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Flow Tip Video: How to Specify The Perfect Mass Flow Meter or Controller

Determine which meter is best – SmartTrak 50 or SmartTrak 100

A question we get a lot from our customers is how to determine which Sierra mass flow meter or mass flow controller is best for their application.  Followed up by: What’s the difference between an economical and premium mass flow meter and controller? In this video, Jim Oswald explains the differences between Sierra’s economical and premium mass flow meters and controllers (SmartTrak 50 and 100 product lines) and offers you a simple check list you can use to purchase the best mass flow meter or controller for your application.

Learn more about our mass flow meters and mass flow controllers

Download SmartTrak 50 Purchasing Guide.

Video Transcript

Hello this is Jim Oswald, technical support supervisor at Sierra Instruments in beautiful Monterey, California. In this short video, I would like to help you specify the perfect mass flow meter or controller for your gas application. 

 

Sierra Instruments offers both the economical SmartTrak 50 and the premium SmartTrak 100 for these and many other scientific applications. Both of these devices come as either a meter or a meter valve combination called a controller. The SmartTrak 50 is an economical mass flow device. It can be set to flow from 5% to 100% of its calibrated range. It is calibrated for a single gas of your choice; it can be ordered with or without a display; with aluminum or stainless steel flow body; and even a maximum range of up to 200 slpm a minute. It offers optional analog input and output signals as well as RS-232 and RS-485 computer communications. These features and low-cost make this the obvious choice for single gas and OEM applications. 

The SmartTrak 100 is Sierra's premium. It can be set to flows from 2% to 100% of its calibrated range. It comes pre-programmed with 10 standard or custom gases and mixes. It can be ordered with or without a combination touchpad display for local read out and control. It has all stainless steel construction; it is available for ranges as low as 4 sccm and as high as 1,000 slpm. An optional Compod module can be added to the front of your SmartTrak 100 at your request to provide additional powerful features such as gas mixing and blending, batch control, ratio control, pressure monitoring and control, alarms, and flow totalization. This module also allows you to use Modbus, Profibus DP and Foundation Fieldbus. These features make the SmartTrak 100 a flexible high-performance device, excelling in laboratory and university settings. 

In summary, the 50 Series is an economical single gas device with a flow display, or not, and an analog or computer communication. While the 100 series is a full feature flexible device with multi-gas capability, ultra-low or high flow gas strings. It communicates with your world through an interactive display and both analog and digital signals. To order either of these devices for your application, first decide on the features that you need and select either the SmartTrak 50 or the SmartTrak 100. 

Next, decide if you want to only measure the flow with a meter or if you'd like to control the flow rate as well with a controller. Then determine your gas or gases in the case of the hundred and maximum flow rate. This will determine which body size you need. Do you want to display? How would you like the device to communicate with the outside world? Analog? Computer? Or Both? 

Finally, determine the accessory cable and power supply you will need by using one of Sierra's cable and power supply guides. For additional technical and sales assistance, please contact one of our experts at Sierra by phone, email or chat. See you next time.

 

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