Flow control valve assembly with Endress+Hauser Proline Prowirl D 200 vortex flowmeter and Cerabar PMP50 pressure transmitter

The Endress+Hauser Cerabar PMP50 is a high-performance, digital pressure transmitter designed for demanding process applications where exceptional accuracy, robust safety, and reliable communication are paramount. It represents a step above the more basic PMP43 model, offering advanced features for critical measurement points in a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, chemical, pharmaceutical, and power generation.

At the heart of the Cerabar PMP50 lies Endress+Hauser's proven and highly stable ceramic capacitive sensor, specifically the "Ceracore" sensor. This core technology is the source of the "Cerabar" name. The sensor consists of a fixed ceramic base body and a thin, flexible ceramic diaphragm, forming a capacitive cell. Process pressure acts directly on the diaphragm, causing it to deflect minutely. This deflection changes the capacitance between the diaphragm and the base electrode. The integrated electronics measure this change in capacitance with extreme precision and convert it into a highly accurate digital pressure reading. Ceramic is chosen for its exceptional material properties: it is extremely hard, highly resistant to corrosion and abrasion from aggressive media, and is immune to hysteresis, ensuring long-term stability and minimal drift over time.

1. Exceptional Accuracy and Stability: The PMP50 is renowned for its high accuracy, typically as good as ±0.1% of the calibrated span. The ceramic sensor's inherent stability ensures this performance is maintained over a long lifecycle, reducing the need for frequent recalibration and minimizing measurement uncertainty.

2. Safety and Reliability: This transmitter is often certified for use in functional safety applications according to SIL 2 (Safety Integrity Level) as per IEC 61508/IEC 61511 standards. This makes it suitable for safety instrumented systems (SIS) where it can perform critical safety functions like overpressure protection. Its robust, all-welded stainless steel housing offers high ingress protection (IP66/67) and is designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions.

3. Advanced Diagnostics and Self-Monitoring: The integrated electronics provide comprehensive diagnostic capabilities. The device continuously monitors its own health and the process conditions. It can detect potential issues such as sensor module failures, electronics failures, and even blocked impulse lines through its "Heartbeat Technology" diagnostics, allowing for predictive maintenance and preventing unscheduled downtime.

4. Digital Communication and Configuration: The PMP50 supports a standard 4...20 mA analog output with simultaneous digital communication via the HART protocol (Version 7). Furthermore, it is available with PROFIBUS PA and FOUNDATION Fieldbus digital interfaces, making it fully compatible with modern digital process control and asset management systems. Configuration is simple using the local pushbuttons and clear display or via a hand-held communicator or plant asset management software like Endress+Hauser's FieldCare.

5. Versatility in Applications: The PMP50 is designed to measure gauge pressure (PMP51), absolute pressure (PMP55), and can be configured for level measurement in tanks and vessels. It handles a wide range of process media, from clean gases and water to highly viscous, corrosive, or abrasive liquids. Its performance also makes it an excellent choice for precise pressure measurement in demanding steam applications.

• Pressure and level measurement in chemical reactors and distillation columns.

• Critical safety-related pressure monitoring in oil and gas pipelines and platforms.

• Precise pressure control in pharmaceutical and biotech processes.

• Steam header pressure monitoring in power plants.

• Filter and pump monitoring.

The Endress+Hauser Cerabar PMP50 is far more than just a pressure meter; it is a sophisticated and intelligent field instrument. Its combination of a robust ceramic sensor, high accuracy, advanced diagnostics, and support for major digital bus systems makes it a premium, future-proof solution for engineers who require dependable and safe process data for their most critical applications. It is the instrument of choice where measurement integrity is non-negotiable.