Upgrading Existing Steam Facilities: Introducing Vortex Flowmeter VY Series

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Why Is the Demand for Adding or Replacing Steam Flowmeters in Existing Facilities Increasing?
3. What are the advantages of adding the Vortex Flowmeter VY Series?
   3.1. Replacement of Other Vortex Flowmeters or Installation Into Existing Piping
   3.2. Replacement of Conventional Models
   3.3. Replacement of Orifice Flowmeters
4. Conclusion

 

1. Introduction

This article shows why the VY Series is the optimal choice for adding or replacing steam flowmeters in existing steam facilities.

 

2. Why Is the Demand for Adding or Replacing Steam Flowmeters in Existing Facilities Increasing?

Steam temperature control is easy and steam is relatively inexpensive. For this reason, the management of steam has often been given lower priority than process fluid. However, the recent rise in fuel costs has increased the cost burden on profitability. While it is possible to invest significant amounts of time and money in renewing steam facilities to optimize steam consumption, it is more common to begin with improvement activities that make use of existing facilities. As a first step in these improvement activities, detailed measurement of steam is important.

If steam flowmeters have not been installed, it is necessary to do so. If steam flowmeters were installed but do not meet requirements in terms of measurement accuracy or measurement range, they should be replaced. For these reasons, the demand for both adding and replacing is increasing. In either case, ease of installation and replacement is an important factor in achieving steam consumption optimization at low cost and within a short period of time.
The VY Series are ideal steam flowmeters to meet these requirements.

Fig. 1: The Increasing Demand for Adding or Replacing Steam Flowmeters

 

3. What Are the Advantages of Adding the Vortex Flowmeter VY Series?

This section shows the advantages of adding or replacing steam flowmeters with the VY Series for each typical use case.

 

3.1 Replacement of Other Vortex Flowmeters or Installation Into Existing Piping

The VY Series has a unique sensing structure that incorporates sensors and a vortex shedder bar. As a result, it offers shorter face-to-face dimensions, and a shorter straight pipe run requirement compared with other vortex flowmeters. They reduce installation limits and make it easy to replace other vortex flowmeters and add new ones into existing piping.

In addition, with a broad lineup supporting various connection standards for flange and wafer types, the VY Series can meet diverse requirements for existing steam installations.
For more details on straight pipe lengths, see the tutorial page “Required Straight Pipe Lengths for Vortex Flowmeters.”

Fig .2: Easy Replacement of Other Vortex Flowmeters and Adding into Existing Piping

 

3.2 Replacement of Conventional Models

The VY Series has the same face‑to‑face dimensions as all YEWFLO models since Style D launched in 1987. Thus, you can replace your existing YEWFLO Series with the VY Series without piping modification. When selecting a built-in temperature sensor type, the VY Series can accurately measure mass flow rate and energy flow rate based on temperature measurement, all within a single flowmeter. The external input specification (analog input function) can accurately calculate superheated steam density and mass flowrate with a built-in temperature sensor and external pressure sensor value.

Furthermore, the VY Series also have both self‑diagnostics and process diagnostics, promoting efficiency in maintenance activities. In some existing steam lines, changes in production items or cogeneration system operations may reduce steam flow rates, therefore the existing steam flowmeters may not measure a stable flow rate. In such cases, you can select a reduced bore type which has the same face-to-face dimensions.

Moreover, the VY Series Modbus communication type is also available. Multiple parameters such as flow rate, total flow rate, process temperature (using a built-in temperature sensor), and diagnostics parameters can be acquired, expanding steam monitoring functions.

Fig. 3: Replacement of an Existing Series with Vortex Flowmeter VY Series

 

3.3 Replacement of Orifice Flowmeters

Orifice flowmeters have been used as steam flowmeters longer than vortex flowmeters, but there is steady demand to replace orifice flowmeters with vortex flowmeters. Compared to orifice flowmeters, the VY Series provides higher measurement accuracy, wider rangeability to adjust flow fluctuations, lower pressure loss, no need for impulse piping and other additional equipment, availability of a built-in temperature sensor that enables mass flow measurement within a single vortex flowmeter, and no need for zero adjustment during operation or installation.

These features allow reliable measurement under varying operating conditions and seasonal changes, reduced energy loss, lower maintenance effort (including for auxiliary equipment), simplified installation without external temperature sensors or flow calculators, and operation without periodic initial adjustment.

Fig. 4: Replacement of Orifice Flowmeters with the VY Series

 

4. Conclusion

This article shows the reasons why the demands for adding steam flowmeters into existing facilities and replacing existing steam flowmeters has increased and the advantage of Vortex Flowmeter VY Series. As Yokogawa’s latest vortex flowmeter, the VY Series are ideal steam flowmeters for visualizing steam conditions to support your environmental initiatives and energy-saving efforts.
Please visit the product page for Vortex Flowmeter VY Series (see Related Products & Solutions, below) and consider adding our vortex flowmeters.

We hope this article helps you understand steam flowmeters, and how they contribute to improving productivity of existing steam facilities.