Steam Flow Metering
Steam Flow Metering
(OP)
I am performing a government sponsored review of steam flow metering technology and how it is applied in the UK. I'd be grateful if anyone out there would be willing to share their experiences. Specifically, I am trying to get a handle on the metering methods used and information available to the users. This could cover any industry (probably Process, Power, Geothermal & Food sectors are the main ones). I'm interested in the answers to the following questions (with either reference to a specific application or more general information) :
1. What application did you use the flow meter for?
2. What were your uncertainty, sensitivity, reliability or other specific requirements?
3. What were the operating conditions (pressure, temperature, flow rate etc)
4. What type of meter did you use, and why?
5. Did you have any good or bad experiences? How good was the support from the supplier?
6. How did you measure the steam density?
7. Were there any specific installaton requirements (e.g. steam traps, lagging, straight upstream lengths)
8. Any other comments
I'd also be interested in any sources of information on the subject (e.g. web pages, books, courses (in the UK only!).
The end result of this work will include a web page with freely available reports. This will come on-line in about 18 months.
Thanks for your help.
Neil
1. What application did you use the flow meter for?
2. What were your uncertainty, sensitivity, reliability or other specific requirements?
3. What were the operating conditions (pressure, temperature, flow rate etc)
4. What type of meter did you use, and why?
5. Did you have any good or bad experiences? How good was the support from the supplier?
6. How did you measure the steam density?
7. Were there any specific installaton requirements (e.g. steam traps, lagging, straight upstream lengths)
8. Any other comments
I'd also be interested in any sources of information on the subject (e.g. web pages, books, courses (in the UK only!).
The end result of this work will include a web page with freely available reports. This will come on-line in about 18 months.
Thanks for your help.
Neil





RE: Steam Flow Metering
2. Inaccuracy of NMT 1% of mass flow rate and fit and forget type was the requirement.
3. Pressure is 10 Bar maximum, flow rate ranging from 1000 to 4000 Kgs/Hr, saturated steam.
4. Density compensated vortex flow meter (Smart transmitter).
5. Support is good and no probs.
6. Density compensation by temperature measurement and steam tables are fed in the processor.
7. Steam trap before meter. Straight lengths 10 and 5 upstream and downstream respectively.
8. a)Check for high turndown and high accuracy meters.
b)Check for filters due to vibration
I can help you if you have any specific questions.
Good Luck,
RE: Steam Flow Metering
Something that we found, as we retro-fitted new steam meters into our system, was that a large number (as in most) of lines and their existing orifice plate meters were grossly oversized for the steam load. To have a 6" line reduced to 2" for the new meter was pretty common. The percentage of oversized steam installations is HUGE in every industry I've been involved with.