Measurement of Natural Gas by iAGA Report No. 7 Measurement of Natural Gas by Turbine Meters Revised February 2006 Prepared by Transmission Measurement Committee AGN American Gas Association Copyright © 2006 American Gas Association 400 North Capitol Street, NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20001, U.S.A. Phone: (202) 824-7000 + Fax: (202) 824-7082 + Web: www.aga Catalog # XQ0601DISCLAIMER AND COPYRIGHT ‘The American Gas Association's (AGA) Operating Section provides a forum for industry experts to bring collective knowledge together to improve the state of the art in the areas of operating, engineering and technological aspects of producing, gathering, transporting, storing, distributing, measuring and utilizing natural gas. ‘Through its publications, of which this is one, the AGA provides for the exchange of information within the gas industry and scientific, trade and governmental organizations. Each publication is prepared or sponsored by an AGA Operating Section technical committee. While AGA may administer the process, neither the AGA nor the technical committee independently tests, evaluates, or verifies the accuracy of any information or the soundness of any judgments contained therein. The AGA disclaims liability for any personal injury, property or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether special, indirect, consequential or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use of, or reliance on AGA publications. The AGA makes no guaranty or warranty as to the accuracy and completeness of any information published therein. The information contained therein is provided on an “as is” basis and the AGA makes no representations or warranties including any express or implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, In issuing and making this document available, the AGA is not undertaking to render professional or other services for or on behalf of any person or entity. Nor is the AGA undertaking to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to someone else. Anyone using this document should rely con his or her own independent judgment or, as appropriate, seek the advice of a competent professional in determining the exercise of reasonable care in any given circumstances. The AGA has no power, nor does it undertake, to police or enforce compliance with the contents of this document. Nor does the AGA list, certify, test, or inspect products, designs, or installations, for compliance with this document. Any certification or other statement of compliance is sole! the responsibility of the certifier or maker of the statement ‘The AGA does not take any position with respect to the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any items which are mentioned in or are the subject of AGA publications, and the AGA disclaims liability for the infringement of any patent resulting from the use of or reliance on its publications. Users of these publications are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, is entirely their own responsibility Users of this publication should consult applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, ‘The AGA does not, through its publications intend to urge action that is not in compliance with applicable laws, and its publications may not be construed as doing so. This report is the cumulative result of years of experience of many individuals and organizations acquainted with the measurement of natural gas. However, changes to this report may become necessary from time to time. If changes in this report are believed appropriate by any manufacturer, individual or organization, such suggested changes should be communicated 10 AGA by completing the last page of this report titled, “Form for Suggestion to Change AGA Report No. 7, Measurement of Natural Gas by Turbine Meters” and sending it 1o: Operations & Engineering Services Group, American Gas Association, 400 North Capitol Street, NW, 4" Floor, Washington, DC 20001, U.S.A. Copyrights © 2006, American Gas Association, AUl Rights Reserved.FOREWORD ‘This report is published in the form of a performance-based specification for turbine meter for natural gas flow measurement. It is the result of collaborative effort of natural gas users, turbine ‘meter manufacturers, flow measurement rescarch organizations and independent consultants, forming Task Group R-7 of AGA’s Transmission Measurement Committee (TMC). In addition, ‘comments to this report were made by the Committee on Gas Flow Measurement (COGFM) of the American Petroleum Institute (API) Research conducted in support of this report and cited herein has demonstrated that turbine meters can accurately measure natural gas and, therefore, should be able to mect or exceed the requirements specified in this report when calibrated and installed according to the recommendations contained herein. Users should follow appropriate installation, use and ‘maintenance of turbine meter as applicable in each case. This version of AGA Report No. 7 is intended to supersede all prior versions of this document. However, this document does not reference existing turbine meter installations. The decision to apply this document to existing installations shall be at the discretion of the parties involved. ‘Appendix B of this report contains the equations needed to convert volume measured at actual (line) conditions to equivalent volume at base conditions, ot to mass, These equations may be used to perform such calculations with any type of positive displacement or inferential meter that registers in units of volume.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Report No. 7, Measurement of Natural Gas by Turbine Meters, was developed by a Task Group of the American Gas Association's Transmission Measurement Committee. Individuals who made substantial contributions to the creation of this document are: Larry Fraser, Fraser & Associates (Chairman) Angela Floyd, Panhandle Energy Dan Peace, Sensus Metering Systems Mark Pelkey, National Fuel Alex Podgers, American Meter Co. Research conducted by Darin George, Ph.D., Southwest Research Institute at the Southwest Research Institute and the Colorado Experimental Engineering Station was instrumental in developing the scientific basis for the provisions of this Report Other individuals who contributed to the development of the document are: Ed Bowles, Southwest Research Institute Joe Bronner, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Jim Bowen, Instromet Frank Brown, Consultant Steve Caldwell, C1 Cary Carter, Texas Gas Transmission Craig Chester, Williams Gas Pipeline Philip DiGiglio, KeySpan Corporation Chuck French, Gas Technology Institute Gamet Grudeski, TransCanada Calibrations Danny Harris, Columbia Gas Jim Hagen, Great Lakes Gas Zaki Husain, Chevron Texaco Mark Imboden, Controlotron Corp. Jim Keating, Consultant Eric Kelner, Southwest Rescarch Institute Allen Knack, Consumers Energy Paul LaNasa, CPL & Associates John Lansing, Daniel M&C Rick Ledesma, El Paso Pipeline Group Brad Massey, Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline George Maitingly, Consultant Dannie Mercer, Atmos Energy Corporation Roy Meyer, Exxon Mobil Winston Meyer, CenterPoint Energy Kevin Moir, DTE Energy John Naber, Danie! M&C Chris Overgaard, Nicor Gas Warren Peterson, TransCanda PipeL ines Thanh Phan, Duke Energy Reese Platzer, Questar Pipeline King Poon, Thermo Electron Corp. Dan Rebman, Universal EnscoDaniel Rudroff, Welker Flow Measurement Systems Inc. Blaine Sawchuk, Canada Pipeline Accessories Bill Schieber, Solar Turbines Tushar Shah, Eagle Research Corporation Jerry Paul Smith, Consultant Walt Seidl, CEESI Karl Stappert, Daniel M&C John Stuart, Stuart Consulting Jim Witte, El Paso Pipeline Group AGA acknowledges the contributions of the above individuals and thanks them for their time and effort in getting this document revised, Lori Traweek Ali Quraishi, Staff Executive Senior Vice President Engineering Services DirectorTABLE OF CONTENTS. DISCLAIMER AND COPYRIGHT. FOREWORD. _— ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. TABL MEASUREMENT OF NATURAL GAS BY TURBINE METER! 1. INTRODUCTION. LI Score 1.2 PRINCIPLE OF MEASUREMENT 1 1 TERMINOLOGY OPERATING CONDITIONS. J Gas Quanity 2 OPERATING PRESSURES. 3. TEMPERATURES, Gas AND AMBIENT. 4 EFFECT OF Gas DENSITY 3.5 Gas FLOW RATE CONSIDERATIONS, 3.6 UPSTREAM PIPING AND FLOW PROFILES. 4, METER DESIGN REQUIREMENTS..... 4.1. CODES AND Stanparos. : 4.2 METER Boy 42.1 Meter Body End Connections. 422. Corrosion Resistance. 423 Meter Lengths and Bores 424° Pressure Tap 425. Sealing, 42.6 Miscellaneous. 4.3” METER MARKINGS, 4.4 DocuMENTATION 5. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS. 7 7 8 8 8 1 GENERAL PERFORMANCE TOLERANCES 10 2 TEMPERATURE AND Gas COMPOSITION INFLUENCES. n 3. PRESSURE INFLUENCES. n 4 METER Bopy INTERCHANGE ABILITY n 6. INDIVIDUAL METER TESTS. 6.1 InteGrity Test 6.2 LEAKAGE TEST 63. CALIBRATION 63.1 Calibration Conditions 63.1.1 Reynolds Number 63.12 Density 63.13 Calibration Gases 632 Calibration Guidelines 633 Calibration Configuration 63.4 Calibration Facilites 63.5 Calibration Results63.5.1 Change Gears... 635.2 K-Factor(s). — 63.5.3 Meter Factors and Final Meter Factor... 63.5.4 Rotor Factors for Dual-Rotor Meters, 63.5.5 Meter Verification Test... 64 Test Reports 65 QUALITY AssURANCE 7. INSTALLATION SPECIFICATIONS 7.1 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. 7.1.1 Flow Direction vo 7.1.2 Meter Orientation and Support. 7.1.3 Meter Run Connections 2.14 Intemal SurfA0 en 7.1.3 Temperature Well Location 7.1.6 Pressure Tap Location. 7.1.7 _ Flow Conditioning 7.1.7.1 Tube Bundle Type Straightening Vanes 7.1.7.2 Other Extemal Flow Conditioners. 7.1.1.3 _ Integral Flow Conditioners 712. RECOMMENDED INSTALLATION CONFIGURATIONS, 7.2.1 Recommended Installation for In-Line Meters so 7.2.2. Optional Installation Configurations for In-Line Meters 72.2.1 Short-Coupled Installation « 7222 Close-Coupled Installation... 7.2.2.3. Meter-Integrated Flow Conditioning 7.2.3 Suggested Installation for Angle-Body Meters 7.3. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS 73.1 Temperature 732 Vibration 73.3. Pulsations : : 7.3.4 Hydrate Formation and Liquid Slugs. 74 Associate Devices . 7.4.1 Filtration and Strainers 742 Throttling Devices 7.8 PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. 7.8.1 Installation Residue. 752. Valve Grease 75.3 _Over-Range Efiecs.. 753.1 Run Pressurization 7532 Blow Down Precautions. 753.3 Flow Limiting Devices, 7.6 ACCESSORY INSTALLATION 7.6.1 Density Measurement Devices, 7.6.2. Volume Correctors and Instrumentation 8. METER MAINTENANCE AND FIELD VERIFICATION CHECKS. 8.1 GENERAL, o 8.2 VISUAL INSPECTION. 83° CLEANING AND OILING 840 SPIN Tie Test : 8.5. DUAL-ROTOR METER FIELD CHECKS... 8.6 RETESTING CONSIDERATIONS,APPENDIX A sssrsososes A. SINGLE ROTOR TURBINE METERS. A.L1 GasMETER DESIGN Ad ‘ALL2 Liguip Meter DESIGN A2 A2 DUAL-ROTOR TURBINE METERS. A2.1 _ DUAL-RoroR DESIGNS. A2 22 SECONDARY ROTOR DESIGNS. AS A23 SECONDARY ROTOR FUNCHIONS. AS A3_ DUAL-ROTOR METER ELECTRONI APPENDIX. B ss B.1_ EQUATIONS FOR CALCULATING VOLUMETRIC FLOW. B.1.1. BasicGas Laws. ea B.1.2._FLow RATE AT FLOWING CONDITIONS B2 B13. FLow RATE AT BASE CONDITIONS B2 B14 PRESSURE MULTIPLIER .. B2 B.S. TeMPERATURE MULTIPLIER. B3 B.1.6 Compressimitiry MULTIPLIER B.1.7 _ EQUATIONS FoR METER RANGEABILITY B.L.7.1 Maximum Flow rate B.2_ EQUATIONS FOR CALCULATING MASS FLOW APPENDIX C C1 METER REGISTER READING. 2 ELECTRONIC COMPUTATION. (©3_ MECHANICAL INTEGRATING DEVICES. (C4 PRESSURE, VOLUME AND TEMPERATURE RECORDING DEVICE! APPENDIX D. D1 CHANGE GEARS D2 K-FACTORG). D3 METER FACTOR... D4 FINAL METER FACTOR. DS ROTOR FACTORS FOR DUAL-ROTOR METERS. APPENDIX E E.1 REYNOL S NUMBER AND FLOW RATE MATCHING. PRESSURE AND FLOW RATE MATCHING. DENSITY AND REYNOLDS NUMBER MATCHIN DENSITY AND FLOW RATE MATCHING. ES, EXAMPLE CALCULATIONS. 1. TO MATCH REYNOLDS NUMBERS AND FLOW RATE! APPENDIX F. Fl TESTING IN-LINF.2_ TESTING OUT OF LINE won REFERENCE LIST... FORM FOR SUGGESTION TO CHANGE IN THE AGA REPORT NO. 7MEASUREMENT OF NATURAL GAS BY TURBINE METERS Introduction 11 Scope These specifications apply to axial-flow turbine flow meters for measurement of natural gas, ‘ypically 2-inch and larger bore diameter, in which the entire gas stream flows through the meter rotor. Typical applications include measuring single-phase gas flow found in production, process, transmission, storage, and distribution and end-use gas measurement systems. Typical use is the measurement of fuel grade natural gas and associated hydrocarbon gases either as pure hydrocarbons or as a mixture of pure hydrocarbons and diluents. Although not within the scope of this document, turbine meters are used to measure a broad range of fluids other than natural gas. This report does not address the characteristics of electronic pulse signal generating devices within or attached to the meter, although it does address the use of their outputs. Also not addressed are the characteristics of mechanical or electronic instruments that convert ‘meter outputs from line conditions to base conditions. However, Appendix B does contain the ‘equations establishing the mathematical basis for the conversion process. Although these ‘equations appear in this report, they may be used to convert volume registered by any type of meter. 1.2. Principle of Measurement Turbine meters are inferential meters that measure flow by counting the revolutions of a rotor, with blades, which tums in proportion to the gas flow velocity, From the geometry and dimensions of the rotor blades and flow channel, for a particular turbine meter size and model, the gas volume at line conditions can be inferred from counting the number of rotor revolutions. The revolutions are transferred into digital readout or electronic signals by some combination of mechanical gearing, generated electronic or optical pulses, or frequency. The accumulated line volume can be converted to base volume at standard or contract conditions by accessory devices. Turbine meters can operate over a wide range of gas and ambient conditions. Their upper flow capacities are established and limited by maximum local internal as velocities, noise generation, erosion, rotor speed, shaft bearing wear and pressure losses. The maximum flow capacity at line conditions is fixed for a particular turbine meter regardless of the operating pressure and temperature. The maximum base flow capacity increases in accordance with Boyle's and Charles’ laws. Minimum flow capacities are limited by fluid and non-fluid drags (i.e., windage and mechanical friction losses, respectively) that cause a particular turbine meter design to exceed the desired or prescribed performance limits.2. Terminology For the purposes of this repor, the following definitions apply’ Change gears Designer Error Final meter factor K-factor MAOP Manufacturer Maximum peak-to-peak error Measurement cartridge Meter factor A set of mating gears in the output gear train of some turbine ‘meters that can be changed during the calibration process. A ‘gear combination can be selected, with the appropriate ratio of teeth, to correct the mechanical output to reduce registration ‘A company that designs and constructs metering facilites. ‘The result of a measurement minus the true value of the ‘measurand, Note: Since the true value cannot be determined, a value determined by means of a suitable reference meter is used. % error = {(measured value ~ reference value) / reference value] x 100% ‘A number developed either by averaging the sum of the individual meter factors over the range of the meter or by weighting more heavily towards the meter factors over flow rates at which the meter is more likely to be used. The value is used as a correction factor. In. addition, multi-point linearization or polynomial curve fitting techniques may be used. ‘A number by which the meter’s output pulses are multiptied to determine the volume through the meter. One or more factors may be used.over a meter’s operating range as determined by flow calibration results Maximum allowable operating pressure. A company that designs, manufactures, sells and delivers turbine flow meters, The difference between the largest and the smallest errors throughout the calibrated range of the meter. An internal assembly, removable from some meters, which includes the measurement components, but excludes the meter body. A number by which the result of a measurement is multiplied 10 compensate for systematic error. The non-dimensional multiplying value is determined for each flow rate at which the meter is calibrated, The number is calculated by dividing the value from the reference meter by the indicated value of theOperating range Pressure drop Q Qnax Qn Rangeability Reference meter Repeatability meter under test. It can be applied to individual flow rates or averaged to provide a single factor (final meter factor) for the meter. ‘The range of ambient and flowing gas conditions over which the meter is designed to operate. TThe permanent loss of line pressure across the meter. The flow rate through the meter under a specific set of test or operating conditions. ‘The maximum gas flow rate through the meter that can be measured within the specified performance requirements. The minimum gas flow rate through the meter that can be ‘measured within the specified performance requirement. The iransition flow rate, The flow rate through the meter at which performance requirements may change. The ratio of the maximum to minimum flow rates over which the meter meets specified performance requirements (sometimes called “turndown ratio”). A meter or measurement device of proven flow measurement accuracy. Closeness of the agreement between the results of successive ‘measurements of the same measurand carried out under the same conditions of measurement Notes: 1. These conditions are called repeatability conditions. 2. Repeatability conditions include: * The same measurement procedure + The same observer * The same measuring instrument used under the same conditions The same location Repetition over a short period of time Repeatability may be expressed quantitatively in terms of the dispersion characteristics of the results. 4, A valid statement of repeatability requires specifications of the conditions of measurement, such as temperature, pres- sure and gas composition.Rotor factor The number of output pulses per unit volume for individual rotor(s) provided by the meter manufacturer for use in a proprietary algorithm. Rotor factors are associated with the electronic pulse output(s) from each rotor, typically of a dual- rotor turbine meter. ‘The individual or company that uses the turbine meter for ‘measurement purposes.3. Operating Conditions 3.1 Gas Quality The meter should, as a minimum requirement, operate with any of the normal range natural ‘gas composition mixtures specified in Table 1 of AGA Report No. 8, Compressibility Factors of Natural Gas and Other Related Hydrocarbon Gases (Reference 1). ‘The manufacturer should be consulted if any of the following are expected: ‘© Operation near the hydrocarbon or water vapor dew point of the natural gas mixture, ‘+ Total sulfur levels exceeding 20 grains per 100 cubic feet, including mercaptans, H:S. and elemental sulfur compounds, or exceeding those specified in the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) guidelines for the materials of which the ‘meter is manufactured, ‘+ Exposure to other contaminants that may affect the meter’s error by reducing the cross-sectional flow area or building up on other sensitive features. Deposits may also contaminate bearing lubrication and lead to reduced service life. 3.2 Operating Pressures The operating pressure of the meter shall be within the range specified by the meter manufacturer. The manufacturer shall specify the maximum allowable operating pressure for the meter design and construction. Turbine meters, in general, do not have @ minimum operating pressure limit, although error may be increased if used under conditions for which the meter has not been calibrated. Section 6 provides information on calibration requirements. 3 Temperatures, Gas and Ambient The meter shall be used within the manufacturer's flowing gas and ambient air temperature specifications. Depending upon material of construction, turbine meters ean operate over a flowing gas and ambient temperature range of -40°F to +165°F (-40°C t0 74°C). 1 is important that the flowing gas temperature remain above the hydrocarbon dew point of the gas to avoid possible meter damage and measurement error. The manufacturer shall provide gas temperature and ambient air temperature specifications for the meter. as they may differ from the above. 3.4 Effect of Gas Density Gas density can have three principal effects on the performance of the gas turbine meter: ‘+ Rangeability ~ The rangeability of a turbine meter increases as gas density increases. ‘+ Pressure Drop ~ The pressure loss across a turbine meter increases as the gas density ‘* Error Operating characteristics may change as gas dens ¥y changes.3.5 Gas Flow Rate Considerations ‘The manufacturer shall provide the operating flow rate range at various pressures. The user needs to consider the relationship between flow rate, error, pressure loss and service life. The performance requirements for operation are stated in Section 5.1 of this document. The pressure loss across a turbine meter increases with the square of a flow rate increase. Bearing, lubrication or visual inspection frequencies may need to be adjusted in accordance with the ‘operating flow rate. Flow limiting devices may be required to provide over-range protection for the meter. Designers and users are cautioned to evaluate noise, piping safety and meter integrity concerns at maximum operating velocity. Refer to Section 7 of this document for ‘more information on installation considerations. 3.6 Upstream Piping and Flow Profiles Research was conducted on the effects of installation configuration on turbine meter error in 2002 and the results published in Reference 2, Section 7 provides information on installation requirements. 64. Meter Design Requirements 4.1 Codes and Standards ‘The meter body and all other parts comprising the pressure containing structures shall be designed and constructed of materials suitable for the service conditions for which the meter is rated and in accordance with any applicable codes, regulations and specifications of the designer. The meter body shall operate without leakage or permanent deformation over the expected range of operating pressures, flowing gas temperatures and environmental conditions. 4.2. Meter Body 4.21 Meter Body End Connections ‘The body end connections shall be designed in accordance with appropriate flange or threaded connection standards. 42.2 Corrosion Resistance All wetted parts of the meter shall be manufactured of materials suitable for use in their intended application. All external parts of the meter should be made of corrosion-resistant materials or sealed with a corrosion-resistant coating suitable for use in environmental conditions typically found in the natural gas industry and/or as specified by the designer. 4.2.3 Meter Lengths and Bores Manufacturers shall publish their standard overall face-to-face length of the meter body for each meter size and pressure rating. Turbine meters are generally tolerant of minor diameter differences, such as pipe schedule size changes. However, the designer shall make sure that the recommendations of Section 7 are followed. 4.24 Pressure Tap The manufacturer shall provide at least one pressure tap on the meter body. The static pressure from the meter tap provided and identified by the manufacturer shall be used for pressure correction of the meter registration volume. 425° Sealing ‘The meter may be provided with sealing arrangements to prevent access to its intemal working parts, adjustments and reprogramming. The sealing arrangements shall be such that they do not prevent access to routine maintenance features of the meter, such as lubrication points. Where measurement cartridges are interchangeable, the means of sealing the cartridge shall be designed to prevent access to adjustment and reprogramming when the cartridge is removed from the meter body. Any means provided to seal the cartridge to the meter body shall be independent of any other sealing means provided. Independent sealing shall allow the body-to-cartridge seal to be removed without permitting access to the cartridge’s internal working parts or adjustments.43 4.2.6 Miscellaneous The construction shall be mechanically and electrically sound, and the materials, finish, elc., should be such as to provide assurance of long life and sustained accuracy. The meter may provide one or more outputs (mechanical or electrical), proportional to the volume of gas that has passed through it, expressed at line conditions of pressure and ‘temperature The meter shall be designed in such a way that the body will not roll when resting on a smooth surface with a slope of up to 10 percent. The meter design shall also permit easy and safe handling of the meter during transportation and installation. Threaded holes for hoisting eyes or clearance for lifting straps shall be provided Meter Markings A name plate(s) containing the following information shall be affixed to the meter © Manufacturer © Model and size (internal nominal diameter) © Serial number ‘© Date of manufacture or date code ‘© Maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) ‘+ Maximum rated capacity at flowing conditions * K-factor and/or rotor-factor(s) if applicable Other markings on the meter shall indicate: 44 ‘© Inlet end or direction of flow * Direction of output shaft rotation, ifapplicable © Units of volume per revolution of the output shaft, if applicable ‘Material of pressure containing components, (body, flanges, top plate, etc.) “Pm” + Pressure reference tap (e.g., “PR,” “Pr” o1 © Orientation of measurement cartridge, if applicable ‘© Serial number of measurement cartridge, if applicable Documentation ‘The manufacturer shall provide all necessary data, certificates and documentation for correct con ration, set-up and use of the particular meter upon request by the user or designer. The user or designer may also request that copies of hydrostatic-test or leak-test certificates, material certifications and casting or weld radiographs be supplied with delivery of the meter.‘The manufacturer shall provide or make available the following documents with the meter or ‘when requested; all documents shall be dated: a) » ° d ° 0 2) ny i) d w A description of the meter, giving technical characteristics and principle of operation. A perspective drawing or photograph of the meter A list of parts with a description of their constituent materials A dimensional drawing A drawing showing locations of seals ‘A drawing of the data plate or badge, showing arrangement of inscriptions Instructions for installation, operation, and periodic maintenance A general description of operation A description of available mechanical outputs and electronic output signals, and any adjustment mechanisms A description of available electronic interfaces, wiring points and essential characteristics Documentation of compliance with applicable safety codes and regulations ‘Test report of meter performance5. Performance Requirements 5.1 General Performance Tolerances ‘The manufacturer shall specify flow rate limits for Qua, Qi and Quax for each meter design and size. Meter performance at atmospheric pressure shall be within the following tolerances (sce also Figure 1) after calibration Repeatability 20.2% from Quin 10 Qinas ‘Maximum peak-to-peak error: 1.0% above Qu, Maximum error £1.0% from Q,t0 Qnax. and, 1.5% from Quin to Qe, Transition flow rate: Q not greater than 0.2 Qmas Note 1, The tolerances apply after adjustment of the change gears (if any) and/or setting of K-factors and application of the final meter factor. Note 2.’ The tolerances apply after any corrections performed within the meter itself but prior to the application of any linearization algorithms by equipment auxiliary to the meter. Note 3. These tolerances are applicable at atmospheric pressure. As operating gas pressure increases, the performance of the turbine meter can be expected 0 improve dramatically, with smaller values for repeatability and maximum peak-to-peak error, provided the meter is calibrated for the intended operating conditions. 175 1.50 1.25. $ 1.00 075 Repeatability +/-0.2% 3 ° a [= Maximum peak-to-peak error 8 0.25 7.0% (G.= Gi) @ -0.50 —1—_f 0.75 -1.00 1.25 " “1.50 ATS Qnn OQ) 0.2 na Flow rate (Q)) Figure 1. Turbine Meter Tolerances at Atmospheric Pressure5.2 Temperature and Gas Composition Influences The turbine meter shall meet the above performance requirements over the full operating range of temperature and gas composition. 53 Pressure Influences Research on the effects of pressure on turbine meter performance was conducted in 2002 and 2003, and the results published in Reference 3. To minimize error, turbine meters should be calibrated for the applicable operating conditions. Guidance on calibration requirements is provided in Section 6. 54 Meter Body Interchangeabi Meters with interchangeable measurement cartridges are designed so that the measurement cartridge can be removed from the meter body without removing the body from the installation. This design facilitates in situ inspection and replacement or upgrading of a cartridge. The construction of a meter with an interchangeable measurement cartridge shall be such that the performance characteristics specified in Section 5.1 are maintained after installation of the cartridge in other meter bodies of the same manufacturer, size and model, or after repeated removal and installation of the measurement cartridge in the same meter body. However, slight differences in geometry from the body in which the cartridge was calibrated, body wear, cartridge-body misalignment or other influences may affect the performance of the cartridge and result in measurement error. An independent study (Reference 4) was conducted to assess measurement error due to cartridge change-out practices. The study indicates that operating a cartridge in a body other ‘than the one in which it was calibrated can introduce random measurement errors from a negligible amount to as much as +0.35%, Turbine meter users should bear in mind that calibration of measurement cartridges on a stand-alone basis, while convenient and less expensive than calibrating a cartridge and body as a combination, can add to measurement error.Individual Meter Tests 6.1 Integrity Test The manufacturer shall test the integrity of all pressure-containing components for every turbine meter. The test shall be conducted in compliance with the appropriate industry standard, (ANSVASME B16.1, B16.5, B16.34 or other, as applicable) 6.2 Leakage Test Every turbine meter shall be leak-tested by the manufacturer after final assembly and prior to shipment to the customer or flow-calibration facility. The test shall be conducted in compliance with the appropriate industry standard. In the absence of specific standard(s), itis customary for manufacturers to conduct the test as follows: The test medium shall be a gas, stich as nitrogen or air. The leak-test pressure shall be at least 1.10 times the MAOP and held for a minimum of five minutes. To pass this test, the meter must not have detectable leaks. 63° Calibration In order to establish satisfactory performance characteristies, every turbine meter should be calibrated under conditions acceptable to and agreed upon between the parties’ to" the transaction, For best performance, calibration conditions should match the anticipated in- service conditions, including considerations such as fluid characteristics. operating pressure, expected flow rates, the use ofa dedicated meter body, inlet and outlet piping characteristics, and other factors that can affect meter performance. However, limitations on the capability and availability of calibration facilities and the costs associated with transportation and testing may result in decisions to calibrate meters under conditions that, while not identical to those expected in service, provide a reasonable approximation thereof. Attention to replication of the crucial in-service parameters described below will ensure adequate performance for most commercial applications. 6.3.1 Calibration Conditions Research (Reference 3) has shown that the performance of turbine meters varies with changes in flow rate and operating pressure. These variations are related to changes in Reynolds number and, in some cases density, and are particularly significant at low and intermediate operating pressures and flow rates. Attention to these issues at the time of calibration is crucial for optimal measurement. The following sections provide further guidance in this regard, 63.1.1 Reynolds Number Reynolds number is @ dimensionless ratio of inertial to viscous forces in the flow through the meter that takes into account the flow rate and physical properties of a moving fluid. Reynolds number can be used to correlate the calibration and operating conditions of a turbine meter under various flow rates, pressures and fluid types.‘The basic equation for Reynolds number is: Re= p(D)V)/u (6.1) Reynolds number may also be calculated from either of the following formulae: Re = 4(Q) /x(D) (4 (6.2) Re=4 (0) (p)/m(D) (w) (63) where Re = Reynolds number pltho) = Density D = Meter diameter v Bulk (average) velocity of flowing fluid Q —— = Volumetric flow rate v(nu) = Kinematic viscosity fe(mnu) = Absolute viscosity The above quantities must all be determined at the same conditions of temperature and pressure, The relationship between bulk velocity and flow rate is Q-xVD/4 (64) The relationship between absolute and kinematic viscosity and density is: vew/p 63) A meter calibration carried out in a test facility over a particular range of Reynolds numbers characterizes the meter’s performance when used to measure gas over the same range of Reynolds numbers when the meter is in service. Therefore, the K- factors established during such a calibration, in most instances, can be used 10 ‘compute flow measured by the meter in service. 63.12 Density Research (Reference 3) has shown that the performance of some meters may also be sensitive to variations in gas density. Variations in calibration tend to be larger at lower gas densities. Users with low-pressure, low-flow applications should consult the meter manufacturer for meter performance characteristics and obtain calibration ata at the operating density to ensure that no significant measurement errors exist Additional information on density matching is provided in Appendix E. 63.1.3 Calibration Gases The research described in Reference 3 was conducted using natural gas and air as test, media, In addition, Reference 6 describes research that has been conducted 10 establish the suitability of other gases for calibration of turbine meters. The data show that turbine meters used in natural gas can be effectively calibrated in differentgases, and that satisfactory measurement will result provided calibration is conducted ver the range of Reynolds numbers and/or density expected at operating conditions. Further information on calibration in alternative gases is provided in Appendix E. 6.3.2 Calibration Guidelines [As discussed above, the expected operating Reynolds number range and/or density for a ‘meter needs to be taken into account when designing a calibration program. This requires tstablishing the expected range of flow rates and the properties of the gas to be measured at the intended meter location. The gas properties may be determined directly by measurement or by calculation from empirical equations. “Test points should be selected throughout the range of flow rates over which the meter is to be tested. It may be decided to concentrate the majority of the test points in the range of the meter’s heaviest expected usage. Further information and sample calculations appear in Appendix E. 6.3.3 Calibration Configuration ‘To minimize errors, meters should be calibrated in the same configuration as intended to be installed in service. However, most test facilities routinely perform calibrations in the recommended configuration deseribed in Section 7.2. Research (Reference 2) has shown thatthe errors of meters calibrated in this manner will be acceptable when installed in any of the configurations described in Section 7.2. For applications with more severe installation configurations, the user should consult the manufacturer or test facility operator for experimental data to determine an adequate calibration configuration. 634 Calibration Facilities Test facilities used for meter calibration shall be able to demonstrate traceability to relevant national primary standards and provide test results that are comparable to those from other such facilities. 6.3.5 Calibration Results During calibration, the appropriate K-factor(s), meter factors, change gears ratios and rotor factors will be established. The applicable factors will be established for each output for meters with more than one output, Refer to Appendix D for detailed information and examples of determining and applying these factors. 63.5.1 Change Gears For turbine meters with mechanical output(s), internal gearing is typically used to adjust the registration to produce a (nearly) finite indicated volume (e.¢., 100 cubic feet, 10 cubic meters, etc.) for each revolution of the output shaft. Differing change gear sets, comprised of two replaceable mating gears incorporated within the gear train, permit adjustments to be made to the overall gear ratio. While change gear sets with’ many ratios are available, it is not always possible to install gears with the precise ratio needed. Thus, there may be some residual bias in the meter’s calibrationeven after the best available change gears have been installed. The change gears are usually located in a non-pressurized region of the meter that is accessible during calibration, but that can be sealed to prevent unauthorized access. When an interchangeable measurement cartridge is moved to a new body, the change gears shall be moved also. 63.5.2 K-Factor(s) For turbine meters with electronic output(s), the appropriate K-factor(s) is established at the time of calibration, These value(s) are then entered into an electronic accessory device. The K-factor(s) is expressed in units of pulses/unit volume. By dividing the accumulated pulses by the K-factor or by dividing the instantaneous pulse frequency by the K-factor, the accumulated volume or the instantaneous flow rate, respectively, can be determined. 63.5.3 Meter Factors and Final Meter Factor Meter factors are non-dimensional multiplier values. They are derived from calibration data by dividing the true volume of the reference meter by the indicated volume of the test meter, both volumes havirig first been corrected to the same base conditions. Alternatively, meter factors: can be calculated from the percent error values provided at each calibration flow rate, by the formula: Meter factor = 100 / (100 + percent error) Thus, the meter factor example of 1.005 would be the same as -0.5 percent error. The mechanical or electronic outputs of a turbine meter may be adjusted by the application of individual meter factors for specific flow rates or by a single final meter factor over the range of flow rates. This may be done offline manually or online in an electronic accessory device. The calibration facility may provide meter factors in addition to or in place of percent error values for each test flow rate of a meter. 6.3.5.4 Rotor Factors for Dual-Rotor Meters For dual-rotor turbine meters, with associated algorithms for enhanced performance and diagnostics, the manufacturer will supply unique K-factors for each rotor’s electronic pulse output. These are referred to as “rotor factors” to distinguish them from K-factor, which is the term historically used to apply to the single-rotor electronic output of a meter. Refer to Appendix A, Sections A.2 and A.3 and to Appendix D, Section D.5 for more details. 6.3.5.5 Meter Verification Test Following an adjustment, at least one test point shall be repeated to verify that the adjustment was calculated and applied correctly. If a linearization technique is applied in secondary or companion electronics, then at least two test points shall be repeated64 Test Reports The results of each test required in Section 6.3 shall be documented in a report including, as @ minimum: 8) The name and address of the manufacturer b)_ The name and address of the test facility ©) The model, size and serial number of the meter 4) The date(s) of the test ©) The name and title of the person who conducted the tests f) The meter performance data 2) Test pressure and temperature hh) Ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure 4) Test uid, composition and properties at each test point, if varying J) A description of the test configuration used k). The value of any adjustment made and the results of the verification test A copy of the report shall be available from the testing organization for a period of five years, 65 Quality Assurance The manufacturer shall establish and follow a comprehensive quality-assurance program for the assembly and testing of the meter and its electronic system (e.g., ISO 9000, API Specification QI, ete.). The user shall have access to the quality-assurance documents and records,7. Installation Specifications The impact on measurement has been assessed for the configurations described below. Various organizations have published test data, Configurations other than those described below may result in unacceptable measurement errors and are not recommended without further testing 7.1 General Considerations 7.41 Flow Direction Turbine meters, designed for flow in one direction only, shall be installed accordingly. Reverse flow may not damage the meter intemals but may result in registration error. The manufacturer may be consulted if reverse flow has occurred. Where reverse flow is expected, additional valving is necessary to allow gas to flow through the meter in the forward direction only, unless the turbine meter is recommended for bi-directional flow. 7.1.2 Meter Orientation and Support Turbine meters, designed for horizontal orientation, shall be installed accordingly. A vertical in-line installation may be used; however, the manufacturer's recommendations for piping configuration and maintenance should be followed. The meter and meter piping shall be adequately supported and installed so as to minimize strain on the meter body. 7.1.3 Meter Run Connections The meter and adjacent pipe sections should have the same nominal diameter, but schedule changes are acceptable provided satisfactory meter performance has been demonstrated. Meter inlet and outlet connections and companion pipe flanges shall be aligned. concentrically. Gaskets shall not protrude into the flowing gas stream, Gasket protrusion or flange misalignment can affect meter performance. 7.14 Internal Surfaces The internal surface of the meter should be kept clear of any deposits that may affect the meter’s cross-sectional area. The meters performance depends on a known cross. sectional area, Pipe interior surfaces should be of commercial roughness or better. Welds on piping at the meter inlet and outlet should be ground flush with the internal surface of the pipe so that they do not protrude into the gas stream, 7.1.5 Temperature Well Location The temperature well shall be located downstream of the meter to keep disturbances to a minimum. Generally temperature wells are installed between one and five nominal pipe diameters from the meter outlet but upstream from any valve or flow restrictor. It is important that the temperature well be installed to ensure that heat transfer from the adjacent piping and radiation effects of the sun do not influence the temperature reading of the flowing gas.7.1.6 Pressure Tap Location The pressure tap provided by the manufacturer on the meter shall be used as the point of pressure sensing for recording or integrating instruments and during calibration. 7.1.7 Flow Conditioning ‘A flow conditioner may be used upstream of the turbine meter to reduce or eliminate the effects of swirl and/or asymmetric flow. Headers, pipefittings, valves and regulators preceding the meter inlet may cause perturbed flow conditions. Flow conditioners shall be installed as specified in the following sections. There shall be no protrusions into the piping between the flow conditioner and the meter, 7.1.7.1 Tube Bundle Type Straightening Vanes For specifications for these devices, refer to the latest revision of AGA Report No. 3, Orifice Metering of Natural Gas and Other Related Hydrocarbon Fluids (Reference 10). This design has demonstrated its effectiveness in the reduction of swirl but does not climinate asymmetric flow. 7.4.7.2 Other External Flow Conditioners Isolating flow conditioners offer an alternative to tube bundles. They are recom- mended for use if the contracting parties agree. Isolating flow conditioners generally consist of perforated plates in various pattems, sometimes accompanied by vane assemblies. Several of these devices have been evaluated for performance and found to be effective in reducing swirl and asymmetric flow. 7.1.7.3 Integral Flow Conditioners ‘Only meters incorporating integral flow conditioners as described in Section 7.2.2.3 are recommended for use in the short and close-coupled installations described in Sections 7.2.2.1 and 7.2.2.2. 7.2 Recommended Installation Configurations Research (Reference 2) shows that turbine meters may be operated according to the recommendations in this section with acceptable results, while more severe piping arrangements may result in considerable error. The magnitude of the error, if any, will be a function of the extent ofthe flow disturbances, the meter’s design, the quality of external and integral flow conditioning, and/or the meter’s ability to adjust for such conditions. However, other configurations may be used provided they are shown to be acceptable based on published experimental data7.2.1 Recommended Installation for In-Line Meters ‘The recommended installation (Figure 2) includes at least 10 nominal pipe diameters of straight pipe upstream of the meter inlet, with a flow conditioner outlet located 5 nominal pipe diameters upstream of the meter inlet. “Tutine Motor pignat et Temperate Well ~ Sample Probe Presse Tap \ Tomporatre Wt Becommended Blow Down Vato) Sco Pew Liming Pow constoniog ment NOTES: [1] Recommended spacing, unless ottewse supper by publishes ts dala forte fw condoning element {2lNo pe connectors or renin stowed wit his tetesm seco, [5 Ferroconmendba seo! blow down ai, 200 Tab 4 Loom downsrea of mater. Figure 2. Recommended Installation Configuration for In-line meters A minimum length of 5 nominal pipe diameters of straight pipe is included downstream of the meter. There shall be no pipe connections or protrusions within the upstream or downstream piping other than pressure taps, temperature wells or flow-conditioning. elements. A typical recommended installation meter run with accessories and optional devices is shown in Figure 3. The maximum pipe-size difference upstream or downstream of the recommended installation should be one nominal pipe size. Valves, filters or strainers may be installed upstream or downstream of the recommended installation piping. Any valve immediately upstream of the installation shall be fully open during meter operation. Strainers and filters should be kept clean for optimum performance.Tune ‘Optoma Ee enn Wel / emus : ese prec ces — Toccata eect bi ieee copes ‘Gre Nerina 10 Nominal Pipe —| tes ‘Downnream oy f= = Lemme ff Ss, ono & Dinaters ots SERENE ACI SCE commended | — Optons eel ire WSS2H “BL Pressureiosding —~ 19 Tube Bundie ‘Bypass Line. 1 DE23_ fe Prsueteatna oy ow Condonng FT--EL# Speen over 200 Element ss NOTES: {1} Recommended spicing, unlss cherie suppried by pbshed tes afr he flow cording element [Zine noe comsctane o provuson aowns wih ths Upteam sec. £2} Seo. esse lenge and valve tobe the are a ecorandea bow down vale cing, (ste Table) Figure 3. Typical Meter Set Assembly: Recommended Installation 7.2.2 Optional Installation Configurations for In-Line Meters The use of the following optional installation configurations may result in relatively higher, but still acceptable, measurement uncertainty. 7.2.2.1 Short-Coupled Installation ‘The short-coupled installation configuration shown in Figure 4 may be used where | space is limited. Initial limited research (Reference 2) on tested meters indicates that locating @ short-coupled installation with meter-integrated flow conditioning downstream of a high-level perturbation (as defined in Reference 7) caused measurement bias not exceeding +0.4% of reading, which was within the error limits of 1.0% specified in Section 5.1 (Figure 1). See Section 7.2.2.3 for a discussion on meter-integrated flow conditioning and Section 6.3 for calibration requirements, The | short-coupled configuration includes at least four nominal pipe diameters of straight pipe upstream of the meter inlet, with a flow conditioner located at the inlet of the ‘meter inlet should be at least two nominal pipe diameters, The meter may be connected to the vertical ses using elbows ores. Tes enable Cua inspection ofthe meter ru. The maximum difernce in size between the on andthe ters shall be ne nominal pipe size. The insallaton of ptonal valves Tes er sine in the risers ts permed, though ose ae enone tha Inlusionsin he rises have no been confined by plished esearch, Any valve inthe inlet riser shall be fully open during meter operation, and strainers and filters should be kept clean for optimum performance. as 4 i | [Giese E* aa t+ Flow Conon Eonent Gevce AARON patent ‘rer 200 pon 3) [NOTES [1] Recommended spacing, ues oerwise supported by published test dt fr the flow condoning laren [Z)Ne pips consecnon or porusonaalowes win te opteaseton [5)'Sue ot yressute loss ine ana veto be he sae 2 recommenced Dew down valve sing, Tab 1). |e) Tune motor must nave neal ow contin Figure 4. Short-Coupled Installation 7.2.22 Close-Coupled Installation The close-coupled installation configuration shown in Figure 5 may be used where space is severely limited, Just as in the case of short-coupled installation, initial limited research (Reference 2) on tested meters also indicates that locating a close- coupled installation with meter-integrated flow conditioning downstream of a high level perturbation (as defined in Reference 7) caused measurement bias not exceeding £0.4% of reading, which was within the error limits of * 1.0% specified in Section 5.1 (Figure 1). See Section 7.2.2.3 for a discussion on meter-integrated flow conditioning and Section 6.3 for calibration requirements ‘The meter may be connected to the vertical risers using elbows or tees. Tees enable visual inspection of the meter run. The maximum difference in size between the run and the risers shall be one nominal pipe size. The installation of optional valves, filters or strainers in the risers is permitted, although users are cautioned that inclusions in the risers have not been confirmed by published research. Any valve in the inlet riser shall be fully open during meter operation, and strainers and filters should be kept clean for optimum performance, 21Temperature Wot Ccptonst Presuetaesng NOTES: [1 Tubin meter mist have sgl tow condeoning een. {2} Site st pessteloadng ne a valet be be sr be ecommended ow dean vate sing, (Table) Figure 5. Close-Coupled Installation 7.2.2.3 Meter-Integrated Flow Conditioning Research (Reference 2) has confirmed that turbine meters with integral flow conditioning in the nose-cone flow passages operate satisfactorily in short and close- coupled installations. Those integral flow conditioners tested were similar in desien to that shown in Figure 6 and to those evaluated in Reference 8, For this design, the aspect ratios are H/D < 0.15 and S/L < 0.35. These parameters are illustrated in Figure 6, Integral Flow Conditioning on Nose-cone 4 > s e Ny H—radial height of annuiar flow passage ‘S— maximum chord length between vanes D—diameter of the meter inlet L=vane length in axial direction Figure 6. Dimensional Parameters for Integral Flow Conditioning 27.2.3. Suggested Installation for Angle-Body Meters ‘A suggested installation for angle-body meters is shown in Figure 7. When a flow conditioner is not used, 10 nominal pipe diameters of straight pipe shall be provided upstream of the meter. When a flow conditioner is used, the flow conditioner inlet shall be a minimum of five nominal pipe diameters from the meter inlet and the length of straight upstream pipe may be reduced to 5 diameters. Horizontal Installation (Inlet in Horizontal Plane, Outlet Down ) once iss ermrcen \ 1 ony tena oanenicn ES my os ao ' > f cr 2 ee Bute Agjommended as Ty Kr a 2 amg cumen “Bene if AEX See ea eae Seta ns A NOTES" [i)Recomerendes spacing, unless therwise supported by published ts! dal fr the tow condoning dement [2]Ne pe conrectons a prune atowea win ns upteam sec. {3} Sus et pressure eadng ina and va oe he sane ae receamended How down va sting, (98 Tabi 1) Figure 7. Suggested Installation for Angle-Body Meters The meter inlet piping may be connected using @ 90° elbow or tee. There are no restrictions on the downstream piping except that the flange attached to the meter outlet shall be full-size. Any valve immediately upstream of the installation shall be open fully during meter operation, The installation may be oriented vertically. Caution: Users are cautioned that the error of the angle-body configuration has not been confirmed by published research. Contact the manufacturer for supporting experimental data for specific installation requirement.13 14 Environmental Considerations 7.3.1 Temperature The meter shall be installed and used within the ambient and flowing gas temperature limits specified by the manu! 7.3.2. Vibration Turbine meters are in general not susceptible to vibration. However, vibration frequencies should be avoided that might excite the natural frequencies of the piping set, potentially leading to excessive noise, structural damage to the pipe, and/or reduced bearing service life of the meter. 7.3.3 Pulsations Pulsations may occur in several forms depending on the design of the system and the operating conditions. Turbine meters installed near compressors and fast-cycling regulators can register incorrectly. Flow pulsations generated by this type of equipment will generally cause a turbine meter to over-register. Pulsation dampeners installed between the source of pulsation and the turbine meter are an effective way of eliminating, pulsation-induced measurement errors. Flow transients experienced in normal operation have negligible effect on turbine meter performance because turbine meters in general have the ability to follow slow changes in flow rate. 7.3.4 Hydrate Formation and Liquid Slugs Slugs‘of liquid or solids entering the meter may damage the meter. The presence of hydrates in the meter installation will cause inaccurate measurement. The meter piping, should be designed to prevent liquid accumulation in the meter body and meter run, Associated Devices 7.4.1 Filtration and Strainers Filtration of the flowing gas may not be necessary in all cases but is recommended for ‘most meter applications. The accumulation of deposits due to a mixture of dirt, mill scale, condensates and/or lubricating oils will deteriorate meter performance. Bearing wear and measurement cartridge damage and/or failure can be caused by foreign material in the flowing stream, Normal pipeline gas quality may deteriorate during peak demands, plant upsets and new tie-ins, or from normal internal pipeline corrosion resulting in dust, dirt andior scale. Under such conditions, it is recommended that a strainer with a basket of 3/32 inch maximum hole size and 40 mesh wire liners be installed upstream of the meter to catch the major part of this foreign material, In some instances, it may be preferable to install 10-micron filters for the removal of fine dust, thus increasing bearing life and ‘minimizing deposits on the meters internal parts, A differential pressure gauge should be installed across the filter 6r strainer to indicate an inerease in pressure drop resulting from ‘build-up of foreign matter in the filter or strainer. Normal pressure drop should be observed and recorded at various flow rates when the strainer or filter is clean.Inspection of the devices should be performed whenever higher than normal pressure drops are indicated on the differential pressure gauge. ‘A greater degree of meter protection can be accomplished through the use of a dry-type or separator-type filter installed upstream of the meter inlet piping, When commissioning a pipeline, it is recommended that the meter be bypassed or a temporary strainer element installed to protect the meter from dirt and debris entrained within the initial flow. 7.4.2 Throttling Devices The instalation of a throttling device, such as a regulator or partially closed valve, is not recommended in close proximity, especially upstream, to the meter. Where such installations are necessary, the throttling device should be placed an additional eight nominal pipe diameters upstream or an additional two nominal pipe diameters downstream of the in-line recommended installation in Figure 2. In the configurations illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 7, the throttling device should be placed eight additional nominal pipe diameters upstream of the inlet vertical riser or an additional two nominal pipe diameters downstream of the outlet vertical riser. Placement of such a device in to the meter may result in increased uncertainty and/or reduced bearing 7.8 Precautionary Measures 7.5.1 Installation Residue To prevent possible damage, the measurement cartridge or meter should be removed if work such as welding, hydrostatic testing, etc., is being performed in the immediate area of the meter. The inside of the meter body and piping shall be thoroughly cleaned and inspected for construction debris prior to replacement 75.2 Valve Grease Grease can flow from some pipeline valves into the gas stream during lubrication, Valve grease can adhere to turbine meter blades, thereby affecting meter performance. Such valve types should not be located immediately upstream of a turbine meter. 75.3 Over-Range Effects Surges of high-velocity gas through a turbine meter can severely damage the rotor. Extreme gas velocities can occur when pressurizing, blowing down or purging the meter run. The operation of flow- or pressure-conirol devices in the downstream piping system cean also create extreme gas velocities. 7.5.3.1 Run Pressurization Is good practice to provide isolation block valves for meter runs so that the meter(s) can be maintained and calibrated without service interruptions. For single meter run stations, a flow bypass line should also be considered (see Figure 3). The isolation block valves must be operated in the proper sequence and slowly to avoid reversespinning and/or over-speeding the meter during startup. If operating. pressures are over 200 psig, a small pressure-loading line and valve around a large or fast acting inlet block valve will allow the meter run to be pressurized slowly to avoid over- speeding damage to the stationary rotor. Recommended sizes for pressure-loading lines and valves are the same as those for blow down valves in Section 7.5.3.2. 7.5.3.2 Blow Down Precautions While most turbine meters can be operated beyond rated capacity for short periods of time with no damaging effects, oversized blow down valves can cause rotational speeds greatly in excess of the rated capacity. Therefore, blow down valves should be sized as shown in Table 1 TABLE 1 — BLOW DOWN VALVE SIZING ‘Meter Run, Valve Size. mm Inches mm Inches 50 2 6 0.25 80 3 13, 0.50 100 4 13 0.50 150 6 28 1.0 200 8 25 10 300 12 25 10 Consult the manufacturer for information on valve sizes for meters not covered in the Table 1 Some meters and secondary devices may be damaged when they are operated in a reverse direction. In such cases, the blow down valve shall be located downstream of the meter. 75.3.3 Flow Limiting Devices In those installations where excessive flow can occur as a result of the operation of the downstream piping system or as a result of the operation of flow- or pressure- control equipment, a restrictive device may be installed in the piping downstream of the meter run to prevent meter over-ranging. An over-range protection device may be sized to limit the flow through the meter to approximately 120% of the maximum rated meter capacity. Meters shall not be operated beyond their rated capacity under normal circumstances. Refer to the sonic nozzle and critical orifice sizes in Table 2. A permanent pressure loss will occur even at sub-critical flow rates when one of these devices is installed. Therefore, adequate pressure needs to be available at the location. A critical orifice may result in up to 50% permanent pressure loss at critical conditions. Any flow-limiting device may generate significant noise.TABLE 2— SONIC VENTURI NOZZLE AND CRITICAL ORIFICE SIZES (Based On Turbine Meter Rated Capacity, 0.6 Relative Density Gas) (See Note & Figure 8 on next page) TURBINE a 7 Te CRITICAL METER 120% of sonic |crmicat| ORIFICE MAX. RATING RATING VENTURI _| ORIFICE | THICKNESS cubic cubic cubic metersh_| teeth | meters Pubic feeth] mm} inch | mm finch] mm | inch 700 3500 120 4200 | 730) 051 152/060) 1.88] 0.074 115 4000 138 4800 |13.7| 054 |16.3]0.64) 2.03] 0.080 130 4500 156 5400 |147| 0.58 |17.3\0.68|2.13| 0.084 250 8800 300 10600 |20.6] 0.81 |24.1|0.95]3.00| 0.118 255 9000 306 10800 |20.8] 0.82 |24.4/0.96]3.02| 0.119 280 10000 336 12000 |21.8| 0.86 |25.7/1.01]3.20| 0.126 450 16000 540 19200 |27.7| 1.09 |32.3/1.27]4.04| 0.159 510 18000 612 21600 |29.5) 116 |343|135]4.29| 0.169 680 24000 816 28800 |33.8/ 1.33 |39.6|1.56|4.95| 0.195 760 27000 912 32400 |35.8) 1.41 |422/1.66/5.26| 0.207 850 30000 1019 36000 }37.8) 149 |44.2/1.74/5.54] 0.218 1000 | 35000 | 1200 | 42000 }40.9) 1.61 |478]1.88/5.99| 0.236 1020 | 36000 | 1224 43200 |41.4| 1.63. |48.5|1.91]6.07| 0.239 1420 | 50000 | 1704 60000 49.0] 1.93 |57.2|2.25]7.16| 0.282 1620 | 57000 1944 68400 523) 206 |61.2|2.41]7.65) 0.301 1700 | 60000 | 2040 72000 |536| 211 |627|2.47|7.82| 0.308 2550 | 90000 | 3060 | 108000 |65.5] 2.58 |76.7|3.02|9.60| 0.378 2830 | 100000 | 3396 | 120000 |691] 272 |a1.0|3.19]10.11] 0.398 4000 | 140000 | 4800 | 168000 J81.8} 3.22 }95.8|3.77|11.96| 0.471 4250 | 150000 | 5100 | 180000 }84.6| 3.33 |99.1|3.90)12.40| 0.488 6230 | 220000 | 7476 | 264000 |102.6 4.04 }120.1]4.73]18.01] 0.591 6520 | 230000 | 7824 | 276000 |104.9} 4.13 |122.7]4.83]15.34| 0.604 7e50__| 270000 | _9180__|_ 324000 }113.5| 4.47 _|132.815.23)16.61| 0.654 27The table in the previous page is based on the following formulae: D (inch) Venturi air rate (acth) = |———— 0.00893 Gas rate (acth) = 706 = air rate = 1.291 x air rate Gas rate (acth) — =1.291 [parca] 0.00893 (0.00893)? x Gas rate D (inch) (Venturi) = J? Gnch) Venturd) 1.291 D(inch) (Venturi) = (0.00786) Gas rate D (inch) (Orifice) = 1.17 x D (inch) (Venturi) Note: To be sure that the orifice performs as a thin-plate, sharp-edged orifice in critical flow, the ratio of orifice plate thickness to the hole diameter shall be less than for equal to 0.125. Refer to Reference 9 for additional information. If the thickness- to-diameter ratio is larger than 0.125, then discharge coefficients can have large and uncertain values within the range of 0.8 to 0.95 (vs, 0.73). This is caused by boundary layer/shock interactions within the orifice. >| ft Torless —»| }¢— Torless Diameter -D ‘Symmetric plate, Flow directional plate, both orifice edges sharp _leading edge sharp, trailing edge beveled Flow. ZY Figure 8. Critical Orifice Dimensions 2816 Accessory Installation 7.6.1 Density Measurement Devices When using densitometers, it is desirable to sample the gas as closely as possible to the meter. Care should be exercised not to disturb the meter inlet flow or to create an lunmetered bypass. Densitometers should be installed downstream of turbine meters Refer to manufacturers’ installation instructions for further information, 7.6.2 Volume Correctors and Instrumentation Accessory devices and instrumentation, such as mechanical or electronic correction devices, shall be installed and maintained in accordance with manufacturers’ guidelines Care should be taken to ensure that mechanical correcting devices or recorders do not create excess torque loads on the meter that could inerease measurement uncertainty at low flow rates. Accessory devices should not be allowed to significantly reduce the spin time of the turbine meter. (Refer to Section 8.4) 29‘Meter Maintenance and Field Verification Checks 8.1 General In addition to sound design and installation practices, turbine meter performance is dependent ‘on good maintenance procedures, regular inspections and periodic field checks. The frequency of maintenance is dependent on the flowing gas conditions, station operation and/or contract requirements. Meters that operate under dirty flowing gas conditions will require more frequent inspections. In addition, the flowing gas condition will influence the oiling frequency for lubricated turbines. Changes in the performance of a meter may be detected by self-checking features, by visual inspection of the internal mechanism, by spin time tests, or by calibration. Section 6.3 recommends matching in-service conditions during. calibration to determine the best indication of meter error. However, periodic calibration using atmospheric air can be useful for monitoring ongoing meter performance. Some dual-rotor turbine meters have output readings that can be used for periodic or Continuous checking. These readings can be used to determine the need for maintenance or inspection. A turbine meter can also be field-checked by either another meter in series or a ccheck rotor in tandem with the metering rotor in a two-rotor turbine meter. In the case of two ‘meters in series, the check meter (a turbine meter or other suitable meter) must be installed relative to the field meter so that there is no effect on either meter’s performance from the presence of the other. The effects of flowing pressure and temperature on both meters should bbe considered along with the error of the check meter at the operating conditions. In the case of a dual-rotor meter, both rotors can be calibrated, and field checking achieved by comparing the ratio of the two rotor outputs 82 Visual Inspection A visual inspection of flow conditioners, upstream and downstream piping, and the meter internals should be performed periodically to ensure there is no accumulation of debris, particularly in the flow passage area, drains, breather holes and lubrication systems, Removing the measurement cartridge from the meter body facilitates an inspection of the internal mechanisms. If the cartridge is not removable, remove the meter from the piping or use a borescope. The closures on the ends of the run may be removed or opened for internal inspection of the piping. ‘An inspection of the measurement cartridge consists of examining the rotor for damaged or missing blades, accumulation of solids, erosion or other damage that would affect rotor balance and biade configuration. When a meter is disassembled for any purpose, the mechanism should be thoroughly cleaned to remove dirt or foreign material. Meters in ‘operation can often yield information by the noise they generate or by vibrations felt through the body. If the meter has severe vibration, it usually indicates damage. This condition will lead to complete rotor failure. Rotor rubbing and deteriorated bearings can often be heard at relatively low flow rates where such noises are not masked by normal flow noise, Concurrent with the internal meter inspection, checks should be performed to ensure that gaskets are properly aligned and that flow conditioners are free of obstructions. 308.3 Cleaning and Oiling ‘The manufacturer's recommendations should be followed concerning oiling of new meters prior to service star-up and then periodically during service. Frequency of oiling is dependent upon the quality of the gas and operating conditions. Meters operating at high flow rates, high flowing temperatures or metering gas containing solids, liquids or other contaminants may require more frequent oiling or bearing replacement than those metering relatively clean gas at low flow rates. Monthly oiling is the generally recommended starting frequency. Excessive oil can cause additional drag that temporarily decreases spin time. Inadequate oil can cause friction and wear in the bearing and result in bearing failure. The rotor bearings operate at a high rpm, Because of this, many turbine meters have provisions for externally oiling the rotor shaft bearings. Various methods may be available to accomplish the lubrication. “A pressurized system provides a positive pressure in excess of the operating line pressure (e.g., manual pump gun). This ensures positive oiling and flushing of the rotor shaft bearings. A gravity method should be used in the absence of a pressure system. Automated oilers are also available for use on meters needing more frequent lubrication. Points other than the rotor shaft bearings may requite periodic lubrication as recommended by the manufacturer. When a meter is disassembled, the mechanism should be thoroughly cleaned to remove dirt and foreign material. Additionally, oil should be added through the outside oil fitting and a Visual check made to ascertain that oil is flowing freely to the main bearings. The user should also consider that significant accumulation of dirt on the nose cone, integral straightening vvanes and the area inside the meter body may affect the performance characteristics Turbine meters intended for use as transfer master meters or for laboratory-controlled comparison testing may not require oiling prior to service. The manufacturer's recommendations should be followed in these cases. 84° Spin Time Test Spin time tests are not intended to take the place of inspection, maintenance or periodic assessment of the meter’s errors via a calibration check. However, a spin time test can be a practical indicator of the relative level of mechanical friction in the meter. Increased mechanical friction can result in degradation of meter performance and registration errors, especially at low flow rates and low operating pressures. As mechanical friction increases, the potential for bearing or other component failure increases. Spin time is not indicative of overall meter performance, Conditions, such as damage or wear to the rotor and internal components, or debris and foreign material inside the meter, can affect meter performance with minimal change to the spin time. A thorough inspection should also be carried out when conducting a spin time test The manufacturer provides spin times for individual meters and may provide spin times for the meter at various stages of disassembly. Such guidelines may also include minimum spin times for various models and sizes of meters. The manufacturer's published guidelines and procedures for conducting spin time tests should be followed. An example of a spin time test procedure appears in Appendix F. 31