Gas

G Flow
Fl
Measurement
M
t
K l Stappert
Karl
St
t
Americas Flow Solutions Advisor
Emerson Process Management

Gas Flow Meter

T h l i Agenda
Technologies
A
d

Coriolis

Orifice

USM

PD / Rotary

Turbine

Orifice Meters - AGA3

Orifice Gas Metering STD

AGA3
Part 1 - Equations and Uncertainty
Pub: Sept 2012

Part 2 Specification and Installation

Pub: April 2000

Part 3 Natural Gas Applications

Pub: Sept 1992 (Under Revision)

Part 4 Background & Development

Pub: Sept 1992 (Under Revision)

Adopted by American
Petroleum Institute
Part of the Manual on Petroleum
Measurement Standards (MPMS)
API MPMS Chapter 14.3

Prescriptive Standard

Orifice Theory of Operation

Orifice Meter Tube

Orifice Meter Tube w/Tube Bundle

Orifice Meter Tube w/Flow Conditioner

Orifice Meter Tube

Diameter & Roughness

Dm

Dm < 12

Max Roughness < 300 micro inches, If Beta < 0.6

Max Roughness < 250 micro inches, If Beta > 0.6

Min Roughness > 34 micro inches

Dm > 12

Max Roughness < 600 micro inches

inches, If Beta < 0.6
06

Max Roughness < 500 micro inches, If Beta > 0.6

Min Roughness > 34 micro inches

Orifice Plate Specifications

Roughness < 50 micro inches

Flatness <(0.005(Dm-dm))

Bevel (45 Deg + 15 Deg)

Bore Thickness, Roundness, Eccentricity

dm
Dm

0.10 0.75

Orifice Reynolds Number

Ideal Profile Turbulent

VD
Re

Where: Re = Reynolds Number

= Density Flowing
V = Velocity
D = Pipe Diameter
= Viscosity

Re

D
Dnew

Orifice AGA3 Practical Uncertainty

2 Lower Beta

Minimum Beta Ratio 2 Pipe

d
0.45"

0.23
D 1.939"

Orifice
AGA3 Coefficient of Discharge
g Uncertainty
y
Coefficient of Discharge Uncertainty (Cd)

Re

VD

Where: Re = Reynolds Number

= Density Flowing
V = Velocity
D = Pipe Diameter
= Viscosity

Relative Change in Cd Uncertainty

w/Reynolds Number

Orifice
AGA3 Expansion
p
Factor ( Y ) Uncertainty
y
New Equation

Old Equation

P
4.0

N
P
3 f

Orifice Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

Disadvantages

Range Adjustable (plate change)

Well Documented in standards + .75%
Industry acceptance
Low unit capital cost
No moving parts
Dry
y calibration
ca b a o accep
acceptable
ab e
No limits on pressure, temp, and size
Mechanically robust
Volumetric / Mass Meter
Low Power
Field meter verification

Plate sealing ring incompatability

Pulsating Flow Over registration
Can not handle dirty processes
Low rangeability (single plate)
High Pressure Loss
Flow
o p
profile
o e&d
dirty
yp
process
ocess se
sensitiity
s y
Requires long meter tube/Flow Conditioner
Over-range partial loss of measurment
Potential service interruption
High
g Installation & OpEx
p
Can be damaged with high flow rates.

Approximately 3-1 Turndown single Beta

Approximately 28:1 turndown with plate changes over a Beta range of 0.2 to
0.6 (Custody Transfer Beta Range)

Approximately a 0.7% meter degrading rapidly when

Orifice diameters are > 0.45 (Approximately 0.225 beta on 2 Orifice)

Pressure decreases below 100 psia and DP increases above 50

H2O

Turndown = 3 when DP Max = 150 H20 and DP Min = 16 H20

150 H2O = 5.4 PSI

DPmax

3
DPlive

Turbine Meters - AGA7

Turbine Gas Metering

Recommended Practice

Revised December 2006

Significant Change

Calibration Should be
performed at flowing
density or flowing
Reynolds numbers

Performance Based
Specification

Turbine Theory of Operation

ACF

PulsesTurb
Pulses / ACF

Flow

SCF

Pf x Tb x Zb x
Pb x Tf x Zf

ACF

Where is the variability in the AGA7

Equation relative to Composition?

SCF

Pf x Tb x Zb x
Pb x Tf x Zf

ACF

How much does Zb vary with composition?

How much does Zf vary with composition?

How much does Compressibility Vary?

(Base Conditions)
Base Pressure

Compressibility Variance

Amarillo

0.9500

Gulf Coast
Ekofisk

0.9000

High CO2 N2
0.8500

High N2
Methane

0.8000

Air

0.7500
14
11
4
21
4
31
4
41
4
51
4
61
4
71
4
81
4
91
4
10
14
11
14
12
14
13
14
14
14

Co
ompressibilitty (Z)

1.0000

Pressure (psia)

Potential Error due to Compressibility

Variation @ Base Conditions (Natural Gas Mixtures)
Potential Error due to Compressibility Variation
(Natural Gas Mixtures)
12.00%
10.00%
Potential Error
Compressibility

6.00%
4.00%
2.00%

Base Pressure

91
4
10
14
11
14
12
14
13
14
14
14

81
4

71
4

61
4

51
4

41
4

31
4

21
4

11
4

0.00%
14

Error

8.00%

Pressure (psia)

Turbine - Design

Turbine Meter Tube

Turbine Meter Tube (Short Coupled)

Integral Flow Conditioning on

Nosecone

Turbine Meter Tube (Close Coupled)

Integral Flow Conditioning on

Nosecone

Turbine Calibration Issues

Turbine
meters
should be
calibrated at
flow density
or at flowing
y
Reynolds
Numbers
If a turbine
meter is
applied
li d att a
pressure
higher than
calibration
pressure the
th
meter will
over-register

3%

Re

VD

Turbine Calibration @ Atmospheric?

Lab Calibration Data Example

Turbine Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

Disadvantages

Good accuracy over linear flow range

Medium Accuracy + 1%
Electrical & Mechanical Output
Volumetric meter
Medium installation cost

High OpEX
Not fully accepted by industry
Can not tolerate dirty processes
Over-range = Damage = under registration
Flow calibration required at operating density or
Reynolds Number
Requires Oil
Moving parts (wear)
Over-registration & damage w/pulsations
(Calibration Regulation,
(Calibration,
Regulation Process)
Damaged by surging flows

Medium rangeability at high pressure

High Repeatability
Low to no power required

Medium to High Pressure Drop

Wet Calibration Required

Rotary Meters Theory of Operation

ANSI B109.3 for Rotary-Type Gas
Displacement Meters
Published 2000

SCF

Pf x Tb x Zb x
Pb x Tf x Zf

ACF

PD Meter Factor Effects

Slippage establishes
performance curve and driven
y
by

Accuracy Curve

Mechanical DP (bearing
friction)
Dominant at Low Flow

Hydraulic DP (flow, density,

viscosity)
Dominant at High Flow

Mechanical Clearance

Coatings and Deposits

Deposits reduce clearances
Cause significant changes in
meter factor
Debris abrasion

Debris

Rotary Advantage & Disadvantage

Advantages

Disadvantages

No upstream piping concerns

Medium Accuracy + 1%
High Rangeability (50:1)
High Repeatability
Medium pressure drop
Mechanical Output
Volumetric meter
Low installation cost

High OpEX
Not fully accepted by industry
Can not handle dirty processes
Over-range = Damage = under registration/lock-up
Flow calibration required
Requires Oil
Moving parts (wear)
Over-registration & damage w/pulsations
(Calibration, Regulation, Process)
Potential service interruption
Mechanical index drag

Low to no power required

No flow profile concerns

Ultrasonic Meters AGA9

Ultrasonic Gas Metering

Recommended Practice

Revised April 2007

Significant Change

Piping/flow
conditioning guidance
and profile
diagnostics

Performance Based
Specification

Ultrasonic Theory of Operation

V

T21 T12

T21 T12

L2
2X

Transducer 2
X

Flow

Transducer 1

Ultrasonic Flow Profile

A
B
C

Ultrasonic - Theory of Operation

Measure transit times

Calculate
C
l l t iindividual
di id l chord
h d
velocities

Weight chord velocities

Calculate average
g flow velocity
y

Calculate average volume

flow rate
SCF

Pf x Tb x Zb x
Pb x Tf x Zf

L2 t 21 - t12
V
2 X . t 21 . t12
Weight A = 0.1382
Weight B = 0.3618
Weight C = 0.3618
Weight D = 0.1382
4

V Vi (ri )Wi
i 1

Q Vi .

ACF

D 2
4

Ultrasonic Meter Tube

Daniel USM Gas Calibration (10 point)

All gas ultrasonic meters require a lab calibration

Ultrasonic Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

Disadvantages

Linear Meter
High Accuracy + 0.25%
0 25%
Volumetric meter
No moving parts
High rangeability
High Repeatability
Power requirement
No size limitation

Power Required
Medium Pressure Drop w/flow conditioner
Can not tolerate dirty processes
Over-range = loss of measurment
Possible Pulsation Error (Calibration,
Regulation Process)
Regulation,
Medium Dirty Process Tolerance
Profile Sensative
Wet Calibration Required

Low pressure drop w/o flow conditioner

Susceptible to valve noise

Low OpEx

High CapEx

Field meter verification

Diagnostic Capability

AGA Report No. 11 / API MPMS Ch. 14.9

Measurement of Natural Gas by Coriolis Meter

2nd Edition

API Standard

Published February 2013

Covers all single phase
natural gases as pure or a
mixture of hydrocarbons and
diluents
API MPMS Chapter 14.9

Recommended Practice

Specification, calibration,
installation, operation,
maintenance,, and verification

Coriolis Measurement Standards

for the Natural Gas Industry
y
Coriolis Gas Industry and International Standards

AGA11 & API 14.9

14 9

ASME MFC-11-2006

AGA6

ISO 10790

OMIL R137

Theory of operation -

Bent Tube Meter Design

Theory of Operation Pickoff Signals

No Flow (Top View)

Zero Stability

Coriolis Flow Performance

Zero Stability
HC3 Performance w/Zero Stability
2.00
1.50
1.00

Error %
E

0.50
0.00
-0.50
-1.00
-1.50
-2.00

MMCFD

Theory of Operation Pickoff Signals

Flow (Top View)

Coriolis Accuracy Specification

Zero Stability and Flat Spec

HC3 Performance w/Zero Stability & Flat Spec

2.00

Qt ZeroStability / FlatSpec
Qt 136.4(kg / hr ) / 0.35%
Qt 0.136(tons / hr ) / 0.0035
Qt 39tons / hr

1.50
1.00
0.50
Error %

Example
Calculation of Qt
HC3

0.00
0 50
-0.50
-1.00
-1.50
-2.00
tons/Hr

Direct Density Measurement

Density measurement is based on the natural frequency

As the mass increases, the natural frequency of the system

decreases.
As the mass decreases, the natural frequency of the system
increases.

Tube period decreases

Tube period increases

Theory
y of Operation
p
- Density
y

Density calibration is performed at the factory on air and water.

Tube period of air (K1) 10484

Tube period of water (K2) 10966
Density of air (D1) 0.0010
Tube Period = 10817
Density of water (D2) 0.9982 Density = 0.6871 g/cm3
Temperature coefficient 4.39

The transmitter
Th
t
itt automatically
t
ti ll performs
f
a calculation based upon the data points
stored in its memory during calibration.

Field calibrations can also be performed

using air, water, or alternate fluids
depending on the density span desired.

Theory
y of Operation
p
Densityy & Pickoff Signal
g

Density Accuracy
+/- 0.0005 gm/cc

Water Density = 1 gm/cc

(potential error = 0.05%)

Natural Gas Density @

500 psi = 0.0272 gm/cc
(potential error 1.8%)

Coriolis Theory of Operation (Pressure)

Flow Pressure Effect:

F Series

Elite Series

The linear change in sensors indicated flow due to the

change in internal pressure on the flow tube

Coriolis - Flow Pressure Effect

Potential Error w/o Pressure Correction

(Natural Gas)

Coriolis Attributes
Help Gas Industry Achieve Initiatives

Calibration directly transfers across fluid

range

Reynolds Number

Calibration independent of fluid phase

Asymmetrical Profile

Reduced meter flow calibration and verification

costs

Reduction in measurement uncertainty

caused by field operating conditions

Swirl
A c t u a l v e lo c ity

No flow conditioning or special piping requirements

Insensitive to profile change

High immunity to errors and damage due to flow

surges, pulsations, and flow turbulence / noise

Reduction in measurement uncertainty due to

process condition and fluid composition variability

Pulsating Flow

Coriolis Standard Volume Calculations

Mass
SCF
FP

SCF

SCF

Mass

Pb x Mr (Gas)

Zb x R x Tb

Mass

Gr

(Gas)

FP

FP

(Air)

AGA8 Detail

AGA8 Gross 1 or 2

AGA11 - Installation Best Practices

Piping Alignment and Support

Proper weight support

Meter flow tube case is

sacred ground

No sagging pipes
Piping supports installed near
upstream and downstream
flanges of meter

Case should not be used to

support the meter or other
equipment

Proper alignment of piping

& flanges

Use of fabrication spool piece

when fabricating piping in the
field (slip-fit desired)

AGA11 - Installation Best Practices

Orientation & Piping Requirements (Gas)

No special upstream or
downstream piping requirements

Flow Tubes up on gas preferred

Flow Tubes in flag position with

flow direction down preferred
(WET GAS!!!)

Coriolis Advantage & Disadvantage

Advantages

Disadvantages

No upstream piping concerns

High Accuracy + 0.25%
High Rangeability @ HP (50:1)
High Reproducibility
Field meter verification
Water calibration Xfers to gas
(High immunity to pulsation error
High immunity to dirty processes
Low installation cost
No over-range
Low OpEx

Power Required
Not fully accepted by industry
Not a volumetric technology
Medium to high pressure drop
Medium repeatability
Loss of turndown in low pressures < 100 psi

Process & Performance

Diagnostics
No wearing parts