FLOW METER SELECTION

SEMINAR
Alan Graff

RL Stone Co
I&C Sales Manager

Upstate NY & New England





RL Stone Co. New England
Corporate Office: 115 Ainsley Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210 Tel: 888-404-8882 Fax: 315-479-5402 www.rl-stone.com
Process/HVAC Products and Solutions
Armstrong Steam and Condensate Group: Traps, Liquid Drainers, Steam
Distribution & Condensate Return Manifolds, Air Vents, Strainers, Wireless
Trap Monitors, Spargers, Separators
Armstrong Humidification Group (Vermont only): Direct Steam, Ionic Bed
Electric, Gas-Fired, Steam to-Steam, Evaporative Cooling Fogging, Unfired Steam Generators

Armstrong Condensate Management Group: Mechanical & Electrical
Condensate Pumps and Packages, Flash Tanks, Condensate Coolers
Armstrong Heat Transfer Group: Unit Heaters, Door Heaters and Make-Up
Air Heaters, Heavy-Duty Steam and Hot Water Coils, Replacement Coils,
DuraMix VIFB Coils, Fumigation Heat Treat Systems
Armstrong Hot Water Group: Instantaneous Hot Water Heaters, Direct
Fired Gas High Efficiency Hot Water Heaters, Thermostatic Mixing Valves, The
Brain & MEGAMIX Digital Electronic Mixing Center, Steam & Hot Water Hose
and Mixing Valve Stations
Armstrong Pressure Temperature Control Group: PRVs, Pneumatic and
Electric Industrial Control Valves, Temperature Regulators, Radiator Control
Valves
Armstrong Service Group: Steam System Optimization, Contracting:
Installation Construction, Engineering Audits and Steam Surveys, Heat Treat
Audits

Cataract Steel Compressed Air, Gas & Heat Transfer Products, Industrial Heat
Exchangers, Pressure Vessels, Air Receivers

New and Replacement Steam, Water and DX Coils, Remote Condensers,
Fluid Coolers, Evaporative Coolers

Diversified Heat Heat Transfer Equipment, Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers, Plate and
Transfer Frame Heat Exchangers, Steam and Hot Water Generators

Refrigerant Leak Detection Monitoring Systems



Thermacor Pre-Insulated Above and Below Ground Piping Systems,
Process Containment Piping, High Temperature Polyisocyanurate
Foam, Pressure Testable Joints, ERM Leak Detection


TMI, Inc Strip Doors, Air Doors, Screens and Curtains, Modular Enclosures,
Clear and Colored Flexible PVC Film, Noise Control Products

Flow Sensors & Instrumentation, Accelabar Zero Straight Run
Flow Meter, Utility Flow Metering Systems

Gauges: Pressure, Vacuum, Digital and Analog Indicators, Mini and
Industrial Diaphragm Seals, Pressure Transducers, Accessories-
Pressure Snubbers, Gauge Cocks, Needle Valves, Siphons, Petes Plugs,
Bimetal Thermometers and Temperature Transmitters

R. L. Stone Services Design Build, Installation, On-Site Seminars and Training, Energy
Audits, Steam Trap Surveys, Control Panels, SCADA System













A Leading Supplier of Flowmeters
to HVAC & Industrial Marketplace
Magmeters
Vortex & Swirl
Turbine
Thermal & Coriolis Mass
BTU Meter
Pitot, Wedge
Orifice Plates, Venturi
Positive Displacement
Rotameter, Variable Area

Define Application Basic Facts
Flowing Media (Steam, Water, Air, Gas etc)
Density - pressure and temperature
Flow Range, minimum to maximum (turndown
needed)
Accuracy how stated? % of range or span
Repeatability
Straight run requirements & available
Economic Considerations Initial cost, maintenance
cost & operating costs

Why are we here?
There is no 1 meter that will meet every
application
Every application needs to be looked at
individually
We can make some generalizations !!!!!!

HOW MUCH (TOTAL)
HOW FAST (RATE)
FLOW MEASUREMENT
Flow Through A Pipe
Real World Idealized
Pipe Velocity Profile
V V
Flow Profile Correlation
Velocity profile is a predictable function of Reynolds
number. Fluids with the same Reynolds number will have
similar velocity profiles.
Steam
Water
Heavy Crude
V
General Flow Terminology
Reynolds Number (RE) A single dimensionless
parameter formed as the ratio of inertial to
viscous forces . Magnitude indicates whether
flow is laminar or turbulent



=
Characteristic
Dimension*
(D)
Fluid Viscosity ()
RE=
Fluid
Density
(p)
Fluid
Velocity
(V)
Inertia Forces
Viscous Forces
* Usually inside pipe diameter.
Characterization of Fluid Flow
Types of Flow
RE < 2100




RE >3000

*** Well documented & proven fully
developed flow profiles
Transitional
Turbulent ***
Laminar
Volumetric Flowrate (Q)
Volume = Area x Length
Volume Flow = Area x Velocity
V
A
Q
Mass Flowrate (m)
Where m = Mass Flow
Q = Volume Flow
= Fluid Density
= AV
Mass = Volume x Density
Mass Flow m =
Qp
V
A
m
Q=VA
Mass vs Volume Flowmeters
Why are we concerned?
How much does it really matter?
Flow through a 4 line measured in a Averaging Pitot
Flow Rate 1000 cfm 1000 cfm
Pressure 5 psi 5 psi
Temperature 100 F 70 F

DP in WC 12.181 11.532
There is a 6% error just by changing density / temperature slightlycan
you meter cope??
General Flow Terminology
Factors affecting flowmeter performance
Process media
Liquid
Gas
Density (Specific Gravity)
Viscosity
Pressure

Temperature
Velocity
Flowmeter Performance
Accuracy
Repeatability
Linearity
Rangeability
Types of Accuracy
% Rate
% Full Scale
% Span
% Max DP
Accuracy
% Rate The percent accuracy value is constant and
applied to the actual (or indicated) flowrate
Example:
Flowrate 1% rate
100 GPM 1 GPM
50 GPM 0.5 GPM
10 GPM .01 GPM
% Full Scale The absolute value of error (as expressed in
engineering units)

Flowrate 1% Full Scale % Rate
100 GPM 1 GPM 1%
50 GPM 1 GPM 2%
10 GPM 1 GPM 10%
Example:
Accuracy
Percent Error Versus Flow
Poor Repeatability Means
Poor Accuracy
Good Accuracy Means
Good Repeatability
Good Repeatability Does Not
Necessarily Mean Good Accuracy
Volumetric Flowmeters

DP
Turbine
Vortex / Swirl
Magnetic
Target
Ultrasonic
Displacement

Note: can be inferred mass with compensating transmitter
Differential Pressure Flowmeters
Flow Measurement Principles
P

Q = K
ORIFICE PLATE
(or FLOW TUBE)
VENA
CONTRACTA
MANOMETER
(or DP TRANSMITTER) h
Direction of Flow
DP Primary Elements
Various
Orifice
Configuration
Flow
Nozzle
Venturi
Flowmeter
Flow
Tube
DP Primary Elements

Averaging Pitot
Accelabar Combined
Pitot & Venturi
Wedge Element
DP Flowmeters
DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE
ADVANTAGES
Use On Liquid, Gas, and Steam
Suitable for Extreme Temperatures
and Pressures
No Moving Parts
Low Cost

DISADVANTAGES
Limited Rangeability
Effected By Changes In Density,
Pressure, and Viscosity
Maintenance Intensive
Magnetic Flowmeters
Theory of Operation
Magmeter Requirements
Process must be a liquid
Minimum conductivity
Meter must be full
Magnetic Flowmeters
MAGNETIC
ADVANTAGES
No Moving Parts
Very Wide Rangeability
Ideal For Slurries
Unobstructed Flow Path

DISADVANTAGES
Liquid Must Be Conductive
Physical Pressure and Temperature
Limits
Magnetic Flowmeters
No moving parts
No pressure drop
Flowrate independent of viscosity, temperature, and density
Minimum upstream piping requirements
Electronics interchangeable without regard to size
Measure dirty liquids with solids
Measure highly corrosive fluids
Very large turndown
Linear output
Advantages Over Other Technologies
Vortex Meter
Vortex Meter
Principle of Operation
Q = V x A
Vortex
Vortex / Swirlmeter
ADVANTAGES
No Moving Parts
For Liquid, Gas, or Steam
Uneffected by Pressure, Temperature,
or Density Changes.
Wide Rangeability

DISADVANTAGES
Span Limitations Due to Viscosity
Flow Profile Sensitive (Vortex)
VORTEX / SWIRLMETER
Swirlmeter
Principle of Operation
Preamplifier
Swirler
Sensor
Deswirler
r = local radius
VA = axial velocity of flow
VT = angular velocity of flow
p = static pressure
Backflow
Housing
Swirlmeters
Benefits
High Accuracy 0.50% of Rate
No Moving Parts
Minimal Upstream Piping
Measures Low Flows
Versatile
Electronics can be used for Diagnostics
Works with Entrained Liquids
Swirlmeter
Cut-Away View
Technical Data
Measures liquids, gases and steam
Available integral, remote, or flow
computer electronics
Accuracy 0.50% rate
Sizes 0.75" thru 16.0"
Minimal upstream piping req.
Flow as low as 1 GPM
Excellent in light gas applications
Installation Length
Swirlmeter
15 D 5 D
25 D 5 D
50 D 5 D
Vortex 4 Swirlmeter
90 elbow
Process
control valve
Reduction
3 D 1 D
3 D 1 D
5 D 1 D
min. 1.8 D
Turbine Meter
Turbine Meter
Principle of Operation
Rotor velocity is proportional to fluid velocity
Turbine Meter
High accuracy (.5% of rate)
High rangeability (up to 50:1)
Compact design
Fast response time
Broad range of sizes
Clean water applications only
NIST Traceable Factory Calibration
Low cost, Easy to install
In and out of line, under pressure
Turbine Meter
Straight pipe run requirements
Process fluid lubricity
Reynolds number constraints
Viscosity
Density
Maintenance & recalibration
Performance Considerations
Turbine Flowmeters
TURBINE
ADVANTAGES
High Accuracy
Suitable for Extreme
Temperatures and Pressures
Can Be Used On Gas or Liquid

DISADVANTAGES
Only For Low Viscosities
Moving Parts
Sensitive to Flow Profile
Positive Displacement Flowmeters
PD Flowmeters
Helical gear
Nutating disk
Oscillating
piston
Oval gear
Rotary
Types
Positive Displacement Meter
Typical Principle of Operation
Schematic of a
nutating-disk meter
Schematic of a
rotary-vane flowmeter
Schematic of a
lobed-impeller flowmeter
PD Flowmeters
Ideal for viscous fluids
Custody transfer
Batching
Minimal straight piping
requirements
Advantages
Ultrasonic Flowmeters
Doppler
Time of
flight
Types
Doppler
Flowmeter
Ultrasonic Flowmeters
Principle of Operation
Ultrasonic Flowmeters
Principle of Operation
Transit-Time
Flowmeter
Ultrasonic Flowmeters
Reynolds number constraints
Entrained gas or particles for doppler
Clean liquids for time of flight
Installed without process shut down
Straight upstream piping
requirements
Performance Considerations
Ultrasonic

ULTRASONIC
ADVANTAGES
No Moving Parts
Unobstructed Flow Passage
Wide Rangeability

DISADVANTAGES
For Liquids Only (limited gas)
Flow Profile Dependent
Errors Due To Deposits
V
Mass Flowmeter
Direct Measurement


Thermal Dispersion
Coriolis

Coriolis Mass Flowmeter


Coriolis


Coriolis
CORIOLIS
ADVANTAGES
Direct Mass Measurement
High Accuracy
Additional Density Measurement
Uneffected By Flow Profile

DISADVANTAGES
High Purchase Price
High Installation Cost
Size Limitations
Vibration Sensitive
Thermal Dispersion
Thermal Dispersion Mass Flowmeter
Gas application only
Relatively inexpensive
Easy to install and remove under pressure
Accuracy 0.5%
Turndown, 100:1
Capable of monitoring extremely low flows
True mass flow meter (compensates for
temperature/pressure)
Piping Considerations
Always need a full pipe



Proper up / down diameter
BTU Monitoring

Summary Each Application is
Different
Flowing Media (eg Steam, Water, Air, Gas etc)
Density - pressure and temperature
Flow Range, minimum to maximum (turndown needed)
Accuracy how stated? % of range or span
Repeatability
Straight run requirements & available
Maintenance and reliability

General HVAC Recommendations
Steam : Accelabar or Swirl
Chilled or Hot Water: Hot Tap Insert Turbine
Natural Gas or Air: Thermal Dispersion
Fuel Oil: Coriolis or Wedge