Increase Lab Efficiency: Control Multiple Gases with One Mass Flow Controller

Sierra's Smart-Trak 50 Series Mass Flow Controller Now Available in 316 SS & for Higher Flows to 200 slpm

SIERRA INSTRUMENTS INTRODUCES NEW PROGRAMMABLE CONTROL MODULE (COMPOD™) FOR DIGITAL MASS FLOW METERS & CONTROLLERS

May 05 2009

Sierra Instruments, a world leading manufacturer of mass flow meters and controllers, announces its new programmable control module, the Compod™.
With its advanced capabilities, the Compod™, coupled with Sierra’s Smart-Trak® mass flow meters (MFM’s) and controllers (MFC’s) greatly simplifies basic flow control installations and permits networking of multiple instruments using open-source MODBUS RTU protocol. By adding the Compod™ module to new or existing Smart-Trak® MFM’s or MFC’s, end users can take complete control of:

Gas mixing and blending
Gas ratio control
Simple batch processes
Triggering alarms
Starting or stopping gas flows automatically under user-defined conditions
Gas flow totalization
And many more…

The Compod™ mounts to most Sierra Smart-Trak® 100 Series converting the instruments’ internal RS-232 communications into multi-drop RS-485/MODBUS RTU. With MODBUS, multiple instruments can be daisy-chained over a single network. When used with a PLC or master computer, each instrument equipped with Compod™ becomes a node on the MODBUS network, capable of sending and receiving data, and commands. Even complex process control systems can be automated with the power of Compod™ and Sierra’s Smart-Trak® 100 Series.

Users can utilize Sierra’s provided software or write proprietary software using open-source MODBUS protocol to configure standard functions for the Smart-Trak® 100 Series. Compod’s two digital output channels and the analog input channel and a configurable pulse output channel can automate gas processes without the need for an external PLC or computer. Compod™ also monitors the functionality of the mass flow meter or controller and includes diagnostics, notifying users of faults or system upsets.

With all of the above features, Compod™ can perform the same functions as much more complex control systems at a fraction of the cost, so using Compod™ and a Smart-Trak is smart in more ways than one.