THE NATURAL GAS FLOW METER OF CHOICE
The Cadillac CV Vortex flow meters have been acknowledged as the industry standard for direct natural gas flow measurement.
The principle behind Vortex measuring is highly suited towards the measurement of compressible fluids such as gases. With no moving parts and a liner relationship with flow the technology provides a highly reliable and accurate way to provide direct measurement of compressible mediums.
Central Station Steam offers three versions of our Vortex flow meters, which are all suitable for Gas flow measurement, but one is specifically designed for gas applications. By employing different technologies for picking up or measuring vortices Central Station Steam has the ability to provide the best suited and widest range of application solutions to meet the end user needs.
Our CV-U Vortex meter employs the use of Ultrasonic sensing technology, which mount just down stream of the shedder bar assembly and provide high sensitivity on the lower end of the operating range, extending the meter’s ability to measure at much lower flow rates than other sensing technologies. The Ultrasonic Vortex meter is ideally suited to types of gases (except Hydrogen due to density). The meter is available in wafer style process connections for ½" through 4" and insertion style as shown in illustration above in pipe sizes ranging from 4" through 72". Mass electronics are available as an option, which will provide a compensated display and output from the meter. For more information on this meter click on the Ultrasonic Vortex illustration above or the Ultrasonic Vortex Tab on left of page above.
- Data Source for energy management system, DCS, district-wide systems.
- Energy-Customer Billing from accurately totalized flow measurements.
- Basis for internal cost distribution using campus-wide systems.
- Process monitoring from central control rooms.
- Direct Steam measurements at both Boiler and point of use locations.
- Natural Gas measurements for Boiler fuel flow.
Applications:
- Accuracy
+/-1.0% of the reading for liquids, gas and steam. High accuracy, linear throughout the entire dynamic measuring range.
- Rangeability
Typically 25 to 1 turndown or up to 35 to 1 if sized for "Best Fit". With seasonal steam load variation, the need for a large turndown is essential. Cadillac® Vortex Meters will accurately measure all load requirements with proper sizing.
- Longevity
With no moving parts and through simple robust design the MTBF of the shedder bar is 50 years. With proper system maintenance Cadillac® Vortex Meters will provide reliable, accurate service beyond all flow technologies.
- Modern Electronics
Meeting the challenges of the next millennium. Meters are equipped with electronics capable of mass flow computation for varying steam loads/pressure. Electronics will register locally, remotely or interface with an energy management system. Built to withstand the toughest conditions.
Features:
The "Karman" vortex meter principle is clearly illustrated by a flag waving in the wind. As the air passes across the flag pole, vortices peel off and the flag is shaped by these pressure areas. You will notice that, at low wind velocity, the flag will move slowly from side to side. As the wind increases, the flag will start to flutter and ripple, representing the increased frequency and intensity of these flag pole generated vortices as they pass. Wind velocity can thus be determined by measuring the frequency of that flutter.
The small vortex strut of the Cadillac Vortex Meter sheds the vortices, which then pass through an ultrasonic beam, generated by flush mounted transducers (see illustration), where they are detected and counted. The frequency of these vortices is directly proportional to the fluid velocity and exact volumetric flow rate is computed knowing the internal cross sectional area. Each vortex meter is tested to determine the relationship between velocity/flow rate and vortex frequency, which results in a meter K-factor expressed in "Pulses/Gallon". This volumetric relationship is then converted to relative engineering units, which the flow meter converter can then retransmit via a 4-20 mADC current signal or conditioned pulse.
An optional LCD Indicator/Totalizer can display and totalize in engineering units of the users choice. For compressible mediums, such as gases and steam, the meter amplifier can correct for temperature and pressure with the MASS option, which includes a temperature element in shedder bar and look up tables for ideal gases and steam. For mediums other than saturated steam an external pressure source must be provided as shown in the drawing below. Outputs from the meter with the MASS option are compensated and linear for the compressible medium being measured.
Vortex Meter Dimensions
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Vortex Meter Installation
To ensure optimum performance and operation, Vortex meters should be sized to operate near or at the higher end of the operating range. This is due to the finite low end ability of the meter to generate and measure vortices. This is typically referred to as low flow cutoff. With other technologies on the market this low flow cutoff value is relatively high, thus requiring piping reductions as illustrated to bring the meter within a reasonable range for operation. In a typical steam heating system this is typically 1-2 pipe diameters.
However, with the Cadillac® Ultrasonic Vortex technology, sensitivity is dramatically increased, which results in a significant reduction in low flow cutoff values. Resulting in line size meters and the cost savings of not having to manufacture reducing spool pieces.
In addition, for line sizes of 4" to 72" the meter is supplied as an insertion device which further reduces installation costs and fabrication.
- Meter will consist of an in-line or insertion type flow meter assembly with remote or integral electronics.
- Meter available with local or remote indication or blind housings.
- Meter will provide an analog (4-20 mADC) output.
- Instantaneous and totalized flow available at local indicator or remotely through outputs.
- Meter measures flow using the Karman vortex shedding principle.
- Vortices shall be detected with an ultrasonic receiver.
- Meter electronics shall be capable of direct mass flow computation for saturated steam without external inputs.
- Input power shall be 15-48 VDC, analog output shall be 4-20 mADC, 2-Wire HART Protocol.
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Operating pressure/temperature of meter shall be (-5 to 140 psig) / (-20° to 360°F)
- Meter will have typical turndown of 25:1, or up to 35:1 if sized for "Best Fit".
- Meter will be calibrated to/and be provided with NIST calibration certificate.
SIZING INFORMATION
The low-end performance of the meter is a function of the fluid’s
ability to generate a vortex, which using ultrasonic technology is at the
very threshold of when vortices for a given fluid are shed. This threshold
is dependent on fluid velocity, density and Reynolds number. The high end
of the flow meter is amplitude limited, which ultimately impacts the electronics
ability to distinguish one vortex from another. In most cases, this represents
125 ft/sec for gases and 20 ft/sec for liquids.
To guarantee satisfactory performance, we will check every vortex meter
application for suitability and will require process medium, pressure, temperature
and expected minimum and maximum flow rates. For easy reference, we are providing
you with a table (see below) for saturated steam at various pressures. The
tables list the minimum and maximum flow capability, between which a flow
measurement can be made at stated accuracy. Outside those limits, the accuracy
will deteriorate somewhat, the extent of which will depend on the quality
of the installation.
Saturated Steam Flow Range Table
(Steam Flow in lbs/hr)
| Pipe/Meter Size |
10 PSIG | 20 PSIG | 40 PSIG | 60 PSIG | 80PSIG | 100 PSIG | 120 PSIG |
| Size 0.5" | 2-36 | 2-50 | 3-76 | 4-102 | 5-128 | 6-154 | 7-179 |
| Size 1" | 5-127 | 6-175 | 10-268 | 13-359 | 16-450 | 19-540 | 23-628 |
| Size 1.5" | 11-363 | 15-500 | 23-766 | 31-1027 | 39-1285 | 39-1542 | 54-1796 |
| Size 2 " | 15-581 | 25-800 | 38-1226 | 51-1644 | 64-2057 | 77-2467 | 90-2875 |
| Size 3 " | 47-1163 | 65-1600 | 100-2542 | 134-3288 | 167-4114 | 154-4934 | 234-5749 |
| Size 4 " | 84-1745 | 115-2400 | 176-3678 | 236-4932 | 295-6172 | 308-7400 | 414-8624 |
| Size 6 " | 214-5353 | 300-7364 | 451-14295 | 605-19166 | 757-26509 | 839-31785 | 1059-37043 |
| Size 8 " | 360-9517 | 523-13092 | 802-25415 | 1076-34074 | 1347-47128 | 1491-56507 | 1882-65854 |
| Size 10" | 595-14870 | 818-20456 | 1254-39709 | 1681-53240 | 2104-73637 | 2329-88292 | 2910-102897 |
| Size 12" | 857-21413 | 1178-29457 | 1806-57181 | 2421-76666 | 3030-106038 | 3354-127140 | 4233-148172 |
| CADILLAC VORTEX FLOW METER | |||||||||
| CV | Cadillac Vortex Flow Meters | Base | |||||||
| U | Ultrasonic Pickup Technology | n/c | |||||||
| A | Size 0.5" | $2,815.00 | |||||||
| B | Size 1" | $2,840.00 | |||||||
| C | Size 1.5" | $2,960.00 | |||||||
| D | Size 2" | $3,035.00 | |||||||
| E | Size 3" | $3,155.00 | |||||||
| F | Size 4" | $3,265.00 | |||||||
| G | Size 6" | $3,855.00 | |||||||
| H | Size 8" | $3,855.00 | |||||||
| I | Size 10" | $3,855.00 | |||||||
| J | Size 12" * | $3,855.00 | |||||||
| S | Standard Electronics | $0.00 | |||||||
| M | Smart Mass Electronics and Integral RTD | $925.00 | |||||||
| II | Integral Converter with Indicator/Totalizer | $270.00 | |||||||
| IN | Integral Converter - Blind | $0.00 | |||||||
| RC | Remote Converter | See Below | |||||||
| W | Wafer Style (1/2" to 4") | $0.00 | |||||||
| I | Insertion Style (4" to 72") * | $0.00 | |||||||
| 150 | ANSI Class 150 | $0.00 | |||||||
| 300 | ANSI Class 300 | $250.00 | |||||||
| FM | FM Approvals | $0.00 | |||||||
| CADILLAC VORTEX REMOTE CONVERTER | ||||||||
| CVC | Cadillac Vortex Remote Converter | Base | ||||||
| U | Ultrasonic Technology | n/c | ||||||
| R | Remote Mounting - NEMA 4X Enclosure | $765.00 | ||||||
| I | Indicator/Totalizer | $270.00 | ||||||
| N | Blind | $0.00 | ||||||
| XXFT | Interconnecting Cable** (10ft, 25ft, or 50ft) | $6.00/ft | ||||||
| FM | FM Approvals | $0.00test | ||||||
**Maximum cable length is 50'. For Greater Distances Contact Us
