Abstract: A method measures electrical impedance of electromagnetic flowmeter sensing electrodes includes intermittently injecting an impedance measurement signal to at least one sensing electrode while a coil excitation drive signal is applied to flowmeter field generating coils. During a first interval, when the coil excitation drive signal is applied to the coils and the impedance measurement signal is injected to a sensing electrode, a first measurement signal is obtained. The first measurement signal includes an electromagnetically induced flow measurement signal and an electrode impedance measurement signal. During a second interval, when the coil excitation drive signal is applied to the coils but the impedance measurement signal is not injected to the sensing electrodes, a second measurement signal is obtained that includes an electromagnetically induced flow measurement signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are for processing a periodic data-carrying signal to reduce periodic interference at either of a first fundamental frequency or a second fundamental frequency, the second fundamental frequency being different from the first fundamental frequency. The periodic data-carrying signal is derived from an excitation signal having an excitation frequency, the excitation frequency being a sub-multiple of the first fundamental frequency. The data-carrying signal is subjected to both a comb filter to reject interference at the first fundamental frequency, and an averaging/integrating filter to reject interference at the second fundamental frequency. A comb filter delay period is related to the first fundamental frequency and the averaging/integrating filter averages or integrates over a period related to the second fundamental frequency.

Abstract: A method and a system for reproducing a calibration certificate of an electronic instrument having at least one electronic storage means, the method involving separating the calibration certificate data into a first subset of data, which is calibration specific, and a second subset of data, which is document descriptive; defining a set of meta data about the second subset of data; storing the first subset of data and the set of meta data in the instrument's electronic storage means; storing the second subset of data in a computing device separated from the electronic instrument; and reproducing the calibration certificate by uploading the first subset of data and the set of meta data to the computing device and reconstructing the calibration certificate from the uploaded first subset of data set of meta data and the second subset of data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are for storing and retrieving data related to the installation, service, repair or performance of an industrial flow meter or other measurement instrument. Methods and apparatus are also for other processes associated with measurement instruments.

Abstract: A method and a system for reproducing a calibration certificate of an electronic instrument having at least one electronic storage means, the method involving separating the calibration certificate data into a first subset of data, which is calibration specific, and a second subset of data, which is document descriptive; defining a set of meta data about the second subset of data; storing the first subset of data and the set of meta data in the instrument's electronic storage means; storing the second subset of data in a computing device separated from the electronic instrument; and reproducing the calibration certificate by uploading the first subset of data and the set of meta data to the computing device and reconstructing the calibration certificate from the uploaded first subset of data set of meta data and the second subset of data.

Abstract: A method measures electrical impedance of electromagnetic flowmeter sensing electrodes includes intermittently injecting an impedance measurement signal to at least one sensing electrode while a coil excitation drive signal is applied to flowmeter field generating coils. During a first interval, when the coil excitation drive signal is applied to the coils and the impedance measurement signal is injected to a sensing electrode, a first measurement signal is obtained. The first measurement signal includes an electromagnetically induced flow measurement signal and an electrode impedance measurement signal. During a second interval, when the coil excitation drive signal is applied to the coils but the impedance measurement signal is not injected to the sensing electrodes, a second measurement signal is obtained that includes an electromagnetically induced flow measurement signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are for processing a periodic data-carrying signal to reduce periodic interference at either of a first fundamental frequency or a second fundamental frequency, the second fundamental frequency being different from the first fundamental frequency. The periodic data-carrying signal is derived from an excitation signal having an excitation frequency, the excitation frequency being a sub-multiple of the first fundamental frequency. The data-carrying signal is subjected to both a comb filter to reject interference at the first fundamental frequency, and an averaging/integrating filter to reject interference at the second fundamental frequency. A comb filter delay period is related to the first fundamental frequency and the averaging/integrating filter averages or integrates over a period related to the second fundamental frequency.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are for storing and retrieving data related to the installation, service, repair or performance of an industrial flow meter or other measurement instrument. Methods and apparatus are also for other processes associated with measurement instruments.

Abstract: An industrial meter has wireless communication circuitry for communicating with a remote communication device. A repeater device allows the wireless communication circuitry of the industrial meter to continue to communicate with the remote communication device when the meter device is positioned in a location where direct communication between the wireless communication circuitry and the remote communication device is not possible (such as for example when the industrial meter is located underground).

Abstract: An insert for an electromagnetic flow meter is disclosed. The insert is arranged to be positioned within a flow conduit having a flow conduit cross-section to define a flow path for fluid, wherein the insert comprises an inlet, a measuring section with a measuring cross-section different from the flow conduit cross-section and having at least two substantially parallel sides over at least part of its length, and an outlet.

Abstract: An arrangement is described for supplying electrical power to a field device in a process installation which is equipped with a wire-free communication interface without the use of wires. At least one fuel cell having a membrane/electrode block and a fuel tank as well as an electrical energy store are integrated in a housing in the field device, with the fuel cell being equipped with an oxygen reservoir which provides the oxygen that is required for production of electrical energy by oxidation of the fuel in the membrane/electrode block. In addition, the fuel cell is equipped with a water reservoir unit which holds the water which is created during the production of electrical power in the membrane/electrode block by oxidation of the fuel with the oxygen. The fuel cell together with the membrane/electrode block, the fuel tank, the oxygen reservoir and the water reservoir unit form a modular, closed system.

Abstract: A meter for monitoring consumption of a resource, such as water or other fluids, and corresponding methods of configuring and operating the meter are disclosed. The meter includes processing and memory devices for determining and storing a supplier measure of consumption of the resource and a communication link for enabling a supplier to access the stored supplier measure. The supplier access is controlled by a first access control device, which prevents unauthorized access to the stored data. The meter further includes a consumer data memory for storing consumer data including a consumer measure of consumption and second access control device. The second access control device enables a consumer to access the stored consumer data without permitting the consumer to modify the stored supplier measure of consumption.

Abstract: An insert for an electromagnetic flow meter is disclosed. The insert is arranged to be positioned within a flow conduit having a flow conduit cross-section to define a flow path for fluid, wherein the insert comprises an inlet, a measuring section with a measuring cross-section different from the flow conduit cross-section and having at least two substantially parallel sides over at least part of its length, and an outlet.

Abstract: A previously unidentified problem of clipping in the input stages of flowmeter sensing circuitry has been identified and addressed. A solution is provided by flowmeter sensing circuitry, comprising: first and second inputs for connection to potential sensing electrodes positioned to measure a potential difference across the fluid which potential is representative of flow; differential amplifier means coupled to the first and second inputs for producing an output signal indicative of said potential difference across the fluid as a measure of flow; characterized by at least one voltage sensing means for sensing a voltage of at least one of the first and second inputs relative to a ground reference; and fault detecting means for detecting a potential fault if the voltage is outside a predetermined range.

Abstract: A meter for monitoring consumption of a resource, such as water or other fluids, and corresponding methods of configuring and operating the meter are disclosed. The meter includes processing and memory means for determining and storing a supplier measure of consumption of the resource and a communication link for enabling a supplier to access the stored supplier measure. The supplier access is controlled by a first access control means which prevents unauthorised access to the stored data. The meter further comprises a consumer data memory for storing consumer data including a consumer measure of consumption and second access control means. The second access control means enable a consumer to access the stored consumer data without permitting the consumer to modify the stored supplier measure of consumption.

Abstract: In an AC electromagnetic flowmeter, a method is proposed for obtaining reliable measurement of flow across a variety of flow rates which has good stability and is immune from noise.

Abstract: In an AC flowmeter, a method of obtaining phase sensitive measurement is disclosed, which can dramatically reduce the effect of unwanted signals. According to the invention the output of the electromagnetic flowmeter (which flowmeter is arranged to be excited at an excitation frequency selected from a range of possible excitation frequencies) is corrected.

Abstract: A previously unidentified problem of clipping in the input stages of flowmeter sensing circuitry has been identified and addressed.

Abstract: Impedance between potential sensing electrodes of a high impedance meter is measured by applying a ramp waveform through a capacitor coupled to one of the electrodes to generate a substantially constant current, a measure of impedance being obtained by comparing this to the potential developed across the electrodes when a different current is flowing.

Abstract: An improvement over conventional electromagnetic flowmeters which signal a measure of flow rate by controlling the current in a current signalling loop (also known as a sensing loop) and in which power for the flowmeter is derived from the current in the signalling/sensing loop. Conventional electromagnetic flowmeters use a standard current range (typically 4-20 mA), in which zero flow is indicated by controlling the current in the loop to a minimum predeterimened value and maximum flow is indicated by controlling the current to a maximum predetermined value. In the improved flowmeter of the invention, minimum flow is signalled by maximum current in the signalling/sensing loop and maximum flow is signalled by minimum current. This has been found to enable improved accuracy to be obtained at low flow rates without requiring complex flowmeter circuitry.