Steam Mass Flow Rate Calculation By Vortex Flowmeter Technology

Vortex flowmeter is more often used to saturated steam and superheated steam measuring, Comate vortex flowmeter range ration can be 1:35 mostly can meet the measure requirement on the site.

How to choose the dimension is right for your working condition?

Steam is a compressible fluid and volume varies with the temperature and pressure changes that make steam measurement by mass flow. Besides, mass flow is the first step to calculate the steam energy in custody transfer.

Vortex meter based on Karmen vortex street theory is widely used in the fluids measurement system, especially it’s a perfect skill act in steam, gas, and the clean, non-conductive liquid flow process measurement system.

Steam Mass Flow Calculation Formula:

M; steam mass flow, unit is kg/hr or T/hr;

ρ : density of steam, unit is kg/m3;

V: velocity of flow meter, unit is m/s;

D: pipe inner size, unit is mm;

Example:

Conditions: under given pipe size: DN50, working condition at 7barG, T= 170℃

Saturated steam mass flow calculation formula

Temperature and pressure are dependent variables, density can be calculated by measuring one single factor
according to the steam table:
density= 4.218 kg/m3;
F(volumetric flow)=14.1~494.4m3/hr;
V: 2~70m/s of VFM60MV;
M=59.6 ~ 2085.2kg/hr;

Superheated steam mass flow calculation formula

Temperature and pressure are independent variables. Needed to measure both factors to calculate the density to know mass flow then. For example, P=7barG, T=225℃

Calculation of velocity

Take above as case, mass flow around 1200kg/hr in DN50 pipe, the pressure at 7barG, T= 170℃;
density = 4.218kg/m3, to get F = 284.5m3/hr;
So velocity is 40.2m/s

More information about steam mass flow measurement 

Defference saturated steam and superheated steam

Flow meter technologies in steam measurement system

Why measure steam flow need both temperature and pressure compensation

Important to know vortex meter for steam mass measurement