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Why you Why you ““shouldshould”” consider using consider using

turbine flowmeters!turbine flowmeters!

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Initial development of turbine flowmeters was for Initial development of turbine flowmeters was for fuel measurement on aircraft.fuel measurement on aircraft.

1940’s

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Fast forward 7 decades and turbine flowmeters Fast forward 7 decades and turbine flowmeters remain a viable flow solution!remain a viable flow solution!

Today

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Hoffer Flow Controls

Privately‐held corporation located in  Elizabeth City, NC.

Noted manufacturer of turbine flowmeters  for liquid, gas and cryogenic flow 

measurement.

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Quality SystemsQuality Systems

ASME Certified WeldersASME Certified Welders

Full Material TraceabilityFull Material Traceability

Full Range of QA Service AvailableFull Range of QA Service Available

Hydrostatic TestingHydrostatic Testing

Dye Penetrant TestingDye Penetrant Testing

XX‐‐RaysRays

NACE ComplianceNACE Compliance

UltrasoundUltrasound

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Regulatory StandardsRegulatory Standards

Our systems meet or exceed the following Our systems meet or exceed the following  standards:standards:

—— ISO 9001ISO 9001—— PED 97/23/ECPED 97/23/EC—— Hand Book 44 USAHand Book 44 USA—— OIML, ROIML, R‐‐8181‐‐WorldWorld—— CSA CSA ––

CanadaCanada—— NIST NIST ‐‐

USAUSA—— PTB PTB ––

GermanyGermany—— CE Standard CE Standard ––

EuropeEurope—— Dantest Dantest ––

DenmarkDenmark—— ATEX Quality System CertificationATEX Quality System Certification

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Vertically integrated manufacturing facilities Vertically integrated manufacturing facilities includingincluding……

Machine ShopMachine Shop

Fabrication ShopFabrication Shop

Hydrostatic & Dye Penetrant ShopHydrostatic & Dye Penetrant Shop

Electronic Assembly & Test ShopsElectronic Assembly & Test Shops

Flow Meter Calibration ShopFlow Meter Calibration Shop

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Today Hoffer is recognized as the Today Hoffer is recognized as the  World Leader in World Leader in 

Turbine Meter TechnologyTurbine Meter Technology

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Some of the major markets servedSome of the major markets served……..

Oil & Gas Upstream and DownstreamOil & Gas Upstream and Downstream

CryogenicsCryogenics

Pharmaceuticals & BiotechPharmaceuticals & Biotech

MilitaryMilitary

AerospaceAerospace

Automotive Manufacturing & RacingAutomotive Manufacturing & Racing

Power ProductionPower Production

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Turbine Flow Meters

Turbine flow meters measure the  velocity of the moving fluid.

They are typically applied in  relatively clean, low to mid‐viscosity 

applications.

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Meter Body Pickup Coil

Hangers or Integral Flow Straightener

Thru-Shaft w/Locknuts

Coil Riser

Deflector Cones

Flat-Bladed Turbine Rotor

Basic Principle of Operation Basic Principle of Operation

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Turbine FlowmeterPerformance Characteristics

LIN

EA

RIT

Y

FLOW RANGE ATDESIGNATED LINEARITY

K-FACTOR

OUTPUT VOLTAGE (Mv)

OUTPUT FREQUENCY (Hz)

PRESSURE LOSS (PSID)

PR

ES

SU

RE

LO

SS

(P

SID

)

OU

TP

UT

FR

EQ

UE

NC

Y (

hZ

)

OU

TP

UT

VO

LTA

GE

(M

v)

K-F

AC

TO

R (

CY

C/G

AL

)

FLOW RATE

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Why use turbine meters?

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Mini-Flowmeters for low flow

liquid and gas applications.

“Premier Natural Gas Series” for custody transfer of natural gas.

Sanitary Flowmeters for food, beverage, pharmaceutical and

bio-tech.

HO Series with MS Flared

fittings commonly used

in industry.

Providing Providing ““Application SpecificApplication Specific”” flow solutions for our customers is the key.flow solutions for our customers is the key.

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Turbine Meter Advantages Turbine Meter Advantages –– PerformancePerformance

High degree of accuracy            High degree of accuracy             (+/(+/‐‐.25% of reading) and .25% of reading) and 

great repeatability (+/great repeatability (+/‐‐.1%).1%)

Suitable for Suitable for ““custodycustody””

transfertransfer

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Turbine Meter Advantages Turbine Meter Advantages –– Response TimeResponse Time

Fast, dynamic Fast, dynamic 

response response 

timetime

Measured in milliseconds!Measured in milliseconds!

Commonly used for rocket Commonly used for rocket  propulsion propulsion 

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Turbine Meter Advantages Turbine Meter Advantages –– Shock, vibration & temp extremesShock, vibration & temp extremes

We pWe pioneered the use of turbine ioneered the use of turbine 

flowmeters on cryogenic delivery flowmeters on cryogenic delivery 

trucks in the 1970trucks in the 1970’’ss

Suitable for installation on trucks Suitable for installation on trucks 

subject to shock & vibration subject to shock & vibration 

Subject to wide operating Subject to wide operating 

temperature extremestemperature extremes

Our flow system is the Our flow system is the ““cash cash registerregister””

on many bulk delivery on many bulk delivery 

cryogenic trucks domestically and cryogenic trucks domestically and 

internationallyinternationally

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Turbine Meter Advantages Turbine Meter Advantages –– ReliabilityReliability

Metering control fluid on a BOPMetering control fluid on a BOP

Hoffer replaced Hoffer replaced ““leakingleaking””

mag mag 

metersmeters

High High ““internalinternal””

&  &  ““external external 

pressurespressures””

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Turbine Meter Advantages Turbine Meter Advantages –– Robust DesignRobust Design

Flowmeter Flowmeter ““internalsinternals”” redesigned redesigned to meet to meet ““high high shockshock”” and and ““vibrationvibration”” MIL MIL standards for US standards for US Navy.Navy.

Hoffer has supplied multiple Hoffer has supplied multiple size turbine flowmeters built to size turbine flowmeters built to meet meet MILMIL--STDSTD--901D (shock901D (shock-- high impact) and MILhigh impact) and MIL--STDSTD--167167--1 1 (vibration) for the US Navy. (vibration) for the US Navy.

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Turbine Meter Advantages Turbine Meter Advantages Robust DesignRobust Design

Three Piece Construction

Threaded insert secures flowmeter internals inside

meter housing

Flowmeter Housing

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Turbine Meter Advantages Turbine Meter Advantages –– Wide RangeabilityWide Rangeability

Flowmeters can be configured Flowmeters can be configured  to provide repeatable flow ranges to provide repeatable flow ranges 

with up to 100:1 with up to 100:1 

turndown ratios.  turndown ratios.  

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Liquid Size SelectorFor

Standard HO Series Turbine FLowmeters

Liquid Size SelectorFor Standard HO Series Turbine Flowmeters

Flowmeter Size MAGNETIC PICKUP COIL MODULATED PICKUP COIL

DiameterDiameter(inches)(inches)

Linear RangeLinear Range(US GPM)(US GPM)

Linear RangeLinear Range(LPM)(LPM)

Repeatable Range(US GPM)

Repeatable RangeRepeatable Range(LPM)(LPM)

Linear RangeLinear Range(US GPM)(US GPM)

Linear RangeLinear Range(LPM)(LPM)

Repeatable Range

(US GPM)

Repeatable Repeatable RangeRange(LPM)(LPM)

1/4*1/4* .35.35--3.53.5 1.31.3--13.213.2 .25.25--4.54.5 .95.95--1717 .35.35--3.53.5 1.31.3--13.213.2 .0625.0625--4.54.5 .24.24--1717

3/8*3/8* .75.75--7.57.5 2.82.8--28.428.4 .3.3--99 1.11.1--3434 .75.75--7.57.5 2.82.8--28.428.4 .075.075--99 .28.28--3434

1/21/2 1.251.25--9.59.5 4.74.7--3636 .6.6--1212 2.32.3--4545 1.251.25--9.59.5 4.74.7--3636 .12.12--1212 .45.45--4545

5/85/8 1.751.75--1616 6.66.6--60.660.6 .9.9--2020 3.43.4--75.775.7 1.751.75--1616 6.66.6--60.660.6 .2.2--2020 .75.75--75.775.7

3/43/4 2.52.5--2929 9.59.5--110110 1.51.5--3535 5.75.7--132.5132.5 2.52.5--2929 9.59.5--110110 .35.35--3535 1.31.3--132.5132.5

1 4-60 15-227 2-75 7.6-284 4-60 15-227 .75-75 2.8-284

11--1/41/4 66--9393 2323--352352 33--115115 11.411.4--435435 66--9393 2323--352352 1.151.15--115115 4.354.35--435435

11--1/21/2 88--130130 30.330.3--492492 55--175175 1919--662662 88--130130 30.330.3--492492 1.751.75--175175 6.66.6--662662

22 1515--225225 56.856.8--852852 1111--275275 4242--10411041 1515--225225 56.856.8--852852 2.752.75--275275 10.410.4--10411041

22--1/21/2 2525--400400 9595--15141514 1515--500500 56.856.8--18931893 2525--400400 9595--15141514 55--500500 1919--18931893

33 4040--650650 151151--24602460 2020--800800 7676--30283028 4040--650650 151151--24602460 88--800800 30.330.3--30283028

44 7575--12501250 284284--47314731 5050--15001500 189189--56785678

MCP not recommended in 4MCP not recommended in 4”” and larger sizesand larger sizes

55 140140--20002000 530530--75707570 100100--25002500 379379--94639463

66 200200--29002900 757757--1097710977 125125--36003600 473473--1362613626

88 330330--52005200 12491249--1968219682 270270--64006400 10221022--2422424224

1010 650650--80008000 24602460--3028030280 540540--98009800 20442044--3709337093

1212 14001400--1200012000 52995299--4542045420 800800--1500015000 30283028--5677556775

NOTE: NOTE: Performance enhancement techniques are routinely applied to prodPerformance enhancement techniques are routinely applied to produce larger linear and usable flow ranges. uce larger linear and usable flow ranges. Consult with the applications group at Hoffer with your requiremConsult with the applications group at Hoffer with your requirements.ents.

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Turbine flowmeters are highly “repeatable” (+/-.1%). “Smart” Electronics can correct for non-linearity of the flowmeter.

PLOT OF TURBINE FLOWMETER CALIBRATION“K-FACTORS” (pulses/gallon)

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1% 10% 100%

Flow Rate

Accuracy

Percent of Reading

Percent of Full Scale Absolute Accuracy Becomes Worse with Decreased Flow

Linearity and repeatability are expressed in terms of Linearity and repeatability are expressed in terms of ““percent of readingpercent of reading”” rather than rather than ““percent of full scalepercent of full scale””

such as a pressure head measurement sensorsuch as a pressure head measurement sensor

Turbine Meter Advantages Turbine Meter Advantages –– Of Reading vs. Percent of Full ScaleOf Reading vs. Percent of Full Scale

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All All ““turbine flowmetersturbine flowmeters””

are not created equal are not created equal --

Some are Plastic

Some are Aluminum

Some are Cast

There are many

differentdesigns of“Turbine meters”

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Common Design Elements Common Design Elements –– ffor a or a

““high performance turbine flowmeterhigh performance turbine flowmeter””

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Rotor Construction Rotor Construction –– Precision MachinedPrecision Machined

All Rotor assemblies are precision machined.  All Rotor assemblies are precision machined.  

Hoffer does not use cast rotors.Hoffer does not use cast rotors.

Cast rotors are Cast rotors are ““heavierheavier””

than rotors machined than rotors machined  from solid bar stock.  Heavier rotors translate to from solid bar stock.  Heavier rotors translate to  slower dynamic response to changes in flow rates. slower dynamic response to changes in flow rates. 

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Rotor Construction Rotor Construction –– Rotor DesignRotor Design

Hoffer uses flat rather than curved blades on its Hoffer uses flat rather than curved blades on its  rotorsrotors

Curved blades are excellent for extracting the Curved blades are excellent for extracting the  maximum amount of energy from a fluid stream maximum amount of energy from a fluid stream 

which is why they are used in power and jet which is why they are used in power and jet  engine turbines.  As a result, however, they also engine turbines.  As a result, however, they also 

produce a higher pressure drop.produce a higher pressure drop.

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Rotor Construction Rotor Construction –– Rotor DesignRotor Design

Flat bladed rotors result in a lower pressure dropFlat bladed rotors result in a lower pressure drop

Machined rotors can be Machined rotors can be ““customizedcustomized””

with thicker with thicker  blades for use in abrasive servicesblades for use in abrasive services

The blade The blade ““lengthlength””

may be adjusted to accommodate may be adjusted to accommodate  larger particulate.  This approach is commonly utilized larger particulate.  This approach is commonly utilized 

in the design of our oil patch flowmeters.  in the design of our oil patch flowmeters.  

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Optimization of Optimization of ““flow rangeflow range”” -- Supplying various blade angles and rotor designsSupplying various blade angles and rotor designs

Hoffer provides four different blade angles (15, 20, 25 & 30  degree) for each size meter within our HO Gas product line  to optimize the ideal flow range selection. 

The “steeper”

the blade angle; the lower the flow rate  capability.  

We offer “bladed”

and “rim”

type rotor assemblies.  Rim rotors are typically specified for custody transfer 

applications and produce more “pulses”

(better resolution).

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Bladed Rotor AssemblyBladed Rotor AssemblyRim Rotor Assembly

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In conclusion, you should consider using turbine flowmeters if…

Accuracy is important 

Need a robust flowmeter

Require dynamic response to changes in flow  conditions

Require a wide flow range

Have a specific “footprint”

(space) in which the  flowmeter must fit

Require a flowmeter that is light in weight and easy to install

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How can we help you?