2022 Elbow Meter

1
THE PFS ELBOW FLOWMETER

PFS-ASME-EM
PRODUCT BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NUMBER: 2022
An Innovative Solution for Installation Conditions Where

There is No Space Available for a Standardized Flow Meter!
WHY CONSIDER AN ELBOW FLOW METER?
A TYPICAL ELBOW FLOW METER INSTALLATION
In the practice of flow measurement, cases emerge
wherein the existing installation conditions preclude the
use of conventional primary flow elements due to
dimensional constraints, financial obstacles relative to
acquisition costs, or other limitations exist that call for
innovative solutions for otherwise seemingly unsolvable
problems.
In the limited instances where, in the opinion of Primary

Flow Signal, Inc., superior flow meter solutions are
impractical or impossible, the “Elbow Flow Meter” as
defined by the ASME in paper number 63-WA-17, as well as
other applicable reference works including Miller, is
considered and recommended, after careful review of
application requirements.
An example of a typical elbow meter installation would be

metering off a header with multiple legs ending in elbows
which do not have adequate laying length availability to
install an HVT-Halmi Venturi(or other standardized) primary
element. A properly designed and calibrated elbow flow
meter will serve as a effective flow meter with high
repeatability, and accuracy as good as the capabilities of
the calibration laboratory permit.
An elbow flow meter will never fully substitute for a venturi

primary flow element, and its application must be
determined and ascertained by a competent expert.
Without properly executed model tests and flow
FEATURES AND BENEFITS LIMITATIONS AND CONSTRAINTS

No limitations on line size. Discharge coefficient changes with pipe
Uncalibrated accuracy approx. +/-4.0%. Reynolds number and is non-linear.
Calibrated accuracy depends on accuracy Differential produced by the elbow meter is
of the lab. significantly lower than other primary (head
Good repeatability (on the order of +/-0.20%.) type) elements.
No additional head loss (attributable to meter.) Application of ASME design standard is limited
Relatively low acquisition cost. to liquid (incompressible) line fluids.
Suitable for flow measurement in either direction. For reliable and higher accuracy applications
Minimum required pipe Reynolds number 50,000 individual flow calibration for elbow meter
with no maximum limit. including adjacent piping is required.
NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER: Primary Flow Signal, Inc. makes representations herein based solely upon the guidance and standards published
by ASME. Accordingly, Primary Flow Signal, Inc. assumes no liability whatsoever for any third party application of the technology discussed
herein, except as may be specifically and expressly stated in the course of a commercial engagement, wherein the representations made are
limited to those contained within the Submittal Document that is an integral part of any PFS, Inc. commercial engagement.
©2006– Primary Flow Signal, Inc.– All Rights Reserved
Primary Flow Signal, Inc.- WORLD HEADQUARTERS

800 Wellington Avenue Cranston, RI 02910, USA http://www.primaryflowsignal.com
toll free: 1-877-737-3569 phone: 401-461-6366 fax: 401-461-4450
2
THE PFS ELBOW FLOWMETER

PFS-ASME-EM
PRODUCT BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NUMBER: 2022
GENERAL DESIGN AND OPERATION INFORMATION

ASME Fluid meters classifies the elbow flow meter in the rate-
meters division, head (kinetic) class, centrifugal type. This
device utilizes the centrifugal change of velocity pressure across
a curved stream, and consists essentially of a curved section of
pipe(elbow) with static pressure holes located on the inner and
outer circumferential walls of the curved section on the
centerline of the two legs of the bend and also in the same
radial plane.
As with any head-type primary flow element, the key factors

generally influencing the differential producing phenomena and
its relationship to rate of flow, or the coefficient of discharge,
include the surface roughness and composition of the elbow
itself, characteristic dimensions including the ratio between the
line size and the elbow radius, and pipe Reynolds number.
The Elbow Flow Meter, as contemplated in ASME, is

essentially a liquid (incompressible) line fluid meter and cannot
be translated directly to gas flow metering without significant
additional calibration work to empirically establish the adiabatic
expansion factor specific to a given meter and application.
Performance of the Elbow Flow Meter is largely predicted by

empirical work and research reported in ASME, and as such, the
design performance is defined together with flow calculation
protocols, standards and limitations.
Notwithstanding, to properly satisfy the demands of specific,

unique flow metering applications, flow metering expertise and
experience is essential. Primary Flow Signal, Inc. provides such expertise and recommends certain parameters
governing the utilization of the Elbow Flow Meter.
Since the coefficient of this meter type is essentially unpredictable over pipe Reynolds number and velocity profile,
meaningful use of the meter is not practical without proper model test and hydraulic calibration.
Any tests must be properly designed and organized to correctly incorporate all critical installation conditions in the
calibration plan. Proper analysis and interpretation of the results is then required to permit design of an elbow flow
metering scheme that will consistently produce accurate and reliable results.
Over wide flow range applications, especially, the non-linear nature of the elbow flow meter demands a secondary
instrumentation system that includes characterization capabilities.
Primary Flow Signal, Inc. provides such secondary equipment in its PFS-FlowMaster product line. Therefore, an entire
flow metering system can be provided with single source responsibility for system accuracy and performance.
In order to further explore the possibilities inherent in the PFS Elbow Flow Meter related to your flow metering
application, please contact the company for more information.
©2006– Primary Flow Signal, Inc.– All Rights Reserved
Primary Flow Signal, Inc.- WORLD HEADQUARTERS

800 Wellington Avenue Cranston, RI 02910, USA http://www.primaryflowsignal.com
toll free: 1-877-737-3569 phone: 401-461-6366 fax: 401-461-4450

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1

THE PFS ELBOW FLOWMETER

An Innovative Solution for Installation Conditions Where

In the limited instances where, in the opinion of Primary

An example of a typical elbow meter installation would be

An elbow flow meter will never fully substitute for a venturi

FEATURES AND BENEFITS LIMITATIONS AND CONSTRAINTS

©2006– Primary Flow Signal, Inc.– All Rights Reserved

Primary Flow Signal, Inc.- WORLD HEADQUARTERS

THE PFS ELBOW FLOWMETER

GENERAL DESIGN AND OPERATION INFORMATION

As with any head-type primary flow element, the key factors

The Elbow Flow Meter, as contemplated in ASME, is

Performance of the Elbow Flow Meter is largely predicted by

Notwithstanding, to properly satisfy the demands of specific,

©2006– Primary Flow Signal, Inc.– All Rights Reserved

Primary Flow Signal, Inc.- WORLD HEADQUARTERS

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