Abridged Operating Procedure

AOP-12, Rev AG
February 3, 2023

Calibration
Abridged Operating Procedure

Emerson Classification: Internal 
 Table of Contents

Process Overview
Customer Specific Requirements
Calibration Equipment
Training
Witnessing the Calibration Process
Coriolis Instrument Specific Requirements (if applicable)

Industry Standards

ISO/IEC 17025 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and

Calibration Laboratories
API Chapter 5 Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Coriolis Meters
ASME/ANSI MFC-6M Measurement of Fluid Flow in Pipes Using Vortex
Flowmeters

NOTE: Per ISO 9001, Clause 2, undated references indicate that the latest revision applies.

Process Overview
Emerson manufactures precision flow meters designed and built-in accordance with ASME
B31.3 and calibrated on Emerson calibration stands that are ISO/IEC 17025 accredited,
partially accredited, or actively pursuing accreditation and fully traceable to international
system of units. Emerson operates multiple global flow calibration centers with locations in the
Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East to support customers locally.

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Customer Specific Requirements

Project:

Emerson Base Models Quoted:

Project Specification:
Emerson has performed a gap analysis for the revision of the project specification above (see
relevant Assumptions and Deviations sheet) and confirms that our standard processes meet all
the technical requirements of the project specification, if the following Deviations and/or
Engineer to Order (ETO’s) have been ordered in the product Model Code:

Approved Deviations to Project Specification:

Required Engineer to Order (ETO’s):

Clarifications or Notes:

 
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Calibration Equipment
Emerson Flow Solution currently maintains Transfer Standard Method (TSM) flow calibration
stands and gravimetric flow calibration stands. Because of certain local, legal metrology
requirements, some of these systems are a hybrid that contains both TSM and gravimetric
calibration methods. There are the two calibration techniques used, Static Start/Finish and
Dynamic Start/ Finish. Each stand is custom built to Emerson specifications and requirements
and is maintained by Emerson’s professional staff of calibration engineers.

Static Start/Finish (SSF) is a calibration method where the calibration batch begins and ends at
a no flow condition. At Emerson the reference for SSF method is weighing scales.

The test fluid is water which is collected in a tank. The tank is placed on a scale so that the
mass of the water is determined. Fluid pressure and temperature are measured both upstream
and downstream of the unit under test (UUT). Additionally, ambient pressure, temperature and
humidity are measured during each test.

Batch Flow
Valve Control

Drain
Valve
Batch
Tank
Block Block
Valve FLOW
Valve
Scale
UUT

T1 T2
P1 P2
Supply
Tank

Calibration Control / Data

Computer Acquisition
System

Frequency
Controlled
Pump

Fig.1. Gravimetric Static Start/ Finish (SSF a general diagram)

Dynamic/Start-Finish (DSF) is a calibration method where the calibration batch begins and
ends at steady state flow. At Emerson the reference used for the DSF can be weighing scale,
reference meter, or prover.

 
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Dynamic Start/Finish method with Diverter
Diverters are used to switch the liquid flow into the collection tank when starting a
measurement and to switch it back to the bypass loop at the end of the measurement by
cutting a liquid jet from a nozzle. With this technique, a water flow is established in the line in
which the UUT to be calibrated has been installed. The flow through the line is allowed to
stabilize while re-circulating to a reservoir. When stability is achieved, the flow is diverted into a
collection tank simultaneously with the initiation of totalizing of the pulse output of the UUT.
When the desired amount of water has been collected, the flow is diverted back to the
reservoir and the totalizing of the meter pulse ceases. To accommodate the collection tank
capacity and corresponding weighing system, various size calibration systems are used;
however, they present a common design.

Flow
Control

Diverter

Drain
Valve
Batch
Tank
Block Block
Valve FLOW Valve
Scale
UUT

T1 T2
P1 P2
Supply
Tank

Calibration Control / Data

Computer Acquisition
System

Frequency
Controlled
Pump

Fig.2. Dynamic Start /Finish (Gravimetric with Diverter a general diagram)

A dynamic Start/Finish with immersed pipe is another gravimetric method that is used with two
major differences. During the test batch digital mass flow is measured rather than pulse totals,
and the final result is based on mass flow rate determined from the scale mass readings
versus time. The test fluid is water which is collected in a tank. The tank is placed on a scale
so that the mass of the water versus time is determined. The mass indication of the scale is
corrected with the Buoyancy Factor (BF) and an Immersed Pipe Correction. Fluid pressure is
measured upstream of the unit under test (UUT). Additionally, ambient pressure, temperature
and humidity are measured during each test.

 
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3 Way FLOW Flow
Valve UUT Control

T1
Control /
Batch
Batch Calibration Data
TankTank P2 Computer Acquisition
System
Ambient
Scale
Chamber

P1

Pressure
Vessel

Fig.3. Gravimetric method (DSF-Immersed Pipe a general diagram)

The TSM calibration method is a dynamic start finish where calibration batch starts and ends
at a steady flow. The calibration is performed in closed conduits and it uses water as a test
fluid. The water passes through the unit under test (UUT) and the reference meter (RM). The
reference meters- also called Master Meters- are known good meters initially calibrated on an
ISO 17025 accredited Primary gravimetric flow stand and TSM traceability is maintained
annually by using Global Reference Meters. The mass total from the UUT is compared to the
mass total from the RM via pulse counter. Fluid temperature and pressure is measured
upstream and downstream of the UUT.

Block Block
FLOW
Flow Valve Valve
Control
UUT
Valve

P2 T2 T1 P1

FLOW

P(n)
TSM RM(n) Calibration Control / Data
Computer Acquisition
System
Supply
Tank

P(n+1)
TSM RM(n+1)

Frequency
Controlled
Pump

Fig.4. Dynamic Start/Finish Transfer Standard Method (TSM a general diagram)

(* T = Temperature Transmitter, P = Pressure Transmitter)

 
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 Training
Each technician allowed to perform calibration is trained through an on the job training program.
Each technician has to complete a set number of hours under the guidance of a senior instructor
before being allowed to perform calibrations on their own. After qualification, each technician is
then recertified every 12 months on the process. Training records are maintained for each
employee and kept on file but are generally not available to our customers.

Witnessing the Calibration Process

Emerson’s calibration processes may be witnessed if booked at the time the instruments are
ordered. Emerson encourages that a randomly selected percentage of instruments be booked
with witness calibration on large orders because the sensor will be calibrated twice, once as
part of our standard quality processes and once for the requested witness. Please be advised
that a customer, or third party witnessed calibration, can impact the lead-time of the sensor
that is subject to this request.

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Coriolis Instrument Specific Requirements

A calibration process is a series of operations, that ultimately leads to a successful verification,
against a known standard. These operations are described sequentially as follows:

The Unit under Test (UUT) is inspected for visual quality and the documentation for the UUT
and the customer order is verified.

The UUT is installed ‘inline’ in the calibration stand and the serial numbers are entered and
loaded into the calibration stand software.

The initial transmitter parameters are configured into the transmitter, which may be the
calibration stand Master Transmitter or the customer transmitter.
• Frequency output scaling
• Approximate flow calibration factor
• Flow temperature compensation coefficient
• Flow cutoff
• Flow damping
• Approximate Density calibration factors
• Density temperature compensation coefficient
• Approximate FD factor
• All variable units of measure

Sensor zeroing is performed on the transmitter. A check is done to ensure there is no trend in
the zero taken and it is within the zero stability specification.

The UUT is run through a series of test profiles to determine several variables depending upon
the instrument:

K-Factor The K-Factors are calculated to reference zero degree Celsius using a proprietary
equation. After these values are put into the transmitter, the transmitter output density is
compared to the actual density of the water to ensure it is within tolerance.

Air (K1) To determine K1, the sensor is first filled with air. Every care is taken to ensure
that there is no moisture in the tubes of the sensor. During the air portion of the density
calibration, the tube period of the sensor is monitored to determine an average tube
period in correlation with the air density calculated from ambient temperature, ambient
pressure, and ambient relative humidity.

Water (K2) The water density is determined from temperature, pressure, and an
impurity measurement using the IAPWS, Industrial Formulation 1997 for
Thermodynamic Properties of Water and Steam. After the water flow stabilization, the
water and sensor temperatures are checked to be stable, when the tube period and
water reference density is averaged.

Flow Cal Factor (FCF) A minimum of three batches are done at the 100% flow rate to
determine the unique FCF calibration factor. After the last batch is done, the repeatability of
the previous three batch errors is calculated. If the repeatability falls within the repeatability
specifications of the sensor, the average batch error from the three batches is used to adjust
 
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 the FCF calibration factor. This adjusted FCF calibration factor is then loaded into the
transmitter.

Flowing Density (FD) When the FD calibration is required, is done right after the FCF is set,
(due to the density specification). An FD calibration is only done when it is required based on
the sensor model.

The FD calibration is done at a flow rate in the higher range of the meter. Once this rate has
been achieved, the average tube period, average transmitter density and average fluid density
are determined. These values are then used with a proprietary correction equation to
determine a new FD. This FD is then put into the transmitter for further validation in the
verification operation.

Verification - At this step of the calibration, all applicable calibration factors, as described
above, are verified in one or several batches at one or more flow rates per the laboratory
standard practice (or as determined by special customer request).

For each batch requested, the stand flow rate is set accordingly, and a batch is started.
Various checks are done; the UUT (Unit Under Test) total is compared to the reference total,
UUT density is compared to the reference density, and UUT temperature is compared to the
reference temperature from the calibration stand. When the planned batches are successful,
all the observed error is within the specification, the verification is complete.

If the calibration must be done according to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard then at least 3 flow
rates: 100%, 10% and 50% from Calibration nominal flow rate (with minimum of 3 repeats per
rate) must be performed. On customer request, the verified flow rates can be tuned to specific
customer needs with-in the limitations of the calibration stand.

The calibration report and certificate (where applicable) is printed after successful completion
of the calibration steps. All calibrations are recorded and kept electronically for future reference
and use in recalibrations.

The Coriolis calibration processes may be witnessed when Line Item Code MMWITNESCAL is
included in the order. Calibration takes approximately 30 minutes per meter and multiple meter
sizes may be calibrated at the same time during the inspection.

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Appendix 1 Certificate Examples

Standard Coriolis Certificate
 

 
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ISO/IEC 17025 Coriolis Certificate

 
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