Applications of Multipath Ultrasonic Flowmeters: Hot-Tapping and Rectangular, Tapered Conduits

Summary Several four-path acoustic transit time flowmeters were installed while the hydro power plant was still in operation; generating revenue from the power produced. Requiring no down-time, hot-tapping was applied on five steel penstocks in Oregon, USA. For this purpose the new “drill and tap” hot-tapping machine and procedure was designed for penstocks with head pressures up to 35 bar (500 psi). The “drill and tap” hot-tapping design, procedure and application according to IEC 41 or ASME PTC 181992 standard will be presented. The second part introduces to a further interesting application of multipah ultrasonic flowmeters at the Aswan High Dam in Egypt. Two eight-path acoustic transit time flowmeters are going to be installed in a rectangular and tapered conduits. A brief introduction is given on the application.