Applications for a Turbine Flow Meter

Turbine Flow Meter Overview:

A turbine flow meter is a volume sensing device. As liquid or gas passes through the turbine housing, it causes the freely suspended turbine blades to rotate. The velocity of the turbine rotor is directly proportional to the velocity of the fluid passing through the flow meter.

The external pickoff mounted on the body of the flow meter, senses each rotor blade passing, causing the sensor to generate a frequency output. The frequency is directly proportional to the volume of the liquid or gas.

Either a magnetic or modulated carrier (RF) pickup can be used to sense the rotational speed of the turbine rotor.

Depending on your flow meter application, there are many types of turbine flow meters to choose from. And after understanding the application several factors come into effect when choosing a flow meter, such as:

  • Fluid Type
  • Viscosity
  • Connection
  • Pipe Sizing
  • Process Temperature (min & max)
  • Flow Range (min & max)
  • Pressure Range (min & max)
  • Accuracy Range
  • Specific Application

If you need volumetric total flow and/or flow rate measurement, a turbine flow meter is the ideal device. Turbine flow meters are used in a wide variety of liquid and gas flow sensing applications. They can be built to endure high pressure, and high and low temperatures. They offer a high turn-down with minimum uncertainty and excellent repeatability. Turbine flowmeters are also simple to install and maintain only requiring periodic recalibration and service.

Specifications:

Accuracy is generally expressed as a percentage of true volume, measuring how close the instrument indicates actual flow.

Repeatability is determined on how well the flow meter can indicate the same reading whenever the same flow conditions exist. It also ensures quality measurement of fluids over a wide range of flow rates, temperatures, compositions and viscosities.

Depending on the type of turbine flow meter, the specifications vary.

Turbine Meter – (FM Series)
Tangential Turbine Flowmeter – (FMT Series) capable of measuring extremely low flow rates.
Insertion Turbine Flow Meter – (FMP Series) used economically usually in pipes 6” and larger in diameter

Liquid Service
Flow Range: 0.03 – 15,000 GPM
Accuracy:

±0.5% Linearity over Normal Range 10:1 Turndown
±0.05% Repeatability
Sizes: 1/4″ to 72″
Gas Service
Flow Range: 0.25 – 1500 ACFM
Accuracy:

±0.1% Linearity over Normal Range 10:1 Turndown
±1% Repeatability
Sizes: 1/4″ to 72″

Industries:

Oil and Gas Processing: How Gas Flow Measurement Affects Production

Oil and Gas Processing | Flowmetrics

While you might not give much thought to how oil and gas reaches your local fueling station unless prices begin to rise, the steps involved may surprise you. From drilling for crude oil to refining it for a number of uses, including the gasoline you pump into your vehicle’s fuel tank, much goes into this process. There are also a number of important factors involved in oil and gas processing; however, from the search for fossil fuel sources to the refinement of such products to measuring consistent flow rates at oil refineries and other fuel facilities, gas flow measurement is a key component of the manufacturing process.

 

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Best Rotameter Designs

Rotameter | Flowmetrics    

Rotameters, also referred to as variable area flow meters, are widely used to measure gas and liquid flow. The basic principle of rotameter design includes a float that rotates as it is pushed by the flow. The rotation speed of the float indicates the rate of the flow. With today’s new technology, the basic rotameter has evolved its capabilities to provide highly precise flow rate measurements and to withstand a variety of extreme temperature and pressure conditions.

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5 Best Practices for Calibrating Your Flow Meter

Calibrating Your Flow Meter | Flowmetrics

Flow meters are constantly utilized to ensure the proper function of various industrial machines. Its function is to measure the rate at which fluids or gases flow through it. Too much or too little flow could result in malfunction of a machine, so it is important that the flow meter present a proper reading. For this reason, it is generally critical that flow meters be regularly calibrated to ensure that the readings they provide are accurate. There are some standard practices regarding calibrating your flow meter that should be applied, but here are five best practices that you should keep in mind to make sure that your flow meter works at its optimum capacity.

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7 Steps to Selecting the Proper Flow Meter

Proper Flow Meter | FlowmetricsFlow meters help to ensure the proper function of a variety of industrial machinery. Just as the machines vary, so do their flow needs, therefore they may benefit from different types of flow meters. To determine the proper flow meter for your needs, it may be helpful to follow these seven steps.

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Video: Basics of Flow Meters

This video covers basic flow meter fundamentals including types of flow meters and the main considerations and challenges in selecting a flow meter.

Flow meters are used to measure the rate of flow of liquids or gases, just like electric meters measure the amount of electricity consumed. However, unlike electric meters, which are either electro-mechanical or electronic meters, there are many variants in flow-meters, all with different concepts on how the flow of fluid is measured, with some even customized to measure special fluids.

 

For more about flow meters visit Electronics Circuit Colle

The History of Variable Area Flow Meters

Variable Area Flow Meters | Flowmetrics

 

Exploring the History and Designs for Variable Area Flow Meters

Variable area flow meters are devices designed to measure the flow of gases or liquids through pipelines and similar enclosed structures. Over time, different types of VA flow meters have been developed, usually in response to some specific need. Here is some background on the meters and how the various designs came to pass. 

 

The Beginning

Karl Kueppers is credited with developing the first true variable area flow meter. Designed and launched in 1908, the device was patented in Germany that same year. The initial function had to do with measuring water flow. 

Felix Meyer was among the first to recognize the significance of Kueppers’ work and implemented the process for offering the meter for sale. In 1909, the firm of Duetsche Rotawerke was created in Aachen Germany. It didn’t take long for the new device to capture attention in Europe, the United Kingdom, and other areas.

In the first decades of the 20th century, Kueppers continued to refine the basic design. Specifically, he enhanced the shape of the float used in the glass tubing so that the results of the water flow testing were more accurate. 

During this period, the Kueppers product became known as a rotamesser, which can be roughly translated as a rotation measurer.

 

Here Comes the Rotameter

Prior to the Second World War, a version of the VA flow meter appeared in the United Kingdom. Still designed for measuring liquids, the newly dubbed Rotameter and registered by the UK firm of GEC Elliot. For years, the meter was manufactured by a division known as Rotameter Inc and based in the Croydon area. 

During the 1970’s the manufacturing operation was moved to Crawley, where it is still in operation. Over the years, ownership of the operation has changed as acquisitions and buyouts have taken place. As of 2016, the patent and the registration for the rotameter are held by the Yokogawa Electric Corporation.

 

Variable Area Flow Meters for Natural Gas Measurement

While originally designed for liquid measuring, further developments too place from the middle of the 20th century and continue today. Some models make use of heavy-duty plastic tubing rather than the traditional glass. The shape and materials used after 1950 for the floats have also changed. Designs that make it easier to measure the flow of gas or steam through a system serve the same basic purpose as the originals, making it easier to determine if the flow is efficient, or if some factor is impeding the progress of the gas. 

While the meters are still relatively simplistic in design, contemporary meters sometimes include equipment that makes it possible to monitor and download results to a computer program. This helps to limit the potential for human error in reading the test results. 

This more modern approach also aids in the collating of data over a specified period of time. For example, if there is the need to compare test results over the last six months and assess what differences have occurred after structural changes or other adjustments are made, accessing the history is quick and efficient. 

While variable area flow meters may be inexpensive to produce, they have saved a great deal of time and money in a number of settings. Today, the meters are no longer used exclusively in manufacturing settings. The meters are also used in managing municipal water systems, laboratories, and mining operations. There is no doubt that additional uses for the meter will come about as the technology continues to develop.

 

For more information on Flow Meters and other flow related products visit Flowmetrics HERE

More on the history of flow meters visit Flow Control HERE

Understanding Turbine Flow Meters

Turbine flow meters are quite an interesting mechanism. The way they measure flow based on velocity is fascinating. This video is a great understanding of what and how turbine flow meters do what they do. The descriptions and graphics really tell you what you need to know about the inner workings. 

For more informative videos visit McGraw Hill HERE

Flow Meter Measurement Errors

Flow Measurement Errors

 

Flow meters create a solid foundation of tracking fuel, water, steam, gas, etc. Certain flow meters are able to enhance the quality in specific industries like manufacturing, sewage, pharmaceutical and many more. Accuracy, versatility and suitability for direct mass flow data acquisition are advantages which frequently make Coriolis flow meters the solution of choice. With measurement, you want to make sure your flow meter is accurate and precise to get the right reading.

One thing that you should take note of is when a brochure lists a measurement error of <0.1 percent, this refers to digital devices operating under reference conditions. The measurement error in these situations is actually around one percent. The error percentages can be based on the measurement value or the measurement range or instrument range, or they can be listed as an absolute μA value.

 

For more on Flow Meters and Measurement check out Process Worldwide HERE