Endress+Hauser t-mass F 500 Thermal Mass Flowmeter

Endress+Hauser t-mass F 500 remote-transmitter thermal mass flowmeter

The Endress+Hauser t-mass F 500 (product root 6F5B) is an inline thermal mass flowmeter for gases in line sizes DN 15 to 100 (½ to 4″) in which the transmitter is mounted away from the pipe. The sensor, with its intelligent sensor electronics module (ISEM), stays on the line, while the Proline 500 digital transmitter is installed in a separate, more convenient position and linked by a standard cable. The measuring performance is the same as that of the compact t-mass F 300, so the decision between them is about where the electronics should live, how many channels you need and how hostile the pipe location is. Seven Star LLC supplies Endress+Hauser instruments in Oman and the GCC as an independent supplier in Muscat.

What the remote architecture of the t-mass F 500 means

In the F 500 the electronics are split in two. The sensor connection housing contains the ISEM, which digitises the signal at the sensor, and a four-core shielded cable then carries a digital signal to the transmitter. This arrangement is described in the datasheet as not sensitive to external EMC interference, so long cable runs do not degrade the measurement. The transmitter provides up to four I/Os, one more than the compact F 300, plus a backlit touch display with WLAN and a web server for configuration through a browser.

t-mass F 500 technical specifications

Principle of measurement and gas handling

The heated PT100 loses heat to the passing gas while the reference PT100 tracks process temperature, and the power needed to keep a fixed temperature difference is a measure of mass flow. Each meter is calibrated with air and converted to the actual gas by the Gas Engine, which holds 21 gases and water vapour and calculates mixtures of up to eight components. Two directional versions are available: bidirectional (option SB) and reverse flow detection (option SC). Repeatability is ±0.25 % of reading above 1.0 m/s, and the response time is typically below 3 s for 63 % of a step change.

Where the t-mass F 500 fits in the system

Choose the F 500 when the sensor must be installed in a position that is hot, vibrating, difficult to reach or inside a classified zone, but the operator display and wiring should be at a convenient location. The compact t-mass F 300 is the same measurement without a cable, the insertion t-mass I 500 is the remote-transmitter choice for large ducts DN 80 to 1500, and the t-mass A 150 is the basic compact option for compressed air. In most plants the F 500 is read by a PLC or DCS via HART or a fieldbus option, and the extra channel can drive a relay alarm or a second analogue signal for gas energy.

Selection checklist for the F 500

• Gas and composition, and whether the measurement is mass, standard volume or energy flow.
• Line size, flange type and pressure class; the sensor range scales with line size and with flow conditioners.
• Distance from sensor to transmitter and the cable cross-section required, plus the hazardous-area class at each end.
• Bidirectional or reverse-flow detection.
• Number and type of I/O channels (up to four) and communication protocol.
• Mounting accessories for the transmitter and the weather protection cover for outdoor sites.
• Heartbeat Technology verification, SIL 2 package and IP68 sensor option if relevant.

Installation, commissioning and maintenance of the t-mass F 500

Mount the sensor with the arrow in flow direction and an adequate straight inlet; after a control valve the guideline is 50 × DN, and for helium or hydrogen the run should be doubled. Install the transmitter on a wall or pipe support away from direct sun, with the neck left exposed so that heat can radiate; the datasheet warns that the lower end of the transmitter housing must stay below 80 °C. Use M12 connectors for the sensor cable, keep the shield continuous and make sure the cable cross-section suits the length, because voltage drop in the supply pair limits the maximum distance.

After powering up, run the Make-it-run wizard on the touch display, select the gas group and check zero flow. Verification with Heartbeat Technology can be documented in a PDF, which is useful for plants that audit their instruments. The sensor can be removed for service, and spare parts are ordered by the product root and order code on the nameplate.

Typical applications in Oman and the GCC

Remote transmitters suit plants where sensors sit in pipe racks that become very hot in summer. Examples include fuel gas to heaters and boilers in refineries, nitrogen purge manifolds on petrochemical units, process air into oxidation and aeration systems, and CO2 or hydrogen utility headers. The F 500 is also helpful on skid-mounted packages where the control panel is a few metres from the meter. Because the transmitter can be kept in a shaded, accessible spot, maintenance staff avoid reading displays that are baking in the sun at +60 °C and above.

Information to send with an RFQ for t-mass F 500

Please include gas composition, line size and flange standard, flow range, operating pressure and temperature, cable length between sensor and transmitter, the hazardous-area classification of each location, I/O and bus needs, power supply and any wish for bidirectional measurement or SIL documentation. For replacement, provide the nameplate order code.

Documents and quotation

The Endress+Hauser technical information for the t-mass F 500 is attached on this page as a datasheet, including cable data, dimensions and the full ordering feature list.

Send the order code or the process data and Seven Star LLC will prepare a quotation for Oman and the GCC.