VORTEX SHEDDING FLOW

METERS
VORTEX SHEDDING PHENOMENON
 When an obstruction (a non-streamlined object)
is placed in the path of a flowing stream, the fluid
is unable to remain attached to the object on its
downstream sides and will alternately separate
(shed) from one side and then the other.
 The slow-moving fluid in the boundary layer on
the body becomes detached on the downstream
side and rolls into eddies and vortices.
 It is also noted that the distance between the
shed vortices is constant, regardless of flow
velocity. This principle is called as Karman’s
principle. 2
VORTEX SHEDDING FLOW METERS

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VORTEX SHEDDING PHENOMENON
 When Reynold’s number of pipe exceeds 10,000
vortex shedding is reliable.
 Stated in terms of a flag fluttering in the wind - it
is noted that the intervals between vortices (l) is
constant and is only a function of the diameter of
the flag pole (d).
 Therefore, the faster the wind, the faster the
vortices are formed and the faster the flag
flutters as a consequent, but without changing its
wavelengths.

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VORTEX SHEDDING PHENOMENON
 Strouhal determined that, as long as the
Reynolds number of the flowing stream is
between 20,000 and 7,000,000, the ratio between
the shedder width (d) and the vortex interval (l)
is 0.17.
 This number is called the Strouhal number.

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VORTEX SHEDDING PHENOMENON
 If we know the vortex shedder width (d) and a
detector that is sensitive enough to count the
vortices and determine the vortex frequency (f),
we can measure the flowing velocity of any
substances as

flow velocity = ( f × d)/(0.17) = kfd

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VORTEX SHEDDERS

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VORTEX SHEDDERS

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VORTEX SHEDDING FLOW METERS

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VORTEX SHEDDING FLOW METER
DETECTORS

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VORTEX SHEDDING FLOW METER
DETECTORS

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VORTEX SHEDDING FLOW METER
DETECTORS

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VORTEX SHEDDING FLOW METER
DETECTORS

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VORTEX SHEDDING FLOW METER
DETECTORS

 The velocity and pressure distribution adjacent to

the bluff body change at the same frequency as
the vortex shedding frequency.
 Various detectors are used to measure one of the
following :
 The oscillating flow across the face of the bluff body.
 The oscillating pressure difference across the sides of
the bluff body.
 A flow through a passage drilled through the bluff
body.
 The oscillating flow or pressure at the rear of the
body.
 The presence of free vortices in the downstream to
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the bluff body.
VORTEX SHEDDING FLOW METER
DETECTORS

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VORTEX SHEDDING FLOW METER
DETECTORS

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VORTEX-PRECESSION (SWIRL) METERS

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VORTEX-PRECESSION (SWIRL) METERS

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FLUIDIC (COANDA EFFECT) METERS

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FLUIDIC (COANDA EFFECT) METERS

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SWIRL METER

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SWIRL METER

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VORTEX SHEDDING FLOW METER

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