LPG Turbine Flow Meter
Liquid LPG Bulk Distribution Build
Accuracy +/- 0.5% of rate
Line sizes 1/2″ to 6″ (DN15 to DN150)
Ex d zone-1 standard
- 304 standard, 316L sour-LPG upgrade
- Pulse output for loading and bottling controllers
- Pressure up to 25 MPa
LPG turbines meter liquid LPG bulk distribution: terminal loading, cylinder bottling, road-tanker offload, inter-storage transfer. LWGY covers DN15–DN150 for liquid LPG (propane 0.18 cSt, butane 0.27 cSt, mix). 304 standard for sweet propane/butane; 316L for sour-LPG with mercaptan/H₂S. CNEX Ex d IIC T6 Gb standard for Class IA. Vapor-phase → LWGQ gas family.
Benefits
- Liquid LPG (propane / butane) inside LWGY range
- Accuracy +/- 0.5% of rate
- CNEX Ex d IIC T6 Gb standard for Class IA flammable
- 304 standard, 316L sour-LPG upgrade
- Pressure up to 25 MPa for high-pressure transfer
- Line sizes 1/2″ to 6″ (DN15 to DN150)
Typical applications
Four LPG applications for liquid-phase measurement storage-to-use.
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LPG terminal loading rack
DN65–DN150 truck-arms transfer pressurised liquid LPG bulk-to-tanker. Pulse drives loading-rack controller for batch-end shutoff; ±0.5% rate for invoice-grade billing.
Road tanker delivery and inter-storage transfer
Tanker discharge/inter-storage headers for inventory tracking. 316L for propane-butane mix; duplex impeller for mercaptan odorant carry-over.
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Cylinder bottling plant feed
Bottling-carousel feed line; pulse drives bottler controller for per-cylinder fill. Ceramic bearing option takes rapid stop-start on high-throughput lines.
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Bulk storage and distribution depot
Inter-tank transfer headers, rail/marine import custody-transfer entry, industrial distribution. Pressure up to 25 MPa covers ambient and pump-side transfer.
Specifications
| Measurement principle | Velocity-type turbine with magnetic-pickup pulse output |
|---|---|
| Standard | JB/T9246-2016 turbine flow sensor |
| Line sizes | 1/2″ to 6″ (DN15 to DN150) |
| Accuracy | +/- 0.5% of rate standard (custody class) |
| Repeatability | +/- 0.1% of rate |
| Pressure | Pressure up to 25 MPa (3,625 psi); ANSI 150 / 300 / 600 / 900 / 1500 / 2500 LB |
| Medium | Liquid LPG under storage pressure: propane (0.18 cSt at 0 °C) / butane (0.27 cSt at 0 °C) / propane-butane mix (0.2 to 0.3 cSt). Vapor-phase service goes to LWGQ gas-turbine family. |
| Temperature Application | −40 to +180 °C (high-temperature type) for cryogenic-side LPG storage and refrigerated truck offload (propane down to −42 °C at 1 atm) · −20 to +120 °C (room-temperature type) for above-ambient distribution |
| Ambient temperature | −20 to +65 °C |
| Body material | 304 stainless standard for sweet propane / butane bulk distribution · 316L upgrade for sour-LPG (mercaptan / H₂S residual) and coastal storage depots · duplex / Hastelloy C custom for chloride-laden refinery LPG cuts |
| Impeller | Duplex stainless standard for sulfur / mercaptan service · 2Cr13 martensitic alternative for sweet-gas service · 430F ferritic option · ceramic high-RPM option |
| Bearing | Tungsten carbide standard, ceramic for high-RPM transient service (cylinder bottling) |
| Output signals | Pulse 3-wire, 4-20 mA 2-wire / 4-wire, RS-485 Modbus RTU, HART, GPRS / IoT |
| Power supply | 24 V DC standard, 3.6 V lithium battery option for off-grid distribution depots |
| Transmission distance | Pulse 3-wire ≤ 300 m, 4-20 mA ≤ 1500 m (load ≤ 500 Ω), RS-485 / HART ≤ 1200 m |
| Ingress protection | IP65 / IP66 / IP67 |
| Hazardous area | CNEX Ex d IIC T6 Gb (flameproof, Zone 1); mandatory for LPG, ships standard |
| Approvals | JB/T9246-2016, EMC 2014/30/EU (Annex II), ISO 9001 calibration certificate with each meter |
Installation
Key install requirements. Full datasheet on request.
- Run pipe full of liquid LPG at meter; pressurised storage leg only
- Install upstream strainer; slow-fill at first commissioning
- Maintain ≥ 10 D upstream and ≥ 5 D downstream straight pipe
- Class IA LPG requires Ex d cable glands and flameproof junction box
- Inspect impeller every 6 months; check K-factor against calibration certificate
Frequently asked questions
What is an LPG turbine flow meter and how does it work?+
An LPG turbine flow meter measures volumetric flow of liquid LPG under storage pressure through a free-spinning rotor. Liquid LPG (propane / butane / propane-butane mix at 0.2 to 0.3 cSt) sits well inside the LWGY range. Pressurised liquid-phase measurement is independent of vapor-pressure variation across the propane-butane mix ratio.
Why is LPG measured as liquid not vapor?+
LPG is stored and distributed as pressurised liquid (around 8 bar at ambient for propane), measured as liquid for invoice traceability and inventory accounting. Liquid-phase volume is stable across the propane-butane mix ratio; vapor-phase volume varies with temperature. For vapor off-take, vaporizer outlet, and CHP fuel-gas service, go to the LWGQ gas-turbine family. The LWGY build covers terminal loading, road-tanker filling, and cylinder bottling.
What pipe sizes and pressure classes fit LPG service?+
DN15 to DN50 covers cylinder bottling plant feed lines and small road-tanker fill arms. DN65 to DN150 covers terminal loading rack arms, inter-storage transfer headers, and bulk distribution. Pressure up to 25 MPa; LPG storage typically 8 bar for propane and 2 bar for butane at ambient, so 1.6 MPa minimum suffices for most distribution. Higher ratings cover terminal-side high-pressure transfer.
Why is Ex d hazardous-area certification mandatory for LPG?+
LPG is a Class IA flammable gas held in liquid phase under storage pressure. Any leak path produces ignitable vapor at ambient. LPG terminal, cylinder-bottling, and road-tanker zones classify as Zone 1 worldwide, requiring flameproof or intrinsically safe equipment. The LWGY ships with CNEX Ex d IIC T6 Gb; gas group IIC and surface-temperature class T6 cover propane and butane ignition characteristics.
What materials handle LPG sulfur and odorant chemistry?+
304 stainless body standard for sweet propane / butane bulk distribution. 316L upgrade for sour-LPG with mercaptan or H₂S residual and coastal storage depots. Tungsten carbide bearings handle continuous distribution service; ceramic bearings handle high-RPM transient service on cylinder bottling lines.
How does pulse output integrate with terminal loading and bottling controllers?+
The 3-wire pulse output is frequency-proportional to flow with the calibrated K-factor on each meter’s certificate. Terminal loading controllers (Allen-Bradley PLC, Siemens S7) accept the K-factor and convert pulses to liters or kilograms on the loading-rack display, with batch-end shutoff at the preset truck-load volume. Cylinder bottling lines use pulse output to the bottling-machine controller for per-cylinder fill volume. RS-485 Modbus and HART are also available.
What is the lead time and what certifications ship standard?+
Lead time is 5–7 business days from order confirmation, factory direct. Each meter ships with an ISO 9001 calibration certificate listing K-factor, calibrated DN, and tested flow range. CNEX Ex d IIC T6 Gb ships standard for LPG service. EMC 2014/30/EU and IP65 / IP66 / IP67 are selectable. JB/T9246-2016 is the underlying standard.
Need help sizing an LPG bulk-distribution build?
Send line size, application, LPG composition, pressure, and target flow. Engineering returns model code + ship window in one business day.