Sonotec Ultrasonic Sensor

About Sonotec Ultrasonic Sensor

SONOTEC Ultrasonic Sensor is a leading specialist in ultrasonic measurement technology solution based in Halle (Saale), Germany. With more than 190 employees, SONOTEC develops and manufactures customer-specific ultrasonic transducers, sensors, testing equipment, and measurement technology solutions for Non-Invasive Fluid Monitoring, Preventive Maintenance, and Non-Destructive Testing.

SONOTEC was founded in the beginning of 1991 by the physicists Dr. Santer zur Horst-Meyer and Hans-Joachim Münch and has been owner-managed since then. Since 2013 SONOTEC has established a subsidiary in a sales and service based in Islandia, NY. SONOTEC US is a proud supplier to equipment manufacturers and vaccine manufacturers for project Warp Speed. Since April 2019, Manuela and Michael Münch strengthen the management team of the German family business, Dr. Santer zur Horst-Meyer will still be available as an advisor.

With currently more than 180 employees, today we are a growing technology company established on the market as a provider of products and solutions using ultrasonic measurement technologies.

We offer products and solutions with ultrasound for:

• Non-Invasive Fluid Monitoring
• Preventive Maintenance
• Non-destructive Testing

Together with you, our client, we initially analyse your exact measurement and metering requirements. This enables us to develop optimized ultrasonic solutions to suit your precise needs. We produce high-precision and high-quality equipment at fair prices.  We are able to achieve this because of:

• Our highly-qualified employees in research & development, production and distribution
• Our innovative products
• Our customer-oriented working methods

The Products of Sonotec Ultrasonic Measurement

Non-Invasive Fluid Monitoring

Non-contact liquid measurement on flexible and rigid tubing plays an important role in a large number of applications with highest sterility and hygiene requirements and purity demands. Non-invasive flow meters and air bubble detectors are key components in medical technologies, in bioprocessing applications and are widely used in the semiconductor industry.

Ultrasonic Flow Meter for Flexible and Rigid Plastic Tubing

Ultrasonic flow meters of the SONOFLOW and SEMIFLOW series are designed for effective non-contact flow rate measurement on flexible and rigid plastic tubes. They reliably measure the flow velocity and calculate real time flow rates of the liquids. Switching outputs on the flow meters allow switching on or off external devices such as pumps or valves.

Ultrasonic flow meters of the SONOFLOW and SEMIFLOW series are designed for effective non-contact flow rate measurement on flexible and rigid plastic tubes. They reliably measure the flow velocity and calculate real time flow rates of the liquids. Switching outputs on the flow meters allow switching on or off external

Ultrasonic Clamp-On Flow Meter Prodact model :

SONOFLOW® CO.55 for Flexible Tubes

• Clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter for highly accurate liquid flow measurement – even at low flow rates and dynamic flow rate changes
• Non-contact measurement without any impact on the liquid or cells
• Fast measurement of pulsating and bidirectional flow
• Convenient volume dosing feature
• Integrated electronics, no external electronic board required
• Compact housing for smallest footprint
• The ultrasonic clamp-on flow meter SONOFLOW CO.55 measures the flow rate of liquids in flexible plastic tubing fast and reliably. The non-invasive sensor does not have any contact to the medium and is particularly suited for applications with strict hygienic standards. The clamp-on mounting concept eliminates any risk of contamination or leakage.

SEMIFLOW® CO.65 for Rigid Plastic Tubes & Pipes

• for Non-Contact Flow Measurement on Rigid Plastic
• Highly precise ultrasonic clamp-on flow sensor
• Flow measurement of up to 400 L/min
• Innovative contact-free architecture to eliminate risk of contamination and leakage, thus increasing uptime
• Use at PFA, PTFE or other hard plastic tubes and pipes
• No system downtime in case of sensor exchange or retrofit
• Support of all current industrial interfaces
• SEMIFLOW CO.65 non-contact clamp-on flow sensors are ideal to measure abrasive, adherent, corrosive, and ultra-pure liquids on rigid plastic tubes and pipes used in the semiconductor industry. Equipped with an integrated electronic unit, they function as a complete flow meter in the size of a small transducer without an external board or transmitter.

SEMIFLOW®  CO.66 PI Ex1 For Ex-Areas

• for Non-Contact Flow Measurement on Rigid Plastic Tubes & Pipes
• Excellent Measurement Performance
  • Real-time instantaneous flow measurement and volume totalizing
  • Reliable flow measurement up to 400 L/min
  • Accuracy of +/- 2%
• Technical Sensor Properties
  • Plastic housing (PVC-C) and plastic connector (PA)
  • Screwed lid and flexible inlay for optimal coupling between tube and transducer
• Plug & Play Sensor Fit
  • Integrated electronics board and analysis unit
  • 8 different sensor sizes (¼”, 3/8″, ½”, (¾”), 1″, 1.32“, 40A, 50A OD) for a wide range of tube sizes
  • Ideally suited for PFA and other hard plastic tubes and pipes
• Easy System Integration
  • Easy integration into existing PLC or pump systems via RS-485 interface
  • Optional C³ Software to provide user-friendly sensor operation, configuration and calibration
• SEMIFLOW® Ex1 Set for Zone 1 According to ATEX / IECEx
  • The SEMIFLOW Ex1 Set opens a new product category comprising intrinsically safe SEMIFLOW CO.66
  • PI Ex1 Flow Sensor with control gear Barrier Box ST Ex1 for non-contact liquid flow measurement on rigid plastic tubing in hazardous environments.

Ultrasonic Inlne Flow Meter Prodact model :

SONOFLOW® IL.52 for Precise Measurement of Low Volume Flow Rates in Pipes & Tubes
The SONOFLOW IL.52 sensor is designed for precise, fast and bidirectional measurement of ultra-low flow rates. Due to its instantaneous measuring method with high repetition rates, the ultrasonic inline flow meter is suitable for quick dosing processes and for measuring pulsating flows.

Product Benefits

• Highly accurate measurement of ultra-low flows
• Quick measurement without any time lag
• Independent of colour and electromagnetic characteristics of the liquid
• Instantaneous response time
• No wear and tear
• Sterilizable

SONOFLOW® IL.52 Inline Flow Meter for Highly Accurate Ultra-Low Flow Measurement

• Real-time flow measurement
• Volume dosing / totalizer
• Flow switch for controlling external devices

Robust & Maintenance-Free Sensor Design

Since the sensor is integrated into devices or machines and has direct contact with the medium, the parts in contact with the medium are made of high-grade PEEK material. Thus, the inline sensor is ready for sterilization-in-place (SIP), clean-in-place (CIP), and autoclave applications. In addition, the sensor impresses with its robust design, is wear- and maintenance-free and can be fitted in any position.

Excellent Measuring Performance

The SONOFLOW IL.52 monitors ultra-low flows reliably without being affected by the color and electromagnetic characteristics of the liquid itself:

Ultrasonic Flow-Bubble Sensor

SONOFLOW® CO.56 Pro V2.0 and SONOFLOW® CO.56 for Medical Applications.

The hybrid flow-bubble sensors of the series SONOFLOW CO.56 Pro V2.0 and SONOFLOW CO.56 combine accurate flow measurement and reliable air bubble detection in liquid filled medical tubing. The contactless sensors feature a simple integration and can easily be clamped on the tubing or mounted onto medical devices without any media contact.

The non-invasive sensors meet the very high safety requirements for medical technology. With their integrated electronics and on-board processing unit, the clamp-on sensors have the smallest footprint in the market.

The hybrid sensors have no contact to the medium and measure from the outside of the tubing wall. The implemented electronics board and data processing unit allow an easy integration into the networking architecture of the application. In addition, the RS-485 serial protocol enables to operate and connect up to twelve SONOFLOW CO.56 Pro V2.0 or SONOFLOW CO.56 sensors.

The non-invasive clamp-on system can be easily applied onto microbiologically sensitive applications. Implementation can be either free-hanging or fixed. An optional software tool makes computer-assisted parameterization and visualization of the measured values an easy task. Thus, SONOFLOW CO.56 Pro V2.0 and SONOFLOW CO.56 become a truly flexible measurement tool.

Depending on the application, the sensors are available in aluminum, customer-specific housing dimensions as well as housing materials to support with different tubing sizes.

Electronics & Interfaces

• Built-in electronics board & microprocessor
• RS-485 interface for operating up to 12 sensors

Measuring Principle

• Highly accurate bidirectional flow measurement based on the transit-time principle
• Air bubble detection by means of transmission technology

Product Benefits

Prodact Model :

SONOFLOW® CO.56

Compact Hybrid Sensor for Fixed Mounting onto Medical Devices

The clamp-on sensor SONOFLOW CO.56 measures flow rates and detects air bubbles in liquid filled plastic tubing. The ultrasonic sensor is available in different sizes to cover a wide range of typical tubing diameters and materials. Designed for system integration, the compact sensor can be mounted, e.g., onto perfusion systems, organ transport or robot-assisted surgery devices.

• Manifold sensor sizes for a wide range of tubing
• Sensor design allows for fixed mounting onto medical devices, e.g., organ transport systems
• Integrated electronics

SONOFLOW® CO.56 Pro V2.0

Lightweight Hybrid Sensor for Free-Hanging Installation on the Tubing

SONOFLOW CO.56 Pro V2.0 combines accurate flow measurement and reliable air bubble detection in standard medical tubing. The implemented fail-safe architecture and cyclical self-tests prevent the sensor from any malfunction in order to ensure patient safety and life support. The lightweight ultrasonic sensor is designed to hang on the tube with no need for additional mounting.

• Different sensor sizes for standard medical grade IV tubing sets
• Free-hanging on medical tubing, e.g., extracorporeal life support systems (ECLS)
• Integrated electronics

Ultrasonic Bubble Detector

Ultrasonic Bubble Detector for Medical, Bioprocessing, and Industrial Applications. The smart SONOCHECK air bubble detectors are applied in various fields within the medical industry, the biotech, life sciences and pharmaceutical sector, food and beverage, semiconductor industry or process control and automation. Which particular sensor to choose, depends on the actual application. The sensors can detect bubbles, microbubbles, and air in line; but can also be applied as full / empty and level sensors.

Level Detection Sensor

Level Detection with ultrasonic level sensors for Medical & Industrial Applications, The non-invasive level monitoring of liquids plays an important role in numerous medical applications as well as in industrial processes. Ultrasonic level sensors are used for monitoring the liquid level at medical drip chambers, for full / empty level measurement, especially in thin tubes as well as for droplet-sensitive level detection.

Blood Leak Detector

Optical Clamp-On Sensor BLD for Contactless Detection of Smallest Traces of Human Blood, The optical sensor BLD detects non-invasively smallest amounts of blood in clear fluids on transparent flexible plastic tubing. According to the medical safety standard IEC 60601-2-16:2018, the sensor reliably recognizes 0.35 ml/min of blood at a flow rate of 800 ml/min and a hematocrit level of 32 %. A proven hardware design and advanced algorithms guarantee excellent protection against ambient light.

Preventive Maintenance

In most factories, regular preventive maintenance is performed to reduce machine failures, increase plant availability and to save energy costs. With the multi-purpose ultrasonic testing devices of the SONAPHONE family, many of these tasks can be carried out quickly and efficiently. The operation is simple and extensive trainings are no longer needed.

SONAPHONE Digital Ultrasonic Testing Device for Preventive Maintenance

In the age of Industry 4.0 the optimizing processes, increasing operational safety, and improving energy efficiency are becoming more and more significant. Meet the challenges of Maintenance 4.0 with the new SONAPHONE from SONOTEC. The digital ultrasonic testing device combines innovative sensors and software for preventive maintenance that can be operated intuitively and paves the way for new processes for new applications.

SONASCREEN Acoustic Camera

The handheld acoustic camera SONASCREEN generates acoustic images from both the audible and ultrasound frequency range. The device locates sound sources in real time and displays the results immediately on the screen. Furthermore, the camera provides audible feedback through industrial headphones. We make ultrasound audible and visible.

SONAPHONE Web- & App-Concept

With the SONAPHONE Web & App Concept, we offer software solutions that are precisely tailored to your respective ultrasonic applications in preventive maintenance. Choose between the general LevelMeter app, and the application specific apps LeakExpert for leak detection and SteamExpert for testing steam traps at the ultrasonic testing device SONAPHONE.

The PC software SONAPHONE DataSuite is used to store, analyze and manage the ultrasonic tests. It is the central data hub for all measurement data recorded. The software suite is available in three versions (Viewer, Desktop and Server) as well as the special SteamExpert module.

Stationary Sensor Box S-SB10 for Online Monitoring of Processes and Machines

The S-SB10 can be operated with both airborne and structure-borne sound probes. This allows very versatile conditions and processes to be monitored. For example, airborne ultrasound can be used to detect turbulent flows of gases at leakages as well as partial discharge processes at electrical systems. Both processes generate high-frequency ultrasonic signals.

SONAPHONE-E ATEX Certificated for the Use in Areas With Risk of Explosion

Due to its intrinsically safe construction, the SONAPHONE E is suitable for the use in the most hazardous areas and potentially explosive atmospheres. In addition to the reliable location of compressed air and gas leaks, the ultrasonic testing device is also suitable for tightness testing of various systems, wear control on rotating machinery and providing evidence of partial electrical discharges where there is insulation damage. The checking of steam traps and valves is another application covered by the handheld device.

SONAPHONE Pocket Compact Ultrasonic Testing Device for Preventive Maintenance

Numerous preventive maintenance tasks can be handled quickly and efficiently with the SONAPHONEPocket. Lower your energy costs and increase your operational safety with the most compact testing device of the SONAPHONE series. The device is perfectly suited for:

• Leak detection on compressed air systems
• Condition monitoring
• Detection of partial discharges
• Tightness testing

SONAPHONE T & SONOSPHERE Adjustable Ultrasonic Transmitter for the Reliable Detection of Leaks

The mobile ultrasonic transmitter SONAPHONE T is used for the quick and reliable detection of leaks in windows, doors, cabins, vehicles and containers that have sealing surfaces or profile rubber seals. In connection with an ultrasonic testing device from the SONAPHONE series, efficient tightness testing is possible with very little effort. The simple functional principle does not require extensive training of personnel, nor does it entail any follow-up costs.

Non-Destructive Testing

Ultrasonic testing (UT) is one of the most important non-destructive testing (NDT) methods. Our ultrasonic testing gauges and transducers are mainly used for  thickness measurements, flaw detection, and weld seam testing.

Ultrasonic testing reliably detects voids, inclusions, and other factors that reduce quality and durability. In addition, signs of wear and corrosion on storage tanks, containers, pipes, and pipelines as well as machines and components can be detected quickly and accurately. Thus, ultrasonic testing makes a considerable contribution to quality assurance and to the prevention of accidents.

In addition to conventional UT gauges and probes, SONOTEC has developed an innovative non-contact ultrasonic inspection system. SONOAIR enables contact-free inspections of highly damping materials such as modern fibre composites (GFRP and CFRP), ceramics, honeycomb structures, and many more by means of air-coupled ultrasound.

Ultrasonic Flaw Detectors for NDT

Ultrasonic flaw detection is used for the detection of inherent defects such as cracks, inclusions, or other discontinuities in metals, plastics, ceramics and composite materials. Another widespread application in ultrasonic NDT is weld seam testing.

Thickness Gauges for NDT

Wall thickness measurement as part of Non-destructive Testing is one of the most common uses of ultrasonic technologies. In addition to the classic measurement of wall thickness as part of quality control, our precise wall thickness gauges can also be used to detect damage caused by erosion and corrosion on, for example, ships, storage tanks, pipelines, and cranes. We have a variety of versions of our devices for all types of applications.

Non-Contact Ultrasonic Testing Laboratory Testing System for Air-Coupled Ultrasonic Inspections

Our non-contact ultrasonic SONOAIR Technology enables measurements on highly attenuating materials that were hardly or not at all testable with water-coupled ultrasonic testing. This allows ultrasonic non-destructive testing of state-of-the-art fiber composites, such as GFRP and CFRP, or even highly damping honeycomb structures, which are used primarily in modern lightweight construction.

SONOSCAN Ultrasonic Probes

Our ultrasonic transducers have outstanding acoustic properties thanks to our highly flexible SONOTEC piezo-composite technology. To ensure that we can always supply our products in line with the latest technological standards, our ultrasonic sensor development team works closely with research institutions such as the “Forschungszentrum Ultraschall“ (FZ-U, German Ultrasound Research Centre).

Customized Ultrasonic Probes and Transducers

For 30 years, we have been producing customized ultrasonic transducers at our headquarters in Halle (Saale) with an output of currently 150.000 ultrasonic probes per year. We supply our customers with tailor-made, holistic solutions for a variety of industries and testing applications.

• Railway Inspections
• Pipeline Corrosion Inspection (Smart Pigs)
• Sheet Metal Inspection
• High Temperature UT
• Phases Array Testing
• SONOSCAN CFC/CF Probes for Non-Contact Ultrasonic Testing
• SONOSCAN Ultrasonic Immersion Probes
• Ultrasonic Probes

Source : www.sonotec.eu

Read More Articles :

• Trafag Sensors and Monitoring
• Ascon Tecnologic control and automation
• Gefran – Sensors Automations and Motion Control
• ZIMM Screw Jack Systems
• Panametrics Flare Gas Measurement & Flow Meter