Steam Flow Meters
Introduction
Steam flow meters are helpful in evaluating the performance of the system and can provide useful data in assessing boiler performance, calculating boiler efficiency, and tracking the amount of steam required by the system. In some systems, steam flow meters provide a measurement signal for the boiler control system. Additionally, steam flow meters can be useful in benchmarking efforts.
There are three basic types of steam flowmeters: differential pressure (DP), vortex, and Coriolis. Differential pressure flowmeters rely on the change in pressure as steam flows by an element such as a nozzle, orifice, or venturi. This pressure difference provides an indication of flow velocity, which, in turn, can be used to determine the flow rate. Vortex flowmeters rely on the principal that flow past an element creates vortices that have frequencies that correspond to the flow velocity. Coriolis flowmeters rely on tubes placed in the steam flow path that twist according to the velocity of the flow.
Sample Steam Flow Meters
A large variety of meters and web site links can be found at: www.flowmeterdirectory.com
Differential Pressure
RCM Industries, Inc.
110 Mason Circle
Concord, CA 94520
Telephone: 
925-687-8363
Fax: 925-671-9636
Web site www.flo-gage.com
Vortex Style
Sparling Instruments, Inc.
4097 N. Temple City Blvd.
El Monte, CA 91731 Telephone: 800-800-3569 FREE; 626-444-0571
Fax: 626- 444-2314
Web sitewww.sparlinginstruments.com
Sierra Instruments, Inc.,
5 Harris Court, Building L,
Monterey, CA 93940
Telephone: 800-866-0200 FREE
FAX: 831-373-4402
Web site www.sierrainstruments.com
Spirax Sarco, Inc
1150 Northpoint Blvd.
Blythewood, SC 29016
Telephone: 803-714-2000
Fax: 803-714-2222
Go to their web site at www.spiraxsarco.com/us
Coriolis
AW Company
8809 Industrial Drive
Franksville, WI 53126
Telephone: 262-884-9800
Fax: 262-884-9810
Web Site www.awcompany.com
Averaging Pitot
Solartron Mobrey Ltd
158 Edinburgh Avenue,
Slough, Berkshire, UK, SL1 4UE
Telephone: +44(0)1753 756600
Fax: +44(0)1753 823589
Solartron Mobrey
19408 Park Row, Suite 320
Houston,Texas 77084-4860
Telephone: 281-398-7890
Fax: 281-398-7891
Email: sales@solartronisa.com
More Information
Source: Introduction Text from DOE “Improving Steam System Performance: A Sourcebook for Industry” 2004; image of RCM steam flow meters from sales web site http://www.nciweb.net/rcm_steam_flowmeters.htm 3/2005; product images from web sites referenced and linked above 3/2005;