Several features required by municipal customers prevented the Dura Mag from widespread adoption in drinking water and wastewater applications, including the concern for water intrusion in buried installations. However, those issues are about to be addressed as McCrometer is preparing to launch the Dura Mag with expanded capabilities this year so water utilities can take advantage of its benefits.
Key Changes
Until now, the Dura Mag wasn’t a serious contender for municipal use because of the need for a remote mounted converter to provide for the needs of municipal applications. Based on this feedback, remote mounting of the converter will become standard — with the ability for wall- or pole-mounting — for meters that may need to be buried or submerged. This protects the electronics of the meter without sacrificing output.
Being able to install the Dura Mag in applications that may be flooded, such as vaults or other underground locations, bridges a significant gap in municipal water applications.
Customer feedback also influenced other changes to the converter, including:
- Expanding the screen to nearly three times its current size to address difficulty in reading while allowing more information to be displayed
- Adding a feature so the lid will more reliably stay open during troubleshooting in the field or when simply attempting to view the meter
- Adding a 4-20mA loop power as an option to battery power, which also enables existing AMI/AMR outputs to be more user-friendly because of the AC power option
The new Dura Mag will also begin using a standard USB cable for programming to eliminate the need to hunt for a proprietary cable while in the field. A button on the existing converter that was problematic for ease of use is also being removed to provide a better customer interface.
Internal research and development had been ongoing since the Dura Mag’s introduction, but last fall McCrometer officials ramped up efforts to bring the expanded features to market. The product is currently in beta testing with a small group of customers and is expected to be launched mid-2021.
A Solid Foundation
Electromagnetic meters have increasingly become the instrument of choice for municipal utility and industrial water measurement applications where highly accurate flow measurement is critical. Also known as mag meters, these devices contain no moving parts, so they are both reliable and virtually maintenance-free.
However, if a mag meter’s liner is torn or delaminates, it can lead to serious problems and major expenses. The Dura Mag features McCrometer’s patented UltraLiner, a fusion-bonded epoxy with an expected 20+ year lifespan that provides improved electrical insulation and protection against corrosion and abrasion.
With a five-year battery life, including a five-year battery warranty, the Dura Mag also eliminates the need for AC power connection (although it is now an option) and provides a streamlined installation process for a flanged flow meter. The batteries can be replaced in the field in just minutes without any special tools.
The Dura Mag’s new converter fully integrates the electronics and sensor and is calibrated as a comprehensive unit. This redesign builds on McCrometer’s existing proprietary features, including the fusion-bonded epoxy liner, all of which contribute to the Dura Mag’s long lifespan, low maintenance, and accuracy of up to ±1 percent.
The new converter features also make the Dura Mag an economical alternative to other flanged mag meters on the market that are often used in municipal settings. Those who don’t need a full suite of features — such as optional Modbus and Hart outputs or a greater precision of up to ±0.5 percent — can take advantage of the cost savings of the Dura Mag, which can be as much as 40 percent or more. One restriction is that the Dura Mag is available in line sizes from 2” to 12”. Those wanting larger line sizes can look to the Ultra Mag as a solution, as that meter accommodates line sizes up to 48”.
Other Dura Mag specifications include minimal upstream and downstream straight pipe requirements for most installations, operation over a flow range of 20 to 10,000 gallons per minute, and an internal datalogger with five years of data storage to ensure there is always access to historical data.
Other Benefits
McCrometer manufactures its Dura Mag meter, which is significant because the in-house electronic development means adding more technical capabilities and options to the converter in the future will be a streamlined process. And with the rearrangement of the internal configuration of the converter to create additional space, more room for additional smart outputs is available, so a redesign of the enclosure won’t be necessary. Currently, the Dura Mag offers Sensus and Itron protocols.
While most meter manufacturers don’t perform wet testing, all McCrometer meters are wet calibrated in its NIST-traceable, ISO 17025-certified flow lab to ensure specifications match the actual conditions in the field. During this process, McCrometer calibrates both the meter and converter, along with cable and sensing tube, at the same time to ensure the most accurate performance.
Dura Mag also has a two-day lead time from order to shipment.
The Dura Mag’s new converter is a result of McCrometer listening to the needs of customers and making continual product improvements to ensure its meters are the most appropriate and long-term solution for the toughest of flow applications, accuracy requirements, and metering projects. This is just one of many product improvements that water professionals can expect in the coming years.
McCrometer is launching the new Dura Mag converter as the latest product in the ProComm series.
Memphis Huff V, Product Manager for McCrometer’s electromagnetic meters product line, inspects new Dura Mag meters. Courtesy of McCrometer.
