WHAT IS A VORTEX DESIGN FLOW METER?
Used in a variety of industries such as commercial, industrial, agricultural, landscaping and irrigation, vortex flow meters are a popular device for measuring the flow rate of liquid, gas, and steam. They’re gaining popularity over other flow meter types like mechanical and paddle thanks to their accuracy and reliability – but what exactly is a vortex design flow meter?
Find out how vortex flow meters work to see how they can benefit your business.
WHAT IS VORTEX SHEDDING AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Vortex flow meters rely on a phenomenon known as ‘vortex shredding’ which was first described by Theodore von Kármán, a Hungarian-American engineer and fluid dynamicist. According to an excerpt from Measurement and Instrumentation[1] on ScienceDirect:
“The vortex-shedding flowmeter is used as an alternative to traditional differential pressure meters in many applications. The operating principle of the instrument is based on the natural phenomenon of vortex shedding, created by placing an unstreamlined obstacle (known as a bluff body) in a fluid-carrying pipe…
When fluid flows past the obstacle, boundary layers of viscous, slow moving fluid are formed along the outer surface. Because the obstacle is not streamlined, the flow cannot follow the contours of the body on the downstream side, and the separate layers become detached and roll into eddies or vortices in the low-pressure region behind the obstacle. The shedding frequency of these alternately shed vortices is proportional to the fluid velocity past the body.”
What also makes vortex flow meters distinct is that they don’t have rotating parts, are able to operate over a wide flow range, have low power consumption, and require little maintenance. Furthermore, they have a similar cost to measurement as ‘orifice plate’ flow meters, a common differential pressure sensor for flow rate.
AN EXAMPLE OF VORTEX SHEDDING
An everyday example of vortex shedding can be observed when a wind gale is shed from a flagpole, causing the flag to ripple. The forces caused by vortex shedding are a critical consideration when designing any tall structure such as bridge piers, pilings, and buildings.
VORTEX FLOW METER DESIGN
Vortex meters use a ‘bluff body’ (also known as a ‘shedder bar’) as an obstruction in the flow path to generate the ‘Kármán vortex street’ phenomenon in which vortices begin to form and oscillate. Named after Theodore von Kármán, a vortex street refers to a repeating pattern of swirling vortices, caused by vortex shedding, that’s responsible for the unsteady separation of flow of a fluid around a bluff (as opposed to streamlined) body.
Using sensor technologies, the natural frequency of these oscillating vortices is converted into a digital signal that’s then processed through the meter to calculate flow. There are several types of vortex flow meters such as piezoelectric crystals and ceramics, Delta P sensors, and ultrasonic sensors that measure the natural frequency produced during vortex shedding.
ADVANTAGES OF A VORTEX DESIGN FLOW METERS
Vortex flow meters provide a precise and natural occurring method for measuring flow. Since they don’t have any rotating mechanical components and are highly durable, vortex flow meters can withstand many types of environments and work for a variety of industries.
Notable advantages include:
- Quick leak detection
- Meter reading accuracy
- Low power consumption
- No calibration required, lowering costs
- Low pressure drop for less energy loss
- Mounts in any orientation
A vortex flow meter is a great option where low maintenance costs are important. Additionally, their low power consumption is ideal for use in remote areas.
IMPROVE FLOW RATE MEASUREMENTS
Vortex design flow meters are able to provide many benefits due to vortex shedding, a fluid dynamics phenomenon. Everydrop Technologies’ cutting-edge sensor design makes our vortex flow meters have a wider flow range and higher sensitivity to lower flows than others on the market which has resulted in selling over 15,000 vortex flow meters since 2018.
Contact us today or visit our FAQs for more information!
[1] Alan S. Morris, Reza Langari, in Measurement and Instrumentation (Second Edition), 2016