Ultrasonic flow-meter for LNG (liquified natural gas)
BWT GE Measurement & Control

The Bundled Waveguide Transducer (BWT) System, a technological innovation in ultrasonic flow measurement, is the key for flow measurement in Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) in large pipes. The robust BWT System is the proven solution for cryogenic LNG applications, including the outlet of liquefaction trains and off-loading from ships to storage tanks. In addition to these low-temperature applications, the BWT System is the leading technology for measuring liquids in extreme conditions, including high-temperature, low-density and high-temperature, and highly viscous liquids. Although the installation is wetted, BWT transducers are obstructionless, producing no pressure drop or flashing in the system. The BWT System is compatible with most GE Sensing Panametrics liquid or gas ultrasonic flowmeters. Installations last virtually forever since there are no moving parts.

BWT transducers are available in a single-buffer design, or a double-buffer design for higher temperatures. The buffer is a collection of bundled cylindrical elements that provide a path for the ultrasonic signal to travel from the transducer to its wetted tip. This design provides two major advantages. First, keeping the piezoelectric element of the transducer away from the process keeps the element near ambient temperature, thus preventing any potential for temperature damage. Second, bundling the elements allows transmission of a highly collimated beam of ultrasound into the fluid.