Vortex Flow Meters

Working Principle :Vortex flow meters operate under the vortex shedding principle, where an oscillating vortexes occur when a fluid such as water flow past a bluff (as opposed to streamlined) body. The frequency that the vortexes are shed depend on the size and shape of the body.

Under certain conditions vortices regularly form downstream of an object (bluff body) placed in a flowing fluid and shed on alternating sides of the stream. This phenomenon is commonly called a Karmen vortex street. The resultant vortex frequency is proportional to the fluid velocity and hence the flow rate can be calculated by counting the number of vortices being produced. This is achieved placing a pressure transducer, thermistor, or ultrasonic sensor just behind the bluff body which picks up the high and low pressure and velocity fluctuations as the vortices move past the sensor.

Vortices will not be shed regularly in medium to high viscosity fluids. Typically, a minimum Reynolds number of 10,000 is required to obtain optimum performance from a vortex flow meter.

Features :

• The vortex flowmeter is a broad-spectrum flow meter which can be used for metering, measurement and control of steam, gas and liquid flow.
• High stability and high reliability with no moving parts.
• Relatively economical because of its simple flow measurement system and ease of maintenance.

Application :

The vortex flowmeter is relatively economical because of its simple flow measurement system and ease of maintenance. It is widely used in heavy industrial applications, power facilities, and energy industries, particularly in steam processes