Turbine flow meters are used in refined oil trading metering and batching quantity control.

ESMLWGY Series Turbine Flow Meter Sensor

Suitable for: Tap water, alcohol, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, hydraulic oil, and other clean, low-viscosity liquids.

Note: Refined oil is non-conductive, meaning electromagnetic flowmeters cannot be used. For heavy oil and high-viscosity media, standard turbine flow meters are not suitable; a Roots (waist wheel) flowmeter is highly recommended.

Based on the principle of torque balance, the ESMLWGY series speed-based flow sensor features a simple structure, lightweight housing, high precision, outstanding repeatability, rapid response times, and easy maintenance.

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Refined Oil Custody Transfer & Trade Measurement

High-accuracy flow measurement solutions designed for commercial oil trade, custody handovers, and large-scale distribution.

Loading & Unloading Terminals

Perfect for fuel tank trucks, rail tankers, and marine barges handling gasoline, diesel, and kerosene. Ensures exact billing and verification during high-throughput cargo loading.

Depot Storage & Management

Monitors material inflow and outbound movements in tank farm areas. Provides reliable inventory accounting, reduces operational loss, and identifies pipeline leakages immediately.

Pipeline Transportation

Delivers real-time flow rate statistics for inter-station oil pipelines and gas station supply networks. High repeatability ensures accurate data matching between dispatch and receipt terminals.

Key Points for Model Selection

Ensure long-term stability and compliance with commercial standards by selecting the correct configuration.

1. Medium Viscosity Limitations:
Designed for gasoline, diesel, and kerosene with a kinematic viscosity ≤5 cSt. Because temperature fluctuations alter viscosity, temperature-viscosity compensation is highly recommended for environments with extreme temperature variations.
2. Explosion-Proof Certification:
Refined oils are highly flammable. An intrinsically safe or flameproof explosion-proof turbine flow meter (Ex d / Ex ia) must be specified for all safety-critical areas.
3. High-Fidelity Signal Output:
Prioritize high-frequency pulse outputs for raw flow accumulation. Optional 4-20mA and RS485 Modbus outputs allow seamless integration with digital control networks. Local LCD screens should display both instantaneous and cumulative flow.
4. Premium Material Construction:
The housing and impeller must be constructed from 304 or 316L stainless steel, paired with wear-resistant tungsten carbide bearings to withstand high velocities and minor abrasive contact.
5. Optimized Flow Range:
Ensure the actual operating flow rate falls strictly within the 20% to 80% range of the meter's maximum capacity to avoid non-linear errors at low flow rates.

Essential Supporting Accessories

Custody transfer systems require specific auxiliary components to preserve accuracy and protect the physical sensor.

1. Basket Filter (100 Mesh)

Placed upstream to catch welding slag, rust, and pipe scales, preventing impeller jamming and bearing wear.

2. Air Eliminator / Degasser

Refined oils release gas bubbles easily. Eliminating gas-liquid two-phase flow prevents over-registration and reading fluctuations.

3. Straight Pipe Sections

Requires at least 10D upstream and 5D downstream (20D upstream for valves) to eliminate turbulence. Flow straighteners can be used if space is limited.

4. Back Pressure Valve

Maintains downstream backpressure to prevent cavitation, which causes impeller damage and distorts measurement accuracy.

Trade Measurement Control & Systems

Integrating sensors with industrial automation for secure, auditable, and certified transaction records.

In custody transfer, the turbine flow meter acts as the primary sensing element, sending raw pulses to a dedicated Flow Computer or a high-speed PLC counter card. This system computes corrected volumes based on real-time temperature and pressure inputs, conforming to API and ASTM standards.

For operations involving multiple loading bays, the flow data is collected by a centralized SCADA system. This allows operators to monitor real-time loading status, manage inventory ledgers, generate legal bills of lading, and trace historical transaction records.

To comply with local metrological regulations, custody transfer systems must include a bypass loop. This allows the flow meter to be removed for periodic calibration using a master meter or proving loop without halting terminal operations.

System Capabilities:

Real-time temperature & pressure volume correction
Automatic generation of tamper-proof custody transfer reports
Direct interface with terminal automation software (TAS)
Safety interlocks linked to overfill sensors and grounding systems

Quantitative Batching & Dosing Scenarios

Automated, high-speed fluid dosing for chemical processing, blending, and product packaging.

Reactor Feeding Systems

Precisely injects chemical raw materials, solvents, and catalysts into pressurized reactors. Fast response times ensure accurate chemical formulations.

Automated Drum Filling

Integrates with filling nozzles to package refined oils, lubricants, and additives into containers. Eliminates manual errors and minimizes product giveaway.

Multi-Stream In-Line Blending

Simultaneously controls multiple flow lines to blend base oils with additives in real time, maintaining consistent product ratios.

Batching System Architecture

A closed-loop control system designed for high repeatability and millisecond-level response times.

1️⃣

Turbine Flow Sensor

Generates high-frequency pulses proportional to the fluid velocity.

2️⃣

Batch Controller / PLC

Reads high-speed pulses, calculates accumulated volume, and executes control logic.

3️⃣

Control Actuators

Two-stage solenoid valves or pneumatic valves paired with variable frequency pumps.

4️⃣

HMI Touch Screen

Used by operators to input target volumes, adjust parameters, and view batch logs.

Standard Two-Stage Control Logic

Mitigate water hammer and eliminate overshoot with a structured, step-down shutoff sequence.

Stage 1: Initialization

The operator sets the target batch volume on the HMI. The system loads the configured "pre-closing amount" to compensate for physical valve closure delay.

Stage 2: High-Flow Delivery

The pump starts and the main valve opens fully. The system delivers liquid at maximum flow rate until cumulative volume reaches 95% of the target value.

Stage 3: Low-Flow Precision Control

At 95% volume, the controller shuts the main valve and diverts flow through a smaller bypass valve, slowing the flow rate to prevent overshoot.

Stage 4: Final Shutoff

When the volume reaches [Target - Pre-Closing Amount], the controller closes the bypass valve and stops the pump. The system logs the final batch volume.

Key Attention Points in Batching Systems

Operational details that make the difference between a high-precision system and a failing one.

Dynamic Pre-closing Calibration

Valves take time to close. If you wait until the target is reached, overshoot will occur. Adjust the pre-closing parameter to match the valve's physical closing speed.

Pulsation Damping

Centrifugal pumps are preferred. If using diaphragm or reciprocating pumps, install a pulsation dampener or buffer tank to protect the turbine from velocity spikes.

Regular K-Factor Corrections

The meter's K-factor (pulses per unit volume) changes over time due to mechanical wear. Calibrate the system regularly to correct the K-factor and maintain accuracy.

Engineering Pitfalls to Avoid

Avoid these common installation and design errors to protect your equipment and maintain measurement accuracy.

Critical Engineering Pitfalls

High-Viscosity & Impure Fluids: Standard turbine flow meters will fail or show large errors if used with heavy crude oil or liquids containing solid particles.
Air Pockets & Cavitation: Entrained gas or vapor bubbles in the line will cause the turbine to over-spin, leading to inaccurate readings and damaged bearings.
Inadequate Straight Piping: Installing the flow meter too close to elbows, valves, or pumps distorts the velocity profile and degrades measurement accuracy.

Best Engineering Practices

Regular Metrological Calibration: Flow meters used for custody transfer must be calibrated periodically using certified provers to maintain legal compliance.
Explosion-Proof Installation: Install all electrical wiring, junction boxes, and barriers in strict compliance with local hazardous area standards (ATEX/IECEx).
Isolation & Bypass Valves: Always install upstream and downstream isolation valves along with a bypass line to simplify maintenance and calibration.

Technical Specifications

Model parameters and performance data for the ESMLWGY series turbine flow sensors.

Model Number	ESMLWGY-N	ESMLWGY-A	ESMLWGY-B	ESMLWGY-C	ESMLWGY-D
Nominal Diameter	DN4 to DN200
Measured Medium	Tap water, alcohol, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, hydraulic oil, LPG
Medium Temperature	-20°C to 100°C
Ambient Temperature	-20°C to 60°C
Connection Method	Thread Connection, Flange Connection, Clamp Connection
Material	SUS304, SUS316 Stainless Steel
Power Supply	12-24VDC	12-24VDC	3.6V Lithium Battery	24VDC	24VDC
Output Signal	Pulse Output	4-20mA (2-wire)	LCD Display (No Output)	LCD Display + 4-20mA	LCD Display + RS485 Modbus
Precision Class	±0.5%, ±1.0% (Special high-precision options available)