Cone Flow Meter

How do I measure flow? > Cone Flow Meter

A Cone or V-Cone flow meter is a differential pressure device.

An obstruction in the pipe (i.e., a reduction in the cross-sectional area available to the flow) causes an increase in the velocity of the flowing fluid and a corresponding reduction in its pressure.

How it Works

As the fluid approaches the V-Cone flow meter, it will have a pressure of P1.

As the fluid flows past the constricted area of the V-Cone its velocity increases and its pressure drops to P2.   Both P1 and P2 are measured at the V-Cone flow meter’s taps using a differential pressure transducer.

The differential pressure (Dp) measured at the V-Cone flow meter will increase and decrease with the flow velocity.

Advantages

  • Well proven, simple, and robust metering principle

  • Lower sensitivity than orifice plates and venturi tubes to installation effects

  • Does not require significant lengths of straight pipe to be installed upstream

Limitations

  • Not suited for low flow velocities

  • V-cone presents a significant restriction to flow in the flare system

  • Results in a high permanent pressure drop

  • Limited turndown ratio, typically 4:1

  • Lack of design standards

Case study

No case study available at this time.

Differential pressure meter

Differential pressure meters work on the principle of calculating a flow rate based on the change in pressure between two measured points.

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