YEWFLO Vortex Flowmeter

from

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 1

 History of YEWFLO
1969
1995
Yokogawa designs
Mass YEWFLO
first Vortex meter
introduced

1982 1990 1992

Dual piezoelectric 10,000 units YEWFLO 100%
sensor (Europe) European made

1979 1987 1989 1993

First industrial First 0.5inch First “Smart” Microproccessor
based
YEWFLO released Vortex flowmeter Vortex flowmeter
“SMART”

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 2

 Principle of Operation

Mountain top

Vortices

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 Principle of Operation

Light breeze - Laminar flow,

no vortices formed

Stiff breeze - Transition flow,

irregular vortex formation

Strong wind - Turbulent flow,

regular vortex pattern

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 Principle of Operation

Vortices shed continuously

Alternating from side to side
Shedding frequency proportional to velocity

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YEWFLO’s Unique Sensor Construction
How Does It Work?

Crystal A
Crystal B

Force
Force Force

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 Principle of Operation
The Karman vortex frequency “f” is proportional to the
velocity ”v”. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the flow
rate by measuring the Karman vortex frequency:
f = St (v/d)
where: f = Karman vortex frequency
St = Strouhal number (constant)
v = Velocity
d = Width of vortex shedder

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 10

 Principle of Operation
St = Strouhal number (constant)

d TOP
FLOW

d/A ≈ 0,14 (for almost all suppliers)

By increasing the flow velocity (V) the distance ‘A’ is constant
only the number of vortex per time period increases (frequency).

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 11

 Principle of Operation
80 M/s (GAS)
VELOCITY 10 M/s (LIQUID)
S
T LINEAR RANGE
R 0.3
O
U
H 0.2
A
L
MEASURING RANGE
# 0.1

5 x 103 2 x 104
REYNOLDS NUMBER

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 Principle of Operation

21,8 mA

20 mA

4 mA

0 mA

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 Principle of Operation
1. Vortices are generated by the shedder bar
2. Shedder bar is subjected to alternating lift
a. Occurs at the same frequency as that of vortex shedding
3. Alternating lift produces stress changes detected by the
piezoelectric elements hermetically sealed in the shedder bar

4. The intensity of the alternating lift, and in turn the amplitude of

the pulse (E), is given by:
E = FL = (rV2)

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 14

 Technical Features
POTTING
COMPOUND

“O” RING CAPSULE

SEAL ASSEMBLY
HERMETIC SEAL

METAL TUBE
INSULATOR

METAL DISC (SHRINK TUBING)

PIEZOELECTRIC
CERAMIC PLATE CRYSTALS

METAL
PLATE
SOLID
METAL
SHEDDER
BAR

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 17

 Technical Features
“O” Ring Seal

Metal Tube

Piezoelectric
Crystals

Metal Plate

Metal Disc

Ceramic Plate

Solid Metal Shedder

Bar

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 Technical Features

No thin diaphragms to Solid metal shedder bar

damage
Non-wetted piezoelectric
Proven reliability sealed sensor
250 year MTBF
No ports to plug

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 Technical Features
Indicator/Totalizer
Local Interface Amplifier
• Remote available

Hermetically Sealed Gasket

• High Reliability
Sensor

Body
• Fully casted

Shedder Bar
• Solid metal
• Rugged construction
• No moving parts

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 Use & Application
(Money wise)
1996 2000
P.D
Thermal Turbine P.D. Turbine
16% Thermal
8% 15% 16% 13%
Coriolis Coriolis 7%
12% Ultrasonic 14% Ultrasonic
11% 12%
Magnetic Magnetic
17% D.P. Vortex 17% D.P. Vortex
Other Other
14% 6% 14% 7%
.5% .7%

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 22

 Use & Application
YEWFLO*E Sales By Meter Size

20.0%

15.0%

Percentage of
Units

10.0%

Total
5.0%

0.0%
15 25 40 50 80 100 150 200 250 300 Units
%
Meter Size (mm)

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 Use & Application
Orifice/DP - Lower installed cost, higher accuracy, no zero drift
Turbine - No moving parts
Mass - Pressure/temperature compensated gas/steam

Vortex
Mass
Orifice/DP
Turbine
PD
Mag
Rotameter
Ultrasonic

Vortex < 6%

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 26

 Use & Application
Huge flowmeter market untapped by Vortex
Vortex is still a “NEW” technology

All Flowmeters
YEWFLO

The real competition is other flowmeter

technologies

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 Use & Application
 BEST
 Liquid, gas, and steam applications
 Clean, low viscosity fluids
 Low corrosive chemicals
 Cryogenic fluids
 Fluid temperatures up to 400 degr.C
 Marginal
 Moderately viscous fluids (i.e... 3 to 10 cp.)
 Light slurries (<< 1%)
 Moderately corrosive chemicals
 Avoid
 Multi-phase fluids
 High viscosity fluids (i.e... 10 cp. & higher)
 Extremely corrosive chemicals (i.e... no Stainless or Hastelloy C)
 High solids content

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 Use & Application
 Accuracy
 Typical Accuracy specifications
Liquids: ± 1% of flow rate
Gas / Steam: ± 1.5% of flow rate
 Each meter should be wet calibrated prior to shipment
 Degradation in accuracy can be caused by...
poor installation
build up on the shedder bar
erosion of the shedder bar
changes in the process conditions
measuring flow rates less than the stated minimum linear
flow rate
 Compare to that of present flow metering device (i.e.... differential
pressure transmitter and orifice plate)

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 Use & Application
 Rangeability
 Fixed by Reynolds number, meter design, and process
conditions
 Determined by minimum linear and maximum flow rates
 Typical rangeability
Liquids: up to 20:1. Highly viscous fluids have reduced
rangeability
Gas / Steam: up to 30:1
 May vary slightly by vendor

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 Use & Application
Microprocessor Based Electronics
- allows remote communications and self-diagnostics
No potentiometers or Switches
- eliminate failures caused by corrosion
Up-Grade Kits
- bring new functionality and reliability to earlier YEWFLO
models
Surface Mount Electronics
- low heat generation and fewer component failures
Single Amplifier for all Applications
- reduced spare parts requirements

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 31

 Use & Application
 Remote communication via local display interface, handheld interface
or DCS
 Field selectable outputs
 Multiple displays: rate, % of rate, total
 One common amplifier for all applications
 Available with compensation for:
 gas expansion
 incorrect pipe schedule
 accuracy errors down to 5000 Reynolds number
 Improved digital filtering
 Ability to drive an output
 Real time information on:
 frequency
 actual velocity
 span velocity
 reynolds number

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 Vortex Flow Meter
Advantages
Digital flow signal
No zero drift
Pulse output for totalizing
Low installed cost
Wide rangeability
Inherently Linear output
Low pressure drop
Liquid, steam, or gas applications
Immune to density & viscosity changes
yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 33
 YEWFLO Performance Benefits
High Accuracy
- 1% of rate for liquids and gas
5-Point Linearization Function
- dramatically enhances accuracy
Mismatched Pipe Correction
- adjusts for different diameters between flowmeter and piping
Reynolds Number Linearization
- increases low end accuracy down to 5000 Reynolds number
Automatic Gas Expansion Factor Correction
- dramatically improves accuracy
Temperature Compensation
- eliminates ambient temperature effects on the analogue output
Turn Down
- as high as 20:1 provides accurate control over wider conditions

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 Use & Application
Piping Requirements

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 Use & Application
Proper piping requirements

Liquid
Gas

 Position insensitive
 Full pipe required
 Good alignment of piping

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 Use & Application
P&T compensation

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 Use & Application
Proper gasket selection and installation

Gasket

 Correct I.D. required

 Self Centering (Recommended)
 Proper material
 Problems occur if... gasket is too small, gasket is deformed,
has shifted position, or if the mating pipe connection is
misaligned.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 38

 40D 5D
Pipe Length
Requirements Rosemoun
t

Rosemount vs. 10D 5D

Yokogawa
Yokogawa

35D 5D

Rosemount

30D 5D

Yokogawa

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 46

Pipe Length 15D 5D

Requirements
Rosemoun
t
Rosemount vs. 10D 5D

Yokogawa
Yokogaw
35D 5Da

Rosemount

10D 5D

Yokogawa

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 47

YEWFLO’s Unique Sensor Construction

•Non-wetted piezoelectric
sensor, hermetically sealed
•Solid metal shedder bar
•No ports to plug
•No thin diaphragms to
damage

•Proven reliability validates

250 year MTBF

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 50

 YEWFLO Style “E”
Signal Adjustment
Procedure

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 Problem Solving

The type of problems that can be solved

include:
Output occurs with no flow
Unstable output at low flow
High output for a known flow rate
High output (beyond programmed span)

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 52

 Piping Checkout Procedure

Make sure there is sufficient straight run

upstream and downstream
Check for excessive vibration
Install appropriate support
Remote mount the amplifier
Mount the meter so shedder bar is
perpendicular to axis of vibration
Check the gaskets

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 53

 Piping Checkout Procedure
Be sure wafer style meters are properly
aligned
When using a remote amplifier, confirm:
Interconnecting cable properly terminated
Remote housing well grounded
Confirm amplifier is correctly connected to
the flow tube

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 54

YEWFLO’s Unique Sensor Design
How Does It Work?

Flow

Flow hits the shedder bar,
separates and due to the
shape of the bar forms Crystal A
vortices. The vortices createCrystal B
an alternating pressure
differential across the bar.
The bar is physically Force
stressed toward the low
pressure side of the bar.
A piezoelectric crystal
converts a mechanical
stress into an electrical
pulse. The crystals are
hermetically sealed and
not in contact with the
process.
H L

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 55

 Mechanical Pipe Noise

With no flow through the meter, any output

No Flow Signal
from the crystals is noise and is caused
by ambient vibration around the meter.

Vibration

Crystal A
Vibration Vibration Crystal B

Vibration

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 56

 YEWFLO Style E Noise
Filtering
Low Frequency
Cut-off Filter High Frequency
Qmax Cut-off Filter
Signal Amplitude

Flow Rate
Qmin

Trigger Level Frequency

Noise Judge
Adjustment (TLA) (Variable TLA)
Flow Rate vs. Freq.
Amplitude vs. Freq.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 57

 Noise Balance Adjustment
Sensor fixing BEFORE NOISE BALANCE
Plate
S1
UPPER CRYSTAL S1
LOWER CRYSTAL -S2
-S2
+ - +
N.B.

D/2

D FLOW
STRESS
D/2

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 58

 Noise Balance Adjustment
Sensor fixing Plate BEFORE NOISE BALANCE

N1
UPPER CRYSTAL N1
-
LOWER CRYSTAL N2 -N2
A/2 +
+ -
N.B.
VIBRATION
STRESS A

N1
+ -
A/2 -N2
N.B.

AFTER NOISE BALANCE

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 59

 Noise Balance Adjustment
Sensor fixing Plate BEFORE NOISE BALANCE

S1 N1
UPPER CRYSTAL S1 N1
-S2 -N2
LOWER CRYSTAL -S2 -N2
A/2 +
+ -
N.B.
VIBRATION
D/2 STRESS A

FLOW S1 N1
D STRESS
+ -
A/2 -S2 -N2
D/2 N.B.

SNET
AFTER NOISE BALANCE

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 60

 Noisy “No Flow” Signal
Before Noise Balance
No Flow Signal Trigger Level
50

Crystal A 0 100

Crystal B
Signals from Crystal A
and Crystal B are added
%
The resulting signal passes The frequency is
through the Schmitt Trigger. If converted to an
the amplitude of the signal analogue value and
exceeds the trigger level produces a flow
setting, the output of the reading when in fact
circuit is triggered and a there is no flow
square wave with a frequency through the meter.
identical to the noise
component exceeding the
trigger level is generated.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 61

 Noisy “No Flow” Signal
After Noise Balance
No Flow Signal Trigger Level
50
Crystal A
0 100

Crystal B No Output %

No flow
Amplitude of resulting indication.
signal less than that of
Sum of signals from Trigger Level. Schmitt
“A” and “B” now has trigger does not turn on.
reduced amplitude.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 62

 Noisy “Low Flow” Signal
Before Noise Balance
Low Flow Signal Trigger Level

Crystal A 50

0 100
Crystal B
%

The resulting signal passes

Signals from Crystal A and B
are added. Since the flow and
noise components of each are
not equal the result is a sine
wave whose value is greater
than A but less than B and
which also contains a large
noise component.
The frequency is
through the Schmitt Trigger.
converted to an
Since the amplitude of the
analogue value and
noise component exceeds the
produces a “noisy”
trigger level, the output of the
flow reading.
circuit is triggered and the
square wave output contains a
frequency identical to the noise
component.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 63

 Noisy “Low Flow” Signal
After Noise Balance
Low Flow Signal
Trigger Level
Crystal A 50

0 100
Crystal B
%

The resulting signal The frequency is

Signals from Crystal A and B are
added. Since the noise
components are equal but
opposite they cancel out. Since
the flow components of
A & B are not equal the result
when added is a clean sine wave
whose value is greater than A but
less than B.
passes through the converted to an
Schmitt Trigger. The analogue value and
output of the circuit is produces a stable flow
triggered and the reading.
square wave output
contains a frequency
proportional to the
flow rate.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 64

 Noise Balance Adjustment
BT200 Display Screen

MENU MENU
A: DISPLAY G: CHECK DATA
B: SET 1 H: MAINTENANCE
C: SET 2 M: MEMO
D: ADJUST
E: CONTROL
F: TEST
HOME SET ADJ ESC HOME SET ADJ ESC

F1
F1 F2
F2 F3
F3 F4
F4 F1
F1 F2
F2 F3
F3 F4
F4
Ì
Select H: MAINTENANCE by using the Ì or buttons on the BT200

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 65

 Noise Balance Adjustment
BT200 Display Screen
PARAM PARAM
H01: N.BALANCE H20: MEASURE TP2
1 -5< >10 EXECUTE
H02:TLA H21: TP2 (Vp-p)
0 -1< >2 0.45
H03:GAIN H30: REVISION
0 -7< >8 EX 1.10
DATA DIAG PRNT ESC DATA DIAG PRNT ESC

F1
F1 F2
F2 F3
F3 F4
F4 F1
F1 F2
F2 F3
F3 F4
F4
Select Parameter H01 and vary the The effect of the noise balance adjustment
value to balance the noise component can be seen by accessing parameters H20 &
of the output. H21 and viewing the resulting change in the
amplitude.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 66

 Noise Balance Adjustment
This is basically a null-balance type
adjustment; adjustment should be
made throughout the range of
values to determine the lowest noise
setting.

Selecting the proper noise balance

(N.B.) value will reduce the
amplitude of TP2-Com2 to it’s
lowest value. Change the N.B.
value until output of the meter
indicates zero or until TP2-Com2
reading indicates the lowest value

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 67

 TLA Adjustment
Trigger Level
If the meter continues to indicate Noise
Signal
above zero after the noise balance Amplitude
adjustment, the Trigger Level or
TLA is used to set the minimum
measurable flow or meter
threshold. Output
The key to eliminating zero flow
output is to reduce the amplitude
of the signal to a value below
that of the trigger level

Trigger Level
By adjusting the Trigger Level Noise
above the amplitude of the noise Signal
Amplitude
signal the output of the Schmitt
0% 0%
trigger never turns on and the Output
meter reads zero.
When the signal amplitude is
below that of the trigger level
the output of the Schmitt Trigger
does not turn on

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 68

 Trigger Level (TLA) Adjustment

PARAM SET
H01: N.BALANCE
H02: TLA
1 -5< >10 0 -1< >2
H02:TLA
+
0 -1< >2 1
H03:GAIN
0 -7< >8
DATA DIAG PRNT ESC CLR ESC

F1
F1 F2
F2 F3
F3 F4
F4 F1
F1 F2
F2 F3
F3 F4
F4
Access parameter H02 (TLA). Note the set value and
increase that value one step at a time until the output
is zero.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 69

 Low-Cut Flow Rate Adjustment

PARAM SET
H04: H.F. FILTER
H07: L.C. FLOWRATE
0 -3< >12 26
H06: NOISE JUDGE
ACTIVE 30
H07: L.C. FLOWRATE
26 E0 GPM
DATA DIAG PRNT ESC CLR ESC

F1
F1 F2
F2 F3
F3 F4
F4 F1
F1 F2
F2 F3
F3 F4
F4

Access parameter H07. Enter the value of flow at

which the meter’s output should drop to zero.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 70

 High Frequency Filter
Filters out frequencies and eliminates noise such as sonic
noise, pump noise or harmonic noise.

First determine whether the noise frequency is above your maximum

flow requirements:
1. Access parameter G02 (SPAN FREQUENCY) and record this value.
2. Access parameter G01 (FREQUENCY) and record this value.
3. If the G01 value is at least 1.2 times the G02 value, proceed with the
high-cut adjustment. If there is less than a 20% difference, continuing
with this adjustment may mean that readings in the high end of the
flow range may not be possible.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 71

 High Frequency Filter Adjustment

PARAM SET
H04: H.F. FILTER
H04: H.F. FILTER
0 -3< >12 0
H06: NOISE JUDGE
ACTIVE 1
H07: L.C. FLOWRATE
26 E0 GPM
DATA DIAG PRNT ESC CLR ESC

F1
F1 F2
F2 F3
F3 F4
F4 F1
F1 F2
F2 F3
F3 F4
F4

Access parameter H04. Increase the set value by one step and
observe the output. If the output is now zero, adjustment is complete.
If not, continue increasing value until output is zero.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 72

 YEWFLO Style E Noise Filtering
When is Noise Judge Used?
Low Frequency High Frequency
Cut-off Filter Cut-off Filter
Signal Amplitude Qmax

Flow Rate
Qmin

Frequency
Trigger Level Flow Rate vs. Freq. Noise Judge
Adjustment (TLA) Amplitude vs. Freq. (Variable TLA)

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 73

 Noise Judge Adjustment

PARAM SET
H04: H.F. FILTER
H06: NOISE JUDGE
0 -3< >12 NOT ACTIVE
H06: NOISE JUDGE
NOT ACTIVE ACTIVE
H07: L.C. FLOWRATE
26
E0 GPM
DATA DIAG PRNT ESC CLR ESC

F1
F1 F2
F2 F3
F3 F4
F4 F1
F1 F2
F2 F3
F3 F4
F4

Access parameter H06 and be sure the filter is ACTIVE.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 74

 Noise Judge Adjustment
PARAM SET
B07: DENSITY UNIT
B08: MIN DENSITY
LB/USGAL
8.34
B08: MIN DENSITY
16.6
8.34
B09: TEMP UNIT
DEG F
DATA DIAG PRNT ESC CLR ESC

F1
F1 F2
F2 F3
F3 F4
F4 F1
F1 F2
F2 F3
F3 F4
F4

Access parameter B08 and change the value so it is twice the

current value. Observe the meter output at various points in the flow
range. If the output holds constant or drops out in spite of
increasing flow, lower the value by 10%. Continue this procedure
until the “flat spot” or drop out disappears.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 75

 YEWFLO*E Amplifier Calibration
Procedure

General Amplifier Check-out

1. Access parameter G02 (SPAN FREQUENCY) and record value.
2. Attached frequency generator to test points TP2 and COM2 and
inject the same frequency as read in parameter G02.
3. Access parameter G01 (FREQUENCY) and confirm this value
agrees with frequency in Step 2 above to within +/-0.1%.
4. Agreement confirms the general internal operation of the amplifier.
A discrepancy indicates a problem which may require amplifier
replacement.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 76

 YEWFLO*E Amplifier Calibration
Procedure

Analogue Output Test

1. Perform the amplifier checkout procedure.
2. Inject the frequency as read in parameter G02 and measure the current
being produced by the amplifier. The output should be 20 mA, +/-.02 mA.
3. Remove the frequency generator, replace with shorting jumper and
measure the output. The output should be 4 mA, +/-.02 mA.
4. A discrepancy in the outputs indicates a potential problem.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 77

 YEWFLO*E Amplifier Calibration
Procedure
Pulse Output Test
1. Perform the amplifier checkout procedure.
2. Connect a frequency counter across the “-” and “P” output
terminals on the amplifier. Inject the frequency as read in parameter
G02. Check to be sure the frequency counter reads this value to
within +/-0.1%.
3. Remove the frequency generator and replace with shorting jumper.
Check to be sure the frequency counter reads “0” Hz.
4. A discrepancy in the outputs indicates a potential problem.

yewflo april 1997 YOKOGAWA 78