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    Device selection guide: Mass flow and pressure

    Device selection guide: Mass flow and pressure

    Alicat has a wide product line designed to meet the application needs of a variety of industries. This guide describes our product lines to assist you in choosing the model that best fits your use case.

    Quick guide

    1. From the first column, choose what you wish to do with your device.
    2. From the second column, choose the use case most similar to your needs.
    3. The third column will show the best match for you.
    4. Click on the red button to be taken to more information.
    5. For more information, see the full selection guide below.

    The M-Series mass flow meter is the standard Alicat meter. With one compact gas flow meter, you can measure mass flow, volumetric flow, pressure, and temperature.

    M-Series

    “Whisper” series mass flow meters with low pressure drop minimizes system impact, enabling flow measurement at near-atmospheric pressures or when there is little available system pressure. Portable version available.

    Standard MW-Series

    Portable MWB-Series

    The versatile MQ flow meter reduces the time it takes to verify or validate flows that are operating at high pressures (160-320 psia). Measure mass flow, volumetric flow, line pressure and line temperature simultaneously, all in real time.

    MQ-Series

    The MB-Series is a portable, battery-powered flow meter. Verify the proper operation of flowing processes in real time. Accurate and repeatable measurements exceed the reporting standards of external auditors.

    MB-Series

    MWB-Series

    When you don’t know the chemical composition of your gas or fluid, our CODA-Series Coriolis mass flow devices enable you to get accurate readings of flow rate and density making them ideal for applications with changing compositions.

    CODA-Series

    The FP-25 Calibrator Kit is specifically designed to audit/calibrate particulate matter samplers for air quality management. The FP-25 is compatible with most PM air monitors.

    FP-25 Calibrator Kit

    Alicat’s PCU is a secondary calibration standard that combines up to 3 high-accuracy flow meters of varied ranges with totalizers into a rugged industrial carrying case for go-anywhere portability.

    PCU-Series

    Control mass flow rates over a wide flow range with rapid adjustments to accommodate changing flow requirements with the MC-Series. Digital feedback allows real-time changes to the flow rate setpoint to maintain optimal process conditions.

    MC-Series

    The low pressure drop MCW-Series minimizes system impact, enabling flow control at near-atmospheric pressures and shortening system response times.

    MCW-Series

    The MCQ-Series delivers the fast control response of our standard controller to applications that require higher line pressures (160-320 psia). This high-pressure mass flow controller achieves new setpoints rapidly and stays there, even in the face of pressure spikes.

    MCQ-Series

    The BIO-Series is designed specifically for professional engineers involved in the construction and operation of bioreactors. Ensure that fast, precise and uncontaminated flow is in your bioprocessing application.

    BIO-Series

    The MCV-Series features the same rapid control response of our standard mass flow controller in a form factor that includes welded 1/4″ VCR fittings and matches end to end with SEMI standard MFCs. It has an integrated pneumatic shut-off valve for hard vacuum applications.

    MCV-Series

    The MCD-Series can control flow into a closed volume and then control flow in the other direction to exhaust the volume. Or, you can use vacuum to control your process flow in one direction and then apply positive pressure to purge the line in the other direction.

    MCD-Series

    The BASIS-Series features a small footprint, high-accuracy MEMS sensor, and fast valve control.

    BASIS-Series

    The PC-Series is our standard pressure controller. Available in absolute, gauge, or differential pressure, this model is used to regulate pressure upstream or downstream in the process.

    PC-Series

    PCD-Series controllers have two valves attached – an inlet valve and exhaust valve. Dual-valve pressure controllers eliminate the need for a bleed valve for pressure control in closed or dead-ended volumes.

    PCD-Series

    For flowing processes: The PC3-Series controller has its pressure sensor isolated from the flow path, allowing the end user to control pressure at an exact point in the system away from where the controller is connected in-line.

    PC3-Series

    For closed volumes: The PCD3-Series controller is a dual valve pressure controller with an isolated pressure sensor. This pressure sensor can be plumbed anywhere in the system.

    PCD3-Series

    Measure the differential pressure between any two points in your process, and control flow at a different point to ensure the pressure differential remains constant with the PC-Series.  They hit pressure setpoints in milliseconds with NIST-traceable accuracy.

    PC-Series

    IVC-series integrated vacuum controllers rapidly control the pressure of pumped vacuum processes. They balance the amount of gas introduced into the process with the amount of gas pumped out by the vacuum system.

    IVC-Series

    The EPC-Series delivers high accuracy and fast, closed-loop control in a compact, competitively-priced package. You get laboratory-grade performance at a reasonable price.

    EPC-Series

    The L-Series is capable of measuring volumetric flowrate, line pressure, and line temperature simultaneously.

    L-Series

    The LC-Series offers accurate flow measurement and stable control for water or other liquids, including methanol, iso-propanol, ethanol, ammonia, dimethylether, iso-pentane, thiophene, iso-octane or heptane.

    LC-Series

    When you don’t know the chemical composition of your gas or fluid, our CODA-Series Coriolis mass flow devices enable you to get accurate readings of flow rate and density making them ideal for applications with changing compositions.

    CODA-Series

    Mass flow and pressure device selection guides

    The questions below can help you narrow down the many options Alicat has for mass flow controllers and mass flow meters. Follow the links to the appropriate product page to learn more about your chosen model. Then get in touch with one of our skilled applications engineers who can help you build your perfect instrument.

    What is your medium? Are you flowing a gas or liquid?

    • If you are flowing a liquid, you will need an L-Series meter, available in flow rates from 0-0.5 ccm to 0-10 lpm, or an LC-Series controller, available in flow rates from 0-5 ccm to 0-10 lpm.
    • If you are flowing a gas, which one? The Gas Select list shows all of the selectable mixed and pure gas calibrations that are preloaded onto each Alicat mass flow instrument for gases. If your gas is one of the corrosive gases, you will need an S-Series mass flow instrument as we proceed.

    Do you want to measure, control or calibrate your gas flow?

    • If you only want to measure flow rates, you will need an M-Series mass flow meter, available in full-scale ranges from 0-0.5 sccm to 0-5000 slpm, or other equivalent engineering units.
      • You can also choose an MB-Series portable mass flow meter with an integrated rechargeable battery for field use without wires.
      • If you require low pressure drop (less than 1 psi), then be sure to look at our Whisper Series (MW), with pressure drops as low as 0.06 psi (4 mbar) at full scale. (Note that the maximum inlet pressure for the Whisper Series is 45 psig, compared with 145 psig for our standard M Series.)
    • If you want to control flows, you will need an MC-Series mass flow controller, available in full-scale ranges from 0-0.5 sccm to 0-5000 slpm, or other equivalent engineering units.
      • If your application requires flowing gas into a process in one direction and then out in the reverse direction, you may find that our MCD-Series bidirectional mass flow controllers can simplify your equipment needs.
      • If you require low pressure drop (less than 1 psi), then be sure to look at our Whisper Series (MCW/MCDW), with pressure drops as low as 0.06 psi (4 mbar) at full scale. (Note that the maximum inlet pressure for the Whisper Series is 45 psig, compared with 145 psig for our standard M Series.)
      • If you want to control flows using vacuum, you may benefit from our MCV-Series mass flow controller for vacuum, which includes an integrated pneumatic shut-off valve to prevent vacuum chamber contamination when you have a zero setpoint. This series is available in flow ranges from 0-0.5 sccm to 0-20 slpm.
    • If you are calibrating flow rates, your easiest solution will be an MB-Series portable flow calibrator with an integrated rechargeable battery for ease of use in the field. Portable calibrators are available in full-scale ranges from 0-0.5 sccm to 0-5000 slpm, or other equivalent engineering units.
      • If you are calibrating volumetric flows, or otherwise require low pressure drop (less than 1 psi), then be sure to look at our Whisper Series (MWB), with pressure drops as low as 0.06 psi (4 mbar) at full scale. (Note that the maximum inlet pressure for the Whisper Series is 45 psig, compared with 145 psig for our standard M Series.)
      • For calibration of flow ranges wider than a 200:1 turndown (e.g., 1-200 sccm), choose Alicat’s PCU-Series portable calibration unit, a field-portable unit that integrates 3 portable flow calibrators of differing ranges for a combined turndown range of up to 1,000,000:1.

    Discuss your process with an applications engineer

    Use the questions below to help you narrow down the many options Alicat has for pressure controllers and pressure transducers. Follow the links to the appropriate product page to learn more about your chosen model. Or contact our skilled applications engineers who can help you build your perfect instrument.

    Does your application depend upon absolute, gauge or differential pressure?

    • To reference your application to atmospheric pressure:  Choose a pressure instrument with a gauge pressure range, typically indicated by “PSIG” in Alicat’s part numbering system. Alicat gauge pressure instruments are available in ranges from 0-2 inH2OG to 0-3000 psig. Negative ranges also available to -15 psig.
    • To reference your application to vacuum:  Choose a pressure instrument with an absolute pressure range, typically indicated by “PSIA” in Alicat’s part numbering system. Alicat absolute pressure instruments available in ranges from 0-100TorrA to 0-3000 psia. Reference to absolute pressure is an excellent way to stabilize the effects of stormy atmospheric conditions, in which barometric pressures can change rapidly.
    • If your application requires measurement of the difference between two pressures: Choose a pressure instrument with a differential pressure range, typically indicated by “PSID” in Alicat’s part numbering system. These instruments include two dead-ended pressure ports that lead to opposite sides of a differential pressure sensor. Alicat differential pressure instruments are available in ranges from 0-2 inH2OD to 0-100 psid.

    Do you want to measure or control your system pressures?

    • I only want to measure pressure:  Choose the P-Series pressure transducer for absolute, gauge, or differential pressure. If your medium is a corrosive gas or liquid, we recommend our PS Series which includes 316L stainless steel construction.
    • I want to control pressure in a flowing process:  Choose the PC-Series single-valve pressure controller for most ranges or the IVC-Series integrated vacuum controller for TorrA ranges.
      • To control pressures at a point somewhat distant from the pressure controller: Choose the PC3-Series, which includes a remote sense port to monitor pressure at any point upstream or downstream of the controller. (Differential pressure controllers, by nature, use dual remote sense ports.)
      • To monitor your flow rates while controlling for pressure: Choose an MC-Series mass flow controller, which can control absolute pressure up to 160 psia.
      • Any of the above instruments can be configured for back pressure control or vacuum control.
    • I want to control pressure in a closed or dead-ended volume:  Choose the PCD-Series dual-valve pressure controller for most ranges or the IVC-Series integrated vacuum controller for TorrA ranges.
      • To control pressures in closed volumes somewhat distant from the pressure controller: Choose the PCD3-Series, which includes a remote sense port to monitor pressure at any point upstream or downstream of the controller. (Differential pressure controllers by nature use dual remote sense ports.)
      • To monitor flow rates while controlling for pressure: choose an MCD-Series bidirectional mass flow controller, which can control your closed volume’s absolute pressure up to 160 psia.
      • Any of the above instruments can be configured for vacuum control.

    Discuss your process with an applications engineer