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『Diesel Fuel Flow Meter NMEA 2000: Vessel Electronic CAN Bus Integration』Related information(clamp on meter|electromagnetic meter|venturi meterrotameter|orifice meter|ultrasonic flow meter|mass flow meter|coriolis mass flow meter|coriolis flow meter|magnetic flow meter|magmeter flow meter|magflow flow meter|mag meter flow meter|electromagnetic flow meter|vortex flow meter|turbine flow meter|thermal mass flow meter|thermal flow meter|rotameter flow meter)
Diesel Fuel Flow Meter with NMEA 2000 for Vessel CAN Bus Integration
Quick Answer: A diesel fuel flow meter with NMEA 2000 sends fuel rate, total fuel used, and fuel temperature straight to a vessel CAN bus network. Silver Automation Instruments offers oval gear diesel flow meters with NMEA 2000 output for main engines, auxiliary engines, and gensets. Typical accuracy is plus or minus 0.5 percent of reading for flow ranges from 0.5 to 600 liters per hour depending on pipe size.
Why Vessel Operators Add NMEA 2000 Diesel Flow Meters
Diesel consumption data matters on workboats, fishing vessels, and crew transfer vessels. Owners and skippers want to know burn rate per engine, total fuel used per trip, and fuel left in the day tank. Analog gauges cannot send data to a chart plotter or engine room display. NMEA 2000 fixes that because it is a shared CAN bus network. The meter becomes a data source on the same backbone as GPS, depth, and engine temperature.
Here is the thing. Many fishing vessels in Southeast Asia still rely on mechanical fuel gauges. The skipper estimates fuel burn from engine hours. That estimate can be off by 10 to 20 percent. A digital flow meter with NMEA 2000 output removes the guess. The flow meter sends data over the vessel backbone at 250 kbit/s. Chart plotters from Simrad, Garmin, and Furuno can display fuel rate when the device is configured correctly.
Oval Gear Meter Hardware for Marine Diesel
Diesel fuel is thin. Viscosity at 20 °C is usually 2 to 6 cP. An oval gear meter handles this range well because the moving rotors create a positive displacement signal. Slip is low. Accuracy stays stable even at 0.5 L/h on small generator sets. For main engine supply lines from DN15 to DN40, Silver Automation Instruments offers an aluminum body oval gear meter with FKM seals. The same meter can be supplied with a reed switch or Hall effect pulse output. The NMEA 2000 module converts the pulse signal to CAN bus messages.
Do not install a turbine meter on a dirty diesel line without a strainer. We have seen this on customer sites many times. Solid particles from old tanks score turbine blades and destroy repeatability. Oval gear meters still need a 60 mesh strainer, but they handle small debris better than turbine meters. For a separate fuel temperature signal, a PT100 sensor can be built into the meter body. For hazardous zone fuel lines, ask for an ATEX Zone 1 certified pulse head.
NMEA 2000 PGN Data and CAN Bus Wiring
NMEA 2000 runs on CAN bus at 250 kbit/s. The diesel flow meter uses a standard DeviceNet Micro-C connector. Typical power draw is under 2 mA for the pulse head and NMEA 2000 gateway module. The gateway reads pulse frequency and calculates fuel rate. It then broadcasts PGN 127489 Engine Parameters Dynamic. This PGN includes fuel rate in liters per hour. The same gateway can report total fuel used through a manufacturer specific PGN. Silver Instruments configures the meter scaling in the factory according to the K factor stamped on the meter body.
On a twin engine vessel, use two meters, one on each supply line. Do not measure only the return line. Diesel engines return hot fuel to the tank. You need supply and return meters. The NMEA 2000 display then calculates net burn rate as supply minus return. This is the method used on many 24 meter crew boats in West Africa.
Installation
Mount the meter below the day tank level if possible. This keeps the meter flooded and prevents air lock. A bypass line around the meter is useful for maintenance. Use shut-off valves on both sides. For engine supply lines with vibration, install flexible hose connections. Rigid pipe transfers vibration to the meter rotors and reduces bearing life.
Fuel temperature in an engine room can reach 50 °C. Standard FKM seals are fine for that. For return fuel temperature near 80 °C, specify a meter with PTFE or metal wetted parts. Silver Automation Instruments can supply meters for diesel, biodiesel blends up to B20, and MGO. But tell us the fuel type when you request a quote. Some rubber seals fail in biodiesel blends above B20.
How to Specify a Diesel Flow Meter with NMEA 2000
Send us these details to get a workable quote: pipe size (DN10, DN15, DN20, DN25, DN40), maximum flow rate in liters per hour, minimum flow rate, fuel type, NMEA 2000 network voltage (12 or 24 V DC), and display brand if needed. Silver Automation Instruments supplies the diesel flow meter and NMEA 2000 gateway as a set. The gateway is preloaded with the meter K factor. If your vessel already has a flow computer, we can also supply the meter with a raw pulse output. If your engine room PLC uses 4-20 mA HART, we can supply the meter with that output instead of NMEA 2000.
Contact Silver Automation Instruments at Tel +86-135-1213-1526 or Whatsapp 86-135-12131526. For WeChat, use +86 13512131526. Tell us your engine power in kW or hp, pipe size in DN, and fuel flow range in liters per hour. We will respond with a model, accuracy curve, and lead time.
FAQ
Can I connect the diesel flow meter to any NMEA 2000 display?
Most displays that support PGN 127489 can show fuel rate. Simrad, Garmin, Lowrance, and Furuno are common. You need to set the device instance and data source correctly in the display menu. Silver Instruments supplies a configuration note with each meter.
What happens if the meter is installed after a lift pump?
Pulsating flow from a diaphragm pump can affect low flow stability. Install the meter after a steady feed pump or use a pulse damper. Oval gear meters work best with a flooded inlet and a small back pressure.
Do I need two meters for a diesel engine with return flow?
Yes. Most marine diesel engines return a large portion of fuel to the tank. A single supply meter overestimates burn rate. Use supply and return meters and subtract the return volume in the display or flow computer.
What maintenance is needed on the oval gear diesel flow meter?
Clean the 60 mesh strainer once per month on dirty fuel systems. Check the pressure drop across the meter every 500 hours. If the pressure drop exceeds 0.5 bar on a DN15 line, clean the strainer. If the pressure drop still rises, inspect the measuring chamber. The bearings are sealed and normally do not need lubrication.
Can I order the diesel flow meter with a plain pulse output first and add NMEA 2000 later?
Yes. The Silver Automation Instruments diesel flow meter can be supplied with a raw pulse, 4 to 20 mA, or NMEA 2000 output. If you start with a pulse meter, you can add the NMEA 2000 gateway later. We keep the K factor records for every serial number.