Vortex Flowmeter in High-Temperature Steam: A Field Testing “Survival Guide”

Vortex flowmeters are not only suitable for measuring a variety of low viscosity liquids, but also mainly for industrial measurement of gases and vapors. When measuring the volume flow of gas, vortex flowmeters are not affected by changes in fluid temperature, pressure, density, viscosity and other properties, so the measurement is very accurate and is the first choice for measuring air.

Vortex flowmeter is used by many industries for its simple structure, small maintenance, constant accuracy, easy operation and wide application range.

Vortex flowmeter is used by many industries for its simple structure, small maintenance, constant accuracy, easy operation and wide application range.

Steam flowmeters are mainly used for flow measurement of industrial pipeline media fluids, such as gases, liquids, steam and various other media. Its characteristics are low pressure loss, wide measurement range, high accuracy, and it is almost unaffected by parameters such as fluid density, pressure, temperature, and viscosity when measuring the volumetric flow rate under working conditions.

Vortex flowmeter is mainly used for the flow measurement of industrial pipeline medium fluids, such as gas, liquid, steam and other media. It is characterized by small pressure loss, large range, high accuracy, and is almost not affected by fluid density, pressure, temperature, viscosity and other parameters when measuring volume flow under working conditions. There are no moving mechanical parts, so the reliability is high, the maintenance is small, and the instrument parameters can be stable for a long time.

1, pulse vortex flowmeter is a kind of high measurement accuracy, simple installation, small maintenance, a wide range of meters, is currently widely used in petrochemical, metallurgy, textile, urban construction, energy and other industries.

The working principle of vortex flowmeter is to place a non-streamlined vortex generator in the fluid, so that the fluid is alternately separated on both sides of the generator, releasing two series of regularly staggered vortex flowmeter. In a certain range, the vortex separation frequency is proportional to the flow rate, and the flow rate of the medium can be measured by calculating the vortex separation frequency.

Vortex flowmeters are suitable for measuring the mass flow and volume flow of superheated steam, saturated steam, compressed air, general gas, water and low corrosive liquids. We often encounter the following failures in the use of vortex flowmeters:

Nominal diameter: DN25～DN300mm
Accuracy: liquid ±1.0%, gas (steam) ±1.5%, plug-in ±2.5%
Material: 304, 316L various materials
Measuring media： Steam, compressed air, liquid (single phase media)
LUGB flange clamped vortex street steam flowmeter is a commonly used structure, its body itself does not have a connection flange, in connection with the pipe, the flowmeter clamped between two special flanges, and then bolted.

1. After power-on, there is fluid flow in the pipeline, but the vortex flowmeter has no signal output

Vortex flowmeter is widely used in various industrial environments, in view of some small problems commonly encountered in the installation of vortex flowmeter, Aister gives the following points, hoping to solve the problems encountered in the installation.

The power supply methods of the helical vortex flowmeter are diverse to meet the demands of different application scenarios. The main power supply methods include the following:

Steam flowmeters are mainly used for measuring the flow of steam medium fluids in industrial pipelines. The product features low pressure loss, wide measurement range, high accuracy, and is almost unaffected by parameters such as fluid density, pressure, temperature, and viscosity when measuring the volume flow under working conditions. There are no moving mechanical parts, so it has high reliability and low maintenance.

Vortex flowmeters are versatile instruments commonly used in various industries for fluid flow measurement. Here are some applications of vortex flowmeters in different industries:

Reliability is a hallmark of vortex flow meters, as they exhibit robust performance in harsh operating conditions. Their simple yet sturdy design, often featuring no moving parts, results in minimal maintenance requirements and increased longevity. This reliability is particularly crucial in industries where consistent and accurate flow measurement is essential for process control and optimization.

Another notable application of vortex flow meters is in the field of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems. These meters accurately measure the flow of chilled water or air, providing essential data for optimizing system performance and energy efficiency. By monitoring flow rates in HVAC systems, vortex flow meters help maintain ideal conditions in buildings, ensuring proper temperature control and minimizing energy consumption. In summary, vortex flow meters find widespread application across diverse industries, offering a reliable and cost-effective solution for measuring fluid flow in a variety of challenging environments.

Vortex flowmeter common faults and solutions

In the field of modern industrial flow measurement, vortex flowmeters have become the preferred choice for measuring the flow of liquids, gases and steam due to their advantages such as simple structure, high reliability and wide application range. So, how does this star product achieve precise measurement? Let’s explore the scientific principle behind it.

Vortex flowmeter is widely used because of its wide range, small pressure loss, medium accuracy, linear output, no moving parts, high reliability, small maintenance, medium low price, and relatively high performance price characteristics.

1. Vibration effect

Compressed air is generated by air compressor or high pressure fan. When these devices are in operation, they all have varying degrees of vibration, and sometimes the vibration is relatively strong, and this vibration is transmitted through the connecting pipe. When selecting and determining the position of the vortex flowmeter, this influencing factor should be fully considered. In various detection methods, the anti-vibration performance of the instrument is not the same due to different detection components. For the vortex street of the detection element, the vibration resistance can reach 0.5~1G. When determining the installation position of the vortex flowmeter, it should be as far away from the power equipment such as air compressors and fans as possible.

At present, there are many misunderstandings about steam measurement in China, and many users often think that buying a high-price flowmeter can get accurate measurement results. The measurement of steam is different from other fluids such as water, air and other media, and there are many factors affecting its measurement in the actual measurement. Therefore, there is often a phenomenon that the flow meter itself is qualified, but the actual measurement is not “allowed”. So what’s the problem with these factors?

Accuracy is another significant advantage of vortex flow meters. With advancements in technology, modern vortex flow meters can provide precise and repeatable measurements even in challenging flow conditions. This high level of accuracy makes them indispensable for applications where tight control over fluid flow rates is critical, such as in chemical manufacturing or custody transfer operations in the oil and gas industry.

In the process of using the steam flowmeter, we may encounter some minor failures, do not panic after the problem, find out how to deal with is the key. The following introduces several common faults of steam flowmeters and their solutions.

Vortex flowmeter is a commonly used flow meter, the use of any instrument is inseparable from daily maintenance and maintenance, whether it is its own failure or interference by external factors, we calmly respond to the occurrence of failure.

Vortex flowmeter is mainly used to set up a vortex generating body (resistance fluid) in the fluid, from both sides of the vortex generating body alternately to produce regular vortices, to measure the flow of fluid, vortex flowmeter is mainly used for industrial pipeline fluid flow measurement, such as gas, liquid, steam and other media. It is characterized by small pressure loss, large range, high accuracy, and is almost not affected by fluid density, pressure, temperature, viscosity and other parameters when measuring volume flow under working conditions. In daily use, the output signal may be unstable, causing this phenomenon to be excluded from the following points:

The vapor flowmeter has no moving parts, strong reliability, high precision, long life, and can measure the instantaneous flow and cumulative flow of liquid in a wide flow range.

One of the notable advantages of vortex flow meters is their versatility, as they can be employed in a wide range of applications across different industries. They are particularly useful for measuring the flow of fluids with varying viscosities, making them suitable for applications in petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and water treatment industries. Additionally, vortex flow meters are known for their ability to handle both high and low-flow conditions with consistent accuracy, providing reliable measurements across a broad operational range.

Measuring medium：Liquid, gas, saturated steam, superheated steam
Accuracy：Liquid ±1.0%, gas (steam) ±1.5%, plug-in ±2.5%
Working pressure：1.6MPa，2.5MPa，4.0MPa，6.4MPa
Medium temperature：Ordinary type -40 ~ 150℃
Medium temperature type -40 ~ 250℃
High temperature type -40 ~ 350℃
Output signal：Three-wire voltage pulse, low level 0 ~ 1V,
high level > 4V, duty cycle 50%;
Two-wire system standard current 4 ~ 20mA;
Three-wire system standard current 0 ~ 10mA
Working environment：-35℃～+60℃，Humidity ≤95%RH
Working power supply：DC12V；DC24V
Material：Carbon steel, stainless steel
Explosion-proof type：Intrinsically safe ExibIICT6

Nominal diameter: DN25～DN300mm
Accuracy: liquid ±1.0%, gas (steam) ±1.5%, plug-in ±2.5%
Material: 304, 316L various materials
Measuring media： Steam, compressed air, liquid (single phase media)

Vortex flowmeters are widely used in the measurement of steam, gas and liquid flow due to their simple structure, high reliability and wide application range. However, this type of flowmeter is not omnipotent and may experience severe errors or even failure under certain working conditions. This article will reveal five key limitations of vortex flowmeters to help users avoid selection risks.

In HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, vortex flow meters are utilized to measure the flow rates of air and other gases. Their ability to provide accurate readings in a wide range of temperatures and pressures ensures efficient HVAC system operation. Vortex flow meters contribute to energy savings by enabling precise control of airflow and facilitating better management of heating and cooling processes.

Across various industries, including pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and power generation, vortex flow meters continue to find applications in processes requiring precise fluid flow measurement. Their adaptability to different fluid types, low maintenance requirements, and reliable performance make them indispensable tools for optimizing industrial processes and ensuring the accurate allocation of resources.