Turbine Flowmeters – A Must-Have for the Process Industry

A turbine flowmeter translates and quantifies the mechanical action outputted by the turbine while rotating in the liquid flow meter around an axis. This data is usually measured in familiar units such as gallons per minute or liters per minute. Once the fluid is pumped into the flow meter, small propellers or blades on the turbine are activated, the rotor starts to spin, and then the data is recorded. When the rotational spin of the rotor maintains a consistent speed, the speed is proportional to the velocity of the fluid.

Turbine flowmeters are frequently used in the measurement of natural gas and liquid flow. Because turbine flowmeters allow higher flow rates and less pressure loss than displacement meters, they are favored by large commercial users, fire protection devices, and many water distribution systems.

How Turbine Flowmeters Work in Process Industry?

Turbine flowmeters are a popular way of measuring liquid and natural gas flow. Also known as an axial turbine, this type of meter consists of a turbine wheel that is placed in the stream of the flow. The flow pushes the meter’s angled blades, causing the turbine to rotate. Flow rate can be determined based on the turbine’s rotation rate once it becomes steady. The rate of rotation is typically picked up by electronic coils that are connected to the meter’s housing, and then turned into readings that can be accessed by the user.

Minimal Flow Disruption:

One advantage of using turbine flowmeter is that it offers minimal disruption to the flow. Because the flow can continue right through the turbine, there is little pressure loss and speed can remain fairly high. For this reason, they are often preferred for purposes water distribution, fire protection and for large commercial projects where a high rate of flow and high pressure is desirable. On the other hand, applications where flow rates are low will typically use meters that are considered more accurate but tend to impede flow rates such as displacement meters.

Ensuring Maximal Accuracy:

Turbine flowmeter measurements can be affected severely by factors such as flow profile, temperature and flow rate and content. Strainers installed near the meter can help protect the turbine from debris that could damage it. Depending on specific conditions, users may choose to put additional protective measures in place to ensure maximally accurate and consistent flow measurements.

New Developments:

With today’s advancements in technology, turbine flowmeter accuracy has also improved. Increased sensitivity allows for the precise measurement of even extremely low flow rates in some models. Manufacturers also continue to develop blade and rotor materials that are highly sensitive, durable and less vulnerable to drag and other factors that have traditionally decreased accuracy. Some types of turbine flowmeters are also able to measure and record variations in flow with a high degree of precision. Another way in which flow meter makers have reduced inaccuracy is by reducing the rotor’s inertia. A high inertia would keep the rotor spinning fast even after flow had decreased leading to inaccurate results. A low inertia lets the turbine reduce speed together with the flow. 

Turbine Flowmeter

Maintenance & Calibration:

Regular inspection and calibration is essential to keeping a turbine flowmeter accurate. For best results in calibration, test your meter under conditions that are as close to normal operating settings as possible keeping the flow composition, rate and temperature substantially similar. In addition to regularly scheduled inspections, check your meter in the event that you are receiving inconsistent or unusual readings that cannot be explained by actual variations in the flow. 

Malfunction may occur as a result of regular wear and tear, impact by debris, corrosion or build up of dirt or viscosity. Problems may also happen if your meter is calibrated incorrectly or was not properly installed. While some problems can be fixed by recalibrating or performing minor repairs, others may necessitate partial or total replacement. If you are using an older turbine flowmeter, be aware that recent developments have substantially improved measurement accuracy; thus, it may be wise to invest in an updated model.

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