Mass Flow Products Principle Features and Benefits, Alicat Scientific, Inc.

Advantages & Benefits

Reduced inventory costs.
Fast response.
Capable of ultra low flow (as low as 0.5SCCM full scale).
Wide variety of flow ranges. Offered in any range from 0.5SCCM through 1500SLPM full scale.
Low power consumption
Internal compensation
Large operational flow range via 100:1 turndown ratio
No warm up time. Alicat units are fully functional the moment they are activated.
Measurement of multiple parameters: Mass flow, volumetric flow, temperature and pressure. All parameters displayed from a single device for easy monitoring of process gasses or liquids.
All Alicat mass flow controllers can be changed to pressure controllers or volumetric controllers via digital interface or via the display. The user can monitor mass flow while controlling pressure or vice versa.
Inherent linearity of Alicat mass flow and volumetric flow instruments result in a more accurate and more predicable device due to the device's tendency to naturally follow the pre-defined calibration curve.

Standard Features

Gas Select

The user can choose any of 30 different gases (Air, Argon, Methane, Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Ethane, Hydrogen, Helium, Nitrogen, Nitrous Oxide, Neon, Oxygen, Propane, normal-Butane, Acetylene, Ethylene, iso-Butane, Krypton, Xenon, Sulfur Hexaflouride, 75% Argon + 25% C02, 90% Argon + 10% CO2, 92% Argon + 8% CO2, 98% Argon + 2% CO2, 75% Argon + 25% Helium, 75% Helium + 25% Argon, 75% CO2 + 25% Argon Helistar® A1025, Stargon® CS, 95% Argon + 5% CH4) from the gas select menu on the display or via RS-232 communication. This means that a single Alicat can take the place of a multitude of our competitor’s products, which are calibrated for only one gas, and it is no longer necessary to purchase different meters for each gas.

Speed of response & control

Alicat mass flow and pressure controllers read in 10 milliseconds and control in 100ms

Dynamic digital display w/ Push Button Interface

Alicat mass flow, volumetric flow and pressure control instruments come standard with a graphics display that gives the operator a multitude of information and precise field control over the device via a simple push-button interface.

Programmable Geometric Running Average

Alicat mass flow meters have special built in software to allow the user to slow down an inherently fast response time. This allows the user to read mass flow rates that might be rapidly fluctuating by taking more samples and averaging them before updating the display and analog output.

Field Adjustable PID Loop Tuning

All Alicat mass flow, volumteric flow and pressure controllers have a field adjustable PID loop which can be field tuned via the push button interface on the display, or via RS-232 communication. The generic tune applied at the factory will run properly in most systems, but the ability to tweak the tuning to match a given system can make the difference in whether the system simply runs, or whether it runs well.

16 Bit Analog to digital converter w/ 8 bit micro controller

Along with enhanced resolution, this processor has enabled our mass flow meters and mass flow controllers to grow in capability, response and stability.

Local or remote control function for controllers

The push button interface allows the user to select whether the mass flow controller will recognize either a local set point entered via the push button interface, an analog set point provided to the mini-DIN connector, or a serial set point provided via RS-232 communication.

Multiple analog outputs

All Alicat mass flow meters and mass flow controllers have an analog output and RS-232 I/O, however a second analog output can also be ordered. The second analog output can be either a second output for the mass flow rate or the second output might also be the volumetric flow rate, the absolute pressure or the temperature. In addition, the analog outputs can be ordered independently as 0- 5 Vdc, 0-10 Vdc, 1-5 Vdc, or 4-20 mA signals.

Tare Function: Automatic, Push Button or Remote

All Alicat mass flow meters, mass flow controllers and pressure controllers with display include a push button tare the operator can use to zero the meter when no flow is present. With Alicat mass flow, volumetric and pressure controllers, the tare is automatic when the set point is at zero for longer than 2 seconds. A remote tare (ground to tare) is also included for mass flow meters in integrated applications.

Mass flow controllers may be used to control absolute pressure or volume flow

Field selectable loop closure allows a mass flow controller to control absolute pressure or volumetric flow rate. This saves in component and design costs, as the mass controller can be set to be a pressure controller that also provides information on the actual mass flow and volumetric flow rates. (Note: Retuning loop parameters P & D may be necessary).

Customization Abilities

Alicat mass flow products provide alternative units of measure, gas mixes, totalization, alternate STPs and more at low cost.

Digital and Analog Communication

Alicat flow instrumentation comes standard with both digital and analog communication.

WHAT'S NEW

We've moved!

Alicat Scientific moved to its new facility on June 11th 2009.
Our new address is:
7641 N. Business Park Drive
Tucson, AZ 85743
Please update your address books.

New communication protocols!
Alicat flow and pressure instruments can now be ordered with RS-485 or PROFIBUS.
Now quoting units with DeviceNet communications.