Background: Networking technique is more and more widely integrated into digital instruments that connected with distributed digital control system (DCS). Purpose: This study aims to achieve direct network connection of a digital ultrasonic flowmeter to Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS). An Ethernet interface for the TMS320F28335-based ultrasonic flowmeter was designed and implemented to realize real-time network communication with EPICS. Methods: The Ethernet chip

DM9000 was employed and extended to the ultrasonic flowmeter platform which was controlled by TMS320F28335. EPICS was configured to client/server architecture where the digital ultrasonic flowmeter was working as client and the uIP TCP/IP stack was integrated for data communication with the Input/Output Controller (IOC) server. The measured real-time flow rate data was dynamically displayed on the Operator Interface (OPI) console by EPICS Camonitor and Control System Studio. Results: Self-checking results showed reliable TCP communication between client and server was performed on the calibration platform. It was further verified by actual measurements on the flow calibration platform that the digital ultrasonic flowmeter realized real-time and reliable communication

which made the ultrasonic flowmeter equipped with networking functionality. Conclusion: This article presents a new digital communication method between the digital ultrasonic flowmeter and EPICS. It accelerates the digital and networking process of the measuring instrument in nuclear reactor. Abstract