SteamMeter Appl Note

MRC 980710 / 000219 R1

Total 4 pages
Page 1 of 4

MASS FLOW MEASUREMENT.

Steam Metering using the Krohne Vortex Steam Meter VFM5090 SSM.

Density Compensation a MUST for Steam Metering.

Understanding the BASICS

Majority of the Flowmeters available in the market place today measure the velocity of
gases/liquids to give the user the volumetric flowrate.
In case of Saturated Steam knowing the Mass Flow is important, which means
ON LINE DENSITY COMPENSATION i.e. continuously multiplying the density by the
VOLUMETRIC FLOWRATE as,
MASS
Kg/hr

=
=

VOLUME * DENSITY
m3/hr
* Kg/ m3

Why is this important

For a 1 kg/cm2 pressure variation in the Steam Pressure , the ERROR in the
MASS FLOWRATE will be close to 15%.
If this is acceptable then WHY METER THE STEAM ????
The following example explains the same :Saturated Steam flow is approximately 3TPH with the Pressure varying between 5 to 6
kg/cm2(abs)
Density of Saturated Steam at 5 kg/cm2(abs)
Density of Saturated Steam at 6 kg/cm2(abs)

=
=

2.67 kg/m3
3.15 kg/m3

Considering that the VOLUMETRIC FLOW is constant at 1000 m3/hr with the pressure
varying between 5 to 6 kg/cm2 (abs) , then the meter in each case will READ , as per the
following table , which indicates the results in

SteamMeter Appl Note

MRC 980710 / 000219 R1

Total 4 pages
Page 2 of 4

STEAM FLOW measurement with and without Density Compensation.

Volumetric
Flow
m3/ hr

Steam
Pressure
kg/cm2(abs)

Corresponding
Steam density
kg/m3

Massflow
% E rror
with Comp. without Comp.
kg/hr
kg/hr

1000

2.67

2670

2670

***

1000

3.15

3150

2670

15%**

*** The DPT Based system may be calibrated at a fixed steam pressure of 5 kg/cm2(abs),
then the readings will be inaccurate by 15 % of a simple 1 kg/cm2 change in Steam
Pressure.
Then coming back to

If this is acceptable then WHY METER THE STEAM ????

Well , KROHNE has the SOLUTION

The KROHNE VORTEX STEAM METER VFM 5090 SSM

SteamMeter Appl Note

MRC 980710 / 000219 R1

Total 4 pages
Page 3 of 4

Highlighting Features of the KROHNE VORTEX STEAM METER

Model VFM 5090 SSM

The KROHNE VORTEX STEAM METER VFM 5090 SSM has the necessary
Temperature Sensor ( PT 1000 ) to measure the Saturated Steam Temperature &
based on the SOFTWARE ALGORITHM built into the VFM 5090 , do the ON LINE
Density Compensation.

For Superheated Steam ( upto 240 Deg C ) , an additional Pressure Sensor along
with the existing Temperature Sensor Reading are used to compute the Density of
Superheated Steam ON LINE & arrive at the MASS FLOW.

MASS FLOWRATE INDICATION is programmable in Kg/hr or Tons/hr.

by USER from front KEYPAD..

FLOW INTEGRATOR TOTALIZER for TOTAL MASS flow provided.

HEAT CONTENT VALUE

Under this menu the KROHNE VORTEX STEAM METER VFM 5090 SSM calculates
& indicates
a) Thermal Power is KJ/hr, MJ/hr, GJ/hr, Kcal/hr, KW & MW
b) Thermal Energy - Total in KJ , MJ, GJ, Kcal, KWh & MWh
To explain the above Thermal Power & Thermal Energy , we take a small example
At 9 kg/cm2 (g) the Heat Enthalpy of Saturated Steam is 662.9 Kcal / kg , which means
that if 100 kg/hr of Steam is flowing through a Line at 9 kg/cm2 (g), then the

Thermal Power is 66,290 Kcal/hr

&

after TWO HOURS the

Thermal Energy - Total in Kcal is 1,32 ,580 Kcal.

Cost of FUEL per Kg of Saturated Steam generated.

SteamMeter Appl Note

MRC 980710 / 000219 R1

Total 4 pages
Page 4 of 4

Steam to Fuel Ratio or Steaming Ratio for all practical purposes for an OIL FIRED
Boiler is taken between 13:1 and 14:1
i.e.

ONE Kg of OIL will generate 13 Kgs to 14 Kgs of STEAM

Since,

Cost of fuel per Kg is Rs. 7/- to 8/-

The Cost of Steam is 50 paise per kg

The following table indicates the Fuel Bill for various BOILER CAPACITIES
Boiler Capacity
TPH
1
2
5
10

The FUEL BILL

Monthly
Yearly
3,60,000/7,20,000/18 Lacs
36 Lacs

43 Lacs
86 Lacs
2 Crore 16 Lacs
4 Crore 32 Lacs

For a 2TPH Boiler, which has an Annual FUEL BILL of 86 Lacs , an

investment of around 1% of this value, is worth the investment to monitor
the 86 Lacs.