Vortex flowmeters are versatile, reliable and accurate in measuring liquids, gases, and steam at a competitive price — and with equal ease. They are widely used for steam flow measurement and can handle the high temperatures of both saturated and superheated steam.
Advantages
Vortex meters are among the most versatile of meters, in that they can measure liquid, gas, and steam flows with relative ease. Even though vortex meters are not as accurate as Coriolis meters, many vortex meters offer accuracy readings of better than one percent, depending on fluid and application. They offer a price advantage over other new-technology flowmeters and a wide range of possible applications.
Vortex meters are more intrusive than ultrasonic and magnetic flowmeters, since they rely on the presence of a bluff body in the flowstream to generate vortices. Even so, they are significantly less intrusive than DP or turbine meters, and also cause less pressure drop. Pressure drop from vortex meters is minimal since most shedder bars are relatively small in size. Steam flow measurement is an excellent application for vortex flowmeters given the typical price point in a competitive segment. Vortex flowmeters can handle the high pressures and temperatures that typically accompany steam flow measurement. End-users looking for an alternative to DP flow measurement may wish to consider using vortex flowmeters for measuring steam flow.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Vortex Flowmeters
| ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
| Extremely versatile – measure liquid, steam, and gas | May cause some pressure drop due to presence of bluff body |
| Relatively high accuracy | Very limited use for custody transfer |
| Have no moving parts | Measurement is affected by pulsating flow |
| Multivariable meters provide mass flow measurement | Difficulty measuring slurries or high viscosity flow |
| Especially well-suited for steam flow measurement | Still need additional industry approvals for custody transfer measurement |
| Dual sensors provide redundancy | |
| Standards have been developed for use in custody transfer applications by the API |
Frontiers of research
Frontiers of research for vortex flowmeters include multivariable meters, dual meters, and dual tube meters.
Multivariable meters
Multivariable vortex flowmeters were first invented by Jim Storer, founder of VorTek Instruments, in 1996. Multivariable flowmeters measure volumetric flow, along with pressure and temperature, and use those three values to compute mass flow. This is called an inferred or indirect method of determining mass flow. Storer founded Vortek initially to manufacture these multivariable vortex meters. As explained above, he made a marketing agreement with Sierra Instruments for Sierra to sell these meters under the Sierra brand name. Since that time, quite a few more companies have brought out their own multivariable vortex meters. Expect existing suppliers to work to enhance performance and expect to see more suppliers enter this market.
Dual meters
VorTek Instruments introduced the VorCone meter, which combines a vortex meter with a cone meter. So far the reception has been quite positive, according VorTek.
There are similar dual meters involving other technologies. For example, some companies market a meter that combines a positive displacement and a turbine meter. This meter is used in apartment buildings. The positive displacement meter measures flow at night when water use is very low, and the turbine meter measure water flow in the morning and evening, when water use is much higher. These meters are called compound meters. Another example of this type is the Accelabar by Armstrong Veris, which combines a flow nozzle with a Pitot tube.
Expect to see more of these combination meters as researchers think “out of the box” and attempt to solve new flowmetering challenges.
Dual tube meter
Dr. Jesse Yoder, president of Flow Research, has two patents on a dual tube meter. The idea behind the patents is to make the flow measurement using two sensors, both of which are placed inside the larger meter body. The two sensors measure flow simultaneously, and the readings go to a transmitter that uses both inputs to come up with a single reading. One advantage of this meter is redundancy, since if one sensor fails, the other one will continue to provide a reading. The original idea behind the meter was that it may be more efficient and less costly to make two independent flow readings inside a large pipe, rather than relying on just one sensor to make a large pipe reading. VorTek Instruments has built a prototype of a vortex dual tube meter, and it has been tested at Colorado Engineering Experiment Station, Inc. (CEESI). Hoffer Flow Controls has also built a turbine prototype of this meter and it has also been tested on the oil stand at CEESI.
Steam flow continues to be a strength
Vortex are among the most versatile meters. they can measure steam, liquid, and gas with equal ease. The major competitor to vortex meters in steam flow is differential pressure (DP) meters. Expect suppliers to continue to study the best ways to measure saturated, wet, and supersaturated steam. After an effort that began in 2007, the American Petroleum Institute (API) has approved vortex meters for custody transfer of steam and gas flow.
Flow Research study
Our latest Flow Research vortex study, The World Market for Vortex Flowmeters, 8th Edition, began shipping in January 2026.