We are glad that you have decided to use our variable area flow meters and high-precision control
valves. Our instruments will provide you with high-quality long-lived products.
This manual contains important information for commissioning and/or designing equipment. Please
contact your distribution partner if anything is not clear.
We are committed to the continual improvement of our products and documentation. Your
experience from everyday use can assist us with this. We welcome your comments and criticisms.
We have taken great care in compiling this manual. However, we cannot accept responsibility for
possible errors.
Service and quality
We are continually improving the quality and provision of our products and services. In the end,
whether the right product was selected only becomes apparent once the product is in use.
Therefore we make every effort not just to preach but also to live by top quality and service.
Warranty
The warranty for the products described in this manual is limited to defects in material and
workmanship. Warranty does in no case exceed product replacement free of charge. All claims are
null and void in the case of improper use:
Use outside the operating limits
Damage due to water hammer
Corrosion damage
Mechanical damage in general
Check the package for external damage and contact your distribution partner if the instruments
have visible defects. Check that the delivery is complete and corresponds to the delivery note.
This product is a precision measuring instrument. We would like to point out that you should take
due care when choosing the installation site and following these suggestions and instructions.
Before installing, check that the specification on the type label matches your application.
Please read through these operating instructions carefully before commissioning. Incorrect
operation, errors in comprehension and the consequences of these can lead to breakage of the
instrument or risk of personal injury.
Commissioning and maintenance must be carried out by appropriately qualified personnel. Proper
use of the products is a necessary precondition for their smooth operation.
Safety information
The instruments must not be used outside the specified operating limits
(See also section Technical Data)
Incorrect operation can lead to breakage of the instrument or risk of personal injury.
When using toxic media it is strongly advised not to use glass cylinder measuring instruments:
cylinder breakage and leaks can cause risk of personal injury
Shocks, e.g. caused by magnetic valves, should be avoided.
The measuring instruments must be used solely for the medium specified in the delivery note.
Media which differ from this may lead to impaired durability and therefore cause leakage
Using the manual
This manual contains information on the variable area flowmeters Q-Flow and V-100 and highprecision control valves M-Flow.
Sections and paragraphs which only apply to a particular product group are marked as follows:
Operating principle of the variable area flowmeter
The measuring instrument works according to the float measuring principle
The measuring unit consists of a tapered graduated precision glass measuring cylinder in which a
ball float can move freely up and down. The medium flows through the vertically-aligned measuring
cylinder from the bottom upwards.
The float positions itself so that the buoyancy force A acting on it, the form resistance W and its
weight G are in balance::
G = A + W
The flow rate can be read as the height of the float on a scale on the tapered measuring cylinder.
The value is read off at the middle of the float (largest diameter).
The instrument type label is attached to the inside of the left side panel in the V-100 and on the
back of the mounting plate in the Q-Flow:
Example:
Key:
SN: Serial number – Position – number of instruments per position
BE: Customer order number
07/08: Date of manufacture, month/year
Type: Specification in accordance with type code (standard instruments only) 1
Medium, measuring range, measurement unit, pressure, temperature and additional information.
1
Custom designed instruments are given a seven digit product code instead of a type code
(e.g. 137-1215).
High-precision control valve type marking
For the M-Flow the type label is attached to the valve cartridge housing.
An arrow on the body of the valve indicates the flow direction.
Example:
Key:
NS 2.5: Specification of valve size NS 1.0 to NS 6.5
L: Closing direction for valve (L = left / R = right)
V: Sealing material (V = FKM / E = EPDM / P = FFKM
Custom designed instruments can have additional details such as leakage rate.
In addition to the type code (see appendix) we require you to supply the following information for
optimal design of the instrument:
Medium
Maximum flow rate
For design without valve: Pressure in measuring cylinder
For design with valve: Pressure before and after the control valve
Temperature
When should the control valve be mounted at the outlet?
In vacuum processes the gas expands considerably. This leads to significant measurement
errors.
The control valve should therefore always be placed at the outlet for vacuum applications.
Liquids often contain gas bubbles. These settle on the float. This results in a higher flow rate
being displayed. By installing the control valve at the outlet the gas bubbles become smaller
and are better able to flow past the float.
In the case of fluctuating back pressure (e.g. when gassing a liquid container if the level varies
markedly).
In the case of pulsating media or smaller water hammer the valve at the outlet has a cushioning
effect.
When should the control valve be mounted at the inlet?
In the case of constant after-pressure
If the control valve also has to serve as a locking valve. (e.g. if a measuring cylinder has to be
exchanged when installed).
Direct reading scale or mm-scale?
The direct reading scale (also known as the product scale) is determined for only one operating
condition.
The mm-scale is not dependent on the medium, pressure and temperature. Different tables with
various operating conditions can be used. The actual measurement value is not visible directly on
the instrument but is read using a conversion table.
What is the purpose of standard liters and norm liters?
In contrast to liquids, gases can be compressed, so it is important to know the density of the gas
used. This in turn is dependent on pressure and temperature, i.e. if two quantities of gas are to be
compared with one another, then the current pressure in the pipe and the current temperature of
the medium must be known.
We supply general tables relating to norm liters 0°C 1013 mbar a
The two quantities are defined as follows:
Unit Pressure Temperature
Standard liter 1013.25 mbar a 20°Celsius
Norm liter 1013.25 mbar a 0° Celsius
The US standard liter corresponds to the German norm liter (0°C 1013.25 mbar a).
However, there are other reference temperatures. Gas suppliers use a reference temperature of 15
°C.
Conversion of standard liter (Stdl) into norm liter (ln) and vice versa:
Before installing the measuring instrument, the pipe must be free of particles and moisture
The variable area flowmeter must be installed in a vertical position
The direction of flow is from the bottom upwards
The measuring instrument must be installed stress-free. Please use the mounting holes
provided for this purpose
The process connections must not be sealed with sealing tape or liquid sealer. Residues might
enter the instrument and lead to defects
(See also paragraph Recommended connections)
Before commissioning, make sure that the connections are sealed
Instructions for commissioning
The operating limits must not be exceeded
(See section Technical Information)
Connect the control valve to the flow meter or other control element
Open the media supply
Slowly open the control valve and set the required set value
(See also section Operating principle of the variable area flow meter)
Recommended connections
We recommend the following connections:
Pneumatic plug-in connection with O-ring or flat seal
Compression ring connection with O-ring or flat seal
Screw-in hose connection with O-ring or flat seal
Hose connectors with flat seal
Please note the available connection versions for our instruments and our range of accessories.
For mounting, the panel opening must be prepared according to the diagram
Screw the two mounting brackets onto the instrument as shown
Screw the setscrew supplied into the connector and insert the instrument into the aperture from
the front
From the other side, hang the connectors in the openings of the mounting brackets
The instrument can be secured by careful tightening of the setscrews.
For mounting, the faceplate must be prepared according to the diagram
The instrument is supplied with mounted plate and inserted into the aperture from the front.
Screw the plate to the control cabinet using suitable M3 screws
For retrofit installation, unscrew the glass front of the instrument and fit the plate in place of this
Slide the adjusting ring 518-1563 onto the valve (do not tighten yet)
Slide the adapter sleeve 518-1575 onto the valve axis and tighten the setscrews 512-8202
Slide the rear part of the hand knob onto the adapter sleeve again. The pin on the knob must be
pushed into the hole in the adjusting ring completely so that no gap remains
By turning the adjusting ring 518-1563, the graduation on the knob can be set to the desired
position. When this is done, tighten the two setscrews 512-8217 on the adjusting ring
By turning the knob, the graduation can again be set to 00.00. When this is done, retighten the
setscrew M5x5 on the knob
Open up the cover ring 633-1104 and refit it over the gap
The Digiturn knob is now fully installed
Close the valves before and after the measuring instrument
Close the needle valve on the measuring instrument
Caution
When disassembling the measuring glass, residual liquids or gases may escape.
As the float is loose inside the measuring glass, care must be taken when removing it so that the
float is not lost.
The same applies to the float stops.
Disassembly variable area flowmeter Q-Flow
Remove the Plexiglas cover (1) from the instrument
Unscrew the valve (2) using an open-end wrench and remove it carefully from the
instrument with a twisting motion
Unscrew the cap screw (3) (hexagon socket, key size 4 mm)
Pull the instrument off the mounting plate
Unscrew the grip nuts (4) while holding the measuring glass firmly
(hexagon socket, key size 3 mm)
The measuring glass can be disassembled by lifting or removing the base section (5)
Close the rotary knob or valve until the scale shows 00.00
Open the cover ring 633-1104 and remove from the rotary knob
Unscrew the M5x5 setscrew. The back part of the knob can be pulled off
(hexagon socket, key size 2.5 mm)
Unscrew the two setscrews 512-8202 on the adapter sleeve 518-1575. The adapter sleeve can
be pulled off (hexagon socket, key size 1.5 mm)
Loosen the two setscrews on the adjusting ring 518-1563. The ring can be pulled off
(hexagon socket, key size 2 mm)
The rotary knob is now completely dismounted from the valve
When used correctly, variable area flow meters from Vögtlin Instruments AG do not require any
maintenance.
Soiling
The following symptoms indicate soiling:
The set value can no longer be reached – the control valve is probably soiled
The measuring value rises although the actual flow rate has not been changed – measuring
cylinder is soiled
Colour change / deposits in the measuring cylinder
Cleaning
Depending on the type of soiling, the measuring instrument can be rinsed with isopropyl alcohol
(IPA). The measuring cylinder can be mechanically cleaned with a brush at the most.
If soiled, we recommend that you return the measuring instrument to your distribution
partner.
Return
When returning, please use the original packaging if possible or suitable alternative packaging. We
do not accept responsibility for damage in transit. Please inform us of the reason for return: this
enables us to process your request quickly.
Note
If the instrument has been in contact with corrosive or toxic media it is imperative to clean it
properly before return. Please always complete the contamination declaration form. This is
provided in the appendix to this manual.
Instruments which we receive without a contamination declaration form will unfortunately have to
be returned to the sender.
With return of devices, please fill out the following statement completely, especially the reason for
the return, the type of residue and cleaning in the case of soiling, as well as indication of hazards.
Device:
Type code:
Serial number:
Reason for return:
Type of contamination
Device came in contact with:
Cleaned by us with:
Can you provide further
information on the
contamination?
inert (no danger)
corrosive
caustic
must not come in contact with moisture
oxidizing
other hazards:
For the protection of our employees and for general safety during transport, proper cleaning and
the use of appropriate packaging are mandatory.
Legal declaration
We hereby confirm the correctness and completeness of the above information: