A close-up view of a car engine compartment showing various metal and plastic components, including a silver cover, wires, and a black box Sentronics flow meter labelled

Fuel Consumption Measurement

Accurate, reliable real-world fuel flow data for low-consumption combustion engines, with a compact design allowing for simple, quick vehicle-to-testbed portability.

Key Benefits

FlowSonic allows true ‘real world’ fuel consumption performance to be understood. Here are just a few of the major benefits:

Image of a grey Sentronics flow meter with connected cabling and hoses, installed within a car engine compartment among other engine parts, with the edge of the image darkened to highlight the device.

Measurement at Point of Consumption

FlowSonic can be easily installed on a vehicle close to the fuel rail and injectors. By measuring at the point of consumption, measurement errors introduced by additional pipework are eliminated.

Image of a white car being tested in a specialist emissions testing laboratory surrounded by testing equipment, including a flexible pipe connected to the car's exhaust.

Lab-Standard Performance

FlowSonic brings laboratory levels of precision and stability to road testing, with a class-leading 500:1 turndown ratio and 2kHz measurement rate for high-resolution dynamic flow data.

Person working on emissions testing equipment inside the boot of a Ford Focus with a black and white pattern, parked in a testing workshop.

Data Reconciliation

FlowSonic facilitates easy reconciliation of laboratory and road test fuel consumption data, as mandated by the latest RDE and WLTP testing procedures.

A top-down view of a car engine compartment showing various metal and plastic components, including pipes, wires, a silver cover, and a Sentronics flow meter.

Bench to Vehicle Portability

FlowSonic’s compact size, low weight and solid-state design offer unprecedented versatility. It can be installed in any orientation and can be transferred between vehicle and test bed in minutes.

Image of a FlowSonic GT Sentronics flow meter with a red plate, black fittings, and yellow caps, resting on a metallic surface with a blurred green and white background.

Cost-Effective Solution

Compared to traditional laboratory equipment, FlowSonic is a truly low-cost instrument, delivering a cost-effective solution to on-vehicle consumption measurement.

A close-up of a computer chip mounted on a green circuit board, showcasing intricate connections and electronic components.

Configurable Output Formats

FlowSonic offers data communication options to suit your existing test system, with CAN, digital TTL pulse, and analogue outputs all available.

Low-angle shot of a silver car on an tarmac road with a solid white line, with a blurred background of green hills and trees.

Real World Fuel Consumption Measurement

New legislation brings increased focus on passenger car and commercial vehicle emissions, underlining the need to close the gap between test bench and real-world drive cycle measurement of fuel consumption and vehicle emissions.

Lab-based measurement systems are too large to be fitted to vehicles for dynamic tests, yet conventional on-board measurement equipment is not sufficiently accurate.

Sentronics’ technology makes it possible for the first time to use the same device on the bench and on the road, immediately meeting the future requirements for the convergence of bench and road results in order to understand true ‘real world’ engine efficiency.

Dynamic Lab-Grade Fuel Consumption Measurement

The Sentronics FlowSonic has been developed specifically for in-vehicle fuel flow measurement. FlowSonic is a true plug-and-play device intended to work in harmony with existing laboratory testing equipment.

Reference values can be collected on the engine test bed, and the device can be disconnected and installed on the vehicle for dynamic tests in a matter of minutes. FlowSonic represents a new era for in-vehicle fuel consumption measurement, with performance and installation flexibility unmatched by any other device.

A line graph showing the calibration performance of FlowSonic® LF, with error percentage on the Y-axis and nominal mass flow on the X-axis, illustrating accuracy within ±0.5% over a 500:1 turndown ratio.

Breakthrough Ultrasonic Measurement Technology

Until now, ultrasonic flow meters have struggled to match the levels of accuracy and repeatability required by engine developers.

FlowSonic represents a breakthrough in ultrasonic measurement technology, employing innovative digital processing techniques to measure time of flight with unprecedented accuracy. It achieves the level of precision and stability typically associated with bulky, expensive laboratory equipment, yet is small and light enough to install in any engine bay.

FlowSonic also incorporates full flow conditioning within its compact body, eliminating any need for lengthy custom fuel lines as part of the installation. It is unaffected by mounting orientation and maintains its accuracy and repeatability when subjected to pulsating flow and vibration.

Image of a blue Sentronics flow meter with connected cabling and hoses, installed within a car engine compartment among other engine parts.
Image of Sentronics' Rigflow and FlowSonic flow sensors are on top of the pit lane wall at a racetrack with a blurred race car.

Automotive

How HORIBA UK leveraged Sentronics’ FlowSonic® LF for enhanced PEMS testing

HORIBA UK, an automotive validation technology manufacturer, turned to Sentronics to deliver a portable fuel flow meter to complement their Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) testing product

Automotive

Loughborough University Advanced Fuel Consumption Measurement Technology Enables Pioneering Engine Research

Sentronics’ FlowSonic fuel flow meter provides critical data to Loughborough University's Automotive Engineering Research team, enabling a better understanding of vehicle engine dynamics, fuel economy and emissions.

Motorsport

IMSA pairs two Sentronics Ultrasonic Flow Measurement Devices for greater Balance of Performance Control

IMSA pairs two Sentronics ultrasonic flow measurement devices for greater Balance of Performance control.

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