Network / Fieldbus Input Flow Controllers
Last Updated: April 1, 2025
Description
Network/Fieldbus Input Flow Controllers are devices designed to monitor, indicate, and control the flow rate of materials or media within a system. They provide functionalities such as rate indication and control, as well as batch or totalizer indication and control, which totalize and indicate the amount of material or process variable throughout the system .
Working Principle
These controllers operate by utilizing advanced control strategies beyond traditional PID loop control, such as dead-time compensation, lead/lag, adaptive gain, neural networks, and fuzzy logic. They are integrated into fieldbus networks, which allow for the relocation of control functions from a central control room to the field devices themselves. This setup enables direct communication between sensors and control valves, resulting in more reliable control and a less complex centralized control system .
Applications
Network/Fieldbus Input Flow Controllers are used in various industrial applications. For example, in wastewater treatment plants, they are employed to measure methane-based digester gas flow. The controllers are equipped with digital bus communications and built-in temperature compensation, making them suitable for wet, dirty biogas applications .
Advantages over other Process - Fluid and Gas Processing Equipment
One significant advantage of using Network/Fieldbus Input Flow Controllers is their ability to relocate control functions to field devices, which enhances reliability and reduces the complexity of centralized control systems. Additionally, they offer virtually maintenance-free service due to their robust design, which includes no moving parts or orifices that could clog or foul .
Limitations
A notable limitation of fieldbus network communication is the rate at which data can be transmitted. This can be mitigated through sound system architectural design and programming, but it requires significant expertise and resource investment. Furthermore, the accuracy of feedback control systems is limited by the feedback device's static linearity, resolution, and dynamic responsiveness .
Considerations
When considering Network/Fieldbus Input Flow Controllers, it is important to evaluate initial costs, operating expenses, and maintenance requirements. These controllers are designed for durability and accuracy, but the expertise required for optimal system design and programming can increase initial costs. Additionally, while they offer maintenance-free operation in certain applications, the complexity of the system architecture may impact long-term operating expenses and replacement costs .
from Sierra Instruments, Inc.
Flow Controllers. SmartTrak ® 100 flow controllers from Sierra Instruments are the next generation of our flagship Model 100. The 100 flow controller builds upon unprecedented performance, user-friendliness and flexibility of innovative features like Dial-A-Gas capability and the Pilot Module... [See More]
- Type: DC Voltage Inputs; Current Loop (Transmitter) Excitation; Serial / Digital Input; Fieldbus / Network Input; RS-232, RS-485 (optional), Profibus DP, Modbus, Foundation Fieldbus
- Features: Rate Indication/ Control
- Control: PID
- Form Factor: Pipe Mounted
from Sierra Instruments, Inc.
For lab researchers and systems integrators/OEMs, Sierra's flagship SmartTrak 100 thermal mass flow controller is a true multi-gas digital MFC designed to deliver smooth, stable, accurate, and repeatable gas mass flow control you can rely on, every time. Unaffected by upstream gas temperature and... [See More]
- Type: DC Voltage Inputs; Current Loop (Transmitter) Excitation; Switch / Relay Input (optional feature); Serial / Digital Input; Fieldbus / Network Input; RS-232, RS-485
- Features: Rate Indication/ Control
- Control: PID
- Form Factor: Pipe Mounted
from Sierra Instruments, Inc.
Industrial OEM MFC with MEMS Technology Water Resistant. Stable. Cost-Effective. Engineers in the biopharmaceutical industry require precise control of the gases used in bioreactors. Sierra's RedyIndustrial thermal mass flow meter delivers optimized microbial growth that ensures exact mixing and... [See More]
- Type: DC Voltage Inputs; Current Loop (Transmitter) Excitation; Serial / Digital Input; Fieldbus / Network Input; RS-485; Modbus RTU 2 wire (Slave); Lab View-VIs available Option: ProfiBus DP-V0, DP-V1 / Profinet RT / EtherCAT
- Features: Rate Indication/ Control
- Control: PID
- Form Factor: Pipe Mounted
from Vogtlin Massflow USA
The new electronic red-y smart pressure controllers combine the reliable technology our of thermal mass flow controllers with electronic pressure control.The devices automatically control a predefined process pressure and at the same time measure and/or limit the flow rate.On-the-fly switching... [See More]
- Type: Serial / Digital Input; Fieldbus / Network Input; Modbus, RS485, Profibus
- Control: PID; Nonlinear; Other; Select Pressure or Flow
- Controller Type: Pressure + Flow Controller
- Features: Datalogger; Rate Indication/ Control; Totalizing (Length or Roll Diameter) Indication/ Control
from Florite International, Inc.
The 900 Series is an economic one loop microcomputer-based instrument incorporating user selectable digital and analog inputs, as well as analog and relay outputs. Other 900 Series features include .005% high accuracy PID, batch, and dose control functions. Additionally, the 900 Series encompasses... [See More]
- Type: DC Voltage Inputs; Current Loop (Transmitter) Excitation; Resistive/ Potentiometer Inputs; Switch / Relay Input; Frequency Inputs; Serial / Digital Input; Fieldbus / Network Input; Screw Terminal
- Control: Limit; Linear; Feedforward; PID
- Controller Type: Laboratory
- Features: PLC; Multi-Function; Datalogger; Is a Chart Recorder; Rate Indication/ Control; Totalizing (Length or Roll Diameter) Indication/ Control
from Vogtlin Massflow USA
The new electronic red-y smart pressure controllers combine the reliable technology our of thermal mass flow controllers with electronic pressure control.The devices automatically control a predefined process pressure and at the same time measure and/or limit the flow rate.On-the-fly switching... [See More]
- Type: Serial / Digital Input; Fieldbus / Network Input; Modbus, RS485, Profibus
- Control: PID; Nonlinear; Other; Select Pressure or Flow
- Controller Type: Pressure + Flow Controller
- Features: Datalogger; Rate Indication/ Control; Totalizing (Length or Roll Diameter) Indication/ Control
from Florite International, Inc.
The Florite Model 990X is an innovative, technically superior, high quality and reliable microcomputer-based controller suitable for any commercial or industrial application. The instruments user configurable screw-terminal channels enable any mix of up to eight inputs and or outputs regardless of... [See More]
- Type: DC Voltage Inputs; Current Loop (Transmitter) Excitation; Resistive/ Potentiometer Inputs; Switch / Relay Input; Frequency Inputs; Serial / Digital Input; Fieldbus / Network Input; Screw Terminal, DA15
- Control: Limit; Linear; Feedforward; PID
- Controller Type: Laboratory
- Features: PLC; Multi-Function; Datalogger; Is a Chart Recorder; Rate Indication/ Control; Totalizing (Length or Roll Diameter) Indication/ Control
from Vogtlin Massflow USA
The new electronic red-y smart pressure controllers combine the reliable technology our of thermal mass flow controllers with electronic pressure control.The devices automatically control a predefined process pressure and at the same time measure and/or limit the flow rate.On-the-fly switching... [See More]
- Type: Serial / Digital Input; Fieldbus / Network Input; Modbus, RS485, Profibus
- Control: PID; Nonlinear; Other; Select Pressure or Flow
- Controller Type: Pressure + Flow Controller
- Features: Datalogger; Rate Indication/ Control; Totalizing (Length or Roll Diameter) Indication/ Control
from Florite International, Inc.
The Model N920 is an embedded version of the 900 Series instrument incorporating user selectable digital and analog inputs, as well as analog and relay outputs. Other Model N920 features include .005% high accuracy PID, batch, and dose control functions. Additionally, the Model N920 encompasses rate... [See More]
- Type: Switch / Relay Input; Frequency Inputs; Serial / Digital Input; Fieldbus / Network Input; 3.5mm Plug
- Features: PLC; Datalogger; Is a Chart Recorder; Rate Indication/ Control; Totalizing (Length or Roll Diameter) Indication/ Control
- Control: Limit
- Form Factor: Board; Chassis; PCB Mount
from Vogtlin Massflow USA
The new electronic red-y smart pressure controllers combine the reliable technology our of thermal mass flow controllers with electronic pressure control.The devices automatically control a predefined process pressure and at the same time measure and/or limit the flow rate.On-the-fly switching... [See More]
- Type: Serial / Digital Input; Fieldbus / Network Input; Modbus, RS485, Profibus
- Control: PID; Nonlinear; Other; Select Pressure or Flow
- Controller Type: Pressure + Flow Controller
- Features: Datalogger; Rate Indication/ Control; Totalizing (Length or Roll Diameter) Indication/ Control
from Florite International, Inc.
The 700 Series is an economic one loop microcomputer-based instrument incorporating a digital input, as well as a relay output. Other 700 Series features include rate metering, dual totalizing, easy menu navigation, multiple audio/visual alarm functions, a serial RS-232 port, LWAN (modem)... [See More]
- Type: Switch / Relay Input; Frequency Inputs; Serial / Digital Input; Fieldbus / Network Input; 3.5mm Plug
- Control: Limit
- Controller Type: Laboratory
- Features: PLC; Multi-Function; Rate Indication/ Control; Totalizing (Length or Roll Diameter) Indication/ Control
from Vogtlin Massflow USA
Reliable technology and industry standard interfaces make the red-y smart series thermal mass flow meters and controllers particularly suitable for measurement and control in gas delivery systems and plant engineering applications. High accuracy, Analog and Digital, free software and program... [See More]
- Type: DC Voltage Inputs; Current Loop (Transmitter) Excitation; Serial / Digital Input; Fieldbus / Network Input; Modbus, RS485, Profibus
- Control: PID; Nonlinear; Other
- Controller Type: Gas Mass Flow Controller
- Features: Datalogger; Rate Indication/ Control; Totalizing (Length or Roll Diameter) Indication/ Control
from Vogtlin Massflow USA
Reliable technology and industry standard interfaces make the red-y smart series thermal mass flow meters and controllers particularly suitable for measurement and control in gas delivery systems and plant engineering applications. High accuracy, Analog and Digital, free software and program... [See More]
- Type: DC Voltage Inputs; Current Loop (Transmitter) Excitation; Serial / Digital Input; Fieldbus / Network Input; Modbus, RS485, Profibus
- Control: PID; Nonlinear; Other
- Controller Type: Gas Mass Flow Controller
- Features: Datalogger; Rate Indication/ Control; Totalizing (Length or Roll Diameter) Indication/ Control
from Vogtlin Massflow USA
Reliable technology and industry standard interfaces make the red-y smart series thermal mass flow meters and controllers particularly suitable for measurement and control in gas delivery systems and plant engineering applications. High accuracy, Analog and Digital, free software and program... [See More]
- Type: DC Voltage Inputs; Current Loop (Transmitter) Excitation; Serial / Digital Input; Fieldbus / Network Input; Modbus, RS485, Profibus
- Control: PID; Nonlinear; Other
- Controller Type: Gas Mass Flow Controller
- Features: Datalogger; Rate Indication/ Control; Totalizing (Length or Roll Diameter) Indication/ Control
from Vogtlin Massflow USA
Reliable technology and industry standard interfaces make the red-y smart series thermal mass flow meters and controllers particularly suitable for measurement and control in gas delivery systems and plant engineering applications. High accuracy, Analog and Digital, free software and program... [See More]
- Type: DC Voltage Inputs; Current Loop (Transmitter) Excitation; Serial / Digital Input; Fieldbus / Network Input; Modbus, RS485, Profibus
- Control: PID; Nonlinear; Other
- Controller Type: Gas Mass Flow Controller
- Features: Datalogger; Rate Indication/ Control; Totalizing (Length or Roll Diameter) Indication/ Control