Cadillac®  Vortex CV-U Meter – Applications

The Cadillac® Vortex CV-U Meter has been acknowledged as the industry standard for direct natural gas flow measurement.

• Data Source for energy management system, DCS, district-wide systems.
• Energy-Customer Billing from accurately totalized flow measurements.
• Basis for internal cost distribution using campus-wide systems.
• Process monitoring from central control rooms.
• Direct Steam measurements at both Boiler and point of use locations.
• Natural Gas measurements for Boiler fuel flow.

Cadillac®  Vortex CV-U Meter – Features

Cadillac®  Vortex CV-U Meter  includes the following features:

Accuracy

+/-1.0% of the reading for liquids, gas and steam. High accuracy, linear throughout the entire dynamic measuring range.

Rangeability

Typically 25 to 1 turndown or up to 35 to 1 if sized for “Best Fit”. With seasonal steam load variation, the need for a large turndown is essential. Cadillac® Vortex Meters will accurately measure all load requirements with proper sizing.

Longevity

With no moving parts and through simple robust design the MTBF of the shedder bar is 50 years. With proper system maintenance Cadillac® Vortex Meters will provide reliable, accurate service beyond all flow technologies.

Modern Electronics

Meeting the challenges of the next millennium. Meters are equipped with electronics capable of mass flow computation for varying steam loads/pressure. Electronics will register locally, remotely or interface with an energy management system. Built to withstand the toughest conditions.

Cadillac®  Vortex CV-U Meter – Operation Principles

Cadillac®  Vortex CV-U Meter  includes the following features:

The “Karman” vortex meter principle is clearly illustrated by a flag waving in the wind. As the air passes across the flag pole, vortices peel off and the flag is shaped by these pressure areas. You will notice that, at low wind velocity, the flag will move slowly from side to side. As the wind increases, the flag will start to flutter and ripple, representing the increased frequency and intensity of these flag pole generated vortices as they pass. Wind velocity can thus be determined by measuring the frequency of that flutter.

The shedder bar of the Cadillac® Vortex Meter is a solid piece of metal machined into a shape to maximize the strength of the vortex. As this vortex peels off, it temporarily causes a low-pressure area on one side, which puts sideways stress on the shedder bar. This stress is detected by embedded pressure sensitive piezoelectric crystals, which produce a voltage spike when compressed. By detecting and counting the frequency of these spikes, we can establish fluid velocity. Each vortex meter is tested to determine the relationship between velocity/flow rate and vortex frequency, which results in a meter K-factor expressed in “Pulses/Gallon”. This volumetric relationship is then converted to relative engineering units, which the flow meter converter can then retransmit via a 4-20 mADC current signal or conditioned pulse.

An optional LCD Indicator/Totalizer can display and totalize in engineering units of the users choice. For compressible mediums, such as gases and steam, the meter amplifier can correct for temperature and pressure with the MASS option, which includes a temperature element in shedder bar and look up tables for ideal gases and steam. For mediums other than saturated steam an external pressure source must be provided as shown in the drawing below. Outputs from the meter with the MASS option are compensated and linear for the compressible medium being measured.

Cadillac®  Vortex CV-U Meter – Dimensions

Cadillac®  Vortex CV-U Meter  dimensions are outlined below:

Cadillac®  Vortex CV-U Meter – General Specifications

Cadillac® Vortex CV-U Meter includes the following specifications:

• Meter will consist of an in-line or insertion type flow meter assembly with remote or integral electronics
• Meter available with local or remote indication or blind housings.
• Meter will provide an analog (4-20 mADC) output.
• Instantaneous and totalized flow available at local indicator or remotely through outputs.
• Meter measures flow using the Karman vortex shedding principle.
• Vortices shall be detected with an ultrasonic receiver.
• Meter electronics shall be capable of direct mass flow computation for saturated steam without external inputs.
• Input power shall be 15-48 VDC, analog output shall be 4-20 mADC, 2-Wire HART Protocol.
• Operating pressure/temperature of meter shall be (-5 to 140 psig) / (-20° to 360°F)
• Meter will have typical turndown of 25:1, or up to 35:1 if sized for “Best Fit”.
• Meter will be calibrated to/and be provided with NIST calibration certificate.

Cadillac®  Vortex CV-U Meter – Installation

Cadillac®  Vortex CV-U Meter  installation instructions are outlined below.To ensure optimum performance and operation, Vortex meters should be sized to operate near or at the higher end of the operating range. This is due to the finite low end ability of the meter to generate and measure vortices. This is typically referred to as low flow cutoff. With other technologies on the market this low flow cutoff value is relatively high, thus requiring piping reductions as illustrated to bring the meter within a reasonable range for operation. In a typical steam heating system this is typically 1-2 pipe diameters.However, with the Cadillac® Ultrasonic Vortex technology, sensitivity is dramatically increased, which results in a significant reduction in low flow cutoff values. Resulting in line size meters and the cost savings of not having to manufacture reducing spool pieces.In addition, for line sizes of 4″ to 72″ the meter is supplied as an insertion device which further reduces installation costs and fabrication.

CV-U-I/CMASS Installed in Saturated Steam Application

CV-U-W/CMASS Installed in Compressed Air Application

Cadillac®  Vortex CV-U Meter – Price List

Our prices are outlined below. In order to estimate the price of your meter, please choose an item from each centralized row within each chart. Should you have any question about the price list, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly for your free quote. Call us (888) 556-3913.