FLOW METER SELECTION

SEMINAR

Alan Graf
RL Stone Co
I&C Sales Manager
Upstate NY & New England

A Leading Supplier of Flowmeters

to HVAC & Industrial Marketplace

Magmeters
Vortex & Swirl
Turbine
Thermal & Coriolis
Mass
BTU Meter
Pitot, Wedge
Orifice Plates, Venturi
Positive Displacement
Rotameter, Variable

Define Application Basic

Facts
Flowing Media (Steam, Water, Air, Gas
etc)
Density - pressure and temperature
Flow Range, minimum to maximum
(turndown needed)
Accuracy how stated? % of range or span
Repeatability
Straight run requirements & available
Economic Considerations Initial cost,
maintenance cost & operating costs

Why are we here?

There is no 1 meter that will
meet every application
Every application needs to be
looked at individually
We can make some
generalizations !!!!!!

FLOW

MEASUREMENT

HOW MUCH (TOTAL)

HOW FAST (RATE)

Flow Through A Pipe

Idealized

Real World

Pipe

Velocity Profile

Flow Profile Correlation

Steam
Water
Heavy Crude

Velocity profile is a predictable function of

Reynolds number. Fluids with the same
Reynolds number will have similar velocity
profiles.

General Flow Terminology

Reynolds Number (RE) A single

dimensionless parameter formed as the
ratio of inertial to viscous forces .
Magnitude indicates whether flow is
laminar or turbulent
Fluid
Fluid
Characteristic

RE=

Inertia Forces
Viscous Forces

Density
(p)

Velocity
(V)

Dimension*
(D)

Fluid Viscosity ()

* Usually inside pipe diam

Characterization of Fluid Flow

Types of Flow
RE < 2100

Laminar

Transitional

RE >3000 Turbulent ***

*** Well documented & proven fully

developed flow profiles

Volumetric Flowrate (Q)

V
A

Volume = Area x Length

Volume Flow = Area x
Velocity

Mass Flowrate (m)

Q=VA
Mass Flow m =

Qp
= AV

V
A

Where

m
Q

= Mass Flow
= Volume Flow
= Fluid Density

Mass = Volume x Density

Mass vs Volume Flowmeters

Why are we concerned?
How much does it really matter?
Flow through a 4 line measured in a Averaging
Pitot
Flow Rate
1000 cfm
1000 cfm
Pressure

5 psi

5 psi

Temperature

100 F

70 F

DP in WC

12.181

11.532

There is a 6% error just by changing density /

temperature slightlycan you meter cope??

General Flow Terminology

Factors afecting flowmeter

Temperature
performance
Process
Liquid
Gas

Density

media

Velocity

(Specific Gravity)
Viscosity
Pressure

Flowmeter Performance

Accuracy
Repeatability
Linearity
Rangeability

Types of Accuracy

% Rate
% Full
Scale
% Span
% Max DP

Accuracy
% Rate The percent accuracy value is constant
and applied to the actual (or indicated)
flowrate
Flowrate
1% rate
100 GPM
1 GPM
Example:
50 GPM
0.5 GPM
10 GPM
.01 GPM
% Full Scale The absolute value of error (as expressed
in engineering units)
Flowrate
Example:
Rate
100 GPM
50 GPM
10 GPM

1% Full Scale %
1 GPM
1 GPM
1 GPM

1%
2%
10%

Accuracy
Percent Error Versus Flow

Poor Repeatability Means

Poor Accuracy
Good Accuracy Means
Good Repeatability
Good Repeatability Does Not
Necessarily Mean Good Accuracy

Volumetric Flowmeters

DP
Turbine
Vortex / Swirl
Magnetic
Target
Ultrasonic
Displacement

Note: can be inferred mass with compensating

transmitter

Differential Pressure Flowmeters

Flow Measurement Principles
Q=K
ORIFICE PLATE
(or FLOW TUBE)

VENA
CONTRACTA

Direction of Flow

MANOMETER
(or DP TRANSMITTER)

DP Primary Elements

Various
Orifice
Configuration

Flow
Tube

Flow
Nozzle

Venturi
Flowmeter

DP Primary Elements
Averaging Pitot

Accelabar
Combined Pitot &
Venturi

Wedge Element

DP Flowmeters
DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE

ADVANTAGES
Use On Liquid, Gas, and Steam
Suitable for Extreme Temperatures
and Pressures
No Moving Parts
Low Cost

DISADVANTAGES
Limited Rangeability
Effected By Changes In Density,
Pressure, and Viscosity
Maintenance Intensive

Magnetic Flowmeters

Theory of Operation

Magmeter Requirements

Process must be a
liquid
Minimum
conductivity
Meter must be full

Magnetic Flowmeters
MAGNETIC

ADVANTAGES
No Moving Parts
Very Wide Rangeability
Ideal For Slurries
Unobstructed Flow Path

DISADVANTAGES
Liquid Must Be Conductive
Physical Pressure and Temperature
Limits

Magnetic Flowmeters
Advantages Over Other Technologies

No moving parts
No pressure drop
Flowrate independent of viscosity, temperature, and density
Minimum upstream piping requirements
Electronics interchangeable without regard to size
Measure dirty liquids with solids
Measure highly corrosive fluids
Very large turndown
Linear output

Vortex Meter

Vortex Meter
Principle of Operation
Q=VxA

Vortex

Vortex / Swirlmeter
VORTEX / SWIRLMETER
ADVANTAGES
No Moving Parts
For Liquid, Gas, or Steam
Uneffected by Pressure, Temperature,
or Density Changes.
Wide Rangeability

DISADVANTAGES
Span Limitations Due to Viscosity
Flow Profile Sensitive (Vortex)

Swirlmeter
Principle of Operation
Preamplifier
Housing
Swirler

Sensor Deswirler
Backflow

r
VA
VT
p

=
=
=
=

local radius
axial velocity of flow
angular velocity of flow
static pressure

Swirlmeters

Benefits
High Accuracy 0.50% of Rate
No Moving Parts
Minimal Upstream Piping
Measures Low Flows
Versatile
Electronics can be used for Diagnostics
Works with Entrained Liquids

Swirlmeter
Cut-Away View

Technical Data
Measures liquids, gases and
steam
Available integral, remote, or
flow computer electronics
Accuracy 0.50% rate
Sizes 0.75" thru 16.0"
Minimal upstream piping req.
Flow as low as 1 GPM
Excellent in light gas
applications

Installation Length
Swirlmeter
Swirlmeter

Vortex 4
Process
control valve

5D

1D

3D

1D

50 D

5D

25 D

5D

90 elbow

min. 1.8 D

Reduction
3D

1D
15 D

5D

Turbine Meter

Turbine Meter
Principle of Operation

Rotor velocity is proportional to fluid velocity

Turbine Meter

High accuracy (.5% of rate)

High rangeability (up to 50:1)
Compact design
Fast response time
Broad range of sizes
Clean water applications only
NIST Traceable Factory Calibration
Low cost, Easy to install
In and out of line, under pressure

Turbine Meter

Performance Considerations

Straight pipe run requirements

Process fluid lubricity
Reynolds number constraints
Viscosity
Density
Maintenance & recalibration

Turbine Flowmeters
TURBINE
ADVANTAGES
High Accuracy
Suitable for Extreme
Temperatures and Pressures
Can Be Used On Gas or Liquid

DISADVANTAGES
Only For Low Viscosities
Moving Parts
Sensitive to Flow Profile

Positive Displacement Flowmeters

PD Flowmeters

Types
Helical gear
Nutating disk
Oscillating
piston
Oval gear
Rotary

Positive Displacement Meter

Typical Principle of Operation

Schematic of a
nutating-disk meter

Schematic of a
rotary-vane flowmeter

Schematic of a
lobed-impeller flowmeter

PD Flowmeters

Advantages
Ideal for viscous fluids
Custody transfer
Batching
Minimal straight piping
requirements

Ultrasonic Flowmeters

Types

Doppler
Time of
flight

Ultrasonic Flowmeters
Principle of Operation

Doppler
Flowmeter

Ultrasonic Flowmeters
Principle of Operation

Transit-Time
Flowmeter

Ultrasonic Flowmeters

Performance Considerations

Reynolds number constraints

Entrained gas or particles for
doppler
Clean liquids for time of flight
Installed without process shut
down
Straight upstream piping
requirements

Ultrasonic
ULTRASONIC
ADVANTAGES
No Moving Parts
Unobstructed Flow Passage
Wide Rangeability

DISADVANTAGES
For Liquids Only (limited gas)
Flow Profile Dependent
Errors Due To Deposits

Mass Flowmeter
Direct Measurement

Thermal Dispersion
Coriolis

Coriolis Mass Flowmeter

Coriolis

Coriolis
CORIOLIS

ADVANTAGES
Direct Mass Measurement
High Accuracy
Additional Density Measurement
Uneffected By Flow Profile

DISADVANTAGES
High Purchase Price
High Installation Cost
Size Limitations
Vibration Sensitive

Thermal Dispersion

Thermal Dispersion Mass Flowmeter

Gas application only

Relatively inexpensive
Easy to install and remove under pressure
Accuracy 0.5%
Turndown, 100:1
Capable of monitoring extremely low
flows
True mass flow meter (compensates for
temperature/pressure)

Piping Considerations
Always need a full pipe

Proper up / down diameter

BTU Monitoring

Summary Each Application is

Different
Flowing Media (eg Steam, Water, Air, Gas etc)
Density - pressure and temperature
Flow Range, minimum to maximum (turndown
needed)
Accuracy how stated? % of range or span
Repeatability
Straight run requirements & available
Maintenance and reliability

General HVAC
Recommendations
Steam : Accelabar or Swirl
Chilled or Hot Water: Hot Tap Insert Turbine
Natural Gas or Air: Thermal Dispersion
Fuel Oil: Coriolis or Wedge