Vortex Meter Installation and Straight Length Requirements
This page on Vortex Meter Installation and Straight Length Requirements is an excerpt from the original
Vortex Flow Meter Installation Guide webpage, published on the
Control And Instrumentation.com website, and is published here with their permission.
Like most flow devices, a Vortex flow meter requires a well developed and symmetrical flow velocity profile, free from any distortions or swirls if it is to give good accuracy and repeatability. To achieve good accuracy and repeatability it is standard practice to place the meter some distance from sources of turbulence. Common sources of turbulence include pumps, valves, changes in line direction (i.e. bends), changes in line size etc.
Most manufacturers provide the user with minimum distances for their particular products. These distances, refered to as straight lenghts, are indicated in Pipe Diameters (D). For example, 10 D means place the flow meter ten times the pipe's inside diameter away from the source of turbulence. Because turbulence both upstream and downstream can reduce accuracy, manufacturesrs provide straight length requirements for up and downstream of the meter.
Different manufacturers claim differing requirements, with fewer straight lengths being marketed as an advantage for the end user.
Ideally the flow transmitter should be sited with as many upstream and downstream straight pipe lengths as possible, preferably more than recommended by the manufacturer, but definately not less.
Obtaining the necessary straight lengths can be difficult, especially in compact plants. Therefore it is worth remembering that Vortex meters can be installed vertically, horizontally, or at any angle, as long as they are kept flooded.
If you are compensating for pressure and temperature then allow 3 to 4 pipe diameters between the meter and downstream pressure taps, and thermowells should be small and located 5 to 6 D downstream of the meter.
As a general rule of thumb straight lengths should be about the same as that required for an orifice installation with a beta ratio of 0.7 - see the table below
| Source of Turbulence | Upstream Diameters | Downstream Diameters |
| Line reduces in size | 15 D | 5 D |
| Line increases in size | 35 D | 5 D |
| Single 90° bend | 30 D | 5 D |
Two 90° bends
in same plane | 30 D | 5 D |
Two 90° bends
in different planes | 40 D | 5 D |
| Fully open valve | 35 D | 5 D |
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