GAS FLOW MEASUREMENT

By Masood A. Farooqui
Sales Gas Distribution Network

Agenda
Definition of Fluid Flow Measurement History Basic Flow Equation Metering Station Types of Meters;
Diaphragm Type Rotary Type Turbine Type Orifice Type Ultra Sonic Type

Electronic Volume Correctors Selecting a Proper Meter

FLUID FLOW MEASUREMENT The definition

The measurement of smoothly moving particles that fill and conform to the piping in an uninterrupted stream to determine the amount flowing.

Fluid Flow Measurement

1. Fluid: 1. having particles that easily move and change their relative position without separation of the mass and that easily yield to pressure; 2. a substance (as a liquid or a gas) tending to flow or conform to the outline of its container. Flow: 1. to issue or move in a stream; 2. to move with a continual change of place among the consistent particles; 3. to proceed smoothly and readily; 4. to have a smooth, uninterrupted continuity. Measurement: 1. the act or process of measuring; 2. a figure, extent, or amount obtained by measuring.

2.

3.

The History
Over 4,000 years ago, the Romans measured water flow from their aqueducts to each household to control allocation. In the early 1600s, Castelli and Tonicelli, determined the concept of differential flow measurement. In the early 1700s, Professor Poleni, provided additional work on understanding discharge of an orifice. Same time, Mr. Bernoulli developed the theorem upon which hydraulic equations of head meters have been based ever since. In the 1730s, Mr. Pitot published a paper on a meter he had developed, commonly known as Pitot Tube, which was based on differential pressure. In the late 1790s, Mr. Venturi introduced Venturi Meters, which were the improved and streamed shape of orifice meter. In the mid-1800s, Positive Displacement Meters were commercially introduced in USA. Strain Gauge, Vortex, Rotary, Turbine, Magnetic, Ultra Sonic and Laser technologies based flow measurement meter were introduced from early to late 1900s.

The Basic Gas Flow Equation

Poiseuille's equation for compressible fluids For a compressible fluid in a tube the volumetric flow rate and the linear velocity is not constant along the tube. The flow is usually expressed at outlet pressure. As fluid is compressed or expands, work is done and the fluid is heated and cooled. This means that the flow rate depends on the heat transfer to and from the fluid. For an ideal gas in the isothermal case, where the temperature of the fluid is permitted to equilibrate with its surroundings, and when the pressure difference between ends of the pipe is small, the volumetric flow rate at the pipe outlet is given by;

Q=(R4 /16L)x (Pi2-Po2/Po)

Where: Q= Volume Flow Rate R= Radius of Pipe Pi= Pressure Inlet Po =Pressure Outlet L= Length = Viscosity

Gas Flow Equations

(Through section of tube)

A Typical Meter Station

Meter Run Isolation Valve

Dry Gas Filter

Regulator

Metering Device

Pressure Relief Valve

Meter Run Outlet Valve

By-pass Run Inlet Valve

By Pass Run

By-pass Run Outlet Valve

Service Pipe

Supply or Distribution Main Pipe Gas Main

Major Components of

Metering Station
Gas Service Line
A pipe connection from Gas Main to Meter Station

Gas Flow Control Valves

A device that control partial or full flow of gas.

Pressure Control Device

A device that control flow pressure of gas

Metering Device
A device that register flow, energy or mass delivered to customer

Pressure Safety Device

A device that protect downstream devices from over pressure.

Electronic Sensors
All the devices like Pressure, temperature and other devices used for calculation for the flow or control equipments electronically.

Accessories Devices used for access control, audio-video communication, etc,.

Gas Measurement
Types of Meters
Positive Displacement Meters
Diaphragm Type Rotary Type

Turbine Type Inferential Type

Pitot Tube Venturi Orifice Tube

Ultra-sonic Meters

Positive Displacement Meters Diaphragm Type

There were no gas meters in the very early days of the gas business, but about 1815, in England, Clegg began to make positivedisplacement, revolving-drum, water-sealed devices to measure gas plant send out. They were huge affairs; some units were 16-18 feet in diameter. In the 1840s, Croll, Richards, and Glover invented and perfected a satisfactory dry, two-diaphragm, sliding-valve, four-chamber, positive-displacement meter for measuring customer consumption. In 1903, Sprague invented a two-diaphragm, oscillating-valve meter with three-chambers. The principles of operation and basic construction of these devices remain essentially the same today. These meters are constructed in such a way that gas entered in to a known volume chamber and pushes out exist chamber, the lateral to circular motion mechanism rotates number index to register the quantity of gas passed through.

Diaphragm Meter
(Circular Reading Index)

Diaphragm Meter
(Cutaway Drawing)

Diaphragm Meter Meter Index & Volume Corrector

Diaphragm Meter Mechanism

Diaphragm Meter Flow Equation

Q=2.18xCx(0.6/G)0.5 x(520/T+460) 0.5 x(Ps+Pa/14.73) 0.75
Where;
Q = Recommended meter capacity, scfh, gas 2.18 = Differential pressure correction factor = (1.9/0.4)0. 5 C = Meter capacity at 0.5 inches w.c. pressure drop G = Specific gravity of gas (air = 1.0) T = Operating temperature, F PS = Service pressure, psig Pa = Actual atmospheric pressure, psia

Standards & Classification

(Small Diaphragm Meters)
ANSI Standard B109.1-1992 is identified by its title as applying to Gas Displacement Meters (Under 500 Cubic Feet per Hour Capacity). The major parts of this standard address: Construction requirements Performance requirements for new-type meters In-service performance Meter installation requirements Auxiliary devices Test methods and equipment The standard divides small meters into four classes based on their capacity expressed in standard cubic feet per hour (scfh) of 0.6-specific-gravity gas at a pressure drop of 0.5 inch water column (w.c.) gauge across the meter: Class 50 175 250 400 Capacity Between 50 and 174 cfh Between 175 and 249 cfh Between 250 and 399 cfh Between 400 and 499 cfh

Standards & Classification

(Large Diaphragm Meters)
ANSI Standard B109.2-1992 addresses Diaphragm Type Gas Displacement Meters (500 Cubic Feet per Hour Capacity and Over). This standard is organized in similar fashion to B109.1. Again, the meters are divided into classes based on capacity at 0.5 inch w.c. differential pressure for 0.6-specific-gravity gas:
Class 500 900 1400 2300 3500 Capacity Between 500 and 899 cfh Between 900 and 1,399 cfh Between 1,400 and 2,299 cfh Between 2,300 and 3,499 cfh More than 3,500 cfh

Diaphragm Meters
(Make, Model & Specification)
Make Model
MAOP PSIG CAP. SCFH CAP. SCFH CAP. SCFH CAP. SCFH Weight Lb at 8 PSI at 30 PSI at 40 PSI at 50 PSI Const. Material

INLET

OUTLET

ROCKWELL ROCKWELL ROCKWELL

MR - 09 MR - 12 RW - 750 RW - 1,600 RW - 3,000 RW - 5,000 RW - 10,000 AL - 425 AL - 425 AL - 800 AL - 1400 AL - 2300 AL - 5000

10 10 20 100 100 100 100 10 25 30 100 100 100

0 0 2,300 2,300 4,350 6,960 15,000 1,200 1,200 2,400 4,240 7,100 15,600

0 0

0 0

0 0

14.0 21.0 51.0

Al Al Al Al Al Al Al Al Al Al Al Al Al

1.25" 1.25" 1.50" 1.50" 2" 3" 3" 1.25" 1.25" 1.50" 2" 3" 3"

1.25" 1.25" 1.50" 1.50" 2" 3" 3" 1.25" 1.25" 1.50" 3" Flg. 4" Flg. 4" Flg.

ROCKWELL
ROCKWELL ROCKWELL ROCKWELL AMERICAN AMERICAN AMERICAN AMERICAN AMERICAN

3,860 7,370 12,000 24,100

4,500 8,700 13,900 27,800

5,000 9,370 15,600 31,200

70.0 120.0 233.0 360.0 22.0 22.0 50.0

6,800 11,400 25,000

7,900 13,200 29,000

9,000 15,000 33,000

175.0 192.0 327.0

AMERICAN

Diaphragm Meters
Advantages/ Disadvantages
Advantages
Very high range-ability Meters are reliable and durable Accuracy not affected by rapidly fluctuating flows Small pressures drop across the meters Meter can be housed in a small enclosure.

Disadvantages
Not practical for high volume/ high pressure applications Meters are relatively large compared to other types with equivalent capacity Liquid accumulation in the meter causes measurement errors.

Rotary Meters
(History)
The first recorded use of a rotary gas meter was in 1920 at the Michigan Light Company, Jackson, Michigan. At that time, two 10 24 rotary gas meters were used to measure unpurified gas. In 1924, a study was made at the Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company, Chicago, by a joint committee representing the American Gas Association and the National Bureau of Standards. The favorable results of this study and good field experience led to greater use of these meters. By 1950, some 5,000 rotary gas meters had been built; 400 of them were being used at the Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company. Until the 1960s, Roots-Connersville was the only U.S. manufacturer of rotary gas meters, but, as the meters became more popular, additional manufacturers began to introduce their own designs. Today, the use of rotary positive-displacement meters continues to expand as their design and production incorporate advances in technology.

Rotary Meters
(Principle of Operation)
Rotary meters receive their name from the rotating vanesalso called impellers-that sweep the measuring chambers of the meter. They are true positive-displacement meters, in that each cycle causes a fixed volume of gas to be displaced from the inlet of the meter to the outlet. Gas volume is measured by actual displacement, not inferred from the rotational velocity of the impellers. The volume displaced by each meter cycle is determined by the size of the swept area of the meter. Unlike the diaphragm meter, there are no adjustments that affect the volume displaced per cycle. The primary causes of any deterioration in accuracy are internal leakage and friction. The pressure differential resulting from gas usage downstream of the meter drives the meters impellers and associated devices such as integrating instruments and chart recorders or electronic volume correctors.

Rotary Meter
with Electronic Volume Corrector (EVC)

EVC with Data logger

Rotary Gas Meter

Rotary Meters Mechanism

Rotary Meters
(Make, Model & Specification)
Model ROOTS 5 C ROOTS 8 C ROOTS 11 C ROOTS 1.5 M ROOTS 2 M ROOTS 3 M ROOTS 5 M ROOTS 7 M ROOTS 11 M ROOTS 16 M ROOTS 23 M ROOTS 38 M ROOTS 56 M ROOTS 102 M DELTA - 10 DELTA - 25 DELTA - 40 DELTA - 65 DELTA - 100 DELTA - 160 DELTA - 250 DELTA - 400 DELTA - 650 MAOP. PSIG 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 175 CAP. SCFH CAP. SCFH CAP. SCFH CAP. SCFH Weight Lb at 8 PSI at 30 PSI at 40 PSI at 50 PSI 750 1,220 1,700 2,300 3,000 4,100 7,630 10,640 16,720 21,310 35,900 57,700 85,100 153,000 1,330 2,130 3,450 5,320 8,500 13,280 21,250 34,500 53,100 2,620 4,180 6,800 10,460 16,730 26,150 41,840 68,000 104,600 3,200 5,100 8,320 12,800 20,480 32,000 51,200 83,210 128,030 3,780 6,050 9,840 15,140 24,230 37,860 60,570 98,440 151,410 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 66.0 95.0 176.0 224.0 440.0 9,000 15,100 21,100 33,200 48,200 69,300 114,500 168,400 11,100 18,500 25,900 40,600 59,100 84,900 140,300 206,800 13,100 21,900 30,600 48,100 70,000 100,000 166,100 244,800 32.0 42.0 54.0 70.0 90.0 475.0 675.0 1,050.0 4,500 5,500 6,600 26.0 2,410 2,350 3,500 4.5 Const. Material Al Al Al Al Al Al Al Al Al Al Cast Iron Cast Iron Cast Iron Cast Iron Al Al Al Al Al Cast Iron Cast Iron Cast Iron Cast Iron INLET 1.50" 1.50" 1.50" 1.50" 2" Flg. 2" Flg. 3" Flg. 3" Flg. 4" Flg. 4" Flg. 6" Flg. 6" Flg. 8" Flg. 8" Flg. 1.50" 1.50" 2" Flg. 3" Flg. 3" Flg. 4" Flg. 4" Flg. 6" Flg. 6" Flg. OUTLET 1.50" 1.50" 1.50" 1.50" 2" Flg. 2" Flg. 3" Flg. 3" Flg. 4" Flg. 4" Flg. 6" Flg. 6" Flg. 8" Flg. 8" Flg. 1.50" 1.50" 2" Flg. 3" Flg. 3" Flg. 4" Flg. 4" Flg. 6" Flg. 6" Flg.

Rotary Meters
Advantages/ Disadvantages
Advantages Compatible with Electronic Flow Measurement devices Range ability greater that 100:1 at high pressures Meter piping requirements allow for a small metering facility

Disadvantages Gas flow completely shut off it meter seizes Requires an upstream strainer Continuous high rates result in excessive wear Leakage at very low flow rates causes measurement errors

Turbine Meter (History)

The concept of turbine-meter measurement of fluid flow is not new. For many years, turbine meters have accurately measured liquid flows. Patents on turbine meters for air and gas measurement existed in the late 1800s. However, turbine devices were not applied practically to natural gas measurement until the 1950s. Improvements in the turbine meters design included externally lubricated ball bearing systems, lowfriction magnetic coupling mechanical output drives, advanced rotor designs, electronic outputs, calibration facilities, and techniques and auxiliary instrumentation such as on-line gas flow computers. The A.G.A. Transmission Measurement Committee Report No.7, entitled Measurement of Gas by Turbine Meters, published in 1985, provides a basis for design, operation, and maintenance activities associated with turbine-meter measurement.

Turbine Meters (Principle of Operation)

The principle of operation of the turbine meter is as follows: gas entering the turbine meter increases velocity as it flows through the annular passage formed by the nose cone or upstream stator and the interior wall of the body. Movement of this gas over angled rotor blades causes rotation of the rotor. The speed of the rotor is directly proportional to the average velocity of the gas through the meter. From the rotor rotation through a gear train and/or an electronic signal, a volumetric output is provided that is linear within specified error limits over the range of operation specified by the meter manufacturer.

Turbine Meter
Flow Equation AGA #7

Flow rate at Base Conditions, Qb Qb = (Qf)(Fpm)(Fpb)(Ftm)(Ftb)(s) Where; Qf : Flow rate at flowing condition Fpm: Pressure Factor Fpb : Pressure Base Factor Ftm : Flowing Temperature Factor Ftb : Pressure Base Factor s : Compressibility Factor

Turbine Meter
Recommended Installation Arrangement as per AGA#7

Turbine Meters
Advantages/ Disadvantages
Advantages Compatible with Electronic Flow Measurement devices Range-ability greater that 100:1 at high pressure Accuracy (error less than 0.65%) Small pressure drop across the meter Disadvantages Susceptible to damage from liquids and solids Requires upstream strainer Rotor friction at low flow rates can cause measurement errors Not cost effective at low pressure Requires over range protection

Orifice Meter (History)

The orifice has been in commercial use since the early 1900s. The device is used to create a differential pressure that relates to the velocity of the gas from which a flow rate can be calculated. Orifice measurement is a mature technology. Orifice flow coefficients were published in 1903, while the first documented installation of an orifice meter with a recorder was in 1911, and the first commercially available orifice meter was offered in 1915. Orifice measurement is guided by the standards of several organizations. Primary among these is the American Gas Association and the American Petroleum Institute. The AGA #3 report is the standard that provides guidelines for the construction and installation of orifice meters.

Orifice Meters (Principle of Operation)

An orifice meter is an inferential meter in which the fluid velocity and flowrate are inferred from the pressure drop occurring through the known area of an orifice plate. Specifically, orifice meter flow is calculated from the flowing;
gas pressure and temperature, differential pressure drop occurring across the restriction of the meters orifice plate, the meter geometry including the meter tubes inside diameter and orifice plate bore, and the gas composition.

Orifice Meter
Flow Equation AGA #3

Flow rate at Base Conditions, Qb Qb = (Qf)(Fpm)(Fpb)(Ftm)(Ftb)(s) Where; Qf : Flow rate at flowing condition Fpm: Pressure Factor Fpb : Pressure Base Factor Ftm : Flowing Temperature Factor Ftb : Pressure Base Factor s : Compressibility Factor

Orifice Meter
Recommended Installation Arrangement as per AGA#3

Orifice Meter
Components of Orifice Meters

Orifice Meter
Advantages/ Disadvantages
Advantages Compatible with Electronic Flow Measurement devices Accurate, repeatable, and proven Simple device Minimal operating costs Disadvantages Low range-ability Susceptible to errors if liquids presents in the gas streams High installation cost Pressure drop is relatively higher than other meter types

Ultra-Sonic Meters History

The original patent for an ultrasonic meter was issued in 1928, and development of the meter continued from the 1950s through the 1980s. The application of ultrasonic meters has increased steadily since the 1990s.

Ultra-Sonic Meters
Principle of Operation
An ultrasonic meter measures gas velocity by measuring the transit times of ultrasonic pulses sent between two transducers in the gas flow direction and against the gas flow direction. Custody transfer ultrasonic meters typically contain multiple pairs of transducers. Gas velocity and flow rate are then calculated using ; the transit time differences, gas composition, gas temperature, gas pressure, and meter geometry (path length between transducer pairs). Ultrasonic meter calculations are based on AGA Report No. 9, Measurement of Gas by Multipath Ultrasonic Meters, 1998, and AGA Report No. 10, Speed of Sound in Natural Gas and Other Related Hydrocarbon Gases.

Ultra-Sonic Flow Meter Run

A Typical Installation Scheme

Ultra-Sonic Flow Meter Functional Diagram

Ultra-Sonic Flow Meter Transmitters Arrangement

Ultra-Sonic Flow Meter Flow Equation

BF70 Ultrasonic flow meters measure the velocity of liquid or gaseous material by taking advantage of the travel time of the ultrasonic in a pipe. The medium flow rate can be achieved based on flow velocity, pipe sectional area and Reynolds number. There will be a pair of ultrasonic transducers A and B on the pipe, and the distance between A and B is the ultrasonic travel distance in the pipe. There are equations as follows:

Ts=L/ C+VCos and Tn=L/ C-Vcos V= L/2Cos (1/Ts-1/Tn)

where: C: ultrasonic traveling velocity in static fluid, and it varies with the fluid property, V: fluid velocity, : the included angle between ultrasonic travel route L and axes of the pipe. With ts and tn, mean velocity of the fluid can be counted out.

Ultra-sonic Meter
Advantages/ Disadvantages
Advantages Compatible with Electronic Flow Measurement devices Accurate, repeatable, and proven Simple device Minimal operating costs Disadvantages Low range-ability Susceptible to errors if liquids presents in the gas streams High installation cost Pressure drop is relatively higher than other meter types

SELECTING A METER
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
There are several basic considerations that should always be kept in mind when designing a gas metering station. These include:
Desired flow measurement accuracy, Range of flow rate or load, Quality and cleanliness of the gas, Limits on available space for the meter station installation, Available Service Utilities, Environmental or atmospheric conditions, Long-term maintenance requirements for the selected measurement equipment.