TESTING THE PERFORMANCE OF ULTRASONIC SINGLE PATH HOT-TAP FLOW METERS |
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| G. J. van Essen, S. Bakker, H. J. Dane |
- Abstract:
- In its gas transmission system Gasunie Transport Services (in this paper further called “Gasunie”) uses hot-tap single path ultrasonic meters for process control purposes. For these meters, a number of minimal requirements has been established, relating to meter performance (accuracy, response time, reliability, output signals), operating conditions (gas properties, mechanical, environmental and safety requirements) and documentation (manufacturing log, hot-tap procedures).
For many of these requirements it can be determined relatively easy whether or not they are met. However, in most practical situations, the accuracy and response time of a hot-tap meter cannot be determined. Since accuracy and response time are important properties for applications in the systems of Gasunie, it was decided to set up a test program. At the Gasunie Research test and calibration facility in Westerbork (the Bernoullilab), it is possible to carry out a hot-tap installation of an ultrasonic meter under high pressure conditions (up to 65 bar) and to calibrate this meter against the Dutch high pressure flow standards.
Six manufacturers were invited for the testing of a single path 12” hot-tap ultrasonic flow meter. Three of these manufacturers (Instromet, Panametrics, Ultraflux) have offered a single reflection path meter. In the last three years (2000 to 2003) these meters have been tested at the Bernoullilab. The hot-tap activities have resulted in a spool piece with two nozzles and valves on which the insertion mechanisms for the transducers can be mounted. All three manufacturers us ed the same spool piece for the installation of their meter.
The purpose of the test was to answer the following questions:
- What is the quality of the hot-tap and installation procedures of the manufacturer?
- What is the accuracy of single path ultrasonic meters “in practice” ?
- What is the accuracy of the meters when the gas flow is disturbed by swirl?
- What is the effect on the accuracy of a disturbance at 20D and 30D?
- What is the dynamic response of the meter to changes of the flow?
- What is the effect on the accuracy of a single path ultrasonic meter when the transducers are not accurately positioned in the pipe (for example as a consequence of inaccurate procedures)? - Download:
- IMEKO-TC9-2003-021.pdf
- DOI:
- -
- Event details
- IMEKO TC:
- TC9
- Event name:
- FLOMEKO 2003
- Title:
- 11th Conference on Flow Measurement
- Place:
- Groningen, NETHERLANDS
- Time:
- 12 May 2003 - 14 May 2003