabin valves, oxygen delivery systems, hydraulic systems, air conditioning systems, brake systems
• Other: medical devices, filters, space suits, and much more
  
  

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Q: What’s the difference between a thermal mass flow meter and mass flow controller?

A: A thermal mass flow meter measures flow using a thermal flow sensor but does not include a proportional control valve and does not control gas flow. While a thermal mass flow controller will both measure and control gas flow, according to a command signal (setpoint). For accurate flow control, the controller measures and adjusts the gas flow using a precise, proportional control valve to maintain stable control of the flow rate based on the readings from the heated sensor.

Q: Are thermal flow meters gas specific?

A: A thermal mass flow meter is built for a user’s specific operating conditions. Teledyne Hastings' thermal flow meters are thermal based, so measurements are gas specific. For example, there would be a difference in heat conductivity between natural gas vs compressed air. Our thermal mass flow meters are built to cover a user's flow range and gas type. 

​Q: What does SCCM stand for?

A: SCCM stands for Standard Cubic Centimeters per Minute. This is a unit of measure for gas molecular flow rate (often referred to as mass flow). In standardized volumetric flow units, the reference conditions, or “STP" temperature and pressure, define the amount of gas by determining the number of gas molecules using the Ideal Gas Law.