Cadillac® Vortex CV-HS Meter
The meter of choice for high pressure saturated and super-heated steam.
Cadillac® Vortex CV-HS Meter – Operation Principles
Cadillac® Vortex CV-HS Meter includes the following 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 shedder bar of the Cadillac® Vortex Meter is a solid piece of metal machined into a shape to maximize the strength of the vortex. As this vortex peels off, it temporarily causes a low-pressure area on one side, which puts sideways stress on the shedder bar. This stress is detected by embedded pressure sensitive piezoelectric crystals, which produce a voltage spike when compressed. By detecting and counting the frequency of these spikes, we can establish fluid velocity. 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.


