Try searching by key words, order- or product code or serial number e.g. “CM442” or “Technical information”
Enter at least 2 characters to start the search.
Vortex flowmeters: Measurement of steam

Vortex flowmeters

Vortex flow measurement: Robust and universally applicable for liquids, gases and steam

Vortex flowmeters are used in numerous branches of industry to measure the volume flow of liquids, gases and steam. Applications in the chemicals and petrochemicals industries, for example, in power generation and heat-supply systems involve widely differing fluids: saturated steam, superheated steam, compressed air, nitrogen, liquefied gases, flue gases, carbon dioxide, fully demineralized water, solvents, heat-transfer oils, boiler feedwater, condensate, etc.

Vortex flowmeters are also in widespread use for measuring mass flow. Therefore, modern vortex meters such as the multivariable Prowirl 200 are built for more than merely measuring volume flow, and come complete with temperature sensor and flow computer.

Unique Prowirl 200

Prowirl 200 is the world’s first vortex meter with the option of monitoring the steam quality and immediately generating an alarm message in case of wet steam. Prowirl 200 can also be used for flow monitoring systems up to SIL 2 and SIL 3 and is independently evaluated and certified by TÜV Rheinland in accordance with IEC 61508.

The Vortex Flow Measuring Principle

Steam Quality Measurement with Prowirl F 200 - For Maximum Operational Safety, Energy and Cost Efficiency

This film shows that Prowirl 200 is the most robust vortex flowmeter worldwide even under extreme process conditions.

Detection of wet steam Measurement of the dryness fraction of steam.

Vortex flow measuring principle

This measuring principle is based on the fact that turbulence forms downstream of obstacles in the flow, such as a bridge pier.

Inside each vortex flowmeter, a bluff body is therefore located in the middle of the pipe. As soon as the flow velocity reaches a certain value, vortices form behind this bluff body, are detached from the flow and transported downstream. The frequency of vortex shedding is directly proportional to mean flow velocity and thus to volume flow.

The detached vortices on both sides of the bluff body generate alternately a local positive or negative pressure that is detected by the capacitive sensor and fed to the electronics as a primary digital, linear signal.

Benefits

  • Universally suitable for measuring liquids, gases and steam

  • Largely unaffected by changes in pressure, density, temperature and viscosity

  • High long-term stability: no zero-point drift and lifetime K-factor

  • Large turndown of typically 10:1 to 30:1 for gas/steam, or up to 40:1 for liquids

  • Wide temperature range: –200 to +400 °C (+450 °C on demand)

Downloads

    Flow measuring technologies for liquids, gases and steam

    Products and services of our flow measuring technologies for liquids, gases and steam at a glance

    Proline in industries - the ideal device for each industry

    eBook: Check out the benefits of the new Proline, have look at our industry-optimized product portfolio, and profit from additional information such as films and a download function for brochures.

    Steam Handbook: Steam generation and distribution

    This brochure is designed to give a comprehensive technical overview into what steam is in all its forms, how to measure it, where and why it is used for in industrial processes.