Vortex Meters Tap the Motherlode

The adage, "You can't control what you can't measure," is nowhere so true as in the process contra] industries. Going one step further, it is also necessary to ensure accuracy and repeatability in measurements. And, while you're at it, it is also nice if the measurement device is economical and flexible enough to cover diverse applications with¬out major modifications. That description certainly applies to the Innova line of vortex flowmeters and multivariable vortex mass flowmeters from Sierra Instruments Inc., Monterey, Calif The vortex flowmeter provides flow measurement of gases, liquids, and steam using a piezoelectric sensor that cancels out extraneous vibrations. It provides outputs for five process variables includ¬ing mass flowrate, volumetric flowrate, temperature, pressure, and fluid density. And it does all this from a single entry point into the system. The Bristol Meyers Squibb (BMS) complex in New Brunswick, N.J., encompasses 29 major buildings spread across more than 100 acres.