Fluid flow measurement: a practical guide to accurate flow measurement

274 Pages·2002·13.81 MB·English

by  E. Loy Upp

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Fluid Flow
Measurement
A Practical Guide to
Accurate Flow
Measurement
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Fluid Flow
Measurement
A Practical Guide
to Accurate Flow
Measurement
Second Edition
E.L. Upp
Paul J. LaNasa
Boston Oxford Auckland Johannesburg Melbourne New Delhi
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Gulf Professional Publishing is an imprint of Butterworth(cid:150)Heinemann.
Copyright ' 2002 by Butterworth(cid:150)Heinemann
Amember of the Reed Elsevier group
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Fluid flow measurement: a practical guide to accurate flow measurement / E.L. Upp,
Paul J. LaNasa.
p.cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-88415-758-X (alk. Paper)
1. Fluid dynamic measurements. 2. Flow meters. I. LaNasa, Paul J., 1941- II. Title.
TA357.5.M43 U66 2001
681(cid:146).28(cid:151)dc21 2001030550
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Contents
Dedication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
CHAPTER 1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Chapter Overview, 1. Requisites of Flow Measurement, 2. Background
of Flow Measurement, 3. History of Flow Measurement, 4. Definition of
Terms, 6.
CHAPTER 2
Basic Flow Measurement Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Reynolds Number, 26. Gas Laws, 27. Expansion of Liquids, 31.
Fundamental Flow Equation, 32. References, 34.
CHAPTER 3
Types of Fluid Flow Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Custody Transfer, 36. Non-Custody Transfer Measurement, 46.
References, 47.
CHAPTER 4
Basic Reference Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
American Gas Association (AGA), 49. American Petroleum Institute
(API), 52. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), 63.
American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM), 64. Gas Processors
Association (GPA), 65. Instrument Society of America (ISA), 67.
CHAPTER 5
From Theory to Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
(cid:147)Ideal(cid:148) Installations, 73. Non-Ideal Installations, 74. Fluid
Characteristics Data, 74. References, 90.
CHAPTER 6
Fluids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Fluids(cid:151)Liquids and Gases, 91. Fluid Characteristics, 97. Liquids, 104.
References, 108.
v
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vi Fluid Flow Measurement
CHAPTER 7
Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Required Characteristics, 109, Measurement Units, 111, Installation
Requirements, 112, Flow Pattern, 113, References, 115.
CHAPTER 8
Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Operational Considerations, 116. Operational Influences on Gas
Measurement, 117. Uncertainty, 123. Other Fluid Flow Considerations, 132.
CHAPTER 9
Maintenance Meter Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
Gas Measurement Maintenance, 138. Effects of Liquids and Solids on
Orifice Measurement, 146. Effects on Other Meters, 149. General
Maintenance of Liquid Meters, 150. Specific Liquid Maintenance
Problems, 152.
CHAPTER 10
Measurement and Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154
Meter Characteristics, 154. Types of Meters, 156.
CHAPTER 11
Differential (Head) Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162
Orifice Meter, 164. Meter Design Changed, 165. Orifice Meter
Description, 169. Sizing, 170. Equations, 171. Maintenance, 174.
Flow Nozzles, 175. Venturi Meters, 178. Venturi Installation, 179.
Other Head Meters, 180.
CHAPTER 12
Linear and Special Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183
Non-Intrusive Meters, 184. Intrusive Linear Meters, 192. Other and
Special-Purpose Meters, 206. References, 211.
CHAPTER 13
Readouts and Related Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213
Electronics, 213. Related Devices, 215. Crude Oil Sampling, 221.
Natural Gas Sampling, 221. Calorimetry, 225. References, 225.
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Contents vii
CHAPTER 14
Proving Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226
Liquid Provers, 227. Gas Provers, 232. Critical Flow Provers, 233.
Central Test Facility, 234. References, 234.
CHAPTER 15
“Loss and Unaccounted for”Fluids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .236
Introduction, 235. Liquid, 236. Gas, 239.
CHAPTER 16
Auditing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .244
Introduction, 244. Gas Meters, 245. Liquid Meters, 245. Analysis
Equipment, 246. Audit Principles, 246. Objective, 247. Procedures,
247. Evidence, 248. Definitive Testing, 248. Sources of Information,
250. Contract Review, 250. Field Measurement Equipment Review, 251.
Data Review and Comparison, 251. Auditing Gas Measurement Systems,
252. Chart Review, 253. Auditing Liquid Measurement, 253. Finalizing
the Audit, 254. Conclusion, 254.
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .255
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viii Fluid Flow Measurement
Dedication
We dedicate this book to our families, particularly our wives, Carol
LaNasa and Ann Upp, who assumed most of the responsibilities in raising
our families while we worked and traveled in pursuit of our careers. And we
express deepest appreciation to the companies(cid:151)Tennessee Gas Pipeline,
The Boeing Company, Daniel Industries (now the Daniel Division of
Emerson Process Management), NuTech Industries, and CPL &
Associates(cid:151)whose assignments provided the opportunity for most of our
flow-measurement experience.
Also, we offer special appreciation to the Daniel Division of Emerson
Process Management, whose financial support allowed this book to be pub-
lished. For over 70 years, Daniel technical personnel have helped customers
solve flow-measurement problems. During this time it has become appar-
ent to us that good flow measurement is not a simple commodity to be se-
lected solely by comparing product specifications. Rather, successful flow
measurement results from application of good products with a full under-
standing of the equally important topics discussed in this book.
We subtitled the book (cid:147)Apractical guide to accurate flow measurement(cid:148)
and are quite confident that practical know-how comes only from a thor-
ough understanding of fluid flow basics coupled with extensive experience.
We have tried to share our experience and that of our peers through the ex-
amples and illustrations in the book. If our readers can make any contribu-
tion to reducing flow measurement uncertainties by application of the
book(cid:146)s information, we will feel more than amply rewarded for the time and
effort invested in writing it.
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Preface ix
Preface
As noted in the preceding Dedication, the tendency to make flow meas-
urement a highly theoretical and technical subject overlooks a basic tenet:
Practical application of meters, metering principles, and metering instru-
mentation and related equipment is the real key to quality measurement.
And that includes the regular maintenance by trained and experienced per-
sonnel with quality equipment required to keep flow-measurement systems
operating so as to achieve their full measurement potential.
We cannot begin to name the many friends who make up our background
of experience. They include the pioneers in flow measurement, flow-meas-
urement design engineers, operating personnel(cid:151)ranging from top-manage-
ment to the newest testers(cid:151)academic and research based engineers and
scientists, worldwide practitioners, theorists, and those just getting started
in the business.
Deepest appreciation goes to our friends at Daniel, especially Gene
Perkins, division president. Daniel(cid:146)s financial support and encouragement
to write without bias for or against any specific manufacturer made this
book possible.
Aspecial thanks to Patsye Roesler of Daniel, who typed from our notes
and multiple revisions (which we often had trouble deciphering ourselves),
and to Jim Anthony, who edited and made our Louisiana cajun readable to
the English-speaking public.
Our personal experience has been that explaining creates the most com-
plete comprehension. Standing in front of a (cid:147)class(cid:148) as a (cid:147)student(cid:148) asks for
an explanation of a point just covered, quickly and clearly separates what
you have learned by rote from that which you truly understand. One finds
out very rapidly what he really knows. Hopefully you will find that which
you need to know and understand.
Why another book on flow measurement? Several factors motivated us.
We have mentioned our emphasis on the practicalside of the subject. Another
reason is the large number of early retirements by experienced measurement
personnel. And a third consideration is the tendency to make our various
measurement standards (cid:147)technically defensible(cid:148)(cid:151)but confusing.
We felt simply that a practical guide could be a useful project.
In the material covering standards, the brief overviews are coupled with
our hope that interested readers will consult the documents and organiza-
tions listed for additional information. In the same vein, detailed theoretical
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x Fluid Flow Measurement
discussions are left to such excellent sources as the latest edition of the
Flow Measurement Engineering Handbook by R.W. Miller.Because of the
extent of such detailed information, we present only outlines along with ref-
erence information for the reader(cid:146)s use.
We hope that enough practical information will be found in this book to
help a reader analyze a flow problem to the extent that direction to the other
detailed references will become clear. We have tried to (cid:147)demystify(cid:148) flow
measurement by breaking the subject into simple sections and discussing
them in everyday terms. Each technology has its own terminology and jar-
gon; that(cid:146)s why you will find many definitions and explanations of terms in
the book.
In short, flow measurement is based on science, but successful applica-
tion depends largely on the art of the practitioner. Too frequently we blindly
follow the successful artist simply because (cid:147)that(cid:146)s the way we(cid:146)ve always
done it.(cid:148) Industry experience the world over shows, however, that under-
standing why something is done can almost always generate better flow
measurement.
REFERENCE
1. Miller, Richard W. 1996. Flow Measurement Engineering Handbook, Third
Edition.New York: McGraw-Hill.