LP- Gas Flow Meter Calibration

[Chukwunonso]

Hello!

I want to ascertain if I can calibrate an LP- Gas liquid controls flow meter with water as medium.

 

[zdas04]

What kind of meter are you trying to "calibrate"?

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist

 

[Chukwunonso]

Thanks David. The flow meter is a "Positive Differential" type flow meter for LP- Gas metering.

 

[Chukwunonso]

Thanks ZDAS04. It is a "Positive Differential" type LP- Gas flow meter...

 

[LittleInch]

Just send us the data sheet or reference to the manufacturers website.

"Gas liquid controls flow meter " does not make sense.

I suspect that calibrating a gas meter with a liquid flow is a wholly bad idea, but it is difficult to tell. This would only get you part of the answer, i.e. the actual volume going through it, but the real issue is how the gas meter resolves the pressure and temperature issues to get to a standard figure.

How low pressure is Low pressure?

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[BigInch]

Liquid LPG meter as for Liquid Propane Gas, or is it a 2-phase gas/liquid?
If it is LPG, are you metering in a liquid phase, or a lower pressure gas phase, or both in any phase?

 

[Chukwunonso]

Thank you Littleinch,

Here is the URL;

http://www.lcmeter.com/en/Products/productPages/PD_Meters/MA-Series_Meters.html

It gives you all the Tech data you need.

Thank you once again.

 

[Chukwunonso]

Biginch,

It is a Butane Liquid phase Positive Differential meter.

 

[LittleInch]

Download the operating manual, see page 5. Water calibration seems to be allowed.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[bimr]

Every meter should be calibrated under actual service and installation conditions per the API Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards:
Chapter 4 - Proving Systems
Chapter 5 - Metering
Chapter 6 - Metering Assemblies
Chapter 11 Section 2.3 - Water Calibration of
Volumetric Provers
Chapter 12 Section 2 - Calculation of Petroleum Quantities

These chapters of the API Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards supersede the API Standard 1101. Provide a means of conveniently diverting liquid for calibration purposes.

What is the purpose for the calibration? If this is for a custody meter, you want to have an expert calibrate it. There are firms that specialize in calibration.

 

[danw2]

FYI,

Since the topic is calibrating a gas service meter with water, it might be of interest that Emerson contends that there is a case for calibrating gas service Coriolis meters with water:

White Paper: Applicability of water calibrations for gas service

partial snip:
Testing by numerous European and North American flow labs has confirmed the transferability of water calibration data on Micro Motion Coriolis meters to gas applications. Most notably testing sponsored by the Gas Research Institute in 2004 and documented
in report GRI-04/172 (see Figure 2), which covers water to gas transferability and wet gas performance of Coriolis meters. Conclusions in the report state, “The single fluid calibration tests show that a water calibration of a Coriolis mass flow meter can be used for natural gas applications without loss of accuracy”.

Industry testing has shown there is minimal benefit, from a calibration uncertainty perspective, in performing a gas calibration over a water calibration on Coriolis meters intended for gas measurement. Although this is the case, the user should review industry recommended
practices, standards, and regulatory requirements when establishing calibration policy for Coriolis.

Link to 6 page white paper:
Link

 

[georgeverghese]

I am no expert on flow meter calibration, but it looks like this is just an old fashioned gear meter, nothing fancy, and not a coriolis for sure.
Also, this posting for advice doesnt say if this meter is in custody or fiscal quality metering service or just operational quality metering service - does this make a difference ?

 

[Chukwunonso]

Thanks everyone!