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LUGB Vortex Flow Meter Technical Parameters and System Integration Guide
Vortex Flow Meter: A Reliable Choice for Industrial Process Medium Flow Measurement
In industrial automation control and energy management projects, flow measurement is a key link to achieve process optimization, trade settlement, and equipment protection. The Nexisense LUGB vortex flow meter is based on the Karman vortex street principle and adopts a design without moving parts, providing system integrators, engineering companies, and project contractors with a simple structure and easy maintenance volume flow measurement solution. This product can measure gas, steam, and liquid media, and supports volume flow, standard volume flow, or mass flow output. It is widely used in pipeline flow monitoring and control systems in petrochemical, power, metallurgical and other fields.
Product Overview
The Nexisense LUGB vortex flow meter is a velocity-type flow meter that generates alternately arranged vortex streets through a triangular prism-shaped vortex shedding body in the pipeline, and realizes flow measurement by using the linear relationship between vortex street frequency and flow velocity. The product integrates ultra-low power consumption single-chip microcomputer technology. One 3.2V 10AH lithium battery can be used continuously for more than 5 years, and is equipped with EEPROM power-down protection. The accumulated flow data storage time exceeds 10 years.
The LUGB series supports a flange clamped structure. The meter body itself does not have connecting flanges. During installation, the flow meter is clamped between two special flanges and fastened with bolts. It is small in size, compact in structure, low in installation cost, and short in cycle. As a manufacturer of industrial sensors and IoT edge modules, Nexisense designs this flow meter as a standardized hardware platform that is easy to access DCS, PLC, or edge acquisition systems, supporting multiple output and communication methods to meet the integration needs of engineering projects of different scales.
Core Technical Parameters
| Parameter Name | Technical Index | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal Diameter | DN15～DN300mm (Insertion type DN300～DN1000mm optional) | DN1000mm and above supplied by agreement |
| Nominal Pressure | DN15-DN200: 4.0MPa (>4.0 supplied by agreement) DN250-DN300: 1.6MPa (>1.6 supplied by agreement) | Higher pressure ratings can be customized |
| Accuracy Grade | ±1%R, ±1.5%R; Insertion type: ±2.5%R | Conventional liquid ±1.0%, gas ±1.5% |
| Medium Temperature | Normal temperature type: -40～100℃ Medium temperature type: -40～250℃ High temperature type: -40～330℃ (-40～400℃ supplied by agreement) | Select temperature grade according to working conditions |
| Measured Medium | Liquid, gas, steam (saturated steam, superheated steam) | Suitable for a variety of industrial media |
| Turndown Ratio | 1:6～1:25 | Adapt to flow variation range |
| Output Signal | Pulse output, 4～20mA current, RS485 (Modbus-RTU protocol) | Support access to various control systems |
| Power Supply | DC+24V (sensor/transmitter), 3.6V battery power supply | Battery type ultra-low power consumption, battery life more than 5 years |
| Protection Grade | IP65 | Intrinsically safe Ex ia II CT4 optional |
| Electrical Interface | Internal thread M20×1.5 or others | Adapt to on-site wiring requirements |
| Meter Body Material | 304 stainless steel (other materials supplied by agreement) | Totalizer housing: die-cast aluminum |
| Environmental Conditions | Temperature -20～55℃, relative humidity 5%～90%, atmospheric pressure 86～106kPa | Conventional industrial site environment |
Nexisense can provide product application customization according to project environmental requirements, including special materials, temperature compensation modules or communication protocol adaptation.
Working Principle
The working principle of the vortex flow meter is based on the Karman vortex street effect. When the fluid flows through the vortex shedding body in the pipeline, alternately arranged regular vortex streets are generated on both sides downstream. The shedding frequency of the vortex street is proportional to the fluid flow velocity. The vortex street signal is detected by the piezoelectric wafer vortex sensor, converted into pulse frequency or standard current signal by the signal processing circuit, and then the instantaneous flow and accumulated flow are calculated.
The Nexisense LUGB series adopts disturbance elimination circuits and anti-vibration probes to improve signal stability and resistance to environmental vibration. The product has low pressure loss, which is about 1/4 to 1/2 of the orifice plate flow meter. It is an energy-saving flow measurement instrument and supports temperature and pressure compensation to achieve standard or mass flow output.
Product Performance and Features
The Nexisense LUGB vortex flow meter has the following practical performance in engineering integration applications:
No moving parts, simple structure, high reliability, stable long-term operation, and easy maintenance;
The pulse frequency output has a linear relationship with the actual flow of the measured fluid, and there is no zero drift;
Diverse structural forms, supporting pipe type, insertion type and other installation forms;
Low pressure loss and significant energy-saving effect;
Flexible installation method, can be installed horizontally, vertically or inclined, adapting to different process pipeline layouts;
Multiple circuit protection modes, strong surge resistance, adapting to complex electromagnetic environments on industrial sites;
The probe adopts piezoelectric wafer vortex sensor, with stable signal and high accuracy;
Optional 316L stainless steel for housing material to enhance corrosion resistance;
Battery-powered version is equipped with high energy density lithium battery, long service life;
Strong high and low temperature adaptability, outstanding green and environmental protection characteristics.
These features make the product particularly suitable for continuous operation production processes and energy metering systems.
Application Fields
The Nexisense LUGB vortex flow meter has been verified in multiple industrial scenarios:
Petrochemical: process gas, compressed air, oil and chemical reagent flow metering and control;
Power industry: saturated steam, superheated steam, main steam pipeline flow measurement and boiler feed water monitoring;
Metallurgical industry: blast furnace gas, oxygen, cooling medium flow statistics;
Environmental protection and municipal: sewage treatment, industrial circulating water, water supply and drainage system flow metering;
Other fields: medium flow management in textile, papermaking, heating and other industries.
For system integrators and project contractors, the standardized output and communication interfaces of this product help to quickly complete the docking with the upper control system and reduce on-site debugging workload.
Selection and Integration Suggestions
In the selection process, engineers need to focus on the following factors:
Pipeline nominal diameter and flow range, select appropriate specifications in combination with the turndown ratio to ensure that the flow is within the effective measurement range;
Medium type and temperature grade (normal temperature, medium temperature or high temperature), match the corresponding temperature compensation configuration;
Installation form: flange clamped type is suitable for most pipelines, insertion type is suitable for large-diameter renovation projects;
Output and communication requirements: RS485 Modbus-RTU protocol is convenient for access to PLC or SCADA systems, 4-20mA is used for traditional analog loops;
On-site power supply conditions: when there is a stable 24VDC power supply, prefer wired power supply; for remote or temporary metering occasions, battery-powered version can be selected.
The Nexisense technical team can provide flow calculation support, selection confirmation, and integration matching services with IoT edge modules.
Comparison with Other Flow Measurement Solutions
Compared with differential pressure orifice plate flow meters, vortex flow meters have lower pressure loss, do not require long straight pipe sections, and have better adaptability to vibration environments. Compared with positive displacement Roots flow meters, vortex flow meters have a simpler structure and are suitable for wider medium temperature ranges and higher flow velocity occasions. Nexisense also provides orifice plate, Roots and vortex three series of products, making it convenient for engineering companies to optimize and combine according to specific working conditions.
Installation and Maintenance Points
During installation, it is recommended to meet the front and rear straight pipe section length requirements recommended by the manufacturer to avoid interference from upstream flow disturbing elements on the vortex street signal. The flow meter can be installed horizontally, vertically or inclined, but it is necessary to ensure that the medium fills the pipeline. In terms of maintenance, because there are no moving parts, routine inspections mainly focus on the sealing of electrical interfaces and battery status, and the self-diagnosis function is regularly used to verify signal stability.
The Nexisense product design focuses on on-site maintenance convenience, and the IP65 protection grade effectively resists dust and water vapor in the industrial environment.
FAQ
Q1. How does the LUGB vortex flow meter achieve standard or mass flow output in steam measurement?
The product supports temperature and pressure compensation function. It collects medium parameters in real time through integrated sensors and outputs standard state volume flow or mass flow in combination with density calculation models. It is suitable for saturated steam and superheated steam metering projects.
Q2. For pipelines with large diameters above DN300, does it support insertion type vortex flow meter integration?
Insertion type configuration is supported, and the nominal diameter can be extended to DN1000mm (supplied by agreement). System integrators can choose insertion type solutions according to the pipeline renovation space to reduce production stoppage renovation costs.
Q3. What communication protocols does this flow meter support to facilitate access to existing DCS or IoT edge platforms?
Standard configuration RS485 interface adopts Modbus-RTU protocol, with optional 4-20mA current and pulse output. Nexisense edge acquisition modules can be directly connected to achieve remote data acquisition and monitoring.
Q4. What parameters should be focused on in selection under high-temperature steam working conditions?
It is necessary to select medium temperature or high temperature configuration (up to -40～400℃ supplied by agreement), confirm that the nominal pressure and meter body material (304 or 316L stainless steel) meet the on-site requirements, and evaluate the impact of insulation measures on the instrument.
Q5. What are the advantages of the pressure loss of the vortex flow meter compared with the orifice plate flow meter?
The pressure loss of the vortex flow meter is about 1/4 to 1/2 of that of the orifice plate flow meter, which belongs to energy-saving instruments. In pressure-sensitive process systems, it can effectively reduce the energy consumption of pumps or compressors and optimize the overall system efficiency.
Q6. How does the battery-powered version ensure data reliability in long-term unattended metering projects?
It adopts ultra-low power consumption design. A single lithium battery has a battery life of more than 5 years, and is equipped with EEPROM power-down protection. The accumulated flow data storage time exceeds 10 years, which is suitable for remote pipe networks or temporary metering occasions.
Summary
The Nexisense LUGB vortex flow meter provides a stable and reliable hardware solution for industrial medium flow measurement with the Karman vortex street principle, no moving parts design, and flexible output communication interfaces. Its characteristics of low pressure loss, convenient installation and maintenance, and multi-medium adaptability help system integrators, engineering companies, and project teams reduce implementation difficulty and improve the overall performance and data accuracy of automation control systems.
If your project involves gas, steam or liquid flow measurement requirements, please feel free to contact the Nexisense technical support team. We will provide detailed selection suggestions, engineering calculation support, and complete system integration solutions according to specific pipeline parameters, working condition requirements and integration needs, to help the project be implemented efficiently and run stably.
