Yokogawa Electric Corporation announced the release of the OpreX Vortex Flowmeter VY Series. These flowmeters comply with major explosion-proof standards (IECEx, ATEX, FM, FMc) and are SIL2 certified. The new product series will be released first in Southeast Asia, Oceania, India, the Middle East, and South America, excluding Brazil. It will be rolled out in other markets after compliance with each countries’ standards has been certified. When used in combination with specialized software that is sold separately, the series supports remote maintenance functions for condition-based maintenance.

Features of the new series include as follows:

1.         Enables calculations by the flowmeter itself

Utilizing readings from a built-in temperature sensor and data from pressure gauges and other external instruments, the VY Series of vortex flowmeters can perform precise temperature and pressure-compensated calculations and energy calculations, eliminating the need for external calculation devices.

2.         Enhanced self-diagnostics and condition-based maintenance through DX

The digitalization of internal signals is taken further in the VY Series, enabling self-diagnostics to cover all components, including the vortex shedder bar and sensor element. This improves reliability and qualifies these flowmeters for use in safety instrumented loops (compliant with SIL2).

With the VY Series, it is also possible to track device integrity parameters and use this data to indicate when sensor capability is expected to deteriorate. Utilizing the FSA130 integrity verification software tool and the FieldMate device adjustment, configuration, and management application (both sold separately), the integrity of VY Series flowmeters can be easily checked from any PC in a remote location such as an instrumentation room, eliminating the need to go on site to perform maintenance checks.

While Yokogawa vortex flowmeters have a well-established reputation of being maintenance-free, the enhanced self-diagnostics and remote maintenance capability enable an efficient and planned condition-based maintenance approach.

3.         A unique and proven design

The sensing mechanism, face-to-face lengths, and the size range (from 15mm to 400mm), are fully compatible with previously released YEWFLO Series products, so individual devices can be replaced without the need for additional piping work. The vortex shedder bar has a robust and integrated design and is the only such device in the industry to feature dual built-in flow sensors and a built-in temperature sensor. The integrated unit can be partially removed and reinstalled, making it easy to clean or replace parts if necessary.

Thanks to the use of dual flow sensors and spectral signal processing (SSP) technology, the vortex shedder bar is not influenced by vibration in the piping, so it can capture a stable vortex signal. This design delivers the industry's shortest vortex flowmeter face-to-face length and reduces upstream straight pipe length requirements.