Basics on Vortex flowmeters

Principle Advantages Limitations

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Karman Vortex street

Piezo-Sensor Bluff Body

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Principle of Operation
St D
Strouhal No. as a function of the Reynold No.

linear flow range

Bluff Body

Piezo-Sensor

Re

f = shedding frequency St = Strouhal No. v = flow velocity d = bluff body width = Kinematic viscosity Re = Reynold number D = Meter size

St * v f= d

Re =

v *D

f * 3600 Q= [m/ h] K
Q= Flow, K= Faktor of calibration [1/m]

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Example of a real Krmn Vortex Street

Island Guadalupe
n A phenomenon from the textbook of Fluid Mechanics: n The wind flows around an obstruction -such as the Island Guadalupe - located at the Pacific cost of Mexico and causes in lee, the side away from the wind, a braid like "Krman Vortex Street" more than 250 kilometers in length. It is only visible through the clouds brought by the wind. n Theodore von Krmn born in Budapest, Hungary taught in the twentieth at the Technical University, Aachen, Germany and investigated primarily turbulences associated with aircraft surfaces. He emigrated 1930 to the United States and became one of the cofounders of the world-famous "Jet Propulsion Laboratory" in Pasadena, California.

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Krmn Vortex Street

Island Socorro
Also on the leeward side of Socorro - an enchanted Mexican island of the Revilla-Gigedo archipelago 1300 kilometers southeast of Guadalupe, a small approximately 70 kilometer long variant of the Krman flow became visible. The inhabited island is situated on the extension of the Central American fault line, whose tectonic activities continually trigger earth-quakes and volcanic eruptions. On Socorro the 1130 meter high volcano Eveman is proof of the vitality of this system.

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Features of Vortex-Flowmeters
nIdeal for the measurement of low viscous fluids, gases and steam nThe measurement is independent of:
n conductivity

nIn the valid measuring range of the diameter the measurement of the actual flow is independent of:
n n n n density temperature viscosity pressure

nextensive independence of:

n deposits and pollution

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Reliable measurement
n Also in Spite of Dirt and Deposits

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Advantages of Vortex measurement

nUniversal method of measurement for fluids, gas and steam
n no moving parts in the measuring tube, no wear, no maintenance n rugged and simple constructed primary n high accuracy, e.g. 0,75 % of rate at liquids 1 % of rate at gas n large measuring span, e.g. 1 : 20 n very good price-effectiveness ratio n lowest installation costs by use of 2-Wire technology n Ex-design for hazardous area Zone 1 and 2 n different process connections n CIP (Cleaning in place) n up to size DN 200 lower in price than orifice plate n high vibrationimmunity up to 1 g (acc. to NAMUR cond.)

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"water hammer effect" at steam measurement

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Vortex Flowmeters compared to orifice plate

Vortex
n n n n n High accuracy: 1% of rate Up to 5 x larger measuring span Easy installation and start-up Outputs: analog and scaled pulse Flow rate and totalization via display n Linear flow measurement n Maintenance free n To DN 200 lower in price n Medium temperature < 400 C

Orifice
n n n n n n n n n Accuracy approx. 2% of range Typical span 1 : 4 DP-transmitter, piping, valves etc. Involved start-up, higher installation cost Analog output only No flow rate and totalization via display Not maintenance free installation Only from DN 200 lower in price Available for high medium temp. application > 400C

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Limits of vortex flowmeasurement

nonly fluids with a viscosity of 7,5 mPas can be measured precisely nstatic overpressure is required to avoid cavitation when using fluids ndeposits can cause measuring errors nin-/outlet sections piping of approx. 15 x DN/5 x DN required nno 2 phase liquids nMinimum pressure (5 barg) at gases with low density e.g. H needed (required density 0,5 kg/m) nDiameter-range flange: DN15 to DN300 nDiameter-range wafer: DN15 to DN150

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Fields of application for Vortex-flowmeters

Branch of industry
Chemistry Petrochemistry Plant engineering Food industry Paper industry Metal industry

Medium
acids, solvents, sludge water, gases, steam, etc. petrochemical raw materials, petrol, ethylene, steam, etc. compressed air, steam CO2, sludge water, steam compressed air, steam coolant circuit, air, protection gases

Pharmaceutical indust. diionized water Power plants

steam, condensate, natural gas

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Example Standard calibration 5 points

380

DN 150 / 6 ANSI / Gas

370

K-factor 1/m

360

Q = 6 % Q = 16 %

Q = 26 %

Q = 50 % Q = 100 %

350

f 3600 Q= [m/ h] K

340

330

320 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

Sensorfrequency F[Hz]
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