
IM-S65-01-US Issue 1
6
Thermal Mass Flowmeter and Temperature Transmitter MTI10 Insertion and MTL10 Inline
Thank you for purchasing the Spirax Sarco MTI10 insertion or MTL10 inline Thermal Mass Gas
Flowmeter and Temperature Transmitter. The Model MTI10/MTL10 is one of the most technically
advanced owmeters in the world. The MTI10/MTL10 utilize the same sensor and electronics. The
MTL10 includes a company supplied ow tube, while the MTI10 is inserted into an existing pipe.
Extensive engineering eort has been invested to deliver advanced features, accuracy measurement
performance and outstanding reliability.
This Instruction Manual contains the electrical and mechanical installation instructions as well as
details for programming, maintaining and troubleshooting the meter.
This manual is divided into the following sections: Introduction, Installation, Wiring, Operation,
Calibration Validation, Modbus, Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Appendices.
1.1 Theory of operation
The MTI10/MTL10 is an innovative Thermal Mass Gas Flowmeter and Temperature Transmitter. It is
microprocessor-based and eld programmable. The MTI10/MTL10 thermal sensor operates on the
law that gases absorb heat. A heated sensor placed in an air or gas stream transfers heat in proportion
to the stream’s mass velocity. There are two sensor elements connected to a balanced bridge circuit.
One sensor element detects the gas temperature and a second element is maintained at a constant
temperature above the gas temperature. The energy applied to the heated sensor to maintain a
constant temperature dierential (constant ∆ T) is directly proportional to the mass ow velocity. The
M TI10/ M T L10 o w m et e r ma i n t a i ns a c c u r ate ow m e a su r e m e nt ove r a l a rge t empe r a t u r e a n d p r e s s u r e
range.
1.2 Mass flow
The Model MTI10/MTL10 measures mass ow; an advantage over other owmeters which measure
volumetric ow rate. Volumetric ow is incomplete because temperature and pressure are unknown
and must be measured separately. For example, the mass ow of a gas depends on its temperature
and pressure.
As temperature and pressure changes, the gas volume changes but not its mass. Therefore a device
measur ing mass ow is independent of temperature and pressure. The Model MTI10/MTL10 provides
a direct measurement of gas ow in Mass units (kg/hr, lb/hr), standard units (SCFM, SLPM) or normal
units (NM3/hr, NLPM) with no additional temperature or pressure measurements required.
1.3 Calibration validation
Spirax Sarco has developed a method to validate the calibration of the owmeter in the eld. This
method is called Calibration Validation and it is made up of two distinct tests: CAL-V™ and Zero CAL-
CHECK®. The goal of Calibration Validation is to provide operators with the ability to verify that the
meter is capturing accurate data at scheduled recalibration times - or at any time - instead of sending
the meter back to the factory for recalibration.
By p er form ing CA L-V™ in th e el d, o pe rator s c an veri f y t hat the m ete r i s r un nin g acc ur ate ly by test in g
the functionality of the sensor and its associated signal processing circuitry. This test can be done in
the pipe and in normal processing conditions. The second test, Zero CAL-CHECK®, ensures the
eectiveness and sensibility of the sensor at a "no ow" condition.
1. Introduction