FLOWMETER SELECTION GUIDE

Corrosive/Erosive Liquid

Typical Rangebility

or Other limitations

Installation Effects

Maintenance Cost
Installation Cost
Size Availability

Operating Cost
Viscous Liquid

Measurement

Sensitivity To
Clean Liquid

Renolds No.
Dirty Liquid

Clean Gas

Initial Cost
Dirty Gas

Accuracy
Full Bore
Typical

Type Of
Steam
Slurry

Straight Piping Ancillary Standards Or Recommended

Requirements Equipment Other Considerations Preferred Meter Orientation Performance Stability Practice
Concentric Square 0.5% 3:1 Drain, Vent Pressure and/or Temp. Pressure Tap Orientation L M M M AGA3, ANSI/API 2530
> 1 in. 10D to 40D-UP Compensation May be Depends on Pipe Orientation & TO TO TO TO Performance Affected
OP(Square G L X X L G L G Root to to >10,000 High Blow-off-and ANSI/ASME MFC 3M. ISO
Edged) > 25mm 2D to 6D Down Required Fluid Being Metered by Edge and Tap Wear
Volumetric 3% 5:1 S/D valves H H H H 5167 AESME Fluid Meters
Square 0.5% 3:1 None with L
Segmental > 1/2 in. 5D to 10D-UP No Limitations on Remote Seal
Wedge
G G G G G G G G Root to to >500 Low Remote Seal Same as Orifice Plate H L L TO GOOD -----------------------------
> 15mm 2D to 5D Down Elements
Volumetric 5% 5:1 Version M
Square 0.5% 3:1 Upstream Runs Same as OP,Air M AGA3, ANSI/API 2530
> 2 in. Shorter Than OP by Purge & Vent
Venturi Tube G G L X L G G G Root to to >100,000 Low Cleaners on Dirty
Same as Orifice Plate Same as Orifice Plate TO M L L GOOD ANSI/ASME MFC 3M. ISO
> 50mm Factor 2-9Times
Volumetric 1.5% 5:1 Liquids H 5167 AESME Fluid Meters
Square 1% 3:1 M
> 2 in. Same as for Same as
Flow Nozzle G L X X L G L G Root to to >75,000 Mod Same as Orifice Plate Same as Orifice Plate TO M L M GOOD Same as Venturi Tube
> 50mm Orifice Plate Orifice Plate
Volumetric 2% 5:1 H
1 to 16 in. Square 0.5% 3:1 M
Same as
V-Cone G L L L L G L G 25 to Root to to >4,000 Low 5 to 10D-up Same as Orifice Plate ----------------------------- M TO M M GOOD -----------------------------
400mm
Orifice Plate
Volumetric 2% 5:1 H
1,2,3 in. Flow Range L Sensor Assembly
Oscillating Linear Mod To 10 to 30D-UP Flow Should be Upward in
Vane
G L X L G X X X 25,50,75 0.5% 10: fixed for a ------------- ------------------------- L L TO M Requires Periodic -----------------------------
Volumetric High 5D-Down Vertical Installations
mm 1 given size M Replacement
Square 0.5% 3:1 Viscosity Affects L M
> 1/2 in. Same as for Zero May Need Adjustment in Performance Affected
Target G G G G L G G L Root to to >1,000 High ------------- Performance Below TO L TO M -----------------------------
> 15mm Orifice Plate Vertical Installations by Wear of Target
Volumetric 5% 20:1 Critical Rd. M H
0.5% Fluids L
< 3 in. Linear Can Only Be Installed
Varaible Area G L X L L G L L to 10: Under None None ------------- ------------------------- TO L L M GOOD -----------------------------
< 75mm Volumetric In Vertical Pipe with Flow Up
5% 1 3 Cp M
0.2% Block Valves May M L L
AC Designs May Give Electrodes Musty Be In Horizontal
>1/16 in. Linear 30:1 5 to 10D-UP be Required to
Magnetic G G G G G X X X to to None Low isolate Meter For
Better Performance On Plane. Flow should be Upwards in TO TO TO L GOOD ISO 6817
> 1mm Volumetric 3D-Down Some Slurries Vertical Installation
2% 100:1 Servicing H M M
0.5% 10:1 Same as for Block Valves May L L
1/2 to
Linear be Required to Indicates Zero Flow
Vortex G L X X L G L G 12in. 15 to to >20,000 High Orifice Plate isolate Meter For
----------------------------- M TO TO M GOOD ANSI/ASME MFC 6M
Volumetric Below Cut-off
to300mm 1.5% 20:1 With 0.70 Beta Servicing M M
0.1% 10:1 Fluids Strainers, Filters, L M M Performance Affected by AGA7, API 2534 ISO 2715 ASME
> 1/4 in. Linear Similar To Air Eliminators, Viscosity Can Affect Some Designs Must Be
Turbine G L X L L G L G to to Under High Steam Taps May
TO TO TO M Wear of Bearings & other Fluid Meters, API Manual for
> 6mm Volumetric Orifice Plate Performance Oriented as Calibrated Parameters Petroleum Measurement Standards
1% 50:1 10 CST be Required H H H
Linear 1% Fluids L L
> 1/2 in. > Similar To May Have Problems on Transducers Must Be In
Doppler X G G L G X X X Mass to 10:1 Must Have High ------------- TO TO L L GOOD -----------------------------
> 15mm Orifice Plate Concentrated Slurries Horizontal Plane
Volumetric 5% Suspensoids H H
Linear 1% Fluids L L
> 1/2 in. > Similar To May Have Problems on Transducers Must Be In
Transit Time G X X L G G X L Mass to 10:1 Must Be High ------------- TO TO L L GOOD ANSI/ASME MFC-YY
> 15mm Orifice Plate Dirty Fluids Horizontal Plane
Volumetric 5% Clean H H
Linear 0.15% 40:1 Special Supports L L ANSI/ASME MFC-11M,
< 6 in. Entrained Air May Specific Orientations Vary With
Coriolis Type G G G G L L L X Mass to to None None None May be Required H TO L TO GOOD California Weights &
<150mm 2% For Meters Cause Problems Meter Designs
Volumetric 100:1 M H Standards Bureau
1% May Need To Provide L L L
Thermal < 3 in. Logrithmic to upto Mod To Some Types Require Same
Performance Affected by
Dispersion
X X X X X G L G 100: None 10 to 20D-UP ------------- Compensation for Wide TO TO L TO severe Build-up on Sensor for -----------------------------
< 75mm Mass High Orientation as in Calibration
5% 1 TEMP. Ranges M M M Immersion Types

G= GOOD L= LOW
L= LIMITED APPLICATION M= MODERATE
X= NOT RECOMMENDED H= HIGH