Top 10 Vortex Flowmeter Brand & Manufacturers

What is Vortex Flowmeter

A vortex flowmeter is a volumetric flowmeter that operates based on the Karman Vortex Street principle. It is used to measure the volumetric flow, standard volumetric flow, or mass flow of gases, vapors, or liquids. It consists of a vortex generator, a sensor, and a signal processing unit. The vortex generator is used to generate vortices in the fluid, the sensor is used to detect the vortices, and the signal processing unit is used to process the detected signals and calculate the flow rate.

History of Vortex Flowmeter

The concept of the Karman Vortex Street was first proposed by Hungarian-American mathematician and aerodynamicist Theodore von Kármán in the 1910s. In the 1960s, scientists began to apply this principle to the measurement of fluid flow, and the first vortex flowmeter was developed. Since then, with the continuous development of technology, vortex flowmeters have been continuously improved and refined, and their accuracy, reliability, and application range have been continuously expanded.

Purpose of Vortex Flowmeter

Vortex flowmeters are mainly used for measuring the flow rate of fluids in industrial pipelines, such as gases, liquids, and vapors. They are widely used in various industries, including petroleum and natural gas, chemical, power, metallurgy, and water treatment. In these industries, vortex flowmeters are used to monitor and control the flow rate of fluids, ensure the efficient and safe operation of production processes, and achieve accurate measurement and management of materials and energy.

Principle of Vortex Flowmeter

In the fluid, a triangular prism-shaped vortex generator is set up. Then, regular vortices are alternately generated on both sides of the vortex generator. These vortices are called Karman vortices, and the vortex rows are arranged asymmetrically downstream of the vortex generator. The frequency of vortex shedding is directly proportional to the average velocity of the fluid flowing through the vortex generator and is related to the characteristic width of the vortex generator. By measuring the frequency of vortex shedding, the average velocity of the fluid can be calculated, and then the flow rate can be obtained. The specific formula is: (f = St times frac{v}{d}), where (f) is the frequency of vortex shedding, (v) is the average velocity of the fluid, (d) is the characteristic width of the vortex generator, and (St) is the Strouhal number, which is dimensionless and has a value range of 0.14-0.27.

Features of Vortex Flowmeter

• High accuracy: It has little influence from parameters such as fluid density, pressure, temperature, and viscosity when measuring the volumetric flow under working conditions, thus achieving high measurement accuracy.
• Wide measurement range: The rangeability is large, generally reaching 1:10, and it can adapt to different flow ranges, from extremely low to extremely high flows.
• Strong anti-interference ability: It is insensitive to impurities and bubbles in the fluid and can work stably in harsh industrial environments.
• Low maintenance requirements: Due to its simple structure and no moving parts, the maintenance cost is relatively low.
• Small pressure loss: The pressure loss caused is small, resulting in low operating costs and greater energy-saving significance.
• Diverse output signals: It has analog standard signals (such as 4-20 mA, 0-10 V, etc.) and digital pulse signals, which can be easily used with digital systems such as computers.

Types of Vortex Flowmeter

• According to the connection method: It can be divided into flange type, flange clamping type, and insertion type.
• According to the purpose: It can be divided into explosion-proof type, ordinary type, high-temperature type, corrosion-resistant type, and insertion type.
• According to the structure: It can be divided into integral type and remote transmission type.
• According to the measurement principle: It can be divided into volume flow type and mass flow type.
• According to the function: It can be divided into conventional type and intelligent type.
• According to the detection method: It can be divided into thermal sensitive type, ultrasonic type, capacitive type, stress type, strain type, vibrating body type, photoelectric type, optical fiber type, and electromagnetic type.

Precautions for using Vortex Flowmeter

• Installation location: The flowmeter should be installed in a straight pipe section with sufficient upstream and downstream straight pipe lengths. The upstream straight pipe length is generally 15-20 times the pipe diameter, and the downstream straight pipe length is 5-10 times the pipe diameter.[!--empirenews.page--]
• Fluid conditions: The fluid should be clean and free of impurities and bubbles. If the fluid contains impurities or bubbles, a filter or gas separator should be installed upstream of the flowmeter.
• Temperature and pressure: The working temperature and pressure of the flowmeter should be within the specified range. If the temperature or pressure exceeds the range, the accuracy and reliability of the flowmeter may be affected.
• Vibration and interference: The flowmeter should be installed away from vibration sources and electromagnetic interference sources. If necessary, vibration isolation and electromagnetic shielding measures should be taken.
• Calibration and maintenance: The flowmeter should be calibrated regularly to ensure its accuracy and reliability. In addition, the flowmeter should be inspected and maintained regularly to ensure its normal operation.

Things to consider when purchasing Vortex Flowmeter

• Measurement medium: Select a flowmeter suitable for the measured medium, considering factors such as the physical and chemical properties of the medium, temperature, pressure, and viscosity.
• Flow range: According to the actual flow range of the measured medium, select a flowmeter with an appropriate range to ensure accurate measurement.
• Accuracy requirements: According to the accuracy requirements of the measurement, select a flowmeter with an appropriate accuracy level.
• Installation conditions: Consider the installation location and space of the flowmeter, as well as the installation method and connection mode.
• Output signal: Select a flowmeter with an output signal that meets the requirements of the control system, such as analog signal, digital signal, or pulse signal.
• Price and quality: Compare the prices and qualities of different brands and models of flowmeters, and choose a product with high cost-effectiveness.

Terms of Vortex Flowmeter

• Karman Vortex Street: When a fluid flows around a bluff body, vortices are alternately generated on both sides of the bluff body, forming a regular vortex row, which is called the Karman Vortex Street.
• Strouhal number: A dimensionless number that describes the relationship between the frequency of vortex shedding and the velocity and characteristic width of the fluid. Its value range is 0.14-0.27.
• Reynolds number: A dimensionless number that describes the flow state of a fluid. It is related to the velocity, density, viscosity, and characteristic length of the fluid.
• Flange type: A connection method in which the flowmeter is connected to the pipeline through flanges.
• Flange clamping type: A connection method in which the flowmeter is clamped between two flanges of the pipeline.
• Insertion type: A connection method in which the flowmeter is inserted into the pipeline through a hole in the pipeline wall.