History of YOKOGAWA's Vortex Flowmeter
Yokogawa launched the world's first vortex flowmeter in 1969.
For over 50 years, the long-term stability and high accuracy characterized by Yokogawa Vortex flowmeters has continued to improve customer productivity. Sales of over 500,000 units is a testament to the reliability of the YEWFLO series. In 2022, we launched the latest series of YEWFLO, the Vortex flowmeter VY series.
The history of YOKOGAWA's vortex flowmeters dates back to 1969 when we launched insertion-type flowmeters for flare stacks.
In 1979, we launched the general-purpose vortex flowmeter and in 1981 we launched YEWFLO*C with the base sensing structure. In 1992, we introduced YEWFLO*E, which excelled in noise resistance. The structure of the YEWFLO*E has evolved with the latest VY series.
In 2000, we launched the digitalYEWFLO series, which have our proprietary digital signal processing technology SSP. This digitalYEWFLO series pioneered a new stage for vortex flowmeters with automatic noise removal functions and diagnostic functions.
Furthermore, to meet various needs and support applications of our customers, the YEWFLO series has continuously evolved. In 2002, we released the Built-in Temperature Sensor type that can calculate saturated steam flow with a single unit. In 2006, we introduced the Reduced Bore type for smart piping. Moreover, in 2012, we launched large-diameter models (up to 400 mm). These specifications are, of course, also available in the vortex flowmeter VY series.
In 2022, we launched the latest VY series, continuing the history of YOKOGAWA's vortex flowmeters.
Vortex Flowmeter VY Series Product Introduction
VY Series is Yokogawa's line of vortex flowmeters with digital technology and a unique structure inherited from YEWFLO series.
Digital technology provides overall diagnostics and condition based maintenance. In addition, the unique structure provides robustness and stable measurement.
VY Series offers a wide product range with variety of standards to meet diversifying customer requirements.
For more detail information, please check the page of Vortex flowmeter VY Series.
| Vortex Flowmeter VY Series | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Type | Built-in Temperature Sensor Type |
High Temperature / Cryogenic Type |
Reduced Bore Type ( 1 / 2 size reduction) |
High Pressure Type | Dual-Sensor Type | ||
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| Measurable Fluid | Liquid, Gas, Saturated Steam, Superheated Steam (Avoid multiphase flow and sticky or corrosive fluids) | ||||||
| Applicable Fluid Temperature Range | -196 to 450 °C depends on the shedder bar type and material | ||||||
| Connection Size | Wafer | 15 to 100 mm | |||||
| Flange | General Type : 15 to 400 mm Reduced Bore Type ( 1 size reduction) : 25 to 200 mm Reduced Bore Type ( 2 size reduction) : 40 to 200 mm High Pressure Reduced Bore Type ( 1 size reduction) : 25 to 150 mm Dual-Sensor Type : 15 to 200 mm |
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| Accuracy | liquid | ± 0.75 % of reading | |||||
| Gas and Steam | ± 1 % of reading | ||||||
Product Lineup
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Vortex Flowmeter VY Series
Vortex Flowmeter VY Series is the latest model of Yokogawa vortex flowmeter and is the successor to the digitalYEWFLO Series.
VY Series consists of the latest digital technology and Yokogawa's unique structure inherited from YEWFLO Series. -
FSA120 Flow Configuration Software FlowNavigator
FlowNavigator (FSA120) is a unique software tool that helps you get the most out of the EJX910A / EJX930A Multivariable Transmitter by supporting the configuration of the discharge coefficient, primary device bore, upstream internal pipe diameter, gas expansion factor, density, and viscosity data needed to perform full compensation and dynamic calculation of the mass flow.
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FSA130 Magnetic Flowmeter / Vortex Flowmeter Verification Tool
Magnetic Flowmeter / Vortex Flowmeter Verification Tool provides the diagnosis, reporting and data management for the health check of ADMAG TI (Total Insight) Series AXG or AXW and CA Series with HART protocol and Vortex Flowmeter VY series with HART protocol.
FieldMate should be prepared by customers. FSA130 is the license key to activate the Verification Tool.
Details
Technical Information - Measurement principle -
Vortex flowmeters use the Von Karman Effect to measure the flow rate of liquids, gases, and steam. This section explains the principle.
The Operating Principle of Vortex Flowmeters
- What Is a Von Karman Vortex?
In the early 20th century, the Hungarian-born mathematician and physicist Theodore von Karman discovered that when a liquid or gas flows perpendicular to an obstacle, it creates alternating vortices on either side of that obstacle. These rows of vortices are called “Von Karman vortex streets.”
Von Karman further found that the number of vortices generated is proportional to the velocity of the fluid that generates them. This number of vortices generated is called the “Von Karman vortex frequency.” The relationship between the frequency and the flow velocity can be mathematically expressed with the following formula (1). Formula (2) further expresses the relationship with the internal structure of a vortex flowmeter. Putting these two formulas together and expressing them in terms of volumetric flow rate yields formula (3).
Formula (1)
Formula (2)
Formula (3)
f: Von Karman vortex frequency, St: Strouhal number, v: flow velocity, d: width of vortex shedder bar, Q: volumetric flow rate, D: inner diameter of vortex flow meter
The Strouhal number (St) is a dimensionless number determined by the shape and dimensions of the vortex shedder bar, and by properly choosing the shedder bar’s shape, it becomes constant over a wide range of Reynolds number values. Figure 1 shows the relationship between the Reynolds number and the Strouhal number.
Relationship between Reynolds number and Strouhal number (St)
Therefore, if the Strouhal number is known in advance, the flow rate can be determined by measuring the vortex frequency. It has also been found that the volumetric flow rate can be measured irrespective of the pressure, temperature, density, viscosity, etc. of the fluid. However, when measuring volumetric flow or mass flow under standard (reference) conditions, temperature and pressure corrections are required.
- How Is Vortex Frequency Measured?
When vortices form and pass through a vortex shedder bar (obstacle), the pressure in that area is lower than that in the rest of the fluid. This low pressure creates a pressure differential (dp) on each side of the vortex shedder bar, and stress is applied to the vortex shedder bar from the high-pressure side toward the low-pressure side. The position where the vortices are generated switches regularly, causing the position of the low-pressure area to change and the direction of the stress to shift, causing the vortex shedder bar to oscillate. The frequency of this oscillation is the Von Karman vortex frequency.
The vortices generated create low-pressure and high-pressure areas on both sides of the vortex shedder bar, and force is exerted toward the low-pressure area. As the position of the vortices change from one side to the other, the direction of this force is switched, causing the vortex shedder bar to oscillate.
Several methods are available as means of measuring this oscillation. The most suitable for this application is the piezoelectric crystal sensor. When compressed, the piezoelectric crystal sensor produces an electrical signal that is processed by the flowmeter’s electronics. By measuring the Von Karman vortex frequency (the Strouhal number and the diameter of the cylinder are known), a simple calculation by the flowmeter’s electronics can determine the rate of volumetric flow through the pipe.
Resources
- Fieldbus technology introduced to realize predictive and preventive maintenance.
- ISAE to improve the reliability of diagnosis and parameter setting, utilizing data collected by PRM.
- Yokogawa's integrated solution contributed to reliable and efficient operation.
- All the instrument information is fully integrated with the instrument management system.
Progress in digital signal processing and network technologies has enabled advanced functions which cannot be achieved by traditional field devices with 4-20 mA signal, to be implemented on field devices. Standardization of international fieldbus specifications, notably the FOUNDATION™ Fieldbus, has enabled users to build optimum field networks comprised of freely chosen field devices from various device vendors.
Vortex flow meters utilize a fluid phenomenon in which frequencies of Karman vortex streets released from a shedder bar inserted in a flow are proportional to flow velocities.
Vortex flow meters have been appreciated by users as volume flow meters, which can, in principle, be applied to any flow measurement of liquid, gas, or steam. Volume flow measurement is enough for substances with small variations in density such as liquid.
The operating principle of the vortex flow meters YEWFLO series, which first became commercially available in 1979, is based on the phenomenon in which the frequency of a Kàrmàn vortex train that occurs from a vortex shedder placed in a fluid flow, is proportional to the speed of that flow.
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Technical Information
News
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Press Release | Solutions & Products Apr 5, 2022 Yokogawa Releases OpreX Vortex Flowmeter VY Series
- A new series of explosion-proof vortex flowmeters that are the first in the industry to support remote maintenance functions for condition-based maintenance -
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