Vortex flowmeters are highly versatile flowmeters that can measure liquids, gases, and steam over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. The advantages offered by this type of flowmeter make them better suited than other types to measuring steam flow.
Steam is the most commonly used high-temperature, high-pressure heat medium across a wide range of industries. For example, it is used for heating, distillation, and concentration in chemical plants; sterilization, disinfection, and cleaning in biotechnology, food, and pharmaceutical plants; and air conditioning in semiconductor plants and district heating/cooling plants, among many other applications. There are two types of steam: saturated steam and superheated steam. Saturated steam is a fluid with good thermal efficiency, but it is difficult to maintain saturation due to the pressure loss and heat radiation associated with steam transportation, so it is sometimes supplied in a superheated state at higher temperature and pressure. Vortex flowmeters are chosen as the best flowmeter for steam flow measurement at many facilities because they can measure the flow rate of even high-temperature, high-pressure steam, including superheated steam.
The vortex flowmeters in Yokogawa’s VY Series offer a wide measurable flow range of up to 400mm in connection size, as well as the ability to measure fluids at high temperatures of up to 450°C and high pressures of up to ASME Class 1500. In addition to excellent solidity and stability, the series has been added with remote maintenance and self-diagnostic functions that help ensure efficient maintenance, supporting long-term stability of plant operations and improved production efficiency.
This section describes the advantages of using vortex flowmeters for measuring steam flow, comparing them with orifice flowmeters (differential pressure flowmeters), which are used at many work sites.
A typical orifice flowmeter has a rangeability of around 5:1, which may result in a large error depending on the measurement range. By contrast, with a rangeability of 80:1, Vortex Flowmeter VY Series have a wide measurement range, with accuracy errors kept to a consistent level. This superior rangeability means that they can handle steam flow rates that vary with the season and operating load.
Orifice flowmeters measure flow rate from the differential pressure created by the orifice (throttle valve), resulting in a pressure loss due to the orifice. On the other hand, vortex flowmeters have pressure loss due to vortex shedder bar, but it is smaller than that of orifices. Pressure loss causes a decrease in steam quality, which leads to higher costs due to energy loss. Therefore, a vortex flowmeter with small pressure loss is advantageous for maintaining steam quality and stable plant operation.
Orifice flowmeters are easy to maintain because they are not in-line instruments, but they have many components such as an orifice (throttle valve), impulse piping, and a three-valve manifold and condensate pots, which require a large number of maintenance items. However, vortex flowmeters have a simple structure with no moving parts, and so are robust and less prone to failure. As such, their long-term robustness and low maintenance costs are a great help to plant operation.
OpreX is the comprehensive brand for Yokogawa’s industrial automation (IA) and control business and stands for excellence in the related technology and solutions. It consists of categories and families under each category. This product belongs to the OpreX Field Instruments family that is aligned under the OpreX Measurement category.
Plants with many pieces of device in operation require “Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM),” which is efficient and systematic predictive maintenance based on the condition of the device. The VY series is equipped with a "self-diagnostic function (built-in verification)" for the entire device, including the vortex shedder bar with sensor elements, and a "process diagnostic function" that detects pulsation and fluctuation of the measured fluid and piping vibration based on the characteristics of the measured signals, through advanced digitization of the internal signals. In combination with the FSA130 Magnetic Flowmeter and Vortex Flowmeter Verification Tool (sold separately) and FieldMate which is adjustment, configuration, and management software (sold separately), those provides "verification functions" and "remote maintenance functions". These functions can be easily used on a PC screen in an instrument room away from the site, dramatically improving the checking and management of device health and operating conditions. In this way, the VY series promotes efficiency and manpower savings in maintenance activities and supports efficient plant operation.
The VY series inherits the high reliability and proven original sensing structure of the previous YEWFLO series. The vortex shedder bar has a unique sensing structure that incorporates two flow sensors and one temperature sensor (optional) and can be detached from the body. This structure not only results in robustness, long-term stability, short face-to face length, and short upstream straight pipe length, but also allows cleaning and replacement of the vortex shedder bar without removing the entire flowmeter from the piping when maintenance is required due to fluid deposition and other factors. This helps minimize the downtime required for maintenance. In addition, our unique digital signal processing technology effectively eliminates piping vibration, resulting in stable measurement. Mechanically and functionally compatible with successive generations of the YEWFLO series, the VY series can be installed in the same locations without the need for any additional piping work.
The VY series facilitates efficiency and labor savings in maintenance operations, supporting efficient plant operations.
Vortex Flowmeter VY Series can measure the flow rates of liquids, gases, saturated steam, and superheated steam, and has self-diagnostic and remote maintenance functions. A choice of materials is available for the wetted parts, stainless steel including duplex stainless steel or nickel alloys. The series complies with a wide range of standards, including explosion-proof and SIL2. The external input (analog input function for HART7 with analog input option or input via MAO function block for FOUNDATION Fieldbus) supports more accurate calculation capabilities* than ever before, including mass flow rate and energy flow rate of liquids, gases, and steam.
＊Saturated and superheated steam tables built in
[Common Specification]
| Model | VY □ □ □ (Integral Flowmeter, Remote Sensor), VY4A (Remote Transmitter) |
|---|---|
| Measurement Fluid | Liquid, Gas, Saturated Steam, Superheated Steam (Avoid multiphase flow and sticky or corrosive fluids) |
| Communication and Input/Output | HART 7 communication, 4 to 20 mA DC, Pulse / Status output, Analog input FOUNDATION Fieldbus communication Modbus RTU communication, Pulse / Status output |
| Explosion Protected Type | IECEx Ex db / Ex ia, ATEX Ex db / Ex ia, FM Ex db / Ex ia, FMc Ex db / Ex ia, Japan Ex db, NEPSI Ex db / Ex ia, Korea Ex db / Ex ia, INMETRO (Brazil) Ex db / Ex ia |
| Conformity Standards | EMC, PED, EU RoHS, CE marking, NACE, Functional Safety (SIL2), NAMUR (NE21 / NE107), Marine Certificate (ABS, DNV) |
Refer to the General Specification sheet located under the Downloads tab for detailed specifications.
The general type is the basic model of the VY series.
The lineup includes connection size from 15 to 400 mm, process temperatures from -40°C to 250°C, and process pressures up to ASME Class 900.
[Specific Specification of General Type]
| Type of Body | General Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of Shedder Bar | General Type, Long Neck Type | |
| Accuracy | Liquid | ± 0.75 % of reading (depends on Reynolds number) |
| Gas, Steam | ± 1.0 % of reading (depends on the flow velocity) | |
| Process Temperature | -40 °C to 250 °C | |
| Max Process Pressure | ASME Class 900, EN PN100, JIS 40K | |
| Ambient Temperature | -40 ( / -50 ) °C to 85 °C | |
| Connection Size | Wafer | From 15 to 100 mm |
| Flange | From 15 to 400 mm | |
| Degree of Protection | IP66 / IP67 | |
Refer to the General Specification sheet located under the Downloads tab for detailed specifications.
The built-in temperature sensor type has a temperature sensor (Pt1000) built into the shedder bar (vortex shedder bar), allowing simultaneous measurement of the process fluid temperature.
These flowmeters are compatible with connection size from 25 to 300 mm, and can also be used in conjunction with high-temperature type and reduced bore type models, allowing them to handle a wide range of fluids. Compensation calculations are performed at temperatures close to that at the center of the pipe, enabling more accurate measurement of flow rates. Signals from an external pressure gauge can be captured and used in compensation calculations with the external input (analog input function with HART7 with analog input option or input via MAO function block for FOUNDATION Fieldbus) to support even more accurate flow measurement.
[Specific Specification of Built-in Temperature Sensor Type]
| Type of Body | General Type [Combinationable Body] Reduced Bore Type (1 or 2 size reduction) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Type of Shedder Bar | General Type with Temperature Sensor, Long Neck Type with Temperature Sensor [Combinationable Shedder bar] Hight Temperature Type with Temperature Sensor |
|
| Accuracy | Liquid | ± 0.75 % of reading (depends on Reynolds number) |
| Gas, Steam | ± 1.0 % of reading (depends on the flow velocity) | |
| Process Temperature | -40 °C to 250 °C (For General Type and Long Neck Type) -40 °C to 400 °C (For High Temperature Type) |
|
| Max Process Pressure | ASME Class 900, EN PN100, JIS 40K | |
| Ambient Temperature | -40 ( / -50 ) °C to 85 °C | |
| Connection Size | Wafer | From 25 to 100 mm |
| Flange | From 25 to 300 mm | |
| Degree of Protection | IP66 / IP67 | |
Refer to the General Specification sheet located under the Downloads tab for detailed specifications.
The high-temperature and cryogenic models use the materials and sensors required for high-temperature and extremely low-temperature environments.
The high-temperature type handles connection size from 25 to 400 mm and fluid temperatures up to 450°C (up to 400°C with a built-in temperature sensor). The cryogenic type handles connection size from 15 to 100 mm and fluid temperatures of as low as -196°C. From this model, It is possible to select either type as an integral type or remote type.
[Specific Specification of High Temperature Type]
| Type of Body | General Type [Combinationable Body] Reduced Bore Type (1 or 2 size reduction) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Type of Shedder Bar | High Temperature Type High Temperature Type with Temperature Sensor |
|
| Accuracy | Liquid | ± 0.75 % of reading (depends on Reynolds number) |
| Gas, Steam | ± 1.0 % of reading (depends on the flow velocity) | |
| Process Temperature | -40 °C to 450 °C | |
| Max Process Pressure | ASME Class 900, EN PN100, JIS 40K | |
| Ambient Temperature | -40 ( / -50 ) °C to 85 °C | |
| Connection Size | Wafer | From 25 to 100 mm |
| Flange | From 25 to 400 mm | |
| Degree of Protection | IP66 / IP67 | |
[Specific Specification of Cryogenic Type]
| Type of Body | General Type [Combinationable Body] Reduced Bore Type (1 or 2 size reduction) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Type of Shedder Bar | Cryogenic Type | |
| Accuracy | Liquid | ± 0.75 % of reading (depends on Reynolds number) |
| Gas, Steam | ± 1.0 % of reading (depends on the flow velocity) | |
| Process Temperature | -196 °C to 250 °C | |
| Max Process Pressure | ASME Class 900, EN PN100, JIS 40K | |
| Ambient Temperature | -40 °C to 85 °C | |
| Connection Size | Wafer | From 15 to 100 mm |
| Flange | From 15 to 100 mm | |
| Degree of Protection | IP66 / IP67 | |
Refer to the General Specification sheet located under the Downloads tab for detailed specifications.
The reduced bore type is a model in which both upstream and downstream sides of the sensor unit are integrated with a reducer (reduction/expansion pipe). As such, it is ideal for lines where flow rates fluctuate widely depending on the season and operating load.
The reduced bore type are available in two types, one-size reduction and two-size reduction, and the flange model accommodates connection size of up to 200 mm. The reduced bore type can be combined with the built-in temperature sensor type and the high-temperature/cryogenic type, allowing measurement of a wide range of fluids.
[Specific Specification of Reduced Bore Type (1 or 2 Size Reduction)]
| Type of Body | Reduced Bore Type (1 or 2 size reduction) | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of Shedder Bar | General Type [Combinationable Shedder bar] General Type with Temperature Sensor, High Temperature Type High Temperature Type with Temperature Sensor, Cryogenic Type |
|
| Accuracy | Liquid | ± 1.0 % of reading (depends on Reynolds number) |
| Gas, Steam | ± 1.0 % of reading (depends on the flow velocity) | |
| Process Temperature | -40 °C to 250 °C | |
| Max Process Pressure | ASME Class 300, JIS 20K | |
| Ambient Temperature | -40 ( / -50 ) °C to 85 °C | |
| Connection Size | ||
| Flange | 1 size reduction: 25 to 200 mm 2 size reduction: 40 to 200 mm |
|
| Degree of Protection | IP66 / IP67 | |
Refer to the General Specification sheet located under the Downloads tab for detailed specifications.
This is a one-size reduction model with an ASME Class 1500 flange pressure rating. This allows it to provide stable measurement even under harsh high-pressure conditions.
In combination with a general-type sensor, it uses a flange-type connection size 25 to 150 mm.
[Specific Specification of High Pressure Type]
| Type of Body | High Pressure Reduced Bore Type ( 1 size reduction) | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of Shedder Bar | General Type | |
| Accuracy | Liquid | ± 1.0 % of reading (depends on Reynolds number) |
| Gas, Steam | ± 1.0 % of reading (depends on the flow velocity) | |
| Process Temperature | -40 °C to 250 °C | |
| Max Process Pressure | ASME Class 1500 | |
| Ambient Temperature | -40 ( / -50 ) °C to 85 °C | |
| Connection Size | ||
| Flange | 25 to 150 mm | |
| Degree of Protection | IP66 / IP67 | |
Refer to the General Specification sheet located under the Downloads tab for detailed specifications.
This type is dual-sensor (welded) type that has a flange pressure rating of up to ASME Class 900. The structure of these two units connected in series is the best choice for applications requiring high reliability.
Size is from 15 mm to 200 mm in combination with several types of sensor.
[Specific Specification of Dual-Sensor Type]
| Type of Body | Dual-Sensor (Welded) General Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of Shedder Bar* | General Type, Long Neck Type [Combinationable Shedder bar] General Type with temperature sensor, Long Neck Type with temperature sensor, High Temperature Type, High Temperature Type with temperature sensor, Cryogenic Type |
|
| Accuracy | Liquid | ± 0.75 % of reading (depends on Reynolds number) |
| Gas, Steam | ± 1.0 % of reading (depends on the flow velocity) | |
| Process Temperature | -196 °C to 450 °C | |
| Max Process Pressure | ASME Class 900 | |
| Ambient Temperature | -40 ( / -50 ) °C to 85 °C | |
| Connection Size | ||
| Flange | 15 to 200 mm | |
| Degree of Protection | IP66 / IP67 | |
* Type of shedder bar is same as upstream and downstream
* Refer to the General Specification sheet located under the Downloads tab for detailed specifications.
