Vortex Meter for Water Measurement

[zdas04]

I have a client who is using a Vortex meter on the dump line off a well site gas/water separator (2-phase unit). They've only recently been using this technology, but the initial results are excellent. The Vortex meter does not seem to have any of the over-ranging problems that have plagued turbine meters in intermittent-flow applications. My only concern with this choice of technology is the potential for the sensing element to become coated with scale, sludge, and normal well crap and lose sensitivity.

My question is: has anyone else used a Vortex meter on the water line downstream of a dump valve (dump duration from closed through full open and back to closed less than 5 seconds), and have they shown long-term reliability?



David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

http://www.muleshoe-eng.com

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts" Patrick Moynihan

 

[roydm]

We use lots of vortex meters in our petrochemical plants. I don't think fouling will be an issue. The meters are a lot more robust than a turbine meter.
I have seen a meter on a crystalizer where operators beat the daylights out of it with a hammer when the line plugged. The meter was oval instead of round but still worked. I can't vouch for the accuracy though.
Roy

 

[Bribyk]

A company I used to work for ran them on a flare line from a separator and they seldom worked, I believe due to fouling, and were replaced with orifice plates. That being said, they were probably never cleaned or serviced in their life...

 

[quark]

I used many vortex meters in water and waste water lines (related to pharmaceutical applications) and never had problems. I can't think of any reason as to why a vortex shouldn't work if the shedder is coated with dirt. The main issue will be to mitigate the external noise due to pipe vibration. Ensure fill pipe flow like any other volume flowmeters.

 

[JimCasey]

There are different ways the vortices are detected.
Pressure transducers might get fouled. Strain gages on the shedder bar are pretty well protected from the process and should tolerate fouling better.

I once saw vortex meters that measured with doppler to detect pulses of an ultasonic beam across the vortex sheet. too sensitive to production variations. It seemed like a good idea but never really worked.