Composition and Applications of Metal Vane Flow Meters

The metal vane flowmeter consists of a housing and three specially designed rotors that rotate in synchronization. These rotors are housed within three rotor chambers of distinct shapes. Notably, there is no direct metal-to-metal contact between the components inside the meter. Let’s explore the structure and applications of the metal vane flowmeter together!

The metal vane flowmeter consists of four main components: the primary chamber, the gear assembly, the precision corrector, and the meter head. The primary chamber is primarily made up of a rotor, cams, a camshaft, vanes, connecting rods, rollers, cover plates, and the housing, among other parts. Inside the housing, the internal cavity is designed as a circular, hollow cylinder. The rotor itself is a thin, hollow cylindrical shape that rotates—this assembly is fitted in such a way that everyone can easily recognize its metallic form. Notably, there is no direct metal-to-metal contact between any of the internal components within the meter. The internal cavity of the housing remains a smooth, circular hollow space. The rotor, which is a rotating, hollow, thin cylinder, plays a crucial role in the operation of the flowmeter. As the vane shaft turns, four vanes expand and contract sequentially, creating distinct spaces between the vanes and the chamber walls. These spaces gradually fill with the fluid being measured, effectively dividing the chamber into four identical volume chambers. Through the interaction of these chambers with the gear assembly, the flowmeter precisely converts the rotational motion into measurable volumes, which are then displayed on the meter's counter. This mechanism allows the metal vane flowmeter to accurately measure the flow rate of the medium being tested. With the continuous advancement of the instrumentation industry, metal vane flowmeters have gained widespread adoption in oilfield applications due to their compact design and lightweight construction. In fact, many factories have already replaced traditional flowmeters with metal vane models. Next, we’ll explore the operational principles of the metal vane flowmeter and analyze its practical application in industrial settings through real-time, on-site analysis.

Recent validations have been conducted, highlighting both the advantages and limitations, as well as the instrument's applicable range. The metal scraper flowmeter consists of a housing and three specially designed rotors that rotate in perfect synchrony. These rotors are housed within three uniquely shaped rotor chambers. Notably, there is no direct metal-to-metal contact between any of the internal components. Since there’s no contact, wear is virtually eliminated—and without wear, there’s no increase in clearance. And if the clearance remains stable, neither does the leakage or performance degradation. As a result, the meter maintains its accuracy over time, performing as reliably as when it was new. The rotor-to-rotor sealing mechanism employs the most efficient line-to-line seal configuration, minimizing the contact area and, consequently, reducing fluid friction against the rotors. This design ensures exceptionally low pressure differentials compared to other positive-displacement meters on the market, leading to minimal leakage rates. Consequently, the metal scraper flowmeter excels in accurately measuring medium- to large-volume flows of low-viscosity fluids—such as LPG—and delivers outstanding precision across this challenging application range.

Temperature changes do not affect the instrument's accuracy; since the key components of the metal vane flowmeter share a common coefficient of thermal expansion, the device can accurately measure media temperatures ranging from -40°C to +80°C without requiring calibration. After calibration, the metal vane flowmeter can reliably handle media temperatures as high as 350°C.

The rotor of the metal vane flowmeter is precision-machined. The instrument features no oscillating or reciprocating motion, ensuring smooth rotation. Additionally, the noise-free metal vane flowmeter boasts an exceptionally long service life.

To the extent that other conditions remain unchanged, the metal scraper flowmeter demonstrates the highest accuracy when measuring constant current—accuracy that is independent of the fluid's viscosity.