The installation of a flow switch rotor (usually referred to as a rotor flowmeter) requires comprehensive consideration of medium characteristics, process requirements, and site conditions, with the core being to ensure measurement accuracy, stability, and maintenance convenience. The following are detailed installation methods and key points:
1、 Vertical installation (standard method)
Applicable scenarios: Suitable for the vast majority of liquid and gas media, especially low viscosity, clean fluids.
Installation requirements:
The flowmeter must be installed vertically, with the fluid direction from bottom to top and an angle of ≤ 2 ° with the plumb line.
Ensure sufficient straight pipe sections (5D in front and 3D in back) to reduce fluid disturbance effects.
Avoid vibration, impact, and strong electromagnetic interference areas, and install vibration reduction devices if necessary.
Advantages: High measurement accuracy, stable rotor operation, easy observation and reading (especially for glass tube type).
2、 Horizontal installation (special application)
Applicable scenario: Recommended only for gases or low viscosity liquids, and requires full tube flow.
Technical adjustment:
By optimizing the internal structure (such as adding reset springs) to counteract the influence of gravity and replace the traditional rotor weight balancing mechanism.
Regular calibration is required to correct measurement errors caused by gravity.
Attention: It is susceptible to interference from bubbles or impurities, which may reduce accuracy. It is not recommended to use it unless necessary.
3、 Split installation (large-diameter pipeline)
Applicable scenario: For large-diameter pipelines with a diameter of DN150 or above, solve the problem of matching manufacturing cost and range.
Implementation method: Divert the fluid from the main pipeline to a small-diameter flowmeter, and design the diversion ratio based on the characteristics of the medium to ensure that it operates within the effective range.
Advantages: Suitable for high temperature, high pressure, and corrosive media, reducing equipment investment.
4、 Bypass installation (convenient maintenance)
Applicable scenarios: working conditions that require frequent maintenance or replacement of flow meters.
Operation process:
Parallel bypass pipelines are installed in the main pipeline, and flow meters are installed in the bypass.
Close the bypass valve during normal operation and switch the flow path during maintenance.
Advantage: Achieve non-stop maintenance and ensure the continuity of the main process.
5、 Plug in installation (for large-diameter and low precision scenarios)
Applicable scenarios: For pipelines over DN200 that do not require high-precision measurement.
Installation points: Insert the sensor into a local area of the pipeline, calculate the total flow rate by measuring the flow velocity at the measurement point, and calibrate according to the pipeline size and flow velocity distribution.
Limitations: Low accuracy and susceptibility to uneven fluid distribution.
6、 Protective installation (harsh environment)
Applicable scenarios: high temperature, high pressure, corrosive media, or dusty environments.
Protective measures:
Choose corrosion-resistant materials such as Hastelloy and tantalum.
Install insulation layer or protective cover to avoid direct thermal radiation.
The correct installation method is the foundation for ensuring the accurate operation of the rotor flowmeter, which requires comprehensive selection based on the properties of the medium, process requirements, and environmental conditions. Priority should be given to vertical installation, and other methods should be flexibly selected for special scenarios. Calibration and maintenance standards should be strictly followed to ensure long-term stable operation.