What is a Magnetic Flow Calibrator?

[Cigarsnob]

Hi Everyone,

I just acquired an old piece of equipment from a co-worker as we are packing up to move to another facility. I have no idea what it is, but the label says: Magnetic Flow Calibrator. Model: 896CAL. Manufacturer: Foxboro

A quick google search didn't show much except for one ebay listing over in Europe and some other links that didn't seem all that helpful. I did find the link below though and from there it states that magnetic flowmeters can be used for slurries among other purposes. Okay. 

http://iom.invensys.com/EN/pdfLibrary/Brochure_Foxboro_Municipal%20MagMeter_05-06.pdf

Any info on this would be great. Thanks for the help.

[radhaz]

It's for calibrating magmeters.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Looks like it measures flow rate of a conductive liquid by passing through a magnetic field, presumably measuring the electromagnetically generated voltage

[Cigarsnob]

Interesting! Thank you both for your guys' feedback.

[SeanB]

Basically it is a generator, the exact opposite of a MHD pump. A flow of conductive liquid through a magnetic field generates a voltage detected by 2 electrodes inserted into the insulated pipe walls. Probably the only flow measuring system that can deal with pebbles in the flow without having a too large error or breaking. Do not use with ferrous slurries unless it has an AC excitation coil that is periodically switched off so it self cleans. If it uses a permanent magnet you will have to clean tramp iron from it at intervals or live with slightly reduced accuracy as the level builds up and clears with flow.