salar
Well-Known Member
Has anyone any experience of using one of these? I am interested in the diesel version. A mate has just bought the multi engine petrol version but not installed it yet.
Flowrecs fuel monitoring system
- Thread starter salar
- Start date
RichardS
N/A
The first thing to do is check the flow rates that can be monitored accurately. It is usually the case that the fuel flow rate with yacht auxiliary engines is so low that it won't monitor accurately, assuming that is the type of engine you have.
Richard
rogerthebodger
Well-Known Member
Do you have a link to the system you quoted
salar
Well-Known Member
It is for a 260hp Yanmar. Flow rates on variour Flowtrecs go from 0.5lph to 100lph (yikes).
Www.flowtrecs.com and ebay.
Www.flowtrecs.com and ebay.
PCUK
Well-Known Member
Any idea of the cost for the diesel version?
Ah, £331. Sounds good at that price.
Ah, £331. Sounds good at that price.
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salar
Well-Known Member
A bit less if you contact them direct Via their web site.
superheat6k
Well-Known Member
I would rather spend the cash on a fuel refill and a note book.
The big problem with diesel fuel flow systems is even a small sensor inaccuracy (e.g. 5%) can cause significant inaccuracy in the specific fuel flow calculation (> 20%) because the fuel flow rates (including spill return) and burn rates vary considerably between idle, cruise and full power.
I can show you the simple maths that explain this if necessary for flow sensors that are 5% accurate, and for flow sensors 5% is likely as good as you will ever get, and even then this will vary across the flow rate range.
The only relatively reliable mode is where the fuel flow is assessed on a modern common rail engine from the actual fuel admission used to control the engine power.
This is why the vast majority of us do not try to calculate fuel flow rate, and an hour run meter, log and record of fuel purchased will allow a far more accurate assessment relative to boat speed.
The big problem with diesel fuel flow systems is even a small sensor inaccuracy (e.g. 5%) can cause significant inaccuracy in the specific fuel flow calculation (> 20%) because the fuel flow rates (including spill return) and burn rates vary considerably between idle, cruise and full power.
I can show you the simple maths that explain this if necessary for flow sensors that are 5% accurate, and for flow sensors 5% is likely as good as you will ever get, and even then this will vary across the flow rate range.
The only relatively reliable mode is where the fuel flow is assessed on a modern common rail engine from the actual fuel admission used to control the engine power.
This is why the vast majority of us do not try to calculate fuel flow rate, and an hour run meter, log and record of fuel purchased will allow a far more accurate assessment relative to boat speed.
vas
Well-Known Member
[sorry for the slight OT]
Trevor,
you made a similar comment on the other thread I mentioned/asked for decent quality fuel flow sensors. I'm not disputing your argument at all, I just wonder if technology changes have improved things at all over the last couple of years.
I see some elliptical toothed sensors that to me sound like a very accurate way of measuring fuel. I haven't got the faintest idea if these things are old tech, or new, and what the allegedly masters (Floscan) use. However I do see some sensors as being accurate to a lot under 1% and with some other specs that sound quality and accuracy, sorry not got time to go through my bookmarks and post, will do over the w/e if I manage to find some time.
So my question is, are we still in the 5% accuracy range, or new tech drops us down to 1% and with fuel temp compensation we may have some decent solutions?
Remember, I just want the sensors and I'll wire them up on my arduino and then see what I pump out of the N2K bus (also having relatively accurate fuel level monitoring...)
cheers
V.
PCUK
Well-Known Member
Superheat is missing the point of flow meters; being able to adjust throttles settings in real time for best performance/fuel cost as well as problem notifications if fuel consumption becomes higher than normal. My Flowscan was very useful.
