What is the maximum flow range for vortex meter calibration?
There is no single “universal” maximum flow range for vortex meter calibration—it depends on
meter size (DN), fluid type (liquid/gas/steam), and manufacturer limits. That said, practical calibration ranges and velocity limits are well‑defined.
1. Typical Calibration Flow Ranges (per JJG 1029 & ISO 12764)
- Liquids (water, etc.):
- Calibration range: 0.3 ~ 700 m³/h (DN15–DN200)
- Max velocity: 10 m/s
- Gases (air, natural gas):
- Calibration range: 0.5 ~ 7,000 m³/h (DN15–DN300)
- Max velocity: 60–80 m/s
- Steam:
- Calibration range: 0.4 ~ 28,000 m³/h (large DN)
- Max velocity: 70–80 m/s
2. Key Limits That Define “Max Flow”
- Reynolds number (Re):
- Minimum linear Re: 2×10⁴ (liquid) / 4×10⁴ (gas/steam)
- Maximum Re: ~7×10⁶ (upper limit for stable vortex shedding)
- Turndown ratio: Typically 10:1 (max flow = 10 × min flow)
- Optimal calibration zone: 20%–80% of meter’s nominal range (10%–90% for high‑accuracy models)
3. Example: DN100 Vortex Meter (Water)
- Nominal max flow: 120 m³/h (≈4.2 m/s)
- Calibration range: 12–120 m³/h (10:1 turndown)
- Optimal calibration points: 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 m³/h
4. Calibration Standard Requirements
- Minimum test points: 6 (including min and max flow)
- Fluid: Use the actual process fluid or a fluid with matching Reynolds number
In short: For
liquid, max calibration flow is often
~700 m³/h (DN200); for
gas,
~7,000 m³/h (DN300). Always confirm with the
manufacturer’s datasheet and
calibration lab’s range.
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