Differential Pressure Flow Meters
Get superior value from your differential pressure flow meter
Engineers can rely on differential pressure flow meters to make life easier. McCrometer’s differential pressure flow meter is the versatile, highly compatible flow measurement solution for a variety of industries. When accuracy and repeatability are critical, the V-Cone’s performance brings superior value.
Other DP meters such as the orifice plate and Venturi meter are often considered alongside the V-Cone for industrial and oil and gas flow projects, but the V-Cone has been a customer favorite since 1985 due to its 25+ year lifespan. Engineers and operators benefit from a custom solution that meets the needs of their challenging and unique flow projects, that provides accurate, repeatable flow measurements for the lifetime of their facility or operation.
The differential pressure V-Cone flow meter’s reliability and customization allow it to be specified into the most difficult and demanding of installations for a variety of fluid measurements including water, crude oil, wet gas, liquid natural gas, steam, and more.
Featured Differential Pressure Flow Meters
V-Cone ®
- Minimal-to-no straight run required
- Flanged, threaded, hub or weld-end standard; other end connections on request
- Materials of construction matched to your pipe specifications
- Up to 1,600 °F (870°C)
- Up to 20,000 PSI, ±0.5% accuracy
- 0.5” – 120” and larger line sizes available
- 25+ year lifespan
Wafer-Cone ®
- Ideal for tight space installations
- Flangeless design with removable cone for varying beta ratios from 0.45 – 0.85
- Minimal-to-no straight run required
- 304 or 316 stainless steel construction
- 1” – 6” line sizes available
- Up to 20,000 PSI, ±1% accuracy
- Up to 1,600 °F (870°C)
ExactSteam ™
- Complete flowmeter for steam metering, factory configured for energy metering or mass flow
- Up to 50:1 turndown with stacked transmitters
- ±0.5% accuracy for primary element, ±1% for total system
- 25+ year lifespan
VM V-Cone ®
- Straightening vanes to generate optimum flow profiles
- Requiring only 1.5 straight pipe diameters upstream and 0-0.5 downstream
- Compatible with line sizes 10” – 12”
- Epoxy-coated carbon steel body; all stainless available
What Applications Benefit from Differential Pressure Flow Meters?
Oil and Gas
McCrometer V-Cone differential pressure flow meters are installed in a variety of oil and gas applications worldwide, including upstream, midstream, and downstream flow measurement projects. Whether the project involves liquid, steam, or gas flow media, the V-Cone family of measurement devices exceeds expectations for even the most challenging of installations.
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LNG and CNG
Accurate measurement of liquid natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) is critical for efficiency and safety. The V-Cone differential pressure flow meter meets and exceeds customer expectations for measurement at the production point, purification process, liquefaction process, transportation, and regassification.
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Mining, Metals, and Mineral Processing
McCrometer has a full suite of flow measurement products to fit the various flow applications in the mining, metals, and minerals industries. From source and storm water measurement, to slurries, fuel, and steam measurement, our meters are designed for challenging flow conditions.
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Power Generation
Our suite of differential pressure flow meters provide the flow data your need to make informed decisions about your power plant operations – whether it’s for cooling water, steam, fuel, or effluent flow measurement. McCrometer has engineered valuable solutions for your power generation applications that help save you time and money.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of differential pressure flow meters?
Engineers who rely on differential pressure meters gain a variety of valuable benefits, including:
- More reliable measurements – Differential pressure meters deliver accurate measurements, despite disruptive turbulence and a broad range of flow characteristics. They’re uniquely designed to maintain accuracy and consistency of readings, even in difficult or varied flow conditions.
In fact, McCrometer’s V-Cone DP meter is self-conditioning, which helps it thrive in turbulent flow with minimal to zero straight-run requirements. This is in contrast to other DP meters that require somewhat clean, laminar flow in the line ahead of and beyond the flow meter, therefore removing the need for extended straight-run requirements.
- Minimal maintenance – Because V-Cone differential pressure flow meters push the flow to the outside of the pipe to create the pressure differential, there is little to no impact on the cone itself unlike the wear seen on orifice plates. Additionally, there is no risk of damming or clogging seen with other more restrictive DP flow measurement primary element designs. Less wear and tear means less need for recalibration and replacement supporting the 25+ year life expectancy for the V-Cone.
- Customizable solutions – There are many key aspects of DP meters that can be fully customized to fit customer requirements, such as turndown, total pressure loss, and valve size for optimized operability.
- Installation flexibility – Since V-Cone differential pressure meters are custom-built based on the parameters for the application (e.g., across filters, backflow preventers, and heat exchangers) and ready to install, it reduces both installation time and costs as well as improves overall productivity.
- Reduced footprint – DP flow meters are built to fit in a compact space and reduce the amount of piping that leads up to and away from the meter.
That means spending less space and money configuring piping and support requirements without sacrificing accuracy. This also reduces any critical space and weight demands for platform-mounted applications.
- Low permanent pressure loss – Since differential pressure meters provide a consistent, even flow around transitions, they ensure less permanent pressure loss.
What flow media can the V-Cone measure?
Many people believe cone meters only measure gas. They also measure steam and liquids in many industries including oil/gas, chemical, electric power, food & beverage, HVAC systems, metals and mining, pulp and paper, water and wastewater treatment, and more.
Did McCrometer invent the V-Cone?
While it's very common for cone meters to be called a V-Cone, McCrometer, Inc. invented and patented the first successful cone meter, the one and only V-Cone® flow meter, in 1985. Today, there are over 97,000 McCrometer V-Cone flow meters installed worldwide, and the total number continues to grow each year.
What industries does the V-Cone serve?
The V-Cone is designed for today’s most challenging oil & gas production, industrial projects, pulp and paper, mining and metals, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, aerospace and more.
How do you specify a V-Cone for an application?
Gather flow process information (temperature, pressure, fluid properties, etc.) and pipeline characteristics (pipe schedule, end connections, line size, etc.) in order to get started. Once you’ve gathered all applicable data, you can utilize McCrometer’s V-Cone Sizing Tool. For additional information on the V-Cone Sizing Tool, visit the support page.
