FLOWMETER SELECTION GUIDE
Clean Liquid
Dirty Liquid
Slurry
Viscous Liquid
Corrosive/
Erosive
Liquid
Clean Gas
Dirty Gas
Steam
Full
Bore Size Availability
Type Of Measurement
Accuracy
Typical Rangeability
Reynolds No. or Other limitations
Sensitivity To Installation Effects
Straight Piping Requirements
Typical Ancillary Equipment
Other Considerations
Preferred Meter Orientation
Initial Cost
Installation Cost
Maintenance Cost
Operating Cost
Performance Stability
Standards Or Recommended Practice
Concentric OP (Square Edged)
G
L
X
X
L
G
L
G
> 1 in. > 25mm
Square Root Volumetric
0.5% to 3%
3:1 to 5:1
>10,000
High
10D to 40D-UP 2D to 6D Down
Drain, Vent Blow-off-and S/D valves
Pressure and/or Temp. Compensation May be Required
Pressure Tap Orientation Depends on Pipe Orientation & Fluid Being Metered
L TO H
M TO H
M TO H
M TO H
Performance Affected by Edge and Tap Wear
AGA3, ANSI/API 2530 ANSI/ASME MFC 3M. ISO 5167 AESME Fluid Meters
Segmental Wedge
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
> 1/2 in. > 15mm
Square Root Volumetric
0.5% to 5%
3:1 to 5:1
>500
Low
5D to 10D-UP 2D to 5D Down
None with Remote Seal Version
Same as Orifice Plate
No Limitations on Remote Seal Elements
H
L
L
L TO M
GOOD
-----------------------------
Venturi Tube
G
G
L
X
L
G
G
G
> 2 in. > 50mm
Square Root Volumetric
0.5% to 1.5%
3:1 to 5:1
>100,000
Low
Upstream Runs Shorter Than OP by Factor 2-9Times
Same as OP, Air Purge & Vent Cleaners on Dirty Liquids
Same as Orifice Plate
Same as Orifice Plate
M TO H
M
L
L
GOOD
AGA3, ANSI/API 2530 ANSI/ASME MFC 3M. ISO 5167 AESME Fluid Meters
Flow Nozzle
G
L
X
X
L
G
L
G
> 2 in. > 50mm
Square Root Volumetric
1% to 2%
3:1 to 5:1
>75,000
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
V-Cone
G
L
L
L
L
G
L
G
1 to 16 in. 25 to 400mm
Square Root Volumetric
0.5% to 2%
3:1 to 5:1
>4,000
Low
5 to 10D-up
Same as Orifice Plate
Same as Orifice Plate
-----------------------------
M
M TO H
M
M
GOOD
-----------------------------
Oscillating Vane
G
L
X
L
G
X
X
X
1,2,3 in. 25,50,75 mm
Linear Volumetric
0.5%
10:1
Flow Range fixed for a given size
Mod To High
10 to 30D-UP 5D-Down
-------------
-------------------------
Flow Should be Upward in Vertical Installations
L
L
L TO M
M
Sensor Assembly Requires Periodic Replacement
-----------------------------
Target
G
G
G
G
L
G
G
L
> 1/2 in. >15mm
Square Root Volumetric
0.5% to 5%
3:1 to 20:1
>1,000
High
Same as for Orifice Plate
-------------
Viscosity Affects Performance Below Critical Rd.
Zero May Need Adjustment in Vertical Installations
L TO M
L
M TO H
M
Performance Affected by Wear of Target
-----------------------------
Varaible Area
G
L
X
L
L
G
L
L
< 3 in. < 75mm
Linear Volumetric
0.5% to 5%
10:1
Fluids Under 3 Cp
None
None
-------------
-------------------------
Can Only Be Installed In Vertical Pipe with Flow Up
L TO M
L
L
M
GOOD
-----------------------------
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
Low
5 to 10D-UP 3D-Down
Block Valves May be Required to isolate Meter For Servicing
AC Designs May Give Better Performance On Some Slurries
Electrodes Musty Be In Horizontal Plane. Flow should be Upwards in Vertical Installation
M TO H
L TO M
L TO M
L
GOOD
ISO 6817
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
High
Same as for Orifice Plate With 0.70 Beta
Block Valves May be Required to isolate Meter For Servicing
Indicates Zero Flow Below Cut-off
-----------------------------
M
L TO M
L TO M
M
GOOD
ANSI/ASME MFC 6M
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
High
Similar To Orifice Plate
Strainers, Filters, Air Eliminators, Steam Taps May be Required
Viscosity Can Affect Performance
Some Designs Must Be Oriented as Calibrated
L TO H
M TO H
M TO H
M
Performance Affected by Wear of Bearings & other Parameters
AGA7, API 2534 ISO 2715 ASME Fluid Meters, API Manual for Petroleum Measurement Standards
Doppler
X
G
G
L
G
X
X
X
> 1/2 in. >15mm
Linear Mass Volumetric
1% to 5%
> 10:1
Fluids Must Have Suspensoids
High
Similar To Orifice Plate
-------------
May Have Problems on Concentrated Slurries
Transducers Must Be In Horizontal Plane
L TO H
L TO H
L
L
GOOD
-----------------------------
Transit Time
G
X
X
L
G
G
X
L
> 1/2 in. >15mm
Linear Mass Volumetric
1% to 5%
> 10:1
Fluids Must Be Clean
High
Similar To Orifice Plate
-------------
May Have Problems on Dirty Fluids
Transducers Must Be In Horizontal Plane
L TO H
L TO H
L
L
GOOD
ANSI/ASME MFC-YY
Coriolis Type
G
G
G
G
L
L
L
X
< 6 in. <150mm
Linear Mass Volumetric
0.15% to 2%
40:1 to 100:1
None
None
None
Special Supports May be Required For Meters
Entrained Air May Cause Problems
Specific Orientations Vary With Meter Designs
H
L TO M
L
L TO H
GOOD
ANSI/ASME MFC-11M, California Weights & Standards Bureau
Thermal Dispersion
X
X
X
X
X
G
L
G
< 3 in. < 75mm
Logrithmic Mass
1% to 5%
upto100:1
None
Mod To High
10 to 20D-UP
-------------
May Need To Provide Compensation for Wide TEMP. Ranges
Some Types Require Same Orientation as in Calibration
L TO M
L TO M
L
L TO M
Performance Affected by severe Build-up on Sensor for Immersion Types
-----------------------------
L = LIMITED APPLICATION
X = NOT RECOMMENDED
M = MODERATE
H = HIGH