METHOD OF CONFIGURING A VORTEX FLOW CONTROL DEVICE AND A VORTEX FLOW CONTROL DEVICE

A method of configuring a vortex flow control device 2 comprising a vortex chamber 4, an inlet 6 and an outlet 8 arranged at one end of the vortex chamber 4, wherein the method comprises the steps of: setting a target maximum flow rate FT-MAX through the outlet 8 for a predetermined pressure PT-MAX at the inlet; setting a target vortex initiation flow rate FT-VI through the outlet 8 at which vortex flow within the vortex chamber 4 initiates; determining the actual maximum flow rate FA-MAX through the outlet 8 for the predetermined pressure PT-MAX at the inlet 6; determining the actual vortex initiation flow rate FA-VI through the outlet 8; determining an error parameter E based on at least one of the actual maximum flow rate FA-MAX and the actual vortex initiation flow rate FA-VI and at least one of the target maximum flow rate FT-MAX and the target vortex initiation flow rate FT-VI; comparing the error parameter E against a target condition CT; and, if the error parameter E fails to satisfy the target condition CT, modifying at least one characteristic of the vortex flow control device 2 so as to vary at least one of the actual maximum flow rate FA-MAX and the actual vortex initiation flow rate FA-VI so that the modified vortex flow control configuration produces a hydraulic response that more closely satisfies the target condition CT.