Victrex® Peek(TM) Polymer Specified in New High Accuracy, Low-Cost Ultrasonic Flow Meter
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA, USA - (October 22, 2010) - VICTREX® PEEK(TM) polymer has been selected by Titan Enterprises Ltd, for use in its unique, high accuracy and low-cost ultrasonic ATRATO flow meter, which is predicted to be a breakthrough product in small bore flow metering.
Titan Enterprises, a UK-based manufacturer of flow meter devices and solutions, developed this innovative new product in conjunction with one of the UK's most well respected fluid engineering establishments, Cranfield University. Titan also worked closely with Victrex Polymer Solutions, a division of Victrex plc, on material selection, looking closely at chemical resistance, molding sources and processing requirements.
Trevor Forster, founder and managing director of Titan said, "After designing flow meters for more than 40 years, I am delighted to bring the ATRATO to market. Material choice has been critical in enabling us to develop this new generation of flow meters. We worked closely with Victrex who provided invaluable advice and supplied materials that met and even exceeded the stringent requirements of the ATRATO".
Accurate and cost effective flow measurement is increasingly important to many industries such as pharmaceuticals, industrial engineering and food and beverages. The ATRATO flow meter leverages Titan's patented technology enabling the direct-through meter to handle flows from laminar to turbulent. The device deploys the 'time of flight' measurement system where a signal is passed along the pipe with the flow and back up the pipe against the flow, the difference in these signals produces the flow rate. Until now, this technology has been considered expensive and not always accurate. However, Titan believes that the ATRATO flow meter's fully symmetrical, concentric signals coupled with the ability to achieve desired timing accuracies make it a new market leader.
For the development of the ATRATO, Titan Enterprises required a high performance polymer that would enable the thread forms which attach the flow meter to the flow pipes to be molded. This was not possible to achieve using traditional metal thread forms. The polymer also needed to be chemically resistant and have the capability to operate at high temperature up to 130ºC (266ºF). Due to its use in beverage dispensing applications the material needed to be FDA compliant. Additionally, low moisture absorption was a prerequisite for medical and pharmaceutical applications.
The ATRATO's unique clean bore construction makes it ideal for hygienic applications. The smooth finish achieved in the bore of the VICTREX PEEK polymer-based components aids the flow of liquids. In addition, the polymer's high resistance to cleaning fluids and solvents enhanced the cleaning process.The technology developed for the ATRATO has the flexibility to provide the basis of a family of flow meters suitable for an even wider range of flows and applications.
Dave Adkin, Victrex Market Development Manager concluded, "The excellent inherent physical and chemical properties of VICTREX PEEK polymer made it an ideal material of choice for Titan's innovative ATRATO flow meter application". He added, "The unique value of Victrex lies with our ability to tailor high performance VICTREX PEEK polymer to our customer's best advantage. Working with companies such as Titan to help accelerate application development and thoroughly understanding their engineering requirements from the end user point of view is at the core of everything we do."
For more information please call (800) VICTREX or visit www.victrex.com.
Contact: Kris Jommersbach
Gemini Communications
PH: + (1) 610-935-1633
krisj@geminiinc.com
