Acadiana Flow Measurement SchoolLafayette, LAApril 17- 18, 2007
RAISING PERFORMANCE. TOGETHERTM
Liquid UltrasonicFlow Meters
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
RAISING PERFORMANCE. TOGETHERTM
Liquid Ultrasonic Meter with Integral TransmitterLiquid Ultrasonic Meter with Integral Transmitter
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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TransTrans--Alaska PipelineAlaska PipelineFirst Multi-path Ultrasonic Flow Meters for Liquid Petroleum Measurement
Application: Line Balance
Pipeline Length: ~ 800 miles
Number of Meters: 23
Size: 48 inch
Rate: ~ 100,000 BPH
Date Installed: 1976
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Creating Ultrasonic Sound Creating Ultrasonic Sound Piezoelectric Phenomenon
Crystal Rings to Produce Ultrasound – 0.5 to 2 MHz
-1
-0.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
3.20E-05 3.30E-05 3.40E-05 3.50E-05 3.60E-05 3.70E-05 3.80E-05 3.90E-05 4.00E-05
Voltage+
-
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Sound Wave Converted to Voltage
-1
-0.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
3.20E-05 3.30E-05 3.40E-05 3.50E-05 3.60E-05 3.70E-05 3.80E-05 3.90E-05 4.00E-05Voltage
Sound
+
-
Sensing Ultrasonic SoundSensing Ultrasonic SoundPiezoelectric Phenomenon
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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TransitTransit Time FlowmetersTime Flowmeters
Tup = L/(C-V cosθ)
Tdown = L/(C+V cosθ)
Where: L = Path LengthC = Speed of Sound in the fluidθ = Angle of sound path to the pipe axisV = Average velocity along the pipe axis
The solution for fluid velocity is independent of the speed of sound (C)
θ2cos )T(TLV
du •
• ∆Τ=
Tup
Tdown
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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PP11PP22PP33PP44
Differential Transit TimeDifferential Transit Time
Spool
Signal Processing unit
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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WettedWetted Transducers Transducers –– No RefractionNo Refraction
Caldon LEFM 240C
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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AccousticAccoustic Transducer Housings and RTDTransducer Housings and RTDCaldon LEFM 240C
Transducer Housings
RTD Temperature Probe
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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AccousticAccoustic Transducer AssemblyTransducer Assembly
Spacer Spring
Transducer HousingCompression Nut
Weld
Transducer
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Chordal Acoustic Paths and Flow ProfileChordal Acoustic Paths and Flow Profile
( ) φCosTTTPathLengthPnV
downup •∆•
=2
)(
Velocity of Each Path
AVkQ ii
bi •= ∑=
4
1
Integration into a Flow Measurement60-70 times per second
P1
P2
P3
P4
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
RAISING PERFORMANCE. TOGETHERTM
Frequency Generator
Pulse FormationPulse Formation
AVkQ ii
bi •= ∑=
4
1
1/60 Sec
1/60 Sec
1/60 Sec
1/60 Sec
Continuous Pulse Output
1/60 Sec
1/60 Sec
1/60 Sec
1/60 Sec
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Transmitter(Signal Processing Unit)
Power: 24 Vdc, 120 Vac, 240 Vac
3 Pulse Channels: 0 – 5 V
Serial: ModBus RTU Up to 4 Analogs
Out:Flow Rate
DensityTemperature
Viscosity
Flow
Up to 3 Analogs In:Temperature
PressureDensity
Transmitter (Signal Processing Unit) Transmitter (Signal Processing Unit) Inputs and Output
Interconnect Cables
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Meter PricesMeter Prices
Exp
ense
($)
Increasing uncertainty
Cost of metering system
Financial exposure
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Meter Measurement UncertaintyMeter Measurement Uncertainty
Application Typical Uncertainty
Line Balance or Check Metering +/- 0.3 to 0.5%
Custody Transfer +/- 0.15 to 0.25%
Master Meter +/- 0.1 to 0.12%
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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TwoTwo--Path MeterPath MeterLine Balance and Check Metering
Major CharacteristicsStabilityReproducibilityReliabilityBidirectional Flow Economy
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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FourFour--Path MeterPath MeterCustody Transfer Measurement
Major CharacteristicsPrecision Accuracy LinearityStabilityBidirectional FlowProvability
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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EightEight--Path MeterPath MeterPremium Custody Transfer and Master Meter Measurement
Major CharacteristicsPremium Accuracy Immune to Installation Effects Total RedundancyBidirectional FlowMaster Meter
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Meter Installation and Flow Conditioning Meter Installation and Flow Conditioning
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Horizontal Meter Orientation Horizontal Meter Orientation
Avoids: Gas Interference at the Top of the Pipe Particles/Water at the bottom of the Pipe
Horizontal Acoustic Paths
Gas
Water/particles
ChordalPaths
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Proving Ultrasonic Flow Meters Proving Ultrasonic Flow Meters
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Theory of Proving Theory of Proving Flow
Known Volume
Meter Displacer Detectors
• Pipe/Displacer/Detectors
• Known volume (undisputed)
• 1st Mile long prover in USA 1958
• Modern provers
– Bidirectional– Unidirectional– Small Volume
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Theory of Proving
Comparison of the Meter’s Registration and to a Known Volume (Standard) to Determine a Meter Factor
The Comparison is Made Several Times and the Repeatability Measured
The Conditions at the Time are Recorded
The Process is Called Proving
)()(
metervolumeindicatedprovervolumeactualFactorMeter =
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
RAISING PERFORMANCE. TOGETHERTM
Repeatability of Ultrasonic Flow MetersRepeatability of Ultrasonic Flow Meters
Vortices formed by viscous shear Against the pipe wall
Standard Deviation of Transit Time Measurement Between 1% and 2%
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
RAISING PERFORMANCE. TOGETHERTM
API Chapter 4.8, Appendix A
Proving Runs
Repeatability Limit
Meter Factor Uncertainty
3 0.02 2.7/10,000
4 0.03 2.7/10,000
5 0.05 2.7/10,000
6 0.06 2.7/10,000
7 0.08 2.7/10,000
8 0.09 2.7/10,000
9 0.10 2.7/10,000
10 0.12 2.7/10,000
11 0.13 2.7/10,000
12 0.14 2.7/10,000
13 0.15 2.7/10,000
14 0.16 2.7/10,000
15 0.17 2.7/10,000
16 0.18 2.7/10,000
17 0.19 2.7/10,000
18 0.20 2.7/10,000
19 0.21 2.7/10,000
20 0.22 2.7/10,000
Repeatability of Proving RunsRepeatability of Proving Runs
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Prover Size and Proving RepeatabilityProver Size and Proving Repeatability
Prover Volume vs Meter Size
5 Runs 0.05% 8 Runs 0.09% 10 Runs 0.12% 15 Runs 0.17%
Prover Size (bbl)4 33 15 10 6
6 73 34 22 14
8 130 60 40 25
10 203 94 62 39
12 293 135 89 56
14 399 184 121 77
16 521 241 158 100
Meter Size (in.)
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Prover Size and Repeatability Prover Size and Repeatability –– Small Volume ProversSmall Volume Provers
Proving Runs and Passes per Run5 Runs, 1 Pass per Run
5 Runs, 5 Passes per Run
5 Runs, 10 Passes per Run
10 Runs, 1 Pass per Run
10 Runs, 5 Passes per Run
10 Runs, 10 Passes per Run
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Small Volume Prover Small Volume Prover Proving ReportProving Report
3 Passes per Run,
5 Runs Repeat within
0.05%
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Manufactured Pulses Delay and Dampening
Fundamental Pulse Delay or Sampling Period (PD)Dampening Filter Time Constant (DT)Proving Run Time (PT)Flow Rate Change (%) during the Prove Run (RC)
Time
PDDT DT DT
PT
Flow
R
ate
RC
Erroneous Indication of
Volume due to PD and DT
PTDTPDRCError )((%) +
≤
Example:
.5%(0.020+0.100)/0.500 = 1.2% Error
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Meter CharacterizationMeter Characterization
Improves meter accuracy by compensating for non-linearity of raw Meter Factor for varying Reynolds Number (Re)
Meter is calibrated in a laboratory on liquids and flow rates that most closely match the application Re
Because the meter directly measures the flow rate and viscosity, it knows the current Re and make the appropriate correction
νQDRe =
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
RAISING PERFORMANCE. TOGETHERTM
OIML Specification OIML Specification –– R117 LinearityR117 Linearity
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
RAISING PERFORMANCE. TOGETHERTM
OIML Specification OIML Specification –– R117 Linearity R117 Linearity
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
RAISING PERFORMANCE. TOGETHERTM
API Chapter 5.8API Chapter 5.8
Recommend Practices for the Custody Transfer Measurement of
Liquid Petroleum
Recommend Practices for the Custody Transfer Measurement of
Liquid Petroleum
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
RAISING PERFORMANCE. TOGETHERTM
Meter Calibration versus In-situ Proving
API MPMS Chapter 5.8
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
RAISING PERFORMANCE. TOGETHERTM
White Rose FPSO Meters at SPSE, FranceWhite Rose FPSO Meters at SPSE, France
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
RAISING PERFORMANCE. TOGETHERTM
Husky Oil – Crude Oil Metering System - White Rose FPSO
Measurement System Measurement System -- Master MeterMaster Meter
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
RAISING PERFORMANCE. TOGETHERTM
International Organization for International Organization for Legal Metrology Legal Metrology
OIML R 117A Series of Tests to Insure Operation and Performance Suitable for Custody Transfer Measurement
OIML R 117A Series of Tests to Insure Operation and Performance Suitable for Custody Transfer Measurement
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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OIML Performance Specification OIML Performance Specification –– R117R117
Additional Requirements:
• Sealing and Password Protection
• Dry Heat
• Power Voltage Variations
• Short Time Power Reductions
• Electrostatic Bursts
• Electromagnetic Susceptibility
• Tampering
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Certification by a third Party (NMi) that the Meter Meets the Requirements
Certification by a third Party (NMi) that the Meter Meets the Requirements
LEFM 240C
LEFM 220C
OIML ROIML R--117 Certification117 Certification
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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Advantages of Ultrasonic Flow MetersAdvantages of Ultrasonic Flow Meters• Simplicity of Measurement System
– Large Size Meters – Smaller Systems – Fewer Components
• Reduced Cost of Measurement & Ownership– No Wearing Parts– Low ΔP– Less Proving
• Multi-property Measurement– Density– Viscosity– Temperature– VOS– Diagnostics, etc.
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
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In a NutshellValue of Ultrasonic Meters
• Simplest Measurement Solution
• Lowest Cost – CAPEX & OPEX
• Not Just a Flow Meter