SinoInst Comprehensive Overview of Vortex Flow Meter Advantages and Disadvantages
Sino-Inst is a leading manufacturer and supplier of flowmeters in China, offering a wide range of products, including magnetic flow meters, turbine flow meters, vortex flow meters, ultrasonic flow meters, and mass flow meters. This article provides a detailed examination of the advantages and disadvantages of vortex flow meters to help you make an informed decision when selecting the right flow meter for your application.
Vortex Flow Meter Advantages
Vortex flow meters, based on the Karman vortex principle, are known for their several advantages. These meters measure the volume flow of gas, steam, or liquid, and the volume flow under standard conditions, or the mass flow. Here are some key benefits:
The pressure loss in vortex flow meters is minimal, approximately 1/4 to 1/2 of that in throttling differential pressure flow meters. The output pulse signal is proportional to the flow rate and exhibits no zero drift, ensuring accurate readings.
The simple and robust structure of vortex flow meters makes them easy to install and maintain. They lack components such as pressure guide tubes or three-valve manifolds, which reduces the risk of leakage, clogging, and freezing. Additionally, the measuring element's reliable performance and long service life contribute to their high precision, generally around ±(1～1.5)%R.
Vortex flow meters offer a wide measurement range. When the appropriate caliber is selected, the measuring range can reach up to 20:1. Within a certain Reynolds number range, the output frequency is not affected by the fluid's physical properties (density, viscosity) or composition. This means the gauge factor only depends on the shape and size of the vortex generator and piping.
Moreover, the volume flow rate of vortex flow meters is not influenced by thermal parameters such as temperature, pressure, density, or viscosity of the measured fluid, usually eliminating the need for separate calibration. Vortex flow meters are versatile and can measure the flow of liquids, gases, or steam.
Vortex Flow Meter Disadvantages
Despite their numerous advantages, vortex flow meters also have some limitations. The volume flow rate is not affected by temperature, pressure, density, and other thermal parameters of the measured fluid. However, for accurate measurements, mass flow should be used for liquids or vapors, and standard volume flow for gases. Both mass flow and standard volume flow require conversion to fluid density, considering changes in fluid conditions.
The main factors causing flow measurement errors include uneven pipeline flow velocity, inaccurate medium density measurements when fluid conditions change, and incorrect assumptions of wet saturated steam as dry saturated steam. If these errors are not addressed, the total measurement error can be significant.
Vortex flow meters have poor vibration resistance. External vibrations can lead to measurement errors or even cause the meter to malfunction. High-speed impacts of the channel fluid can generate additional vibrations on the cantilever of the vortex generator, reducing measurement accuracy, especially in large pipe diameters.
These meters are also less suitable for measuring dirty media, as the generating body can be easily soiled or entangled with dirt, affecting measurement accuracy. High requirements for straight pipe sections must be met, with experts recommending that the front end 40D and 20D ensure measurement accuracy.
Additionally, vortex flow meters generally measure fluid flow of media below 300°C, limiting their temperature resistance.
Application of Vortex Flow Meter
Vortex flow meters are extensively used for measuring the flow of industrial pipeline media fluids, such as gas, liquid, steam, and other media. They are particularly effective in measuring steam and water, including steam generated by thermal power plants. This steam can be reused for heating and production, making it essential to install a flow meter to measure steam output, such as the vortex flow meter.
While vortex flow meters are commonly used, they are not the only flow meters capable of measuring steam. Other options include tower flow meters, which also measure steam, gas, and other media.
For more information on the application of vortex flow meters, visit Sino-Inst's comprehensive guide .
Featured Vortex Flow Meters
Sino-Inst offers a variety of vortex flow meters tailored to different applications:
SI-3301 Gas Vortex Flow Meter: Ideal for gas flow measurement.
SI-3302 Liquid Vortex Flow Meter: Designed for liquid flow measurement.
SI-3303 Steam Vortex Flow Meter: Suitable for steam flow measurement.
SI-3304 Insertion Type Vortex Flow Meter: Used for various insertion applications.
SI-3305 Intelligent Gas Precession Vortex Flowmeter: Advanced technology for precise gas measurement.
Contact Information
For more details, inquiries, or quotes, you can contact Sino-Inst at:
Email: [email protected]
Phone & WhatsApp: +86-180 4861 3163