PDVSA

ENGINEERING DESIGN MANUAL

VOLUME 9–II

ENGINEERING GUIDELINE

PDVSA N° TITLE

90620.1.111 FLOW MEASUREMENT GUIDELINES

0 JAN.01 FOR APPROVAL 4 Y. K. A. A. E. C.

REV. DATE DESCRIPTION PAG. REV. APPD. APPD.

APPD.BY Alexis Arévalo DATE JAN.01 APPD.BY Enrique Carmona DATE JAN.01

E1994 ESPECIALISTAS
 ENGINEERING GUIDELINE PDVSA 90620.1.111
REVISION DATE
PDVSA FLOW MEASUREMENT GUIDELINES 0 JAN.01
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1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose (Modifcation)
These guidelines cover recommendations for the selection, application and
installation of flow instrumentation. Since PDVSA has decided to adopt the PIP
(Process Industry Practices) document PIP PCEFL001 “Flow Measurement
Guidelines” as an integral part of the Engineering Design Manual (MID), the
requirements in this document are additions or modifications to the PIP PCEFL001
and the section/paragraph numbers and the associated headings used in this
document correspond to the ones used in PIP PCEFL001.

1.2 Scope (Modify last paragraph)

Specific guidelines for gas or liquid hydrocarbon flow measurement systems for
Custody Transfer or Fiscal purposes are not provided. For these applications,
special design, specification, installation, calibration and commissioning
requirements stated on API and regulations defined by Venezuelan Government
Energy Office: Ministerio de Energia y Minas, must be followed.

2 REFERENCES
2.1 Petróleos de Venezuela Specifications (PDVSA) (Addition)
PDVSA K–300 Introduction to PDVSA Instrumentation
PDVSA K–302 Flow Instrumentation
PDVSA K–369 Instrumentation QA/QC
PDVSA SI–S–01 Gerencia de la Seguridad de los Procesos (GSP) –
Lineamientos Corporativos

3 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
3.8.1 (Addition)
Whenever possible, differential pressure calibration ranges of 1250, 2500, 3750
and 5000 mm H2O (50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 inches H2O), are preferred.

4 SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS
4.2.1 (Addition)
Flow nozzles are normally used for high velocity steam flow.
4.4.8 (Addition)
Special care should be taken to verify pitot tube length against pipe internal
diameter.
 ENGINEERING GUIDELINE PDVSA 90620.1.111
REVISION DATE
PDVSA FLOW MEASUREMENT GUIDELINES 0 JAN.01
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4.5.7 (Addition)
For applications under ½” pipe diameters, other types of meters should be
considered.

4.6 (Addition, under limitations)

S Slurries and dirty fluid applications require the use of remote diaphragm seals.

4.7 (Addition, under limitations):

S Viscosity changes affect accuracy.
S For viscosities above 10 cst, special designs are required.
S Not recommended for pulsating flows.
4.7.9 (Addition)
Turbine meter damage due to overspeed may occur by water hammer, quick valve
opening, pump start–up, etc.
4.7.10 (Addition)
Turbine meters are available with either or both digital and analog type outputs.
Care should be taken to insure that output is compatible with control system I/O
(i.e., pulse width, pulse height, edge trigger, etc.). For low uncertainty applications,
pulse output should be used instead of analog 4–20 mA.
4.8.7 (Addition)
Rotor inertia precludes following pulsating flow changes.

4.9 (Addition, under limitations)

S For low viscosity liquids and high flow rates, good accuracy is not attainable.
4.9.4 (Addition)
Positive displacement meter damage due to overspeed may occur by water
hammer, quick valve opening, pump start–up, excessive pumping rate, etc.
4.10.10 (Addition)
Magnetic flow meters require that pipe always be full of liquid.

4.11 (Modification, under advantages)

(Delete)
S Minimal restriction to flow ……
 ENGINEERING GUIDELINE PDVSA 90620.1.111
REVISION DATE
PDVSA FLOW MEASUREMENT GUIDELINES 0 JAN.01
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(Addition)
S Obstructionless flow through design
(Addition, under limitations)
S High head loss.
S Not field maintainable by user.
S Cannot be used in multiphase flow.
4.11.10 (Addition)
For low uncertainty applications, pulse output should be used instead of analog
4–20 mA.

4.12 (Addition, under limitations)

S For gas applications, humidity variations affect meter accuracy.
S Calibration might be cumbersome, requires process fluid at expected operating
conditions.
4.12.2 (Addition at end of sentence)
. . .at expected operating conditions.

4.13 (Modification)
Qualify the first advantage as follows: “For uncertainties not better than 1%, some
liquid models . . .”
(Addition, under limitations)
S For gas applications, liquid presence affects accuracy, likewise the other way
around.
S Clamp–on devices have limitations concerning pipe wall thickness and frequent
loss of the coating compound (acoustic paste).
S For clamp–on devices, accuracy is highly dependent on Reynolds numbers for
values below 10000. For these applications, spool piece multipath flow meters
should be considered.
4.13.1.1 (Modification)
The fluid flow must be fully turbulent and clean.

4.14 (Addition, under limitations)

S Can be affected by pulsating flow.
S Not recommended for fluids with suspended solids or multiphase.
 ENGINEERING GUIDELINE PDVSA 90620.1.111
REVISION DATE
PDVSA FLOW MEASUREMENT GUIDELINES 0 JAN.01
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4.14.10 (Addition)
Vortex meters are available with either or both digital and analog type outputs.
Care should be taken to insure that output is compatible with control system I/O
(i.e., pulse width, pulse height, edge trigger, etc.). For low uncertainty applications,
pulse output should be used instead of analog 4–20 mA.
4.15.1 (Addition)

e. Rotameters are typically used for purge or seal flow measurement and sample
conditioning and dosing systems.
Table 1 (Addition)
In legend, add to definition of letter “P”: ”Additional design considerations must
be studied”.
Table 2 (Modification)
Orifice Plate Specs: ISO 5167.
Table 2 (Addition)
In Notes, add to note (6): “Preferred ranges are 1250, 2500, 3750, 5000 mm H2O
(50, 100, 150, 200, 250 inches H2O).