NATURAL GAS MEASURMENT (CONTD)

The method of measuring liquid or gas by

volume
is
referred
to
as
volumetric
measurement.
Producers account for gas in units of mcf
(1000 cu.ft)
The total mass of a substance in a cu ft of gas
depends partly on its absolute pressure (psia)
and partly on temperature (oR).
The American Petroleum Institute (API) and
American Gas Association (AGA), since 1967,
have used 14.73 psia and 60of (520oR) as their
standard (base) conditions.

ORIFICE METER
This is a type of differential pressure method of metering
gas
The orifice meters compound of two elements
Primary Element
Secondary Element

PRIMARY ELEMENT
The primary element is the differential pressureproducing device. It composed of the following
parts:
The meter tube a length of special pipe through
which the gas flows.
The orifice plate holding and positioning devicean orifice flange or an orifice filting installed as an
integral part of the meter tube to hold the orifice
plate in a position perpendicular and concentric to
the flow of gas.
The orifice plate- a flat circular plate with a
centrally bored, sharp-edged orifice machined to
an exact.

Predetermined
dimension
that
forms
a
calibrated restriction to the flow of gas through
the meter tube and is the source of the
differential.
Pressure taps Precisely located holes
through the pipe walls or orifice plate may be
measured.
Straightening vanes a device that may be
inserted in the upstream section of the meter
tube swirling in the gas stream.

SECONDARY ELEMENT
The secondary element is called the differential
gauge and is connected to the upstream and
downstream pressure taps of the primary
element.
It measures the differential pressure and static
pressure which are recorded on a circular chart.

BASIC ORIFICE METER EQUATION

From the general energy conservation equation
for any points in the meter tube

Vdp

udv

gc

g
dz w lw
gc

Where,
v = sepcific volume =
cu ft/ibm
p = pressure, ibf/sq ft
u = average linear flow velocity ft/sec
gc = conversion factor: 32.17 (ibm/ibf) (ft/sec2)
g = acceleration due to gravity ft/sec2
z = vertical distance above datum, ft
w = work done by flowing fluid, ft ibf/ibm
Lw = work energy lost due to frictional effect, ftibf/ibm.

BASIC ORIFICE METER EQUATION (CONTD)

From the assumption, dx = o, w = o

Vdp

du
U
O
gc

From the above equation, it can be shown that,

T
q 218. 59 b
Pb

C D22
1 4

hp

gT z

Therefore,

qg C1

hw p f

GENERALIZED ORIFICE FLOW EQUITATION

The generalized orifice flow equation is given as:

qh C 1

hw Pf

Where,
qg is the gas flow rate, scf/hr
hw is the differential pressure (in inches of water @ 60of)
pf is the static pressure (in psia)
CI is the orifice flow constant
hwT f Is the pressure extension.
This constant is a function of several other orifice
constants given by:
CI = (Fb) (Fr) (Y) (Fpb) (Ftb) (Fg) (Fpv) (Fm) (Ft) (Fa)

GENERALIZED ORIFICE FLOW EQUATION (CONTD)

Where
Fb = Basic orifice factor
Fr = Reynolds number factor (viscosity)
Y = Expansion factor
Fpb = Pressure base factor (14.73) contracted pressure base

Ftb = Temperature bases factor (Tb/520)

Ftf = Flowing temperature factor

Fg = Specitic gravity facator,

520 / 400 actual flow temperature

Fpv = Super compressibility factor

Zb

Fm = Manometer factor for me-cury meter.

Ft = Guage location factor
Fa = Orifice thermal expansion factor
= 1 + [0.000,018,5 (of 68)] 304 and 316 stainless steel

=1 + [0.000, 015, 9 (of 68)] monel

QUESTION ON METERING
Given an orifice meter equipped with flange taps with
static pressure from the down stream taps and the
following:
D1 = line size = 8.071 inches of actual 1D
D2 = orifice size = 1.000 inch
Flowing temperature = 65of
Ambient temperature = 70of
Pb = contract pressure base = 14.65 psia
Temperature base = 50of = 510.oR
g = Specific gravity = 0.570
Hw = total heating value = 999.1Btu cu.ft
Xn = mole fraction nitrogen content = 0.011
Xc = mole fraction of carbon (iv) oxide content = 0.000
Hw average differential head = 50 inches water
Pf = average downstream gauge pressure = 370 psia
Calculate the orifice flow constant and the quantity of

D2
1.000

0. 1239
D1
8.071
hw p f

50 x 370 14.65 138.64

From table A.22, for a 1 in plate in an 8.071 m 1D line

Fb 200.38
From Table A. 23, for a 1 in plate in an 8.071 in 1D line
b 0.0680
Fr

b
hw p f

0.0680
1
138.64

1 0.000 49 1.0005
From Table A.25 ( 2 for downstream static pressure ),
by int erpolating for hw / p f 0.1301 and 0.1239

1.0008

From Table A.31, for Pb 14.65

f pb 1.0055
From Table A. 32, for temperature base 50o f
Ftb 0.9808
From Table A.33, for flowing temperature 65o f
Ftb 0.9952
From Table A.34, for specific gravity 0.570
Fg 1.3245
From Table A. 35, Fpv 1
From Table A.35 (a ), Fpr 1.054
For Pf 370 psig , ambient temperature 70 o f and g 0.570,
by int erpolation ( Table A.36)
Fm 0.9993
Then the orifice flow cons tan t is
C 1 ( Fb ) ( Fr ) (Y ) ( Fpb ) ( Ftb ) ( Ftf ) ( Fg ) ( Fpv ) ( Fm ) ( Ft ) ( Fa )

C (200.38) (1.0005) (1.0008) (1.0055) 0.9808)

x (0.9952) (1.3245) (1.0254) (0.9993) 267.25
Thrn, the rate of flow for one hour
qh C

hw p f

267.25 50 x 384.4
37, 052 ft 3 / hr
37.05 Mscf / hr

CHART
Two principal types of chart are:
Uniform scale direct reading chart for differential
pressure line are spaced on equal distance
Square root chart reads the square root of the
percentage of the full scale range of the gauge.
DIRECT READING CHART
Circular charts for recordity the differential and
static pressure guages are usually 12 in. in
diameter
Scale ranges for fuel gas metering are given below.

Common differential pressure ranges, in. Common static pressure ranges,

of water

psig

0 to 10

0 to 100

0 to 20

0 to 250

0 to 50

0 to 500

0 to 100

0 to 1000

0 to 200

0 to 2500

SQUARE ROOT CHART

For this type of chart, a chart factor (CF) may be
defined as:
CF

MR
100

2
Actual pressure (CR x CF )

CR

10

Where, MR = Meter Range

CR = Chart Reading

x meter range

EXAMPLE ON CHART
Given that for a 50in by 100 Ib gauge, the differential pressure
gauge Rh = 50 in and static pressure; Rp = 100 psi. assume square
root chart readings; differential = 7.2 in and static = 9.4 psi.
Calculate the actual differential and static pressure.
SOLUTION
Differenti al pressure ,

chart reading

10

hw

x Rh

7.2

x 50 25.92 in.water
19
Static pressure
chart reading
pf

10

9.4

10

x Rp

x 100 88.36 psia

VENTURI METER
The venturi tube operates on exactly the same
principle as the orifice meter.
Discharge coefficients of venturi are larger than
those for orifices and vary from about 0.94 to
0.99.
It gives a definite improvement in power losses
over

an

orifice

and

is

often

indicated

for

measuring very large flow rates where power

losses can become economically significant.
The initial higher cost of a venturi over an orifice
may thus be offset by reduced operating costs.

INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION
Calibration entails the adjustment of a measurement
device so that the value from the measurement device
agrees with the value from a standard.
The international science organization (ISO) has
developed a number of standards specially directed to
calibration of measurement devices.
Within most companies, the responsibility for
calibration measurement device is delegated to a s
specific department.
The frequency of calibration is normally
predetermined but earlier action may be dictated if
the values from the measurement device become
suspected.
Calibration of some measurement devices involves
comparing the measured value with the value from
the working standard.

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