Fluid Components International VORTAB User Manual

In Industrial installations, process plants are designed to minimize ﬂoor space. Abbreviated ﬂoor space can result in inadequate short runs of straight pipe required upstream from ﬂow meters, pumps, compressors and other critical components used in the process industries. The resulting ﬂow disturbances increase ﬂow meter error, and can induce cavitation and noise in pumps, which results in excessive wear and damage.

A ﬂow conditioner isolates ﬂow disturbances by providing a consistent outlet ﬂow condition regardless of inlet conditions. Because of its unique tab design, the Vortab ﬂow conditioner is able to provide excellent ﬂow meter isolation, yet it creates very little pressure loss and is virtually immune to fouling.

Vortab ﬂow conditioners come in six basic forms: Vortab Insertion Panel (VIP), Insertion Sleeve (VIS), Meter Run (VMR), Short Run (VSR), Elbow conﬁguration (VEL), or Field Kit (VFK). The VIP can be conﬁgured to slide into an existing process pipe or duct and welded in place, or offered as a ﬂange mount version to be captured between ﬂange faces. The VIS is sized to slide into the existing process pipe or duct. It can be welded in place or secured with optional capture ﬂange between ﬂanges faces. The VMR spool piece includes the Vortab ﬂow conditioning internals as well as the recommended settling distance for downstream ﬂow meters. The VSR is a stand-alone pipe section 3 pipe diameters (3D) in length that includes only the ﬂow conditioning internals. The VEL elbow ﬂow conditioner can be short or long radius with a vast array of process connections and downstream metering connections. The VFK includes all the Vortab ﬂow conditioning internals and fabrication instructions required for assembly in the ﬁeld.

Theory of Operation

Vortab ﬂow conditioners are passive mechanical devices, which effectively establish a repeatable, symmetric, and swirl free velocity proﬁle regardless of the ﬂuid’s inlet condition. These conditioners use vortex generating tabs to amplify and accelerate the boundary layer behavior of long pipe. The basic principles involved are vorticity generation, force cancellation, and diffusion. For ﬂow meters, the Vortab ﬂow conditioners are capable of producing uniform, non-swirling velocity proﬁles three pipe diameters (3D) downstream from the Vortab. Depending on the severity of the downstream disturbance, one to ﬁve diameters (1D to 5D) of straight pipe are required after the ﬂow meter location. Figure 1-1 illustrates typical Vortab installations upstream from ﬂow meters. For pumps, compressors, control valves and other critical process equipment, the Vortab ﬂow conditioners can be mounted directly to their downstream components. Figure 1-2 illustrates typical installations upstream from pumps and compressors.

Figure 1-1. Typical Vortab Installation with Flowmeters

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Figure 1-2. Typical Vortab Installation with Pumps/Compressors

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VORTAB Flow Conditioner VORTAB® Company

Technical Specication

Vortab Insertion Panel (VIP)

 Process Pipe or Duct Inside Diameter

Available sizes: 2 inch to 40 inch Available in larger sizes (special)

 Material of construction

316L Stainless Steel

 Length

Tabs extend into downstream ﬂow conduit a distance of .135 x conduit’s inner diameter.

 Process Connection

Capture Flange mounted or Weld-In-Place inside duct or pipe inner diameter.

Vortab Insertion Sleeve (VIS)

 Process Pipe or Duct Inside Diameter

Customer speciﬁed inner diameter Available in sizes: .87 inch and higher Also available in ¼, ½, and ¾ sch 40 sizes

 Material of construction

316L SST & Hastelloy C-276 for all sizes Carbon steel for sizes 4.51 inch and higher

 Length

Approximately 3 times the customer ID

 Process Connection

Capture ﬂange or welded to the pipe or duct inside diameter

Vortab Meter Run (VMR)

 Pipe size

Available in ¼, ½, and ¾ sch 40 1” (various schedules) 2” and above all pipe schedules

 Material of construction

316L SST and Hastelloy C-276 throughout for all sizes Carbon steel 8 inch and above Also available with 316L SST body and carbon steel ﬂanges for all sizes

 Length

7 nominal pipe diameters (7D) Exception: Line sizes 2-inch and smaller, which may have longer lengths than 7D. Consult factory for speciﬁc lengths.

 Process Connection

Butt weld preparation, male NPT, ﬂanged or customer speciﬁed

 Flow Element Connection For Flowmeter Installation

Threaded ¾,1, or 1-1/4 inch female NPT, 1-1/4 inch NPT, 1-1/2 inch ﬂanged, or customer speciﬁed

Vortab Short Run (VSR)

 Pipe size

Available in ¼, ½, and ¾ sch 40 1” (various schedules) 2” and above all pipe schedules

 Material of construction

316L SST and Hastelloy C-276 throughout for all sizes Carbon steel 8 inch and above Also available with 316L SST body and carbon steel ﬂanges for all sizes

 Length

3 nominal pipe diameters (3D)

 Process Connection

Butt weld preparation, male NPT, ﬂanged or customer speciﬁed

Vortab Elbow (VEL)

 Pipe size

1” and higher Smaller sizes available upon request

 Material of construction

316L SST, Hastelloy C-276, and carbon steel for all sizes

 Elbow Radius

Short and Long radius

 Process Connection

Butt weld preparation, male NPT, ﬂanged or customer speciﬁed

 Flow Element Connection For Flowmeter Installation

Threaded ¾,1, or 1-1/4 inch female NPT, 1-1/4 inch NPT, 1-1/2 inch ﬂanged, or customer speciﬁed

Vortab Field Kit (VFK)

 Material of construction

316L SST, Hastelloy C-276, and carbon steel Other materials available upon request

 Process Pipe or Duct Inner Diameter

Customer speciﬁed

 Length

Approximately 3 times the customer ID

 Attachment Method

Welded in the ﬁeld. Fabrication and welding instructions provided

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Installation - General

Receiving and Inspection

• Inspect for damage

• Packing List – verify correct conﬁguration against purchase order. At a minimum, Vortab Company’s customer order number along with ﬂow direc-

tion indicators will be etched on all products.

• If the above items are satisfactory then proceed with installation. If not, then STOP and contact the ﬁeld representative or the factory personnel for instructions.

There may be an additional sizing ring accompanying the Vortab Insertion Sleeve (VIS) in the shipping container. This is used to verify roundness and diameter during fabrication. It may be needed to facilitate installation in the following sections. The sizing ring can be discarded upon completion of the VIS installation.

Vortab Insertion Panel (VIP) Installation

Prepare the installation site or inspect the already prepared location to assure that the VIP will ﬁt into the process pipe or duct.

• Verify that the VIP matches the geometry and dimensions of the intended process pipe mount.

• The VIP’s base plate, in which the tabs extend from, should be positioned at a distance of three nominal pipe diameters (3D) upstream from the

ﬂow meter location. See Figure 2-1.

Figure 2-1. VIP Installation Recommendations

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VORTAB Flow Conditioner VORTAB® Company

Flange Mount VIP

The ﬂange-mounted VIP will appear one of two ways. Refer to Figure 2-2. For sizes below 24.40-inches (620 mm) there will be one orientation tab and one orientation handle 180º offset from each other. For sizes 24.40” and above there will be two orientation tabs offset 180º from each other.

Figure 2-2. Upstream Views of Flange Mount VIP

Orientation of the VIP with respect to an insertion ﬂow meter is important. Refer to Figure 2-3 for both correct and incorrect installations of the VIP with respect to an insertion ﬂow meter. An imaginary line passing through the two orientation tabs and/or orientation handle should be parallel to the ﬂow meter’s sensing element.

Figure 2-3. Orientation of Flange Mount VIP

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When using the VIP upstream from ﬂow meters other than FCI insert ﬂow meters, whether it be in insert or ﬂange mounted, such as turbine, annubar, and ultrasonic ﬂow meters, orientation is not critical but should mimic that which was calibrated. The VIP should be positioned upstream from the ﬂow meter in the orientation and distance in which it was calibrated.

The VIP is secured in place by way of sandwiching between ﬂange faces. This will require two customer-supplied gaskets of which one will be placed on each side of the VIP prior to installation. See Figure 2-4. The orientation tabs and/or orientation handle can be used to facilitate symmetric installation of the VIP. Bolt ﬂanges together to complete the installation.

Figure 2-4. Installation and Orientation of Flange Mount VIP

Weld-In-Place VIP

Orientation of the VIP with respect to an insertion ﬂow meter is important. Refer to Figure 2-5 for both correct and incorrect installations of the weld in place VIP with respect to an insertion ﬂow meter.

Figure 2-5. Orientation of Weld-In-Place VIP

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