CALDON LEFM 280CiRN Ultrasonic Flow Meter

Measuring oils having high viscosity and/or low flow conditions may involve operating at Reynolds numbers below 8,000, in the laminar and transition flow regimes. Full bore ultrasonic flow meter performance has traditionally degraded for Reynolds numbers below 8,000 because the liquid velocity profile erratically switches between laminar and turbulent characteristics. Cameron has developed the LEFM 280CiRN ultrasonic flow meter with a reduced bore, modeled after flow nozzle technology, in which the liquid velocity profile is stabilized in the throat by forces much larger than the forces imposed by fluid viscosity. The meter design stabilizes the flow profile while preventing boundary layer separation under all operating conditions, greatly improving performance.

The eight path design of the LEFM 280CiRN ultrasonic flow meters resists installation errors better than any other ultrasonic meter. The cross plane acoustic paths make the meter immune to the effects of swirl and eliminate the need for an upstream flow conditioner. The effects of swirl on the four paths in one plane are equal and opposite to the effects of swirl on the four paths in the second plane. When the velocity readings from all eight paths are averaged together any effects from swirl are cancelled out. The design also minimizes the requirement for upstream/downstream pipe runs.

The elimination of a flow conditioner and the need for shorter lengths of upstream pipe reduce the installed cost for the LEFM 280CiRN. In addition, the elimination of a flow conditioner means lower overall pressure loss which equates to annual savings in pumping costs.

The LEFM 280CiRN has improved repeatability compared to standard full bore meters and may also be considered for applications when the meter is to be verified in-situ using a prover to reduce the number of runs required.

Features:

• Reduced bore design for high performance under laminar, transition or turbulent flow
• Excellent repeatability that reduces the number of runs required to verify the meter in-situ with a prover
• Electronics that can be integrally or remote pipe mounted
• Available in 6-inch to 36-inch sizes
• +/-0.12% linearity over 15:1 nominal flow range for all sizes
• No limit on operating Reynolds number
• OIML R117 (0.3 Class)