Vortex Flow Meter Problems and Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Reason | Trouble shooting | Repair |
No display |
Power supply failure | Test the voltage on the power source with a universal meter | Re-wire the power or use a new power |
| Power is not wired | Test the voltage on the power source with a universal meter | Wire the power | |
| Cable if broken | Check if there is break off point on the cable | Check the cable and re-wire | |
| Wrong wiring | Check if wiring to the correct termimal | Re-wire | |
Displayed flow rate is 0 while there are flow in the pipe |
Flow rate is lower than the meter’s lower limit | Increas the flow rate to check | Increase the flow rate or replace a new proper flowmeter |
| The flow rate of small signal cut off function is too high | Check the small signal cut off setting | Set the small signal cut off to a proper value | |
| Energy threshold value is too high | Check if the Energy threshold value is too high in spectrum analyzing checking mode | Set the Energy threshold value to a proper value (Please reference to Note 1 for how to set) | |
| Transmitter function failure | Replace the transmitter with another transmiter of same type to check | Replace the transmitter | |
| Sensor is damaged | Increase the flow rate to check first, than intall the transmitter to another flowmeter in same type to check. | Replace the sensor | |
| Pipeline blocked or sensor jamed. | If all the above possibilties are eliminated, please check the pipe line and installation. | Re-install the flowmeter | |
The flowmeter has flow reading while there is no flow in the pipe |
Power frequency interference | Check the frequency display on meter is stable at the value that same as the power frequency | Re-wire the meter with sheilded cable according to requirement. |
| There is high voltage instrument or high frequency interference close to the flowmeter | Check if there is high voltage instrument or high frequency interference close to the flowmeter | Re-locate the flowmeter | |
| There is heavy vibration on the pipe line | Sense the vibration on the pipe line by touch it with hand | Tighten the pipeline where the flowmeter is installed | |
| Valve is not closed properly that there flow leak into the pipe | Check pressure and check if valve is closed and sealed | Repare the valve | |
The flow rate reading fluctuate significantly |
The gasket and the pipe are not concentric | Check the position of the gasket | Re-install the gasket |
| The flowmeter pipe body and the pipe line are not concentric | Check if the flowmeter pipe body and the pipe line are not concentric | Re-install the meter | |
| Straight pipe length not enough or the inner diameter of flowmeter pipe body do not match the pipeline | Check the straight pipe length and the diameter of the pipelien | Re-locate the flowmeter | |
| There is heavy vibration on the pipe line | Sense the vibration on the pipe line by touch it with hand | Tighten the pipeline where the flowmeter is installed | |
| The fluid has not fill the pipeline fully | Check the fluid status and the location of the meter. | Re-locate the flowmeter | |
| Two phase flow | Check if there is 2-phase flow according to the pressure and temperature of the fluid. | If the fluild is liquid-solid two phase flow, need to install a filter at upstream of the flow meter. If the fluild is liquid-gas two phase flow, need to install a getter at upstream of the flow meter. | |
| Transmitter failure | Replace the transmitter with another transmiter of same type to check | Replace the transmitter | |
There is big difference between the flow reading and the process flow rate |
No density compensation for steam measurement | Check the density compensation devices and the setting | Fix density compensation |
| The estimated flow rate before using the meter is wrong | Use other flowmeter to confirm the actual flow rate | ||
| Setting incorrect | Check the settings of meter K factor, upper and lower limit of flow rate | Set the meter correctly |
All the above operating needs support from users. And now we have innovative technology enable users and both COMATE team to solve problems more quickly and saving time and money!
Comate Bluetooth function saving time and costs in vortex flow meter problems and troubleshooting
This function enables users who have COMATE flow meter in site to reach and configure the parameters more easily rather than lose the case and check the manual on how to set it. Most important is COMATE R&D team will help you to do this job just get the device online and click online diagnosis, our team-member will collect the data and help you to check where the problems may come from!
•Bluetooth app on a cellphone to connect Comate flowmeters
•Home interface can review real-time readings on the meter screen
•Setting interface help to do function setting & parameter setting
Support
•select output to pulse/4~20mA/frequency,
•select 4~20mA output parameters
•select unit of time/temperature/pressure/flow rate,etc
•input range of 4~20mA/pressure/temperature, etc
•Remote diagnosis function
Remote Diagnosis
Auto setting crosschecking
Remotely crosschecking to find if any preset was changed and tell the incorrect parts.
Signal & data analysis
Remotely logging the measurement and sensor signal to reflects real flow change and analysis problems caused by.
Algorithm upgrade
Find out the proper algorithm according to the signal analysis and update remotely.
Online following-up
Monitoring the instruments longer time to follow up, tackle the problem at its roots.
Cases on site
I bought a thermal mass flow meter for 4 inch pipe, 4~20mA range setting is correct, but the meter display flow rate around 1.1Nm3/hr ?
22:10 helping customer installed the APP, 22:11 customer get the meter on line and connect to that meter same time we received the meter signal in the system; 22:12 Cross-checking processing, we found the pipe size which default unit is mm, customer input 4 but it should be 100, we correct it with right one. Problem fixed.
I use your VFM60MV for steam measurement, there is no vibration on pipeline but flow rate changes frequently, not very stable ? Straight pipeline fit the requirements.
After signal analysis, we found the vibration signal is very small, but flow rate frequency are not and changes a lot it tells the downstream usage gas in non-stable and better to change another place to install.
