Rummel RWFR160 e-flow: from indicator to record
The RWFR160 e-flow is a flow regulator that keeps the body and connection design of the mechanical RWFR160 and moves the measurement to electronics. Flow and temperature are measured by sensor in every circuit, shown circuit by circuit on a 7" touchscreen and recorded. A mechanical indicator needs the operator to look at it; the e-flow reports the circuit that goes out of limits by itself. This difference is decisive on lines that run unattended and at shift changes.
Measuring principle: vortex, no moving parts
In the e-flow, the flow is measured with a vortex piezoceramic sensor element. The frequency of the vortices that form behind an obstacle placed in the flow is proportional to the flow, and the piezoceramic element detects these vortices. The sensor has no rotating or sliding parts; there is no problem like float-type indicators that become dirty and stick over time. Temperature measurement is integrated in the same sensor.
Manual circuit control, electronic monitoring
The flow is still adjusted with manual shut-off ball valves in each circuit; the e-flow does not adjust the flow itself — it measures, compares with the limit and reports. If automatic proportional control is required, FlowCon does this job.
Screen and software functions
- Current flow and temperature value of each circuit
- Adjustable flow and temperature limits per circuit
- Recording and evaluation of flow and temperature
- Display of out-of-limit events at the circuit concerned
- Storage of mold parameters and alarm history
- Transmission of alarms to the injection molding machine
- 7" touchscreen on a swivel arm in a powder-coated housing
- Control board in a powder-coated housing
Storing the mold parameters means the correct limit values are recalled when the same mold is mounted again; the setting is no longer left to memory at a mold change.
Interfaces
RS-232, RS-485, TTY 20 mA and OPC UA. With OPC UA, flow and temperature data can be passed to production tracking and MES systems.
Technical data
| Feature | Value |
|---|
| Circuit control | Manual shut-off ball valves |
| Measuring principle | Vortex – piezoceramic sensor element |
| Measuring range | 1.0–18 L/min |
| Main distribution connection | 1" female thread |
| Mold circuit connection | 1/2" female thread |
| Material | Parts in contact with the medium in stainless steel and brass |
| Seal | FKM (Viton) |
| Medium | Water |
| Max. temperature | 160 °C |
| Max. operating pressure | 15 bar |
| Number of circuits | 2–12 |
Why is measuring more important than the alarm?
In a mold circuit, flow is rarely cut off all at once; scale and deposits narrow the channel cross-section over months. As the flow drops, the mold surface in that zone heats up, the cycle time quietly grows and the part starts to warp in one area. Because the e-flow raises an alarm when the limit value is exceeded, the problem is noticed before scrap parts are produced; the recorded data also show which circuit has been deteriorating and since when.
Body options
Brass manifold bar in the standard design, stainless steel bar in the compact design; 2 to 12 circuits. If you want to convert your existing mechanical regulators to electronics, the Flow Control retrofit kit is an alternative for applications up to 90 °C.
