MODEL FC20

Flow Conditioner for Gas Applications

HIGHLIGHTS
• Reduces the need for long straight pipe runs
• Creates proper gas flow profile from irregular
flow profiles
• Negligible pressure drop
• Use with insertion style flow meters
• Install upstream from the flow meter probe
between 150 lb. flanges and customer-
supplied gaskets
• Easy to center in the pipe by aligning the
outer edge of the flow conditioner with the
outer edge of flange.
• Precision, laser-cut design
• 316 stainless steel material
• Available in 12 sizes for schedule 40 pipes: 1.5”,
2”, 2.5”, 3”, 4”, 6”, 8”, 10”, 12”, 14”, 16”, and 18”

nditioner
with Insertion
ow Meters
oners installed upstream
rs reduce the need for
t pipe runs.

OIL & GAS | INDUSTRIAL | BIOGAS | WASTEWATER

 TECHNOLOGY Laminar
THE IMPORTANCE OF
Laminar
STRAIGHT PIPE RUNS
Figure 1B: Fully Developed Turbulent Flow
Insufficient straight run of upstream and downstream piping
can lead to improper flow of the air or gas inTurbulent
the pipe at the
sensing point. As you increase the distance between the
Turbulent
sensing elements and the cause of the disturbance, the flow
becomes more uniform. Fox Thermal has recommended

Irregular
straight run requirements for insertion and inline products
Figure 1C: Irregular/Distorted Flow Profile
based on established and tested criteria to maintain our
accuracy specifications. Irregular
Figure 1A: Fully Developed Laminar Flow

IRREGULAR FLOW
t INSTALLATION SOLUTIONS FOR
Irregular flow is problematic for accurate flow measurement.
LIMITED PIPE RUNS
Bi-directional or swirling flow leads to miscalculation of the
Flow meter accuracy is often dependent on achieving a
mass flow rate, so it is important to have the sensing elements
uniform flow profile near the center of the pipe. Distortion
placed in the centerline of the pipe, in line with the flow, and
and swirl are disturbances that can be remedied either by
with a uniform flow profile.
extending the length of space between the cause of the

FC20
disturbance and the sensing element (increasing straight
pipe runs) or by adding a flow conditioner to correct
the disturbance.
Flow Conditioner
FLOW CONDITIONING for use with
Insertion
Style Flow Meters
In some applications, space isn’t available for enough
upstream or downstream straight pipe. In these cases, the
FC20 flow conditioner can be Flow conditioners installed upstream
a solution.
of flow meters reduce the need for
Insertion thermal mass flow meters are easy to install and
long, straight pipe runs.
require minimal straight pipe runs. In the past, the only
option to reducing straight pipe runs for very tight spaces TYPES OF OBSTRUCTIONS
was to order flow meters with a flow body and built-in flow There are several factors leading to irregular or turbulent flow:
conditioner. To give customers more flexibility, Fox Thermal • Single or multiple bends in pipe
has developed the FC20 flow conditioner for use with insertion • Tees or pipe branches
style flow meters. • Devices or valves placed in contact with the flow
Each flow meter is calibrated with the flow conditioner 2D • Pipe size transitions
upstream as shown in Figure 2 to ensure the highest accuracy. Each of these obstruction types can lead to irregular or
distorted flow in the pipe.

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INSTALLATION SPECIFICATIONS
LATERAL PLACEMENT SIZING
To determine where to install the FC20 flow conditioner, FC20s are available in 12 sizes for schedule 40 pipes:
the pipe size is important. FC20s require 5 diameters (5D) of 1.5”, 2”, 2.5”, 3”, 4”, 6”, 8”, 10”, 12”, 14”, 16”, and 18”.
upstream straight pipe. Also, the flow meter’s sensor should
For smaller pipe sizes, an inline flow meter is recommended.
be 5D before any downstream disturbances. The distance
between the FC20 flow conditioner and the flow meter’s
sensor is 2D. The relationship between pipe size and pipe
diameters is illustrated in Figure 2 with lengths listed in
Table 1 below. If more total straight pipe run than the
minimum is available, most of it should be used upstream.
The pressure drop can be minimized when the flow profile
requires less correction.

Figure 2: Straight Pipe Run Requirements

FC20 Flow Conditioner Proper

installed between two flanges Flow
Branch Outlet
Profile
(installed by customer)
Irregular Flow
F1 F2 F3 F4

Profile

FLOW

5D Min. 2D 5D Min.

Table 1: Straight Pipe Run Requirements

Diameter Length TECH TIP
Sch. 40
Pipe Size 2D 5D Minimum
TECHNOLOGY COMPARISON
(inches) Inch (mm) Inch (mm) STRAIGHT RUN REQUIREMENTS

1.5 3.22 (82) 8 (203) Compare Upstream & Downstream Straight Run
Requirements for Common Flow Meter Technologies
2 4.14 (105) 10 (254)
2.5 4.94 (125) 12 (305) DP METERS
20 Upstream
3 6.14 (156) 15 (381)
10 Downstream
4 8.06 (205) 20 (508)
6 12.13 (308) 30 (762) VORTEX METERS
8 15.96 (405) 40 (1016) 35 Upstream
5 Downstream
10 20.04 (509) 50 (1270)
12 23.88 (607) 60 (1524) TURBINE METERS
14 26.24 (666) 66 (1676) 20 Upstream

16 30.00 (762) 75 (1905) 5 Downstream

18 33.75 (857) 84 (2133) ULTRASONIC METERS

10 - 20 Upstream
10 - 20 Downstream

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PERFORMANCE
Table 2: Air Pressure Drop Data - Sizes 1.5” to 6” (1.61 to 6.065 Pipe ID)

FC20 Sizes in inches and Pipe Inner Diameters (Schedule 40 Pipes) in Inches
Flow Rate
1.5” (1.61 ID) 2” (2.067 ID) 2.5” (2.469 ID) 3” (3.068 ID) 4” (4.026 ID) 6” (6.065 ID)
m^3/Hr Ft^3/Min mBar inH2O mBar inH2O mBar inH2O mBar inH2O mBar inH2O mBar inH2O

5 3 0.65 0.26
10 6 0.68 0.27 0.65 0.26
15 9 0.74 0.30 0.67 0.27 0.65 0.26
20 12 0.83 0.33 0.71 0.28 0.27 0.27 0.65 0.26
30 18 1.07 0.43 0.79 0.32 0.71 0.29 0.67 0.27 0.65 0.26
40 24 1.40 0.56 0.92 0.37 0.77 0.31 0.69 0.28 0.65 0.26
50 29 1.84 0.74 1.08 0.43 0.85 0.34 0.73 0.29 0.67 0.27
60 35 2.37 0.95 1.27 0.51 0.95 0.38 0.77 0.31 0.68 0.27
70 41 2.99 1.20 1.50 0.60 1.06 0.43 0.81 0.33 0.69 0.28 0.65 0.26
80 47 3.71 1.49 1.77 0.71 1.19 0.48 0.87 0.35 0.71 0.29 0.65 0.26
90 53 4.53 1.82 2.07 0.83 1.34 0.54 0.93 0.37 0.73 0.29 0.65 0.26
100 59 5.45 2.19 2.41 0.97 1.50 0.60 1.00 0.40 0.76 0.30 0.66 0.26
150 88 11.46 4.60 4.62 1.85 2.59 1.04 1.46 0.58 0.91 0.37 0.69 0.28
200 118 19.88 7.98 7.72 3.10 4.11 1.65 2.09 0.84 1.13 0.45 0.73 0.29
300 177 43.94 17.64 16.57 6.65 8.46 3.40 3.92 1.57 1.74 0.70 0.85 0.34
400 235 77.62 31.16 28.97 11.63 14.55 5.84 6.47 2.60 2.60 1.05 1.02 0.41
500 294 44.91 18.03 22.38 8.99 9.76 3.92 3.71 1.49 1.23 0.49
600 353 64.39 25.85 31.95 12.83 13.77 5.53 5.06 2.03 1.49 0.60
700 412 87.41 35.09 43.26 17.37 18.51 7.43 6.66 2.68 1.80 0.72
800 471 56.31 22.61 23.99 9.63 8.51 3.42 2.16 0.87
900 530 71.10 28.54 30.19 12.12 10.60 4.26 2.57 1.03
1000 589 87.63 35.18 37.12 14.90 12.94 5.19 3.02 1.21
1500 883 82.73 33.21 28.32 11.37 6.01 2.41
2000 1177 49.85 20.01 10.19 4.09
3000 1766 22.14 8.89
4000 2354 38.86 15.60
5000 2943 60.36 24.23

PERFORMANCE INSTALLATION
EQUATION FC20 ORIENTATION
dP = 0.01786 * KE + 0.6343 Every FC20 has “UPSTREAM” etched into a tab extending out
Error for 95% Confidence Interval: +/-25% from the flow conditioner. This marker should be positioned
The pressure drop can be minimized when the flow profile parallel to the probe with the “UPSTREAM” etching facing
requires less correction. toward the upstream portion of the pipe.

TERM DEFINITIONS The FC20 is installed between two 150lb flanges. Gaskets
dP = Pressure Differential [mBar] (supplied by customer) should be placed on both sides of the
D = Actual Density [kg/m^3] flow conditioner to ensure a seal. See Figure 3 on the next
V = Actual Average Velocity [m/s] page for proper installation orientation.
KE = Kinetic Energy = 0.5*D*V^2 Please refer to document #109193 for further
installation instructions.

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PERFORMANCE
Table 3: Air Pressure Drop Data - Sizes 8” to 18” (7.981” to 16.87” Pipe ID)

FC20 Sizes in inches and Pipe Inner Diameters (Schedule 40 Pipes) in Inches
Flow Rate
8” (7.981 ID) 10” (10.02 ID) 12” (11.94 ID) 14” (13.12 ID) 16” (15.00 ID) 18” (16.87 ID)
m^3/Hr Ft^3/Min mBar inH2O mBar inH2O mBar inH2O mBar inH2O mBar inH2O mBar inH2O

150 88 0.65 0.26

200 118 0.67 0.27 0.65 0.26
300 177 0.71 0.28 0.66 0.27 0.65 0.26
400 235 0.76 0.31 0.69 0.28 0.66 0.26 0.65 0.26
500 294 0.83 0.33 0.71 0.29 0.67 0.27 0.66 0.27 0.65 0.26
600 353 0.92 0.37 0.75 0.30 0.69 0.28 0.67 0.27 0.66 0.26 0.65 0.26
700 412 1.02 0.41 0.79 0.30 0.71 0.29 0.69 0.28 0.66 0.26 0.65 0.26
800 471 1.14 0.46 0.84 0.34 0.73 0.29 0.70 0.28 0.67 0.27 0.66 0.26
900 530 1.28 0.51 0.89 0.36 0.76 0.31 0.72 0.29 0.68 0.27 0.66 0.27
1000 589 1.43 0.57 0.95 0.38 0.79 0.32 0.74 0.30 0.69 0.28 0.67 0.27
1500 833 2.43 0.97 1.36 0.54 0.99 0.40 0.87 0.35 0.77 0.31 0.72 0.29
2000 1177 3.82 1.53 1.92 0.77 1.26 0.50 1.05 0.42 0.87 0.35 0.78 0.31
3000 1766 7.81 3.13 3.52 1.41 2.04 0.82 1.58 0.63 1.17 0.47 0.96 0.39
4000 2354 13.38 5.37 5.77 2.31 3.13 1.26 2.31 0.93 1.59 0.69 1.22 0.49
5000 2943 20.55 8.25 8.65 3.47 4.53 1.82 3.26 1.31 2.13 0.85 1.55 0.62
6000 3531 29.31 11.77 12.18 4.89 6.25 2.51 4.41 1.77 2.79 1.12 1.95 0.78
7000 4120 39.68 15.93 16.35 6.56 8.27 3.32 5.77 2.32 3.56 1.43 2.42 0.97
8000 4709 51.63 20.73 21.16 8.49 10.61 4.26 7.35 2.95 4.46 1.79 2.97 1.19
9000 5297 65.17 26.16 26.61 10.68 13.26 5.32 9.13 3.67 5.48 2.20 3.59 1.44
10000 5886 80.31 32.24 32.70 13.13 16.22 6.51 11.12 4.47 6.61 2.65 4.29 1.72
15000 8829 72.79 29.22 35.71 14.34 24.23 9.73 14.08 5.65 8.85 3.55
20000 11772 62.99 25.29 42.59 17.10 24.54 9.85 15.24 6.12
30000 17657 95.03 38.15 54.43 21.85 33.49 13.45
40000 23543 96.27 38.65 59.05 23.71

INSTALLATION
Figure 3: Orientation of FC20 Flow Conditioner

ETCHING FLOW
METER
FC20 TAB
EXTENSION
PROBE
BRANCH POINTER
A OUTLET

2D

FLOW
DETAIL ‘A’
GASKETS

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Office: 831.384.4300 | Fax: 831.384.4312
foxthermal.com

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