AGA Report No.

7
Measurement of natural gas by turbine
meters

Presentation Content :1- Introduction .

2- Terminology .
3- Operating Conditions .
4- Meter Design Conditions .
5- Performance Requirements .
6- Individual Meter Tests .
7- Installation Specifications .
8- Meter Maintenance And Field
Verification Checks .

 Introduction
Turbine meters are inferential meters that measure flow by
counting the revolutions of a rotor, with blades, which turns in
proportion to the gas flow velocity. From the geometry and
dimensions of the rotor blades and flow channel, for a particular
turbine meter size and model, the gas volume at line conditions
can be inferred from counting the number of rotor revolutions.
The revolutions are transferred into digital readout or electronic
signals by some combination of mechanical gearing, generated
electronic or optical pulses, or frequency.

 Terminology
1- Designer
2- Manufacturer
3- User
4- K-Factor
5- MAOP
6- Reference Meter
7- Repeatability
8- Rangeability
9- Qmin , Qmax , Qi , Qt

 Operating Conditions
1- Gas Quality
2- Operating Pressures
3- Temperatures , Gas and Ambient ( -40
oC to 74 oC)
4- Effect of Gas Density
5- Gas Flow Rate Considerations
6- Upstream Piping and Flow Profiles

 Meter Design Conditions

1- Codes And Standards
2- Meter Body
o
o
o
o
o
o

Meter body end connections

Corrosion resistance
Meter lengths and bores
Pressure tap
Sealing
Miscellaneous

3- Meter Marking
4- Documentation

 Performance
Requirements

 Individual Meter Tests

1- 3.5

Integrity
Calibration
Test

Results
2- Leakage
o
3.5.1 Change
Test Gears
3- Calibration
o
3.5.2 K-Factor
3.1-Calibration
o
3.5.3 Meter Factors
Conditions
& Final Meter
o Factor
3.1.1 Reynolds Number
o
Rotor Factors For Dual-Rotor
o 3.5.4
3.1.2
- Density
o Meters
3.1.3 Calibration Gases
o
3.5.5
Meter Verification
Test
3.2
Calibration
Guidelines
4Test Reports
3.3
Calibration Configuration
5Quality
Assurance
3.4
Calibration
Facilities

 Installation Specifications
1- General Considerations
1.1 Flow Direction
1.2 Meter Orientation And Support
1.3 Meter Run Connections
1.4 Internal Surfaces
1.5 Temperature Well Location
1.6 Pressure Tap Location
1.7 Flow Conditioning

 Flow Conditioning

Tube Bundle Type Straightening

Vanes

 Flow Conditioning

Other External Flow Conditioners

 Flow Conditioning

Integral Flow Conditioners

 Installation Specifications
2- Recommended Installation
Configurations
2.1 Recommended Installation For InLine Meters

 Installation Specifications
2- Recommended Installation
Configurations
2.2 Optional Installation For In-Line
Meters
2.2.1 Short-Coupled Installation

 Installation Specifications
2- Recommended Installation
Configurations
2.2 Optimal Installation For In-Line
Meters
2.2.2 Close-Coupled Installation

 Installation Specifications
2- Recommended Installation
Configurations
2.2 Optimal Installation For In-Line
Meters
2.2.2 Suggested Installation For AngleBody Meters

 Installation Specifications
3- Environmental Considerations
3.1 Temperature
3.2 Vibration
3.3 Pulsations
3.4 Hydrate Formation And Liquid Slugs

 Installation Specifications
4- Associated Devices
4.1 Filtration and Strainers

4.2 Throttling Devices

 Installation Specifications
5- Precautionary Measures
5.1 Installation Residue
5.2 Valve Grease
5.3 Over-Range Effects
5.3.1 Run Pressurization
5.3.2 Blow Down Precautions
5.3.3 Flow Limiting Devices
6- Accessory Installation
6.1 Density Measurement Devices
6.2 Volume Correctors and

 Meter Maintenance And Field

Verification Checks
1- General
2- Visual Inspection
3- Cleaning And Oiling

4- Spin Time Test

5- Dual-Rotor Meter Field Checks
6- Retesting Considerations

 Appendix A

Single Rotor Turbine Meters

 Appendix A

Dual Rotor Turbine Meters

 Appendix B

Volumetric and Mass Flow

Measurement

 Appendix D

Meter Outputs and Adjustments

1- Change Gears

 Appendix D

Meter Outputs and Adjustments

2- K-Factor

 Appendix D

Meter Outputs and Adjustments

3- Meter Factor

 Appendix D

Meter Outputs and Adjustments

4- Final Meter Factor

 Appendix D

Meter Outputs and Adjustments

5- Rotor Factors For Dual-Rotor Meters

 Appendix E
Calibration Guidelines
1- Reynolds Number and Flow rate
Matching
2- Pressure and Flow rate Matching
3- Density and Reynolds Number
Matching
4- Density and Flow rate Matching

* Note : For many meters and service conditions ,

calibrating over the expected range of Reynolds

 Calibration Certificate