Vortex Flow Meters Pros and Cons

 

Preface and Introduction Vortex flow meters, also known as vortex shedding flow meters or oscillatory flow meters, measure the vibrations of the downstream vortexes caused by a barrier in the moving stream.

The vibrating frequency of the vortex shedding is related to the velocity of the flow. Vortex meters are versatile flow meters that have been gaining wider acceptance in recent years for measuring flow of liquids, gases or steams, mainly as an alternative to differential pressure flow meters. meters. Vortex flow meters are applicable to a wide range of process temperatures and are available in line sizes up to approximately 400 400 mm,  mm, with insertion vortex meters available for even larger pipe sizes. Vortex flow meters are suitable for a variety of applications and industries but work best with clean, clean, low-viscosity, medium to high s speed peed fluids. Some of the main uses include: • Custody transfer of natural gas metering  metering   • Steam measurement  measurement  • Flow of liquid liq uid suspensions • General water applications  applications   • Liquid chemicals & pharmaceuticals  Vortex Flow Meter Advantages  • Vortex meters can be used for liquids, gases and steam  steam   • Low wear (relative (relative to turbine flow meters) • Relatively low cost of installation and maintenance  maintenance  • Low sensitivity to variations in process conditions  conditions   • Stable long term accuracy and repeatability  repeatability   • Applicable to a wide range of process temperatures  temperatures   • Available for a wide wid e variety of pipe sizes  Vortex Flow Meter Limitations  • Not suitable for very low flow rates rates   • Minimum length of straight pipe is required upstream and downstream of the vortex meter