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Anhydrous Flow Meter: Heavy-Duty Liquid Ammonia Fertilizer Control Valves
Quick Answer: For anhydrous ammonia fertilizer service use a Coriolis mass flow meter with 316L stainless steel wetted parts. Electromagnetic flow meters will not read this fluid because conductivity is near zero. Silver Instruments supplies Coriolis meters from DN15 to DN80 and heavy-duty liquid ammonia control valves with 4-20 mA HART output. Send us your pressure, temperature, pipe size and flow range.
Why Anhydrous Ammonia Metering Is Different
Anhydrous ammonia is a liquid under pressure. At 20 °C its vapor pressure is about 8.6 bar. At 40 °C it rises to about 15.5 bar. If pressure drops below vapor pressure the liquid flashes to gas. This creates two phase flow and destroys meter accuracy. Most engineers skip this part on a new skid. We have seen this on customer sites many times.
The fluid has very low conductivity. It is often below 0.1 µS/cm. That rules out electromagnetic flow meters. The viscosity is also low at about 0.25 cP at 20 °C. Turbine and oval gear meters can suffer because the liquid gives almost no lubrication. Coriolis mass flow meters handle this well. They measure mass directly and do not care about conductivity or density changes.
Recommended Flow Meter for Liquid Ammonia Fertilizer
We recommend a Coriolis mass flow meter with 316L wetted parts. Typical sizes are DN15, DN25, DN40, DN50 and DN80. Accuracy is ±0.2% of rate for mass flow. Output is 4-20 mA HART. The local display can show kg/h or total kg. Use PT100 temperature compensation if you also need density or temperature data.
A vortex meter can work if the ammonia stays in liquid phase and the velocity is high enough. But it does not measure mass directly. For custody transfer or injection control we prefer Coriolis. Request ATEX or IECEx Zone 2 approval only if the skid is in a classified area near ammonia storage. Many fertilizer sites in Vietnam, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia ask for Zone 2 or Zone 1. Tell us your zone before quoting.
Here is a real example. A fertilizer blending site in Vietnam replaced a clogged differential pressure meter with a DN25 Coriolis meter from Silver Instruments. Their flow range was 800 to 2600 kg/h at 18 bar and 25 °C. The old meter needed cleaning every two weeks. The Coriolis meter has now run for over one year without maintenance.
Heavy-Duty Liquid Ammonia Fertilizer Control Valves
We do not manufacture valves but we supply them as part of a metering skid package. The valve body is usually carbon steel or 316L stainless steel. The trim should be 316L. Packing should be PTFE or graphite. Never use copper, brass, bronze or zinc in wetted part
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Valve sizing depends on the pressure drop you can accept and the required injection rate. Send us the inlet pressure, outlet backpressure, pipe size and flow range. We will recommend a globe control valve or a characterised ball valve for heavy-duty service. Most fertilizer injection systems run at 10 to 25 bar with small flow rates, so DN15 to DN50 valves are common. For tight shutoff we usually specify Class IV or Class V leakage.
Parameters We Ask From You
We need specific values to quote the right meter and valve. Send us your pressure in bar, temperature in degrees Celsius, pipe size in DN and flow range in kg/h or L/min. Also tell us the hazardous area zone and the signal you prefer. 4-20 mA HART and pulse are both common. If you have a controller already, tell us the input type and power supply.
Because ammonia can flash, we also need the minimum backpressure at the injection point. This helps us confirm the meter location and the valve outlet pressure. In practice a backpressure of at least 0.5 bar above vapor pressure at operating temperature is a safe starting point.
FAQ
Can I use an electromagnetic flow meter for anhydrous ammonia?
No. Anhydrous ammonia has conductivity near zero. Electromagnetic meters require a conductive liquid. Use a Coriolis mass flow meter instead.
What material is safe for liquid ammonia valves?
Use carbon steel or 316L stainless steel bodies with 316L trim. PTFE or graphite packing works well. Avoid copper, brass and zinc.
What size of Coriolis flow meter do I need for fertilizer injection?
Most fertilizer injection systems use DN15 to DN50. If your maximum flow is below 1000 kg/h a DN15 or DN25 meter is often enough. Larger systems may need DN80.
Do you supply complete metering skids or just the flow meter?
We supply the flow meter and can package it with a heavy-duty control valve, pressure transmitter and local indicator. Send us a simple P and ID sketch if possible.
How fast can Silver Instruments quote and ship?
For standard Coriolis meters we reply within 24 hours with price and delivery. Standard DN15 to DN50 meters often ship in 7 to 10 working days. Configured skids take longer.
Contact Silver Automation Instruments
Tel: +86-135-1213-1526
WhatsApp: 86-135-12131526
WeChat: +86 13512131526
Website: flow-meter.com.au
Send us your pressure in bar, temperature in degrees Celsius, pipe size in DN and flow range in kg/h. We will recommend a Coriolis flow meter and a heavy-duty liquid ammonia fertilizer control valve that fits your site.
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