Current position > Product detail
『IFM Ultrasonic Flow Meter Features: Compact Sensors with IO-Link』Related information(v cone flow meter|rotary gas meter|gallon meter|gear meter|metal tube rotameter|glass tube rotameter|nutating disk meter|transit time ultrasonic flow meter|wedge flow meter|pd meters|hydraulic flow meter|ultrasonic water flow meter|water flow meter|air flow meter|magnetic water flow meter|oxygen flow meter|gas flow meter|argon flow meter|air velocity meter|gasoline flow meter|fuel flow meter|ultrasonic water meter|digital water meter|nitrogen flow meter|solid flow meter|Oxygen tank flow meter|digital water flow meter|diesel fuel flow meter|steam flow meter|02 flow meter|compressed air flow meter|oil flow meter|liquid flow meter)
IFM Ultrasonic Flow Meter Features: Compact Sensors with IO-Link
Quick Answer: IFM compact ultrasonic flow meters with IO-Link measure flow, temperature, and totalized volume through a single M12 connection. No moving parts. No pressure drop. These sensors handle water, glycol mixtures, and light oils up to 100 L/min. Silver Automation Instruments keeps stock of popular IFM models like the SU8000 and ships them with pre-set parameters to Southeast Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East.
Most flow meters force you to choose between a local display, analog output, or pulse output. IFM solved this with their SU series compact ultrasonic sensors. The same M12 connector carries flow reading, media temperature, switching signals, and full diagnostic data all on IO-Link 1.1. That means one sensor replaces a flow meter, a temperature probe, and a bulk of cabling.
We install these on clean water circuits in a Singapore semiconductor plant and on coolant loops at a Vietnamese CNC factory. In both cases the IO-Link master feeds data directly into Siemens or Beckhoff PLCs. Setup takes 15 minutes and you never need to open the sensor housing.
What Makes the SU Series Different
The ultrasonic measuring tube has a straight, full-bore design. There is no orifice, no impeller, and no moving part that can stick. Because the bore is smooth 316L stainless steel or PEEK, these meters tolerate particles that would jam a turbine meter. A lot of our customers use them on demineralized water with conductivity below 5 µS/cm where electromagnetic meters struggle.
Here is the thing - the meter measures flow by transit-time difference. It fires ultrasonic pulses upstream and downstream through the liquid. The time difference is proportional to flow velocity. This method works only on clean, homogeneous liquids with less than 3 % gas or solids. So do not try it on raw sewage or aerated juice.
Process connections are compact: G1/2, G3/4, or 1/2-inch NPT. Tube diameters range from DN8 to DN25. Typical flow spans run 0.2 to 100 L/min depending on model. Accuracy is ±2 % of measured value for flow and ±0.2 °C for temperature. The IO-Link cycle time is 2.3 ms, fast enough for dosing and batching.
IO-Link Advantages on a Flow Meter
Every IFM SU meter sends four process values over IO-Link: flow rate, temperature, totalizer 1 (resettable), and totalizer 2 (non-resettable). You do not need a separate PLC analog card. One M12 cable carries power, signal, and configuration.
Parameter setting happens in the IO-Link master software or via the LR DEVICE software from IFM. You can change the switching threshold, damping time, and units without climbing up to the machine. In practice we set up meters for a paint manufacturer in Indonesia. Their technicians switched from liter-per-minute to gallon-per-minute remotely while the line was running. The IO-Link data storage also lets you replace a failed sensor and auto-load the old parameters into the new one - zero manual re-setup.
Why Engineers Prefer This Over Mechanical Meters
A variable area flow meter costs less upfront but requires a person to read it. A turbine meter introduces moving parts and a pressure drop around 0.3 bar at full flow. IFM ultrasonic compact sensors have zero pressure drop. No filter needed in most clean water loops. No re-calibration interval set by the factory - the ultrasonic path is self-monitoring.
On a CIP return line in a dairy plant in Australia, the SU sensor survived 85 °C ri
Because the meter has two switching outputs configurable as frequency, pulse, or threshold, you can drive a remote totalizer or a dosing valve directly. The switch reacts in under 100 ms. We use the pulse output to feed a Silver Automation paperless recorder on a batch blending skid in Thailand - no PLC needed.
Typical Applications and What You Need to Specify
Machine tool coolant monitoring: SU8000 with G1/2 thread, measuring water-glycol 30% at 30 L/min, output sends temperature alarm if return coolant exceeds 40 °C.
Beverage filling: SU9000 with 1/2" NPT, measuring demineralized water at 10 to 50 L/min, IO-Link provides real-time flow and batch total. The hygienic design meets FDA materials for incidental food contact.
Heat exchanger efficiency: Two meters, one on cold side, one on hot side. Temperature and flow from each SU sensor let you calculate energy transfer. The diagnostics flag fouling by comparing delta-T trends.
Specifying is straightforward. The model code breaks down like this: SU8000 is the base sensor, then you pick process connection material (stainless steel or PEEK), seal material (FKM or EPDM), and output function. Most plants in the Middle East ask for the 316L body with EPDM seals for demin water. A lubricant blender in Brazil uses the PEEK body with FKM seals for hydraulic oil up to 50 cSt.
Silver Automation Instruments Supply and Support
We hold IFM SU8000 and SU9000 sensors in our warehouse. If you are building a new machine for export to Africa or Latin America, we can pre-configure all meters to your setpoints before shipping. Each sensor comes with a calibration certificate traceable to DKD/DAkkS.
Send us your pipe size (DN), media type, flow range, process temperature, and connection standard. We will reply with a quote and lead time within one business day. We ship to 40+ countries via DHL, FedEx, or sea freight depending on order size.
Contact us:
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +86-135-1213-1526
Whatsapp: 86-135-12131526
WeChat: +86 13512131526
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the IFM ultrasonic compact meter measure oily water? Yes, if the oil is fully dissolved or forms a stable emulsion with droplet size below 100 µm. Free oil that coats the transducer will block the signal. For cutting fluid with tramp oil, use a filter upstream or select a different meter type.
How do I connect IO-Link to a Rockwell PLC? Use an IO-Link master with EtherNet/IP, such as the IFM AL1920. The meter process data maps into a generic Ethernet module in Studio 5000. No Add-On Profile is needed.
What is the response time for dosing? Flow output updates every 50 ms in fast mode. The switching output reacts in 40 to 80 ms. We suggest setting the damping to 0.2 seconds for valve-on control.
Does the sensor need a straight pipe run? The manufacturer specifies 10 x DN inlet and 5 x DN outlet for best accuracy. In tight machine frames we have used 5 x DN inlet and seen less than 1% shift. The mount should avoid downstream elbows right after the sensor.
Can I use these meters for custody transfer or billing? No. The accuracy class is not approved for trade metering. For billing water in a plant, we recommend an electromagnetic flow meter with MID or OIML certification. Ask us for a MID-certified meter if you need this.