Differential pressure solves low-flow measuring problems

Great River Energy’s Stanton Station is a 200-MW, lignite-fired power plant located in central North Dakota. Great River provides electrical energy and services to 29 member cooperatives that, in turn, supply electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

To secure more consistent low flow measurement readings in its boiler feed pump balancing lines, Great River recently sought an efficient and reliable metering solution. Company and plant engineering professionals eventually selected and installed V-Cone differential pressure flowmeters from McCrometer (Hemet, Calif.).

Great River’s staff members say they chose V-Cone because of its installation flexibility, high accuracy and rangeability. These capabilities allow V-Cone to accommodate maximum flows of up to 200 gpm and low flows down to 20 gpm. V-Cone’s steady signal allows continuous checking on the wear of the pressure-reducing bushing and the pump’s internal components.

“We installed V-Cones in each of the pumps’ 2-in. balancing lines during a major plant overall in October 2000,” says Brian Goven, Great River’s results engineer. “Not only are we happy with the V-Cone’s ability to measure low flows, but its versatility and short straight run requirements are also excellent features.”

V-Cone’s patented flowmeter technology provides differential pressure flow performance with an accuracy of up toso can be sized for line diameters of 0.5 in. to more than 120 in.

McCrometer reports that V-Cone’s accuracy and installation flexibility are results of its design that allows it to condition flow prior to measuring it. The flowmeter creates differential pressure by placing its cone in the center of a pipe. This cone is shaped so that it “flattens” the fluid velocity profile in the pipe, creating a more stable signal across wide flow downturns. Flow rate is calculated by measuring the difference between the pressure upstream of the cone at the meter wall and the pressure downstream of the cone through its center.

McCrometer claims more than 40 years of flow measurement experience in municipal, industrial and agricultural markets.

For more information, visit www.mccrometer.com

Author Information

Jim Montague, news editor jmontague@cahners.com

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