Vortex Flow Meter
Vortex flow meters are long-lasting and robust with field-proven sensor technology and high reliability, improving plant efficiency and reducing operating costs. Apure’s digital vortex meters feature a unique sensor design that accurately identifies and eliminates noise, resulting in stable and accurate measurements without any need for startup tuning.
Vortex measurement: robust and universally applicable for liquids, gases and steam
Vortex flow meters are used in many branches of industry to measure the volumetric flow of liquids, gases and steam. Applications in the chemical and petrochemical industries, for example in power generation and heating systems involve a wide range of different fluids: saturated steam, superheated steam, compressed air, nitrogen, liquefied gas, flue gas, carbon dioxide, completely softened water, solvents, heat transfer oil, boiler feed water, condensate, etc.
Vortex street flowmeter measurement principle
Vortex flowmeters measure fluid velocity using an operating principle known as the von Kármán effect, which suggests that a repetitive vortex pattern is created as the fluid passes through the obtuse body.
In a vortex flowmeter, an obstruction in the flow path (often called a shedder bar) is used as the obtuse body. The shedder bar separates the process fluid and creates a region of alternating differential pressure called a vortex around the back of the shedder bar.
The measuring principle is based on the fact that turbulence is formed downstream of a flow obstacle, such as a bridge pier.
Thus, inside each vortex flow meter, a blunt body is located in the middle of the pipe. Once the flow velocity reaches a certain value, vortices form behind this obtuse body, are separated from the flow and transported downstream. The frequency of vortex shedding is proportional to the average flow velocity and therefore proportional to the volumetric flow rate.
The separated vortices on either side of the obtuse body alternately generate a local positive or negative pressure which is detected by a capacitive sensor and fed to the electronics as the primary digital linear signal.
Application
Vortex flowmeters are ideally suited for a variety of applications in a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, refining, chemical and petrochemical, and food and beverage. Vortex flowmeters also perform well in steam-related applications, including steam injection and steam measurement in district energy systems and industrial plants.
- Steam Related
- Refining
- Chemical
- Oil and Gas
- District Energy
- Reverse Osmosis
- Petrochemicals
Benefits
Vortex flow meters offer many advantages for flow measurement, including easy installation without pilot lines, no moving parts for maintenance or repair, low potential for leakage, and a wide range of flow adjustments.
- In addition, vortex flow meters are unique in that they can accommodate liquids, gases, steam and corrosive applications. Vortex flow meters are also able to withstand high process pressures and temperatures
- Universally suitable for measuring liquids, gases and vapors
- Virtually unaffected by changes in pressure, density, temperature and viscosity
- High long-term stability: no zero point drift and no lifetime K-factor
- Typical regulation ratios of 10:1 to 30:1 for gases/vapors and up to 40:1 for liquids
- Wide temperature range: -200 to +400 °C (+450 °C on request)
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