FEATURES OF ORIFICE METERS:
Flow range: limited only by pipe size.
Accuracy : It varies from ±0.25% to ±0. 5% of actual flow. The accuracy of DP transmitter varies from
±0.1% to ±0. 3% of full scale error.
Cost: Low
ADVANTAGES OF ORIFICE METERS:
Easily installed between flanges.
Fabrication simple and inexpensive.
No limitations on the materials of construction, line size and flow rate
Cost relatively independent of pipe diameter since cost of DPT is fixed.
DISADVANTAGES OF ORIFICE METERS:
High permanent pressure loss & hence high energy consumption to overcome pressure loss.
Impractical for systems with low static pressure.
Measuring range to about 3:1 to 5:1.
Subject to damage by water hammer and foreign objects.
FEATURES OF VENTURI METERS:
Design Pressure: No limitation. Limited by DP transmitter/ pipe press.ratings.
Design Temperature: No limitation. Limited by DP transmitter/ pipe pressure ratings
Sizes: 25 mm to 3000 mm
Fluids/ Applications: Clean Liquids/ clean gases
Limited applications: Dirty /corrosive/viscous Liquids & Dirty gases
Flow range: limited only by pipe size and beta ratio.
MOC: No limitation (cast iron/ carbon steel/ SS/Monel, Titanium, Teflon, Hastelloy, Naval Bronze / haste
alloy)
Accuracy : It varies from ±0.25% to ±0. 75% of actual flow. The accuracy of DP transmitter varies from
±0.1% to ±0. 3% of full scale error.
Cost: Very High
ADVANTAGES OF VENTURI METERS:
Lower head losses than orifice plates reducing the capital expenditure on pumping eqpt. / save pump
energy costs
No process interruption for exchange of DP transmitter.
Can be used for temperature extremes
DISADVANTAGES OF VENTURI METERS:
Highly expensive
Larger and heavier to handle
FEATURES OF ROTAMETERS:
Design Pressure: Upto 350 PSIG (GLASS TUBE) / 720 PSIG (METAL TUBE).
Design Temperature: Upto 400 deg.C (GLASS TUBE) / 538 Deg.C (METAL TUBE) .
Sizes: upto 75 mm
Fluids/ Applications : Clean liquids, gases and vapours
Flow range: upto 920 cub.m/hr for liquids & 2210 cub.m/hr for gases
MOC: Borosilicate glass/ brass / steel/ stainless steel/ Hastelloy
Accuracy : It varies from ±1% to ±2% of actual flow.
Cost: Medium
ADVANTAGES OF ROTAMETERS:
Simple, robust and linear output
Does not require external impulse or lead lines.
Pressure drop is minimal and fairly constant.
DISADVANTAGES OF ROTAMETERS
Vertical installation only.
Glass tubes limit pressure & temperature and subject to breakage from hydraulic & thermal shock
Glass tubes eroded by undissolved solids & unsuitable for metering alkaline solutions
Metal tube meters more expensive.
Foreign particles can accumulate around the float & block the flow
FEATURES OF VORTEX FLOWMETERS:
Design Pressure: 138 bars
Design Temperature: -200 Deg. C to 400 Deg.C
Sizes: 15 mm to 300 mm
Fluids : Gases (clean/ dirty) and clean liquids
Velocity range: 0.3 to 10 m/s (liquids) and 6 to 80 m/s (gases)
MOC: mostly in stainless steel, some in plastic
Accuracy : It varies from ±0.5% to ±1% of actual flow for liquids and ±1% to ±1.5% for gases
Cost: Medium
ADVANTAGES OF VORTEX FLOWMETERS:
Minimal maintenance, no moving parts.
Calibration using fluid flow not required & unaffected by viscosity, density, pressure, and temperature
within operating specification.
Digital or analog output
DISADVANTAGES OF VORTEX FLOWMETERS:
At low flows, pulses are not generated and the flowmeter can read low or even zero.
Reynolds number should be greater than 8000
Vibration can cause errors in accuracy.
Correct installation is critical as a protruding gasket or weld beads can cause vortices to form, leading to
inaccuracy
