12  S P I R I T
IT
  F L O W- X   INS T R U C T I O N   M A N U A L   |   I M/ F L O W X - EN 
 
4  Getting started 
This chapter provides a short overview of considerations to be 
made in selecting the appropriate Spirit
IT
 Flow-X products.  
 
Location 
The Spirit
IT
 Flow-X modules are designed to operate in a 
temperature range of 0-60 °C (32-140°F) humidity may be up to 
90%, non-condensating. In practice, the modules are usually 
mounted in racks in a controlled environment such as a control 
room, rack room or auxiliary room, or an analyzer house. 
 
Caution 
The Spirit
IT
 Flow-X is neither intrinsically safe nor explosion-
proof and can therefore only be used in a designated non-
hazardous (safe) area. 
For other devices always refer to documentation supplied by the 
manufacturer for details of installation in a hazardous area. 
If connected to a device that resides in a hazardous area, it may 
be required to interpose safety barriers or galvanic isolators 
between the device and the Spirit
IT
 Flow-X flow computer. Refer 
to the device documentation for adequate information. 
 
Capabilities 
The Spirit
IT
 Flow-X supports an extensive list of International 
standard calculations for Natural gas, hydrocarbon liquids, and 
other applications: For example: 
 
 AGA3, AGA5, AGA7, AGA8, AGA10 
 API chapters 11.1, 11.2, and 21.1, API 2540, API 1952 tables 
 ISO 5167 (all editions), ISO 6976 (all editions) 
 NX19, SGERG, PTZ calculations 
 GPA 2172 / TP15 / TP16 / TP25 / TP27 
 ASME 1967 (IFC-1967) steam tables, IAPWS-IF97 steam density 
 GERG 2008 
 
Number of modules 
Basically one module is needed for each flow meter. Additional 
modules may be needed for station and /or proving 
functionality.  
 
A Flow-X/P contains an extra module (Module 0) that controls 
the touch screen and handles station and /or proving 
functionality (if applicable).  
 
The Flow-X/C is a compact version and similar to a Flow-X/P 
with one module. This module is integrated in the enclosure of 
the Flow-X/C. 
An overview of the available I/O per module may be found in 
Chapter 7 – Technical Specifications. 
 
Station functionality (calculating station totals and / or handling 
station densitometers, gas chromatographs, BS&W analyzers 
etc.) and / or proving functionality may also be calculated in any 
module in the same enclosure, including the Flow-X/P Panel 
display module. 
Special consideration applies to serial ports. Every module has 2 
serial ports. If more ports are required, the Flow-X/P may be 
considered as it has 3 extra serial ports. Alternatively, a second 
module may be added in a Flow-X/R (rack) enclosure to provide 
more serial communication ports. 
 
Redundancy 
If, for increased availability, a redundant solution is required, 2 
modules per stream may be used. 
To obtain maximum availability, two identical Spirit
IT
 Flow-X 
enclosures can be used that operate in redundancy mode. 
All modules have integrated support for dual 24V power supply. 
 
Fast Data exchange 
Modules placed in a Flow-X/P (Panel) or Flow-X/R (Rack) 
enclosure are capable of fast data exchange with the modules 
next to it, over the Ethernet. This is the so-called Multi-Module 
Mode. Examples are one module communicating to a Gas 
Chromatograph and making this data available to 4 other 
modules, and additionally serving as a Modbus Slave to one 
central DCS connection. Each Module is capable of using the 
data from other modules as if it exists in its own data space. For 
this purpose the Flow-X/P includes two dedicated Ethernet 
switches. As an alternative it is possible to set up a Modbus 
TCP/IP link using Ethernet for data exchange between modules.  
 
Display requirements 
Obviously the Flow-X/P (Panel) and Flow-X/C (Compact) flow 
computers have the best display features. The touch screen has 
the largest display area available on the flow computer market 
and allows for effective and user-friendly data display and 
navigation through pages. Its multi-language-support is unique 
and includes non-western fonts. 
 
This display feature is not always required. Each individual 
module is equipped with a local black and white graphical 
display, allowing for data display and parameter setting at the 
module itself. The display supports 4 to 8 lines for data and/or 
parameters. This feature enables the stand-alone use of the flow 
modules, including in fiscal applications. 
 
Apart from these physical displays, each module incorporates a 
web server, allowing display pages to be accessed through a 
standard web browser over Ethernet. 
 
Power supply 
All models require 24 VDC and support redundant power supply.