Technology Operating Advantages Disadvantages Fluids Measured

Principle

DP An obstruction in the flow,  Low initial cost  Not highly accurate, Liquids
(Differential measure pressure  No moving parts particularly in gas Gases
Pressure) differential before and  Handle dirty media flow Steam
Orifice plate after the obstruction  Easy to use  Orifice plate and
Pitot tube  Well understood pitot tube can
Variable area technology become clogged
Venturi  Supported by AGA and  High maintenance
V-Cone API to maintain accuracy
Accelabar  Typically low
turndown
 Pressure drop

Vortex Bluff body creates  High accuracy  Can be affected by Liquids

Inline alternating vortices, vortex  No moving parts pipe vibration Gases
Insertion shedding frequency equal  No maintenance  Cannot measure low Steam
to fluid velocity  Measures dirty fluids flows

Turbine Turbine rotates as fluid  High accuracy  Moving parts Liquids

Inline passes by, fluid velocity  Low flow rates require higher Gases
Insertion equal to blade rotational  Good for steam maintenance Steam
Dual turbine frequency  Wide turndown  Clean fluids only

Magnetic Measures voltage  High Accuracy  Conductive fluids Conductive

Mag generated by electrically  Wide turndown only liquids
Electromagnetic conductive liquid as it  Bi-directional  Expensive to use on (condensate)
moves through a magnetic  No moving parts large pipes
field, induced voltage is  No pressure loss to
equal to fluid velocity system