UK-based sensor developer Sentronics has announced a partnership with testing system supplier Horiba UK to launch its next-generation ultrasonic fuel flow meter, dubbed the Horiba RealFlow: Powered by Sentronics, for the automotive industry.
The company states that the sensor provides true under-hood installation and real-time measurement of fuel consumption for automotive validation and verification test applications. With an improved flow measurement accuracy of ±0.5% over an expanded turndown range of 1000:1 it offers unrivalled performance compared to its predecessor. The RealFlow is equipped to measure ultra-low fuel flow rates found in high-efficiency road car engines, but in the same small package.
Neville Meech, MD at Sentronics, said, “We are delighted to partner with Horiba UK to launch the RealFlow to their automotive distribution network. Leveraging Horiba’s extensive global presence, sales support network and their automotive test instrument expertise, our collaboration ensures our low flow fuel meters are more widely accessible through the Horiba sales channel.”
Sentronics’ fuel flow measurement equipment has set the gold standard in competitive motorsport over the last half decade and is mandated in both Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship for regulation-based fuel flow monitoring. Sentronics says that its new low-flow variant presents an opportunity for vehicle test houses to unlock the same high levels of accuracy, reliability and repeatability.
The sensor uses digital processing techniques within the instrument to measure time of flight with levels of precision commonly associated with bulky, expensive laboratory equipment. With no restrictions on mounting orientation, the small, robust RealFlow is well-suited for direct installation in any engine bay making it an ideal tool for R&D and emissions testing to the RDE and WLTP standards.
Horiba UK already provides a variety of testing products, technologies, solutions and services to vehicle manufacturers. The company states that the launch of the RealFlow now adds the capability of precision fuel consumption measurement for on-vehicle testing and perfectly complements its OBS-ONE Portable Emission Equipment that measures engine/vehicle performance under real road conditions.
