World's Largest Venturi Meter Begins Journey
Primary Flow Signal, Inc., (Warwick, RI) said on March 16 that it would begin the transport of what it considers to be the largest flowmeter in the world. The trip will take the 180-in.-dia by 51.75-ft-long unit to the Southern Nevada Water Authority.
Transporting of the flowmeter from Toronto to Nevada is a major undertaking, requiring complex planning and permitting in order to obtain clear passage. The trip will require the better part of four weeks, subject to weather conditions.
This meter is an HVT-FV, Halmi Fabricated Flow element, a proprietary venturi design invented and pioneered by the late Dezsoe Halmi, founder of Primary Flow Signal.
The venturi will become part of the In-Line Flow Measuring System at the Alfred Merrit Smith Water Treatment Facility Ozone Addition. It will be used as the primary raw-water influent meter for the facility, which can produce almost 800 MGD of potable water for the region. The facility is the design of Carollo, Black & Veatch in conjunction with Parsons Engineering.
Among the meter's specifications are a ±0.75% of actual rate accuracy and a 100-yr useful service life. (The HVT-FV Halmi design was selected in large part because such competing technologies as magnetic or ultrasonic flowmeters could not furnish the required life expectancy.)
In order to establish the accuracy guarantee, Primary Flow Signal developed an elaborate model-testing program that made use of the experienced staff and calibration facilities of the Utah Water Research Laboratory.
Testing involved manufacturing exact scale models of the proposed flowmeter, reproduced in 12-in.-, 20-in-, and 60-in.-line sizes and realizing successful results.
As further validation, CFD Research Corporation of Huntsville, AL, executed fluid-dynamic computations in parallel with the live testing.
All-Weld Company, Ltd. (Scarborough, ON) completed the construction of the 180 in. venturi in approximately 14 weeks once test validation allowed the construction to go forward.
Final inspection and approval authorizing the commencement of transportation came the week of March 5.
Primary Flow Signal, Inc., with more than 50 sales offices worldwide, designs and manufactures venturi-type flow elements for municipal water, wastewater, industrial, power and petro-chemical applications. It has more than 50,000 flow-meter installations throughout the world.
Contact: Primary Flow Signal, Inc., Dezi G. Halmi, executive vice president, 81 Bleachery Court, Warwick, RI 02886. Tel: 401-463-9199, 877-737-3569; Fax: 401-463-5437; E-mail: PFSDezi@efortress.com.
Edited by Paul Hersch