Steam flow measurement has always been a problem. Today we solve a problem of temperature and pressure compensation. So Do you need temperature and pressure compensation for Steam Flow Measurement?

Generally speaking, vortex flowmeter manufacturers will provide saturated and superheated steam mass flow range tables for users to select.

In the actual measurement, due to changes in working conditions, saturated steam and superheated steam are willing to deviate from the original design. It will change the relationship between steam temperature and pressure to obtain its density. Affect the accuracy of measurement.

Wet saturated steam

When the vortex flowmeter is installed behind the pressure reducing valve. The wet saturated steam suddenly decompresses greatly. The fluid undergoes adiabatic expansion. The water droplets partially evaporate. At the same time, the heat of vaporization is absorbed from the liquid and vapor phases. Reduce the vapor and liquid phase temperature.

If the temperature does not drop much or the humidity is high before evaporation, the temperature will quickly drop to the saturation temperature corresponding to the new pressure. Create a new balance. At this time, the steam is still saturated steam.

If the pressure drops a lot or the humidity is low before evaporation. After the temperature is lowered due to the evaporation of water droplets, it is still higher than the saturation temperature corresponding to the new pressure. The steam becomes superheated steam.

Superheated steam

In the flow calculator, the mass flow can be calculated according to the density of the superheated steam temperature and pressure. But when the superheated steam is transported over a long distance. Or due to improper pipe insulation measures. Often due to the decrease in heat loss temperature, it will enter the critical saturation state from the overheating state. Even part of the steam condenses and undergoes a phase change to become water droplets. At this time, it becomes wet saturated steam (supersaturated steam).

Read more about: Condensate Flow Meter-Steam Condensate Flow Meter|Types & Selection Guide

Featured Flow Meters for Steam Flow Measurement

Vortex flow meter for Steam Flow Measurement

The output of the vortex flowmeter is only proportional to the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the measuring tube. When measuring the humidity of saturated steam, the influence of water droplets on the output of the vortex flowmeter is negligible. Therefore, it can be considered that the output of the vortex flowmeter is completely caused by the dry part (saturated part) of the wet and saturated steam. The density of the dry part can be accurately detected according to pressure compensation or temperature compensation.

When steam metering, if the two parties agree to settle the cost based on the dry part of the steam, there is no charge for condensate. The influence of the phase change on the measurement is negligible and can be ignored. If the condensate is also charged as steam. The measurement result of the vortex flowmeter is low.

After the above evaporation occurs, the former has no effect on compensation. Only the dry part in the steam increases, and the dryness increases accordingly.

In the latter case, the wet saturated steam becomes superheated steam. At this time, the impact on the flowmeter is divided into the following three situations:

1. The design has taken into account that the steam becomes superheated. Or in what state is difficult to determine. Or sometimes it is overheated and sometimes it is saturated. So use temperature and pressure compensation. Then the above-mentioned phase change has no influence on the measurement result.
2. Consider saturated steam when designing, and adopt pressure compensation. Then the above-mentioned phase change will bring a smaller error. That is, the compensation error caused by the density difference corresponding to the difference between the superheated steam temperature and the saturated steam temperature.
3. Consider saturated steam when designing. But use temperature compensation. That is, the superheated steam temperature is regarded as the saturation temperature to check the density table. Generally, large errors will be caused.

There are three ways to solve the above problems:

1. Install the total steam flow meter before the pressure reducing valve. Because the above steam is not decompressed. There is no phase change problem. So install the flowmeter before the pressure reducing valve. According to the saturated steam compensation method. The measurement accuracy can be guaranteed.
2. If the flow meter can only be installed behind the pressure reducing valve. A pressure transmitter can be added for temperature and pressure compensation.
3. If the stability of the pressure reducing valve is better. The upstream pressure value of the flowmeter can be set as a constant value into the display instrument for temperature and pressure compensation.

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