Panametrics AT600 AquaTrans Clamp-On Ultrasonic Water Flowmeter

Overview

The Panametrics AT600 (AquaTrans AT600) is a fixed clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeter built specifically for water and wastewater in full pipes. It measures potable water, raw and treated water, sewage, discharge water, cooling and heating water and irrigation water without cutting into the line. The transmitter is a compact, low-cost package mounted near the measurement point, and the transducers strap to the outside of the pipe, so a utility can add metering points across a network quickly and at modest cost.

Seven Star LLC supplies the Panametrics AT600 to water utilities, district cooling providers, municipalities and industrial plants across the Sultanate of Oman and the GCC, with engineering support in Muscat. Non-revenue water reduction, pump station monitoring and network zoning programmes in the region all depend on reliable bulk flow data, and a clamp-on meter avoids the excavation, valve isolation and service interruption needed to install an inline meter on an existing main.

Measurement Principle

The Panametrics AT600 uses transit-time measurement with Panametrics’ patented Correlation Transit-Time processing. Two transducers act as both ultrasonic transmitters and receivers. Each sends a burst of pulses through the pipe wall and water to the other, and the transmitter measures the transit time in both directions. With no flow the two times are equal; when water moves, the downstream time becomes shorter than the upstream time. The difference is proportional to flow velocity and its sign shows direction, so the Panametrics AT600 is fully bidirectional.

An onboard microprocessor applies correlation to the received signals for long-term, drift-free operation and automatically adjusts to changes in fluid properties. Because the measurement is non-intrusive, there is no head loss, no wetted parts to clog with debris and nothing to remove for cleaning. Panametrics states better than 1% of reading accuracy in most clamp-on applications when installed correctly, assuming about 10 diameters of straight pipe upstream and 5 downstream.

Engineering Design of the Panametrics AT600

The Panametrics AT600 transmitter sits in an epoxy-coated aluminium Type 4X/IP67 enclosure measuring 168 × 128 × 61 mm and weighing 1.5 kg. It has a 128 × 64 graphic LCD, a six-button keypad and a green or red status light. Power is 85 to 265 VAC as standard, or 12 to 28 VDC, with only 5 W in normal operation, which suits solar-powered remote sites. Outputs are a 4-20 mA loop with optional HART 7.5 or Modbus RS485, plus two passive discrete outputs configurable as alarm, frequency or totalizer pulse.

Installation follows four steps: fit the straps on the pipe, place the clamp-on fixture and slide the straps onto its sides, open the fixture to set the transducer spacing, then lock the fixture with the transducers on the pipe. A permanent solid couplant is used as standard, removing the need to re-grease transducers. Transducer families include C-AT at 0.5, 1 and 2 MHz in IP68, C-RS with submersible and junction-box versions, high-temperature C-RS HT to 230 °C, and CF-LP or CF-JR for 0.5 to 2 in pipes. Every meter is water calibrated with a traceable certificate.

Key Features

The Panametrics AT600 offers water operators a practical set of features:

• Economical non-intrusive flow measurement for pipes from 0.5 to 300 in (15 to 7600 mm).
• Accuracy of ±1% of reading on pipes of 2 in and above at velocities over 0.3 m/s, and ±0.5% with field calibration.
• Suitable for all metals and most plastics, including lined pipes.
• Bidirectional range of -12.19 to 12.19 m/s with 400:1 rangeability and ±0.2% repeatability.
• Velocity, volumetric and totalised flow outputs.
• Permanent solid couplant for maintenance-free clamp-on installation.
• Submersible IP68 transducers for chambers and pits that may flood.
• Approvals including CE, UL, CSA and MCERTS (UK).

Industrial Applications

Water authorities use the Panametrics AT600 for district metered areas, reservoir inlets and outlets, booster pump stations and bulk transfer points, while wastewater operators measure sewage, treated effluent and discharge flows. Cooling and heating water applications include district cooling plants, hospital and hotel chilled water loops and industrial process cooling, and the irrigation water rating makes it relevant to agricultural and landscape schemes. The submersible C-RS transducers are a common choice for valve chambers that see occasional flooding.

Across Oman, typical installations include potable water transmission mains from desalination plants, sewage treatment works serving Muscat and the industrial estates, and treated effluent reuse networks. Seven Star LLC supplies the Panametrics AT600 with the right transducer set and engineering support in Muscat to select pipe-size ranges and cable lengths. Other fixed options on our site include the Panametrics XMT1000 transmitter, the pFlow D118 clamp-on meter and, where an inline electromagnetic meter is preferred, the ABB AquaMaster3.

For portable verification of installed meters, see thePanametrics PT900 portable flowmeter.

Technical Specifications

Key Panametrics AT600 data from datasheet PANA001DS Rev. 12:

Selecting and Ordering the Panametrics AT600

A Panametrics AT600 is ordered as a complete clamp-on system under the AT6 model code, which bundles the transmitter, transducers, clamping fixture, transducer cable and couplant. The first choice is the transducer set, and it follows the pipe size. The C-AT transducers come in three frequencies: 0.5 MHz for pipes of about 300 mm and larger, 1 MHz for roughly 100 to 600 mm and 2 MHz for 50 to 150 mm, all rated IP68 for process temperatures of -40 to 150 °C. The C-RS family offers the same 0.5 and 1 MHz split in IP66, with submersible IP68 versions and versions with a junction box. For hot water the C-RS HT transducers extend the process temperature to 230 °C, while CF-LP and CF-JR transducers at 4 MHz cover small lines from 15 to 50 mm.

The remaining code positions record the nominal pipe outside diameter in inches or millimetres, transducer cable length (3, 7.5, 15, 30 or 90 m), supply voltage (85 to 265 VAC or 12 to 28 VDC) and the analogue output: plain 4-20 mA, 4-20 mA with HART, or 4-20 mA with Modbus. The two discrete outputs can be ordered as two alarm contacts, alarm plus frequency, alarm plus totalizer, two frequency outputs, frequency plus totalizer or two totalizer pulses. The display language is selectable from English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese and Chinese, with metric or English default units. An AT6I variant is also listed, including a spare transmitter-only option for sites that standardise on the Panametrics AT600.

Good installation practice protects the stated accuracy. The transducers should be placed where the pipe runs full, with about 10 diameters of straight run upstream and 5 downstream of bends, valves or pumps, because final accuracy depends on fluid, temperature range, pipe centricity and flow profile. Panametrics advises checking concrete, composite and heavily corroded or lined pipes before ordering. Once the meter is running, the optional PanaViewPlus software lets engineers connect a PC to manage site files, download logs and review diagnostics, which is useful when commissioning many Panametrics AT600 meters across a water network.

How to Order

For a quotation on the Panametrics AT600, send the pipe outside diameter, material, liner, water type, cable length and preferred output (analogue, HART or Modbus). Seven Star LLC will select the matching transducer code and fixture, confirm availability and lead time and provide engineering support from Muscat to customers in Oman and the GCC. The full datasheet with ordering codes is available for download on this page.