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Endress Hauser Flow Transmitters and Prowirl 200 Series Vortex Steam Measurement Hardware

Quick Answer: The Endress Hauser Prowirl 200 Series is a vortex flowmeter for steam, gas, and liquid service. It measures steam mass flow with built in temperature compensation and optional pressure input. Silver Automation Instruments supplies DN15 to DN300 vortex steam meters with PT100 input, 4-20 mA HART output, pulse, and Modbus RTU. Send your steam pressure, temperature, pipe size, and flow range for a direct factory quote.

This article covers the hardware details that matter for steam measurement. We compare the Prowirl 200 Series with Silver Automation Instruments vortex meters in real process conditions.

How the Prowirl 200 Series Handles Steam Flow

Endress Hauser built the Prowirl 200 Series as a two-wire device for liquids, gases, and steam. For steam mass flow, the transmitter uses a built in platinum sensor to read fluid temperature. The onboard steam tables then convert volumetric flow to mass flow in kg/h. The loop powered design means one pair of wires carries both power and the 4-20 mA HART signal.

Most Prowirl 200 models handle process temperatures from -200 °C to 400 °C. Pressure ratings go up to 40 bar or 100 bar. For saturated steam, temperature alone is enough for mass flow. For superheated steam, you need an external pressure input. Many sites wire a separate pressure transmitter to the Prowirl 200 or use a flow computer.

The hardware supports HART 7, pulse output, and status signals. A two-line display is optional. Many units ship with ATEX Zone 1 and IECEx approvals. The display can show kg/h, °C, and total flow at the same time.

Steam Meter Hardware Details That Matter

Here is the thing. A vortex meter for steam is not just a sensor body. The right bluff body, temperature compensation, pressure input, and output signal must match the local control system. Most engineers skip the software setup and focus on mechanical fit and electrical wiring. We have seen this on customer sites many times.

On steam lines the meter body must handle rapid temperature changes. Condensate hammer can damage a sensor if the installation is wrong. Proper warm-up procedures and drain valves are mandatory. The meter needs enough straight run upstream and downstream. Typical values are 15D upstream and 5D downstream for Prowirl 200. The same rule applies to Silver Instruments vortex steam meters.

Pressure drop is low because the vortex bluff body is a small obstruction. But a smaller meter size can increase velocity and cause higher pressure drop. Always check the minimum and maximum flow in kg/h for your actual operating pressure. Do not size a meter by pipe diameter alone.

Silver Automation Instruments as a Direct Factory Supplier

Silver Automation Instruments sells vortex flowmeters for steam from its Nanjing factory. We cover DN15 to DN300 sizes. Standard process temperature range is -40 °C to 350 °C. The body comes in 316L stainless steel or carbon steel depending on the steam pressure class. For steam above 250 °C we use an extended electronics neck to protect the transmitter.

Our vortex steam meter outputs 4-20 mA HART as standard. Pulse output and RS485 Modbus RTU are optional. The signal can show mass flow in kg/h, volumetric flow in m³/h, or energy flow if you connect an external PT100 or pressure transmitter. The electronics support two-wire loop power from 12 VDC to 36 VDC.

Last year a food processing plant in Vietnam replaced six Prowirl meters with Silver Instruments vortex steam meters. The steam line was saturated at 8 bar and 175 °C. Pipe sizes ranged from DN25 to DN80. The plant saved about 40 percent on hardware cost. The PLC wiring did not change because the HART output matched.

Prowirl 200 Series Compared to Silver Instruments

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