Bell VFM60 Series Reference manual

VFM60 Series
Vortex Flowmeter
Introduction Manual

VFM-60
Vortex Flowmeter
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CONTENTS
Support................................................................................................................................................2
Place an order ..................................................................................................................................2
1 General.....................................................................................................................................4
1.1 Model Number and General Specification...........................................................................4
1.2 Packing List...........................................................................................................................4
1.3 Storage...................................................................................................................................4
1.4 HazardousArea Installation:.................................................................................................4
1.5 Measuring principle:.............................................................................................................5
2 Installation........................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Find Most Suitable Location.................................................................................................6
2.2 Requirement on straight pipe line.........................................................................................6
3 Wiring.............................................................................................................................................10
3.1 Wiring for 5-terminal board................................................................................................11
3.1.1 Wiring for 3 wire pulse output.................................................................................11
3.1.2 Wiring for 2 wire HART@4~20mA........................................................................11
3.1.3 Wiring for RS485.....................................................................................................12
3.2 Wiring for 12-terminal board..............................................................................................12
3.2.1 Wiring for 3 wire pulse output.................................................................................12
3.2.2 Wiring for 4 wire 4~20mA......................................................................................13
3.2.3 Wiring for 4 wire HART@4~20mA........................................................................13
3.2.4 Wiring for RS485.....................................................................................................14
3.3 Shell grounding and elimination of interference................................................................14
3.4 Requirement on wiring .......................................................................................................14
4 Display ...........................................................................................................................................15
4.1 Intruction of multi-functional LCD display........................................................................15
4.2 Unit of the variable displayed.............................................................................................17
4.3 Three button setting ............................................................................................................17
4.4 Total flow displaying ..........................................................................................................18
4.5 Status...................................................................................................................................19
5 Setting.............................................................................................................................................19
5.1 How to set ...........................................................................................................................19
5.1.1 Code setting .............................................................................................................19
5.1.2 Digital setting...........................................................................................................20
5.2 Setting list ...........................................................................................................................21
5.3 Example of setting ..............................................................................................................26
5.4 Password setting instruction...............................................................................................26
6 Instruction of RS485 Modbus Communication.............................................................................27
6.1 Interface regulation.............................................................................................................27
6.2 Commends ..........................................................................................................................29
6.3 Calculation of CRC parity code..........................................................................................30
6.4 The float date format of the instrument..............................................................................31

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6.5 The sequence of the float date bytes of instrument............................................................31
6.6 Modbus error reponse.........................................................................................................32
6.7 Examples of communication ..............................................................................................33
7 Introduction of HART communication protocol ...........................................................................34
7.1 HART commands................................................................................................................34
7.1.1 Command 0:Read transmitter unique identifier......................................................34
7.1.2 Command 1: Read primary variable value (PV).....................................................34
7.1.3 Command 2:Read primary variable’s current and percentage value ......................35
7.1.4 Command 3:Read primary variable current and dynamic variables.......................35
7.1.5 Command 6:Write polling address..........................................................................36
7.1.6 Command 11:Read unique identifier associated with tag.......................................36
7.1.7 Command 12:Read message....................................................................................37
7.1.8 Command 13:Read tag, descriptor, date..................................................................37
7.1.9 Command 14:Read primary variable sensor information: device serial number and
limits..................................................................................................................................38
7.1.10 Command 15: Read primary variable output information....................................38
7.1.11 Command 16: Read final assembly number..........................................................39
7.1.12 Command 17: Write message................................................................................39
7.1.13 Command 18: Write tag, descriptor, date..............................................................39
7.1.14 Command 19: Write final assembly number.........................................................40
7.1.15 Command 34: Write primary variable damping value..........................................40
7.1.16 Command 35: Write primary variable range values..............................................40
7.1.17 Command 36: Write primary variable upper limit value ......................................41
7.1.18 Command 37: Write primary variable lower limit value ......................................41
7.1.19 Command 40: Enter/Exit primary variable current mode.....................................42
7.1.20 Command 45: Trim primary variable current DAC zero......................................42
7.1.21 Command 46: Trim primary variable current DAC gain......................................43
7.1.22 Command 140: Reset totalizer ..............................................................................43
8 Maintaining....................................................................................................................................43
8.1 How to reverse the transmitter front and back ...................................................................43
8.2 Replace a transmitter circuit boards ...................................................................................44
9 Troubleshooting and repair............................................................................................................44
9.1 Safty introduction................................................................................................................44
9.2 Troubleshooting and repair.................................................................................................45
9.3 Self-diagnose funcstion.......................................................................................................46
10 Remark.........................................................................................................................................47
Appendix...........................................................................................................................................48

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1 General
Every VFM60 vortex flowmeter will be carefully inspected before delivered to users.
Please carefully check if there is any damage on the package and product when you received them
Please check if the package contains all the accessories according to 1.2 or your purchase order.
Please make sure the person in charge of this device has carefully read this manual and understand its
descriptions.
1.1 Model Number and General Specification
Please check if the model number and specifications on the name plate match your requirement on the
purchase order.
Please kindly record the model number and instrument ID code, which will be required if you need and
service or support from us.
1.2 Packing List
When you recived the package, please check if it contains the items as below:
VFM60 vortex flowmeter x1
User’s manual x1
Calibration certificate x1
Quality certificate x1
Cable (For remote type only, length according to customer’s requirement)
Counter flanges (For wafer type, or for flanged type when customer requied so)
Screws and bolt (For wafer type, or for flanged type when customer requied so)
1.3 Storage
If the product needs to be stored for a long period before use, please be awared of below:
(1) The product should be kept in the origin package and same as it was when received.
(2) Please store the product in a proper location according to the requirements below:
Not in a uncovered field.
Not in a location where could have great vibration.
Please keep the enclosure of the meter closed.
The ambient temperature, atmospheric pressure and humidity should be:
Temperature:
-20~+60℃
；RH：
5%~99%
；Pressure：
86~106Kpa
1.4 Hazardous Area Installation:
Our vortex flowmeter can be installed in hazardous area according to the approval below:
Exd IICT3 (NEPSI) NOT EUROPE or USA

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1.5 Measuring principle:
Vortex flowmeter measures the flow by sensing the vortices in the flow according to “Karman Vortex
Street”. When put an shedder in the path of flow, vortices are alternately shed on each side (see picture
1.2)
1.2 Von Karman vortices
The frequency of vortices (f) is in direct ratio with velocity of flow (v) and in inverse ratio with width
of obstacle (d).
f=St*v/d (formula 1)
v=fd/St (formula 2)
St is Strouhal Number, is a dimensionless constant related to shape of the shdder, which can be get by
testing. St is Strouhal Number, is a dimensionless constant related to shape of the shedder, which can
be get by test.
Because d and St is constant, flow velocity (v) and average velocity (v0) also have certain relationship
( v0=v/(1-1.25d/D) ), so, you could get v0 by having the frequency of vortices shedding (f) , and then
get the mass flow. The ration between quantity of vortex in a certain period of time and the volume of
the flow pass by is called coefficient of the instrument (K)
K=N/V (formula 3)
VFM60 series digital vortex flowmeter is designed to provide most reliable performence. This series of
vortex flowmeter is designed on PA60 plateform. Every part utilized is universal for all VFM60 series
products. The circuit boards use signal isolation and self-diagnose technology. VFM60 series utilize
spectrum analizing signal process technology, which ensured lower under measuring limit and better
turndown ratio. The enhanced version uses unique dual-sensor design and vibration signal analyzing
technology to improve its anti-vibration cabability and provide with more stable reading. VFM60 also
has density calculation function as option, which means it can calculate the density and measure mass
flow rate of air/satureated steam/superheated steam without secondary device. It also has AGA-NX-19
and AGA-8 algorithm to measure natural gas directly.

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2 Installation
2.1 Find Most Suitable Location
(1) Ambient temperature
Please avoid installing the flowmeter at a location where temperature could dramaticly changes. If
the meter is under heavy heat radiation, please implement effective heat insulation and venting method.
(2) Atomosphere
Please do not install the meter at a locaition where the atomosphere contains a high level of
corrosive substance. If can not install the meter at a better location, please make sure there is enough
venting.
(3) Vibration
The meter should not be installed at a location where could have strong vibration. If the mounting
pipeline could have heavy vibration, the pipe line should be hold steady by some support racks.
(4) Caution
(a) All screws and bolts should be tighen.
(b) Make sure there is not leakage point on the connection.
(c) The process pressure should not be higher than the meter’s rated pressure.
(d) Once the meter is under pressure, please do not screw the bolts and screws.
2.2 Requirement on straight pipe line
Standard
Down sized

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Upsized
Curve pipeline
Dual-curve pipeline
Steam measurement
(Only allow
installation in
shadow areas)
when medium over 150°C(302°F),
recommend flow meter installs
vertical to the pipeline (as picture), or
install on a horizontal pipe, flow
meter recommend to install in the
shadow areas.
Valve in
downstream
Valve in upstream

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Pressure
sensor:2~7D
downstream of
flowmeter
Temperature
sensor: 1~2D
downstream of
pressure sensor
Roots blower or
piston blower or air
compressor in
upstream
Roots blower or piston blower or air compressor or pump in upstream, could
cause vibration of the fluid itself. To eliminate this vibration, please install a
orifice plate or a upsized pipe at about 25D upstream the meter. The valve
should be located downstream the flowmeter in this condition
After a piston pump
Please install a accumulator to reduce the vibration
T type pipeline in
upstream
When upstream pipe line is T typethe flowmeter and a valve downstream the
meter is shut (see above picture), the fluid will all flow towards direct B, but
the meter may still have reading for it may be detecting the pulsating
pressure. Please move the valve to upstream of the meter to avoid this
situition

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Gaskets should not
get into the pipeline
Heat insulation: If
the fluid is in high
temperature, the heat
insulation material
should not cover the
heat dissipation hole
on flow meter
Pipe cleaning: If
thepipeline need to be
cleaned, please use a
subtitied pipe to
replace the flowmeter
to invoid the meter
being damaged by the
cleaning fluid

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3 Wiring
VFM60 vortex flowmeter has 2 different terminal boards, the 5-terminals board and the 12
terminals board, please reference to picture 3.1 and 3.2 below.
V+ V- A B
Picture 3.1 5-terminals board
V+ V- RT3
RT2RT1
I-
I+ A B
P-
P+
Picture 3.2 12-terminals board
On above boards, V+ and V- are for power. is pulse output terminal. A, B are “+” and “-” for
RS485Modbus communication, I+ and I- are + and –for 3-wire or 4-wire 4~20 mA.RT1, RT2, RT3 are
for separate RTD. P+,P- are for pressure transmitter . VFM60 multi –variable version has built in RTD
and pressure sensor, so clients are not required to wire for temperature or pressure compensation.

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3.1 Wiring for 5-terminal board
3.1.1 Wiring for 3 wire pulse output
3-wire pulse output require a power source of 13.5~42VDC. VFM use a current pulse output with
50% duty ratio. If the pulse reciving instrument require voltate pulse, please add a resistor between
“ ” and “V-”, the resistance should be within 500ohms~1000ohms, and power consumption should
be no less than 0.5W.
Please reference to picture 3.3 picture below for 3-wire pulse output wiring
Picture 3.3: 3-wire pulse output wiring
3.1.2 Wiring for 2 wire HART@4~20mA
When there is not temperate and pressure compensation and the power source is 24VDC, the max
load for 4~20mA analog is 500ohms. And when there is temperate and pressure compensation and
the power source is 24VDC, the max load for 4~20mA analog is 400ohms. When using a HART
communicater, please add a 250ohms load resistor
Picture 3.4 Wiring for 2 wire HART@4~20mA

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3.1.3 Wiring for RS485
Picture 3.5 Wiring for RS485
3.2 Wiring for 12-terminal board
3.2.1 Wiring for 3 wire pulse output
3-wire pulse output require a power source of 13.5~42VDC. VFM use a current pulse output with
50% duty ratio. If the pulse reciving instrument require voltate pulse, please add a resistor between
‘ ’ and “V-”, the resistance should be within 500

~1000

, and power consumption should be
no less than 0.5W.
Picture 3.6: 3-wire pulse output wiring

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3.2.2 Wiring for 4 wire 4~20mA
Picture 3.7: Wiring for 4-wire 4~20mA
3.2.3 Wiring for 4 wire HART@4~20mA
When power source is 24VDC, the max load for 4~20mA analog is 500ohms.
Picture 3.8: Wiring for 4-wire HART@4~20mA

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3.2.4 Wiring for RS485
Picture 3.9: Wiring for RS485
3.3 Shell grounding and elimination of interference
In VFM60 digital vortex flowmeter the power supply of signal processing circuit is transferred
from outside power supply by a isolation type DC-DC transmitter with advanced grounding technology.
The field frequency interference can be isolated well.
When using this product, the “V-”of power supplier should not be connected with the ground.
When this product is used in a environment with strong interference, the shell should be connect with
earth through cable , so the interference can be eliminated .
3.4 Requirement on wiring
1) Please conduct wiring when the power is on in a explosive environment.
2) Please open the rear cover first, then inert the cable into back zone of housing thourgh the
water-proof cable gland.
3) Conduct wiring according to 3.1 and 3.2.
4) If possible, please conduct the wiring according to picture 3.0 to avoid the water get into the housing
through the cable.

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Picture 3.10 Introduction for wiring
4 Display
VFM60 digital vortex flowmeter provide local display and setting, can display several variables
on the local multi-funcational LCD display. The convertor also have 3 button so clients can do setting
on it.
4.1 Intruction of multi-functional LCD display
VFM60 digital vortex flowmeter has a display to indicate “Frequency”“Flow rate”“Total flow”.
The VFM60 multi-variable version or a standard VFM60 working with RTD and pressure transmitter
can also indicate other variabls such as “Temperature”“Pressure”“Density”“Mass flow”etc. Please
reference to picture 4.1 below.

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Picture 4.1 LCD display
The LCD display has 2 areas to display the content, the upper row, the lower row. The upper
row displays the flow rate/mass flow/standard flow rate. Below the upper row shows the unit of the
variable displayed in upper row.
The lower row display indicates other variables, such as requency/ pressure/ temperature/ density/
total flow/ velocity. And below the lower row shows the unit of the variable displayed in lower row.
Please reference to picture 4.2 for display
Picture 4.2 Flow rate and total flow
VFM60 multi-varibale version or normal version with temperature and pressure compensation, can
calculate and display the mass flow of steam, both saturated steam and superheated steam. Please
reference to picture 4.3 for mass flow rate displaying.
Picture 4.3 Mass flow and total flow of steam displaying
VFM60 multi-variable version or normal version with temperature and pressure compensation can
display variables such as temperature/ pressure/ density. Use the switch buton to switch to next variable
and it will display for 30 seconds.

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Please reference to picture 4.4 as a sample of temperature displaying. You can also keep the lower
row consistently display a variable by setting. The default variable displayed in lower row is total flow.
Picture 4.4 lower row is displaying temperature
You can also set the lower row to display several variables in circular turn.
4.2 Unit of the variable displayed
The variables that can be displayed in lower row and their units that can be displayed are as the chart
4.1 below.
Subject
Variable
Unit
Circular display code
TOT
AL
Total flow
N
3
m
,
3
m
,L,kg or t
01
Temperature
℃
02
Pressure
MPa or kPa
03
Frequency
Hz
04
Density
kg/
3
m
05
Chart 4.1 The displayed units
Remark: Clients can select
4.3 Three button setting
VFM60 series digital vortex flowmeter has three buttonS on the top of the displayer, which are:

(will be mentioned as “L-R button” below),

(will be mentioned as “U-D button”
below), (will be mentioned as “Enter button”below). Please reference to below picture

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Picture 4.5 buttons
When under working, use “U-D button”to switch the displaying content, use “L-R button”can switch
to the left and right digits of total flow. “Enter button”is to dispay the entire digits of total flow
directly.
When the flowmeter is under setting mold, the “L-R button” means move to left and right to select the
digit, the “U-D button”means to set the digit to a number, the “Enter button”means “confirm”. All the
“Digital setting”and “Code setting”of VFM series vortex flowmeter is made through these 3 buttons.
Please reference to related article for details
4.4 Total flow displaying
VFM60 can display 9 digits left to decimal point and 3 digits right to it. When the there is more
than six digits, the total flow reading will be displayed in two times. One time displays the right
digits and the other displays the left digits. You can use the “L-R button”to switch between the
right digits and left digits. The left digits will be displayed with a mark of “x1000”. Please
reference to picture 4.6
Picture 4.6 Displaying the left digits, a “x1000”mark is displayed
If you want to check the right digits now, please pressure the “L-R button”, the display will be as
picture 4.7 below.

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Picture 4.7 Displaying the right digits
According to picture 4.6 and 4.7, the total flow is 569864.581 kg.
4.5 Status
VFM60 series vortex flowmeter have three different statuses as below
Working status
Setting status
Calibration status
When under working status, please follow the instruction in 4.1 to switch the parameter displayed.
When under setting status, you can set the flowmeter, while the flowmeter is still processing, so setting
will not have effect on the measuring. In next chapter, there will be instruction of how to do setting.
The calibration of the flowmeter has been finished in manufacture’s lab before delivery, including
temperature and pressure calibration and the setting of high-limit and low-limit of 4~20mA stimulation
output. Thus, customers do not to set any more.
5 Setting
Note: Every VFM60 digital vortex flowmeters has been set according to requirement before
delivery, please do not change setting unless it is necessary and under correct instruction!
VFM60 series digital vortex flowmeter have digigal setting and code setting. Use code setting to
set parameters such as fluid type, compensation type and output signal. Use digital setting to set
parameters related to a number, such as pipe size, flow range, factor.
5.1 How to set
5.1.1 Code setting
Under working status, to enter code setting, please hold “Enter button” then press “U-D button” at the

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same time. Please reference to picture 5.1.
Picture 5.1 enter and quit code setting
When in code setting, the first row will display the reference number fo the code setting, and the
lower row will display the contents of this parameter. The digit that is flashing is the digit under
setting. Please reference to picture 5.2, which means C01=02, means fluid type is liquid.
Picture 5.2 code setting
When under code setting, Now ,user can use “L-R button”to choose which digit on the displayer
are to be set , and use “R-D button”to switch the digit to 0~9 . The first time of pressing “Enter
button”means to set the lower row. Press “Enter button”again to check if the setting is available. If
setting is available, the setting made will be canceled and the display will not flash, then press “L-R
button”or “U-D button”to set again. When display is not flashing, pressure “Enter button”to save
and go to next setting.
If want to quit code setting, same as entering, please hold “Enter button” then press “U-D button”
at the same time.
5.1.2 Digital setting
Under working status, to enter code setting, please hold “Enter button” then press “L-R button” at the
same time. Please reference to picture 5.3.