Ultrasonic Gas Flow Meters

Daniel Measurement and Control

Houston, Texas

Measurement & Control

 Presentation Outline

Introduction
Ultrasonic Flow Meter Fundamentals
Using and Buying Ultrasonic Flow Meters
Information and Diagnostic Functions
AGA-9 : An Ultrasonic Standard

Measurement & Control

 Introduction

Measurement & Control

 History of Ultrasonic Meters
z Liquid Meters Evolved First
z Gas Flow Meters Use Transit Time
Technique
z Commercially Introduced In the Mid-
80's
z High Accuracy Meters Introduced Into
the U.S. in 1993

Measurement & Control

Significance of Ultrasonic Meters

Why are they different?

Ultrasonic meters are the first "electronic"

measuring device proposed for custody
transfer ever!

Measurement & Control

Fundamentals of Ultrasonic
Flow Meters

Measurement & Control

 Ultrasonic Transducer
Backing
Case
Material

Electrical Matching
Leads Piezoelectric Layer(s)
Disk

120 KHz In

24V Input Voltage Output

120 KHz Out

Measurement & Control

Transit Time Measurement
Intrinsically Safe Transducer Signal Loop

Pulser Receive Detector

120 kHz
Ultrasonic Signal
( Well Above Control Valve Interference at 60 kHz)
Clock

100 MHz Oscillator

Measurement & Control

 Ultrasonic Flow Meter
Transit Time .004
X

Flow D
L

Transit Time .007 .003

Measurement & Control
 Flow Equations
Any pair of transducers

L
tup = X

c - v(x/L)
Flow D
L

L
tdn =
c + v(x/L)

Measurement & Control

 Flow Equations
Flow is determined from transit times

2
L (t1-t2)
v=
2x t1t2 v = flow velocity
c = speed of sound
L (t1+t2)
c= t1 = upstream transit time
2 t1t2 t2 = downstream transit time

Measurement & Control

 Flow Velocity Measurement
Flowrate derived from velocity and area measurement

Flowrate = Velocity times Area

Measurement & Control

 SeniorSonic Calculation
Multipath means multiple velocity measurements!

A
2
B L (t1 -t2 )
Vn = 2x (t1 t2 )
C
4
D Σ Wn Vn
Vavg = n=1
Multipath Meter

Measurement & Control

Geometric Weighting Factors
Fixed factors depend on geometry only!

A
Wa= 0.1382
B
Wb= 0.3618
C
Wc = 0.3618
D Wd= 0.1382
Multipath Meter

Measurement & Control

Multipath Flowrate Calculation
Steps to determining flowrate

Measure transit times for each path

Calculate velocity for each path
Calculate "average" velocity
Multiply velocity by meter body area

Measurement & Control

 Flow Rate Calculations

z Flow Rate is Determined from Velocity

Measurement
z All Flow Information is Dependent on
Correct Transit Time Measurement
z Transit Time Measurements are
Performed by Electronic Means

Measurement & Control

 Signal Detection
Threshold Detection - Analog Technique
Voltage

Time (usec)

Measurement & Control

 Signal Detection
Threshold Detection - Analog Technique
Voltage

Time (usec)

Measurement & Control

 Ultrasonic Trace
Single transducer pair - low flow
300

250

200

150

100

50

-50

-100
Downstream Upstream

Measurement & Control

 Ultrasonic Traces
Single transducer pair - high flow
250

200

150

100

50

-50

-100

-150
Downstream Upstream

Measurement & Control

Using and Selecting Ultrasonic
Flow Meters

Measurement & Control

Sizing Charts : Maximum Flowrate
Schedule 40, ANSI/ASME B36.10M
1200
8"
1000 10"
Flowrate (MMSCFD)

12"
800 16"

600

400

200

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Pressure (psig)
Measurement & Control
 Range of Measurement
1000

100
Q (MMSCFD)

10

1 6" Maximum
6" Minimum
6" Extended

0.1
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500
Pressure (PSI)
Measurement & Control
 Types of Ultrasonic Meters
All use Transit Time Measurements

UltraTap Gas Flow Meter

 Single-path, hot tapped devices
JuniorSonic Gas Flow Meter
 Single- or dual-path spooled devices
SeniorSonic Gas Flow Meter
 Multipath spooled devices
 Intended for custody transfer

Measurement & Control

 SeniorSonic Gas Flow Meter

z Highest Accuracy Available

z Custody Transfer Devices
z Multiple Paths Sample Velocity Profile
z Multiple Paths Provide Redundancy
z Precision Design and Manufacturing
Control

Measurement & Control

 SeniorSonic Options
Transducer Configuration
 Direct Mount
 Extractable Under Pressure
Diagnostics and Logging
 3405 Remote Frequency Interface
 UFI Card

Measurement & Control

JuniorSonic Gas Flow Meter
Single or Dual Path Configuration
Spooled Body
Intended for Non-custody transfer
applications
Lower cost than the SeniorSonic
Ideal for new installations
Suitable for wet gas service

Measurement & Control

 JuniorSonic Options
z Transducer Configuration
z Complete with spool piece
z Single or Dual Path configuration
z Extractable transducers available
z Diagnostics and Logging
z UFI Card
z 3405 Remote Frequency Interface

Measurement & Control

 UltraTap Gas Flow Meter

Main Use is Balance in Existing Mainline

Transmission Systems
Popular for Use Near Compressors
 Linear Devices
 Pulsation Tolerant
Non-Custody Transfer Devices
Cost is Independent of Line Size
Measurement & Control
 UltraTap Options
Installation Location
Surface
Underground or Buried
Ball Valve sizes 2" or 3"
Electronics options UFI or 34

Measurement & Control

Benefits of Selecting Daniel
Ultrasonic Gas Flow Meters

Measurement & Control

 Complete Manufacturing
Capability
All meters are fully manufactured by Dan
 No fabricators or "job shops" involved
 Total quality control
Complete measurement solutions availa
 Flow tubes and valves
 Electronics
 Measurement expertise
Measurement & Control
 Manufactured to American
Standards
Manufactured and Engineered in the United
States
Conform to Underwriters Laboratory
standards
Local control over design and manufacturin
Easily interfaced to U.S. made flow
computers and electronics

Measurement & Control

 Superior Customer Service
z Meter start-ups by qualified Daniel
personnel
z Ultrasonic flow meter specialists

z Full technical support from Houston

z 24-hour, toll free number for support

Measurement & Control

 Technically Superior Design
SeniorSonic "patented" design
 Over 15 years of design testing
 No flow profile corrections needed
 No "Matrix" manipulation of non-linear data
 Intrinsically safe transducer design
 Modbus interface is industry standard
 No hidden or proprietary algorithms

Measurement & Control

 Superior Electronics Design

z Mark II Electronics used on all models

z Immediate alarming of all possible problems
z Each path status is polled
z Each velocity calculation is shown
z No hidden path failures!
z UL certified and listed
z Intrinsically safe transducer design
z Advanced noise algorithms

Measurement & Control

Information and Diagnostic Functions

Measurement & Control

 Flow Measurement Data
Normally Polled From Ultrasonic Meter

Flowrate
Accumulated Volumes
Alarm Status (Quality)
Reset Value
Flow Direction

Measurement & Control

Other Flow Measurement Data
Secondary Measurements

Gas Velocity
Individual Path Gas Velocities
Temperature
Pressure
Composition

Measurement & Control

 Transit Time Data
Available for Alarming

Individual Transit Times

Statistical Information
 Batch Statistics
Limits may be Set
Pulsations may be Detected
Low Flow Cut-offs

Measurement & Control

Common Diagnostic Information
Speed of Sound Measurements
Amplifier Gas (Signal Level)
Ultrasonic Noise Levels
Signal Quality
Signal Rejection Levels (%)
Data Distribution (Statistics)

Measurement & Control

Polling Ultrasonic Meter Data

Direct Digital Links to Meter

"Pulse" or Frequency Method

 Allows Turbine Meter Replacement

Analog Proportional Output

Measurement & Control

 Direct Digital Installation

P T
2500 2522 / 3330
Flow

RS 485
RS 232

Measurement & Control

Ultrasonic Custody Transfer
Standard

Measurement & Control

 AGA - 9
Measurement of Gas by Ultrasonic Meters

Measurement & Control

 AGA Report No. 9
Meter Requirements

Allows for Demonstrated Dry Calibration

Flow Conditioning is accomodated but not

required

Engineering Specifications are Included

Performance Envelope is Specified

Measurement & Control

 AGA Report No. 9
Electronic Specifications

Electronic Alarms Must be Available

Diagnostic Information Must be Available
Flow Computer Computations are Specifie
Documentation is Specified
OIML R6 and D11 are Referenced
 Dependent upon IEC Publications
Measurement & Control