Vortex flowmeter for use in harsh environments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10101184-B2
Application number	US-201615344171-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2016
Priority date	Nov 4, 2016
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A vortex meter for measuring a flow rate of a fluid has a flowtube and a bluff body positioned in the flowtube for shedding vortices in the fluid when the fluid flows through the flowtube. The vortex meter has a sensor positioned to detect the vortices. The bluff body has a forward-facing surface and an abrasion-resistant cladding covering the forward facing surface. The bluff body suitably also has a projection extending downstream from the forward-facing surface. The bluff body suitably has an abrasion-resistant cladding covering at least a portion of the projection. In one embodiment, the entire bluff body is completely covered by the abrasion-resistant cladding. The inner surface of a segment of the flowtube can also have abrasion-resistant characteristics.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vortex meter for measuring a flow rate of a fluid, the vortex meter comprising:
a flowtube;
a bluff body positioned in the flowtube for shedding vortices in the fluid when the fluid flows through the flowtube; and
a sensor positioned to detect the vortices,
wherein the bluff body has a forward-facing surface and an abrasion-resistant cladding covering the forward-facing surface.

2. A vortex meter as set forth in claim 1 wherein the forward-facing surface is substantially flat and is oriented generally perpendicular to the overall direction of flow through the flowtube.

3. A vortex meter as set forth in claim 2 wherein the abrasion-resistant cladding extends continuously over the entirety of the forward-facing surface.

4. A vortex meter as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bluff body further comprises a projection extending downstream from the forward-facing surface, the forward-facing surface having a width that is wider than a width of the projection, and wherein the bluff body further comprises an abrasion-resistant cladding covering at least a portion of the projection.

5. A vortex meter as set forth in claim 4 wherein the projection comprises a flow splitter.

6. A vortex meter as set forth in claim 4 wherein the projection has sides positioned behind the forward-facing surface and the abrasion-resistant cladding covers at least a portion of each side of the projection.

7. A vortex meter as set forth in claim 4 wherein the projection has a trailing end having inwardly tapered sides and the abrasion-resistant cladding covers at least portions of the tapered sides.

8. A vortex meter as set forth in claim 4 wherein the bluff body has a T-shaped cross-sectional shape.

9. A vortex mater as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flowtube has an inner surface and at least a portion of the inner surface has a hardness that exceeds the hardness of a base material used to make the flowtube to protect the inner surface of the flowtube against abrasion associated with the vortices.

10. A vortex meter as set forth in claim 1 wherein the forward-facing surface of the bluff body is made of a relatively softer material and the abrasion-resistant cladding is made of a relatively harder material.

11. A vortex meter as set forth in claim 1 wherein the forward-facing surface of the bluff body and the abrasion-resistant cladding each comprise metal.

12. A vortex meter for measuring a flow rate of a fluid, the vortex meter comprising:
a flowtube;
a bluff body positioned in the flowtube for shedding vortices in the fluid when the fluid flows through the flowtube; and
a sensor positioned to detect the vortices,
wherein the bluff body has a forward-facing surface, a projection extending downstream from the forward-facing surface, the forward-facing surface having a width that is wider than a width of the projection, and wherein the bluff body further comprises an abrasion-resistant cladding covering at least a portion of the projection.

13. A vortex meter as set forth in claim 12 wherein the projection comprises a flow splitter.

14. A vortex meter as set forth in claim 12 wherein the projection has sides positioned behind the forward-facing surface and the abrasion-resistant cladding covers at least a portion of each side of the projection.

15. A vortex meter as set forth in claim 12 wherein the projection has a trailing end having inwardly tapered sides and the abrasion-resistant cladding covers at least portions of the inwardly tapered sides.

16. A vortex meter as set forth in claim 12 wherein the bluff body has a T-shaped cross-sectional shape.

17. A vortex meter for measuring a flow rate of a fluid, the vortex meter comprising:
a flowtube;
a metal bluff body positioned in the flowtube for shedding vortices in the fluid when the fluid flows through the flowtube; and
a sensor positioned to detect the vortices,
wherein the metal bluff body has a core made of a relatively softer material and an abrasion-resistant metal cladding covering at least a portion of the core, the abrasion-resistant metal cladding having a hardness that exceeds the hardness of the core.

18. A vortex meter as set forth in claim 17 wherein the flowtube has an inner surface and at least a portion of the inner surface has a hardness that exceeds the hardness of a base material used to make the flowtube to protect the inner surface of the flowtube against abrasion associated with the vortices.

Assignees

• Invensys Sys Inc
• Schneider Electric Systems Usa Inc

Inventors

• Lopera Javier
• Dessert Wayne A

Classifications

• G01F1/3254

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01F1/3218 Primary

  bluff body design · CPC title

• G01F15/006

  characterised by the use of a particular material, e.g. anti-corrosive material (G01F15/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01F1/3259

  for detecting fluid pressure oscillations · CPC title

• G01F15/14

  Casings, e.g. of special material · CPC title