Omega Products FL-1601 Installation Manual

OMEGA

An

One Omega

Stamford,

Group Company

Drive, Box

CT 06907-0047

[phone]

4047

Telex: 996404 Cable: OMEGA FAX: [phone]

FL-1600 SERIES

ROTAMETERS

)CAUTION/

It is recommended that this publication be read in its entirety before performing any operation. Failure to understand and follow these

irWUCtiOnS

could result in serious personal injury and/or damage to the equipment.

SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The OMEGA@ Series FL-1600 Rotameters are variable

area flowmeters designed for general in-line and by-pass
metering applications where operating conditions are
within the limitations of glass metering tubes.

A float is free to travel up and down within a tapered
borosilicate glass tube. As the float rises a greater flow
area exists: as it descends, flow area decreases. Fluid
flowing through the flowmeter (from bottom to top)
causes the float to rise to a point of dynamic balance,
which is a true indication of the flow.

1. 2

SPECIFICATIONS

CAUTiOq

1

Do not operate this instrument in excess of specifica-
tions listed below.

PRESSURE RATINGS:

FL-1604
FL-1605 100

FL-1606

L

FL-1607

NOTES:

1.

Pressure ratings are based on

2.

Above pressure

3. Maximum safe working pressures for glass tubes above 200 degrees F can be
calculated by
Caution: Do not use meters in excess of these pressures.

??

All plastic or

psig at 75 degrees F.

CONNECTIONS:

(

rattngs

using

non-metallic

Model

75

100

statrc

apply to rib or plain tapered tubes.

the pressure reduction given in the table above.

pressure applicable at 200 degrees

havea maximum safe pressure rating of 100

meters

&

Inlet

FL-1601
FL-1602

FL-1603

FL-1604
FL-1605

FL-1606 1

I

FL-1607

I

54

4L

%
%

1

400 0.45
400 0.33

400

Outlet

(NPTlHoriz.

”%
”

”

”

I

81

Outlet

Inlet

Vertical

?4

1”

‘/1

2”

0.25

(NPT)

”%
*

”

”1

F.

ACCURACY

*2%

INDUSTRIAL:

of full scale from 100% to 10% of scale

reading.

tl%

CALIBRATED:

of full scale from 100% to 10% of scale

reading.

%

% full scale.

t

REPEATABILITY: Within

MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION
METERING TUBE:

6OTOSiliCStS

glass

FLOATS: 316SS

FD-TINGS:

END

PACKING MATERIAL: Neoprene (brass meters); Teflon

Brass or 316SS

(316SS
meters)
O-RINGS:

Buna-N
SIDE PLATES: Aluminum
GLAND RINGS: Steel
GUIDE RODS, CARTRIDGES: 316SS
SAFETY GLASS WINDOWS: Aluminum Frames
GLAND

FOLLDWERS:

SCALE: 250 mm, detachable metal plate,

Aluminum

lo%-100% of FS

SECTION 2 INSTALLATION

RECOMMENDED INSTALLATION PRACTICES

Water hammer and surges can be damaging to any
flowmeter and must

always be avoided.

Water hammer occurs when a liquid flow is suddenly

stopped as with quick closing and solenoid operated
valves. Surges occur when flow is suddenlv begun, as
when a pump is turned on at full power or a valve is quick-
ly opened.

Liquid surges are particularly damaging to flowmeters if the

surqes.

pipe is originally empty. To avoid damaging

fluid
lines should remain full (if possible) and pumps should be
brought up to power slowly and valves opened slowly. In
addition, to avoid both water hammer and surges, a surge
chamber should be installed.

I

2.1

RECEIPT OF EQUIPMENT
When the equipment is received, the outside packing
case should be checked for any damage incurred during
shipment. If the packing case is damaged, the local car-
rier should be notified at once regarding his liability.

Remove the envelope containing the shipping list.
Carefully remove the equipment from the packing case
and inspect for damaged or missing parts. Be sure the
float is not accidentally discarded with the packing, as
some larger meters are shipped with the iioat

remcved

from the tube to prevent breakage

2. 2

RETURN SHIPMENT.
Do not return any merchandise without an Authorized

Return (AR) number. Call OMEGA Customer Service
Department at [phone].

2. 3

I

INSTALLATION OF FLOAT
Some flowmeters are shipped with the float installed in
the metering tube; others are shipped with the float

_.

I

.:

packed separately to prevent possible damage during
shipment and handling. In either case, remove the wrap-

pings and/or other protective material. Take great care to
avoid damaging the float. The accuracy of the meter
depends upon the float remaining dimensionally and
gravimetrically stable.

!.4

It is advisable to insert the float before the flowmeter is

installed in the line Where the vertical inlet and outlet are
used for piping connections this is absolutely necessary.

Use reasonable care in inserting the float. Don ’t

justdrop
it in the glass metering tube. A sheet of paper slightly
coiled, forms a convenient chute so the float can be slid
into the metering tube avoiding high impact.

To install free or ribbed tube floats, remove the bottom
cleanout

plug (or flanged cover) and take out the bottom
float stop. Place the float in the tube with a paper chute,
as described above, and replace the float stop and
cleanout

plug.

With rod guided floats, take great care not to bend the
guide rod. Should the guide rod become bent, or its

polished surface become marred by burrs, scratches or
accumulation of foreign matter, it is advisable to replace
it with a new one. Never attempt to straighten a bent
guide rod.

Rod guided floats are inserted at OMEGA and are shipped
with a wooden dowel protector preventing undue move-
ment of the float while the rotameter is in transit. Be sure
to remove the wooden dowel before installing the
rotameter.

To install rod-guided floats, remove both top and bottom
cleanout

plugs. Remove the top nuts on the guide rod and
remove the guide rod and guide rod cartridge through the
bottom opening of the meter. Place the float on the guide
rod and put it back in the tube. Guide rod nuts should be
tightened until the guide rod is tensioned. If the guide is
not sufficiently tightened, there may be a tendency of the
float to whip under flow conditions. Replace the

cleanout

plugs (or flanged cover).

LOCATION OF CONTROL VALVE

Location of the control valve depends on many variables.
On most applications, the flowmeter will operate properly
with the control valve on either the upstream or
downstream side.

If the inlet and outlet valves adjacent to the flowmeter
are to be closed for any reason, the flowmeter must be
completely drained. Failure to do so may result in ther-
mal expansion of the liquid which can cause rupture of
the meter and possible personal injury.

HORIZONTAL

A

-

Inlet Valve

-

Outlet Valve

B

FIGURE 2.1 BY-PASS PIPING

SECTION 3 OPERATION

3.1

3. 2

PRE-OPERATIONAL CHECK

Prior to initial start-up and each time the flowmeter is re-
assembled, the zero alignment should be checked. The
zero line on the tube should coincide with the zero line
on the indicating scale. If these marks line up,
assured that the tube is correctly seated and
flowmeter is ready for accurate flow indication.

OPERATING PROCEDURE

WARNING

LINE

VERTICAL LINE

-

By-Pm

C

-

Control Valve

D

Valve

be

cm

it

the

2.5

INSTALLATION OF FLOWMETER

The flowmeter should always be mounted within

.

true vertical with the outlet connection (downstream

connection) at the top of the meter, and the inlet connec-

tion (upstream connection) at the bottom;

highest

scale graduation and largest part of the glass tube
at the top. Use a plumb-bob or other device to assure
perfect vertical positioning. Should the rotameter not be
mounted in a vertical position, both accuracy and sen-
sitivity may be affected.

!.6

BY-PASS PIPING
It is strongly recommended to install a by-pass piping

rangement around the meter. By-pass piping permits the
meter to be isolated from the flow line for servicing or

cleaning.

Where connections are interchangeable (for vertical
horizontal connections), it is recommended that the

horizontal connections be used if at all practical in the
overall piping arrangement. Horizontal connections per-
mit the plugged vertical openings to serve as convenient
cleanout
rotated in

ports. The design permits the end-fitting to be

90°

increments, allowing inlet and outlet con-
nections to be made at right side, left side, at the front or
at the back of the rotameter. Refer to Fiaure 2.1

that

6O

of

is, with

ar-

or

During operation of this instrument. do not exceed
temperature and pressure ratings as listed in
Specifications.

It is well to by-pass the original flow surge when the
meter is first put in the line Refer to Figure 2-l. First, open

(C)

the by-pass valve

fully and the control valve

slightly. Then, open the meter inlet and outlet valves

(D)

(A

and B respectively). After the inlet line has been purged

(C)

of air, close the by-pass valve

slowly. This method

brings the flowmeter on-stream smoothly; allows the

float to start indicating the flow without bouncing or
shooting up to the very top of the metering tube.

For best results, the meter inlet and outlet valves (A and
B) should remain fully opened,

(D)

valve

to be used for complete flow

permitt+

cc‘itror.

the

c-ntrol

T;IIS

ar-
rangement is consistent with good control practice and
provides steadiest float operation.

When it is necessary to clean or repair the meter, open

the by-pass valve
outlet valves

(C)

first. Then, close the meter inlet and

(A

and B).

If the by-pass arrangement is not used, the valves should
be opened with extreme caution to prevent damage to

the float and metering tube.