Ultrasonic Flow Measurement for Demanding Canadian Applications

Ultrasonic Flow Measurement for Demanding Canadian Applications

Canadian oil & gas operators, municipalities and industrial plants are under constant pressure to improve safety, reduce leak-related losses and document flow conditions with traceable data. Clamp-on ultrasonic and Doppler technologies from Micronics, now available through ES Canada, provide a non-invasive, certified and cost-efficient way to instrument existing pipework without shutting down the process.

From Hazardous Areas to Municipal Networks: Why Ultrasonic Flow?

Unlike in-line mechanical meters, clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters do not require pipe cutting, hot-tapping or process interruption. Transducers are mounted on the outside of the pipe, using time-of-flight or Doppler measurement principles to calculate flow rate in liquids ranging from clean water to loaded or aerated media. This makes ultrasonic flow particularly attractive for:

• Oil & gas production and midstream pipelines
• Petrochemical plants and terminals
• Municipal drinking water and wastewater networks
• Industrial utilities and energy optimisation projects

1. Certified for Hazardous Areas: UX5000 for Safe Measurement

For projects located in hazardous zones, safety and compliance are non-negotiable. The Micronics UX5000 offers clamp-on ultrasonic flow measurement with certification for explosive atmospheres, making it suitable for installations classified as Zone 1 / Class I, Division 1 environments. By keeping all electronics outside the pipe and using non-invasive sensors, the UX5000 helps:

• Reduce ignition risks in areas with flammable gases or vapours
• Maintain mechanical integrity of high-pressure and critical lines
• Comply with plant safety standards while still capturing reliable flow data

In practice, this means Canadian oil & gas sites and chemical facilities can add or upgrade flow measurement without revisiting the entire piping design or compromising safety barriers.

2. Fast, Non-Invasive Installation with No Downtime

A key advantage of clamp-on ultrasonic technology is the ability to install and commission a flowmeter without stopping production. Transducers are strapped or clamped directly onto the outer wall of the pipe, and once the pipe material, diameter and fluid are configured in the electronics, the system starts measuring flow in real time.

For operators, this translates into:

• No cutting or welding on the line
• No process drain, no re-pressurisation, no additional permits for hot work
• Rapid deployment during short maintenance windows or even on live systems
• Lower installation costs compared to traditional in-line meters

This approach is particularly valuable in municipal water and wastewater networks, where shutdowns can be complex to manage and expensive for both utilities and their customers.

3. Complete Range and Local Support for Canadian Projects

Beyond a single meter, Micronics provides a complete ecosystem of ultrasonic and Doppler flow solutions, including:

• Fixed clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters for long-term monitoring
• Doppler instruments for challenging, dirty or aerated liquids
• Portable systems for troubleshooting, temporary campaigns and site surveys

All units are engineered in the UK to deliver stable, repeatable measurements with robust electronics, intuitive configuration and strong value for money. ES Canada complements this portfolio with:

• Local technical support for sizing, sensor placement and application review
• Assistance with commissioning and optimisation in the field
• Advice on selecting the right Micronics solution for each project (fixed vs portable, ultrasonic vs Doppler)

Typical Applications Across Canada

• Allocation and line balancing in oil & gas gathering systems
• Monitoring of injection water, produced water and wastewater streams
• District energy, chilled water and thermal energy metering
• Leak detection campaigns and efficiency studies on municipal water networks
• Industrial utilities: cooling water, process water and chemical feeds

How ES Canada and Micronics Help De-Risk Your Next Flow Project

Choosing the right flowmeter is not only about accuracy on the datasheet. It is about safety, installation constraints, lifetime cost of ownership and the ability to get reliable data under real operating conditions. By combining Micronics ultrasonic and Doppler technology with ES Canada’s local engineering expertise, Canadian operators gain:

• A certified solution for hazardous areas where conventional meters are difficult to install
• Non-invasive measurement that protects pipe integrity and avoids downtime
• A complete range of instruments aligned with each site’s process and budget
• Direct access to local support for design reviews, commissioning and long-term follow-up

Call to Action: Discuss Your Flow Application with ES Canada

Whether you are planning a new project in a hazardous area, upgrading an existing line or preparing a short-term measurement campaign, our team can help you select and deploy the most appropriate Micronics solution.

Contact ES Canada today to review your flow measurement challenges and find the right Micronics ultrasonic or Doppler system for your application.