FLOWMETER SELECTION G

Corrosive/ Full

Viscous Type Of Typical Reynolds No. or Other

Clean Liquid Dirty Liquid Slurry Erosive Clean Gas Dirty Gas Steam Bore Size Availability Accuracy
Liquid Measurement Rangeability limitations

Liquid

Concentric
Square Root
OP (Square G L X X L G L G > 1 in. > 25mm 0.5% to 3% 3:1 to 5:1 >10,000
Volumetric
Edged)

Segmental Square Root

G G G G G G G G > 1/2 in. > 15mm 0.5% to 5% 3:1 to 5:1 >500
Wedge Volumetric

Venturi Square Root

G G L X L G G G > 2 in. > 50mm 0.5% to 1.5% 3:1 to 5:1 >100,000
Tube Volumetric

Square Root
Flow Nozzle G L X X L G L G > 2 in. > 50mm 1% to 2% 3:1 to 5:1 >75,000
Volumetric

Square Root
V-Cone G L L L L G L G 1 to 16 in. 25 to 400mm 0.5% to 2% 3:1 to 5:1 >4,000
Volumetric

Oscillating
G L X L G X X X 1,2,3 in. 25,50,75 mm Linear Volumetric 0.50% 10:01 Flow Range fixed for a given size
Vane

Square Root
Target G G G G L G G L > 1/2 in. >15mm 0.5% to 5% 3:1 to 20:1 >1,000
Volumetric

Varaible
G L X L L G L L < 3 in. < 75mm Linear Volumetric 0.5% to 5% 10:01 Fluids Under 3 Cp
Area

Magnetic G G G G G X X X >1/16 in. > 1mm Linear Volumetric 0.2% to 2% 30:1 to 100:1 None

Vortex G L X X L G L G 1/2 to 12in. 15 to300mm Linear Volumetric 0.5% to 1.5% 10:1 to 20:1 >20,000

Turbine G L X L L G L G > 1/4 in. > 6mm Linear Volumetric 0.1% to 1% 10:1 to 50:1 Fluids Under 10 CST

Linear Mass Fluids Must Have

Doppler X G G L G X X X > 1/2 in. >15mm 1% to 5% > 10:1
Volumetric Suspensoids

Transit Linear Mass

G X X L G G X L > 1/2 in. >15mm 1% to 5% > 10:1 Fluids Must Be Clean
Time Volumetric

Coriolis Linear Mass

G G G G L L L X < 6 in. <150mm 0.15% to 2% 40:1 to 100:1 None
Type Volumetric

Thermal
X X X X X G L G < 3 in. < 75mm Logrithmic Mass 1% to 5% upto100:1 None
Dispersion
G = GOOD L = LOW
L = LIMITED APPLICATION M = MODERATE
X = NOT RECOMMENDED H = HIGH
ELECTION GUIDE

Sensitivity
To Straight Piping Typical Ancillary Preferred Meter Installatio Maintenan Operating Standards Or Recommended
Other Considerations Initial Cost Performance Stability
Installatio Requirements Equipment Orientation n Cost ce Cost Cost Practice
n Effects

Pressure Tap Orientation

Pressure and/or Temp.
Drain, Vent Blow-off-and S/D Depends on Pipe Performance Affected by AGA3, ANSI/API 2530 ANSI/ASME MFC
High 10D to 40D-UP 2D to 6D Down Compensation May be L TO H M TO H M TO H M TO H
valves Orientation & Fluid Being Edge and Tap Wear 3M. ISO 5167 AESME Fluid Meters
Required
Metered

None with Remote Seal No Limitations on Remote

Low 5D to 10D-UP 2D to 5D Down Same as Orifice Plate H L L L TO M GOOD -----------------------------
Version Seal Elements

Upstream Runs Shorter Than Same as OP, Air Purge & Vent AGA3, ANSI/API 2530 ANSI/ASME MFC
Low Same as Orifice Plate Same as Orifice Plate M TO H M L L GOOD
OP by Factor 2-9Times Cleaners on Dirty Liquids 3M. ISO 5167 AESME Fluid Meters

Mod Same as for Orifice Plate Same as Orifice Plate Same as Orifice Plate Same as Orifice Plate M TO H M L M GOOD Same as Venturi Tube

Low 5 to 10D-up Same as Orifice Plate Same as Orifice Plate ----------------------------- M M TO H M M GOOD -----------------------------

Sensor Assembly
Mod To Flow Should be Upward in
10 to 30D-UP 5D-Down ------------- ------------------------- L L L TO M M Requires Periodic -----------------------------
High Vertical Installations
Replacement

Viscosity Affects Zero May Need

Performance Affected by
High Same as for Orifice Plate ------------- Performance Below Adjustment in Vertical L TO M L M TO H M -----------------------------
Wear of Target
Critical Rd. Installations

Can Only Be
None None ------------- ------------------------- Installed In L TO M L L M GOOD -----------------------------
Vertical Pipe with Flow Up
Electrodes Musty Be In
AC Designs May Give
Block Valves May be Required Horizontal Plane. Flow
Low 5 to 10D-UP 3D-Down Better Performance On M TO H L TO M L TO M L GOOD ISO 6817
to isolate Meter For Servicing should be Upwards in
Some Slurries
Vertical Installation

Same as for Orifice Plate With Block Valves May be Required Indicates Zero Flow Below
High ----------------------------- M L TO M L TO M M GOOD ANSI/ASME MFC 6M
0.70 Beta to isolate Meter For Servicing Cut-off

Strainers, Filters, Air Performance Affected by AGA7, API 2534 ISO 2715 ASME Fluid
Viscosity Can Affect Some Designs Must Be
High Similar To Orifice Plate Eliminators, Steam Taps May L TO H M TO H M TO H M Wear of Bearings & other Meters, API Manual for Petroleum
Performance Oriented as Calibrated
be Required Parameters Measurement Standards

May Have Problems on Transducers Must Be In

High Similar To Orifice Plate ------------- L TO H L TO H L L GOOD -----------------------------
Concentrated Slurries Horizontal Plane

May Have Problems on Transducers Must Be In

High Similar To Orifice Plate ------------- L TO H L TO H L L GOOD ANSI/ASME MFC-YY
Dirty Fluids Horizontal Plane

Special Supports May be Entrained Air May Cause Specific Orientations Vary ANSI/ASME MFC-11M, California
None None H L TO M L L TO H GOOD
Required For Meters Problems With Meter Designs Weights & Standards Bureau

May Need To Provide Some Types Require Performance Affected by

Mod To
10 to 20D-UP ------------- Compensation for Wide Same Orientation as in L TO M L TO M L L TO M severe Build-up on Sensor -----------------------------
High
TEMP. Ranges Calibration for Immersion Types
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