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Coriolis meters are recognized as one of the more significant, estimated shipments of > 100,000 units in 2005. By directly measuring fluid mass, Coriolis meters eliminate the need to compensate for pressure and temperature. Multivariable measuring capability further enhances the versatility of a Coriolis flowmeter.
Coriolis meters are recognized as one of the more significant, estimated shipments of > 100,000 units in 2005. By directly measuring fluid mass, Coriolis meters eliminate the need to compensate for pressure and temperature. Multivariable measuring capability further enhances the versatility of a Coriolis flowmeter.
Coriolis meters are recognized as one of the more significant, estimated shipments of > 100,000 units in 2005. By directly measuring fluid mass, Coriolis meters eliminate the need to compensate for pressure and temperature. Multivariable measuring capability further enhances the versatility of a Coriolis flowmeter.
Mass Meters for Liquid Measurement Issue/Rev. 0.0 (4/05) Bulletin TP0M004 The Most Trusted Name In Measurement Introduction Coriolis mass meters were introduced to industry in the early 1980s and have gained wide acceptance as accurate and reliable flow measuring devices. Today Coriolis meters are recognized as one of the more significant, estimated shipments of > 100,000 units in 2005, and fastest growing of the new technology flowmeter types. Several factors have contributed to the growth and acceptance of Coriolis meters. A major factor contributing to their popularity is the basic means by which Coriolis meters measure fluid flow. Coriolis meters measure mass flow directly. By directly measuring fluid mass, Coriolis meters eliminate the need to compensate for pressure and temperature thereby re- ducing the potential for measurement error. The result is improved accuracy. Multivariable measuring capability fur- ther enhances the versatility of a Coriolis flowmeter. In addition to measuring mass flow, fluid density and tem- perature are also measured and transmitted. Coriolis meters use the primary measurements of fluid mass and density to determine and output volumetric flow rate. With accu- rate measurement, application versatility and no moving parts to wear as attributes, Coriolis meters have gained acceptance as viable meter type for liquid hydrocarbon custody transfer. Confirming this trend is the October 2002 Measurement Standards Publication by the Ameri- can Petroleum Institute for Measurement of Liquid Hydro- carbons by Coriolis Meters. The following discussion seeks to enhance the readers understanding of Coriolis technology and general considerations for applying Corio- lis meters for the measurement of liquid flow. Flowmeter Description A Coriolis meter consists of two primary components: a mechanical sensor and an electronic transmitter. The flow element, referred to as the sensor, mounts directly in the process piping. The transmitter can be directly mounted to the sensor or remotely located and connected to the sen- sor by a multi-conductor cable The flow sensor is a mechanical assembly consisting of flow tube(s), flow splitter (if required), electromagnetic drive system, RTD(s), sensing coils, support structure, case and process connections. The primary function of the sensor is to react and measure the Coriolis force gener- ated by the mass flow of fluid through the oscillating flow tube(s). Coriolis meter sensors are available in a variety of geomet- ric configurations and sizes. A general summary of capa- bilities follows: Sizes from 1/12" to 12" Maximum flow rates to > 80,000 lb/min Pressure ratings to 12,000 psi* Process temperature capability to 800 F* *Standard maximum pressure and temperature ratings range from 800 psi to 1500 psi and 275 F to 400 F. The extreme ranges noted are available as options. Sensor and other parts comprising the pressure containing structures are designed and constructed of materials suit- able for the service conditions for which the meter is rated. The transmitter is a system of electronics consisting of power supply, microprocessor(s), signal processing and communication components housed in an enclosure that can be integral to the sensor or remotely mounted. Transmitter configurations, like sensors, will vary by manu- facturer. Typical transmitter features include: Operate on AC or DC input power Analog output signals Frequency output signals Control/status output Digital communications Zero/remote zero contact Output damping Low flow cut-off Totals and inventories Self diagnostics Loop tests Local display and interface Coriolis meter sensors are traditionally designed to be intrinsically safe devices suitable for installation in Class I, Div. 1, or less hazardous locations. The transmitter is typically configured as an associated intrinsically safe device with protection provided by an explosion proof en- closure. Several manufacturers supply transmitters in panel mount versions. Issue/Rev. 0.0 (4/05) Page 2 TP0M004 Operating Principle Two phenomena are required to generate a Coriolis force a rotation and a mass moving toward and away from the axis of rotation. In Coriolis meters, the rotation is created in an oscillatory manner through vibration of a flow conduit, or multiple conduits. Figure 1 illustrates an element of fluid moving through a tube that rotates about a fixed axis perpendicular to the centerline of the tube. The inlet and outlet of the flow tube(s) are anchored while the tube is vibrated at a midway point. The tube vibration is produced by means of an electromagnetic drive system consisting of a coil and magnet. Located upstream and downstream of the drive system are sensors used to mea- sure the Coriolis response. The operation of a Coriolis mass flowmeter is explained by the application of Newtons second law, F = M A (Force = Mass X Acceleration). The vibrating tube exerts a force on the flowing fluid, and in response, the flowing fluid exerts a Coriolis force (F c ) on the tube. The fluid flowing toward the middle of the flow tube opposes the motion of the tube, while the fluid flowing away from the middle assists in the motion of the tube. Because the flow tube is elastic, the tube walls deform in response to this Coriolis force. Under no-flow conditions, the flow signals generated up- stream and downstream of the drive system are in phase, as shown in Figure 2. When the flowing fluid and the tube movement generate Coriolis forces, a deflection occurs in equal magnitude, upstream and downstream, but in opposite direction. The magnitude of this deflection is directly proportional to the mass flow rate through the sensor and is shown in Figure 3. As flow rate increases, the deflection magnitude increases, and as flow rate decreases the deflection magnitude de- creases. This tube deflection is evidenced by a phase difference or shift between the upstream and downstream pick-off signals. Several methods are used to measure the Coriolis deflec- tion. The most commonly applied technique is the mea- surement of the phase difference between upstream and downstream pick-off coils. Since phase difference occurs in time, measures of the time difference between the two signals produce a delta time value that is proportional to mass flow rate. An alternative method involves the direct measurement of Coriolis deflection. This direct measure- ment of the tube deflection resulting from F c is accom- plished by continuous measurement of the upstream and downstream signals and subtracting the outlet from the inlet signal. The result is a continuous sinusoidal signal of Coriolis deflection magnitude. Digital signal processing techniques, such as synchronous demodulation, calculate and provide a continuous positive signal of mass flow. Figure 4 illustrates Coriolis response signals. Density Measurement In addition to mass flow, Coriolis meters measure fluid density. Density measurement is made simultaneously of mass flow measurement. Fluid density is determined by measuring the frequency of flow tube vibration. Density measurement is based on the physics of a spring and mass system. The frequency of oscillation of a spring and mass assembly, with the spring anchored at one end and a mass suspended on the other, is a function of the char- acteristics of the spring and the amount of mass attached. See Figure 5. Using a spring of known characteristics, a change in the attached mass will cause proportional change in the frequency of oscillation of the spring-mass system. When calibrated to determine its spring constant using a Figure 2 Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 4 Issue/Rev. 0.0 (4/05) TP0M004 Page 3 known mass, the amount of an unknown mass attached to the end of the spring can be determined by measuring the change in the natural frequency of oscillation of the spring from its calibrated condition. The example of a spring-mass system can be applied to a Coriolis meter. In a Coriolis meter, the flow tube acts as the vibrating spring assembly with the mass inside the tube, rather than attached to the end of the spring. The tube is excited to vibrate at its natural frequency as shown in Figure 5. The natural frequency of the tube will change as a result of changes in the amount of mass contained in the tube(s). Measuring the frequency of oscillation of the tube provides a direct mass measurement of the volume of fluid contained in the tube. This mass per unit volume is the density of the fluid. To accomplish accurate density measurement Coriolis meter electronics and sensor are calibrated using fluids of differing density. Known fluid density value(s) and mea- sured frequency response(s) are used to characterize the Coriolis sensor. Measured liquid density is provided as a transmitter output with selectable units of measure. High performance Coriolis meters can provide density mea- surement accuracy to 0.0005 g/cc. Volume Measurement Volume measurement is provided by a Coriolis flowmeter using mass flow rate (M) and measured density () to calculate volumetric flow rate (q). q = M/ Volumetric flow rate uncertainty is the combined error of the mass flow rate and density measurement. Performance Coriolis meter accuracy is a function of the mass flow rate through the sensor and is independent of fluid characteris- tics, i.e. density, composition, viscosity, temperature and pressure. Error limits are provided by the manufacturer for flow rates from 100% of maximum sensor rating to a small percentage of this flow rate. Because of the linear nature of the signal developed, Coriolis meters have a wide dy- namic range. Typical turndown ratios are on the order of 25:1, and good accuracy ( 0.5%) over 100:1 dynamic flow range can be achieved in some applications. Coriolis meter specifications typically state probable error, or accuracy, as a percentage of flow rate plus the zero stability value: % Error = [base error, % (zero stability/flow rate) x 100] The actual meter base error value is determined from laboratory calibration and includes the effects of laboratory uncertainty, linearity, hysteresis and repeatability. The zero stability value establishes the limits within which the meter zero may vary during operation and is constant over the operating range assuming all other parameters, e.g. temperature, pressure, pipeline stress, are fixed. Zero stability can be expressed as value in flow rate units or as a percentage of upper range limit. Specified zero stability performance is achieved when the Coriolis meter is in- stalled and zeroed at operating conditions. Process temperature, pressure and/or environmental temperature changes will affect Coriolis meter zero stability. Limits for changes in these installed conditions may be given which, when exceeded, will require re-zeroing of the meter. Zero stability has the greatest effect on flow measurement ac- curacy at the lowest flow rate. Figure 6 describes an example of actual Coriolis meter performance vs. error specification vs. flow rate. Pressure drop, or loss, across the Coriolis meter sensor is a key factor in flowmeter selection. Sensor geometry, fluid characteristics and flow rate determine the perma- nent pressure loss across the meter. Coriolis meter sen- sor designs are proprietary and vary by size. Manufac- tures publish pressure drop curves and often provide siz- ing aids to assist in pressure drop determination for a specific application. Coriolis meter turndown is described by the ratio of the acceptable maximum flow rate to the acceptable mini- mum flow rate. Turndown ratio is application specific and dependent on flow conditions, allowable pressure drop across the meter and allowable measurement error. Factory Calibration Coriolis meters, as a general practice, are factory cali- brated on gravimetric flow stands that are traceable to a national standard. Water is normally used as the calibra- tion fluid. During calibration water flows through the Corio- lis meter and is collected in a tank on a weigh scale. The Coriolis meter mass indication is compared to the scale indication, corrected for buoyancy effect. A repeatable calibration factor for the flow range of the meter is estab- Figure 5 Figure 6 Issue/Rev. 0.0 (4/05) Page 4 TP0M004 lished. The calibration factor is used to output the mea- sured mass flow rate in appropriate engineering units. Figure 7 shows a typical gravimetric calibration set up. A separate density calibration is also performed at the factory. Standard Coriolis meter density calibrations are performed using air and water. Actual calibration involves measurement of Coriolis meter tube frequency when the meter is full of calibration fluid. Density calibration factors are determined for each calibration fluid and are unique to the sensor. The Coriolis meter transmitter interprets the relationship between calibration factors to determine mea- sured fluid density in the field. Installation A Coriolis meter sensor can be installed in any orientation if the tube(s) remain completely full of liquid at all times. Two-phase flow conditions can adversely affect perfor- mance. Although Coriolis meters provide accurate mea- surement when there is a small volume of entrained gas, optimal performance is achieved by eliminating gas in the liquid stream. Gas slugs should be avoided. If the volume of gas or duration of the slug condition is too great, the power required to drive the flow tube(s) will not be suffi- cient and will result in a fault condition. In the worst case, the flow tube(s) will stop vibrating. No measurement oc- curs while the meter flow tube(s) are stalled. Meter installation should follow good piping practices. Pip- ing connections should be correctly aligned to minimize compressive, tensile and torsional stresses placed on the sensor. Pipe supports should be installed to provide sufficient support of the process piping up and downstream of the sensor. Supports should support the process piping, not the sensor. A downstream shut off valve is required to ensure the ability to obtain zero flow at process conditions - tempera- ture and pressure equilibrium. Note that control valves may not provide a tight seal. In this situation an additional positive shutoff valve is recommended. A bypass loop may be desirable in certain applications. Ensure that the bypass valves do not leak, as leakage through the valves will not be measured. In general Coriolis meters are not sensitive to piping distur- bances and do not require upstream or downstream straight pipe run. Pumps are a potential source of vibration that could inter- fere with meter measurement and should be isolated by distance or mechanical means if practical. Meter zeroing with the pump running is recommended to minimize the potential for measurement error. Installations of multiple sensors in close proximity of one another could result in cross-talk and induce measure- ment error. In these circumstances care should be taken to provide piping support to enhance noise isolation for each meter location. For applications having entrained solids, installation of a self-draining sensor mounted in a vertical orientation is recommended. Maintenance Coriolis meters have no moving parts and require very little maintenance. With no moving parts to wear measurement performance does not degrade with use. A Coriolis meters non-intrusive flow element allows gas or solids to pass through the meter without causing damage. Periodic check of flowmeter zero and drive power will serve as an indication of the condition of the sensor over time. If application conditions afford the potential for coating, a zero offset, if the coating is not uniform, or increase in drive power may be observed. Under these conditions cleaning the flow meter tube(s) and re-zeroing is recom- mended. The Coriolis meter transmitter typically provides self-diag- nostic capability to assist with inspection and trouble shoot- ing activities. Transmitter LED(s), display interface and/or PC based applications are often provided by manufactur- ers to simplify commissioning, start-up, check out and related fieldwork. Proving Field proving of Coriolis meters is readily accomplished using established methods and equipment. Proper meter installation and facility for establishing an initial zero point adjustment under stable process conditions are critical factors for successful in situ calibration. Other consider- ations include collection of sufficient product to match the resolution of the meter being calibrated and meter re- sponse time. Coriolis meter transmitters can be configured to output pulses in either mass or volume units. Coriolis meters measuring volume can be field proven using Conventional Pipe, Small Volume and Volumetric Tank Provers. Field proving with a SVP is best accomplished under stable flow conditions and with minimum transmitter time constant and output damping settings. If flow conditions Figure 7 Issue/Rev. 0.0 (4/05) TP0M004 Page 5 are variable, then determination of flow meter repeatability using the Average Meter Factor method should be evalu- ated. Direct Mass Proving can be accomplished using Gravi- metric, Mass Master Meter and Inferred Mass Proving standard practices. The reader is directed to APIs Manual of Petroleum Mea- surement Standards and specifically, Chapter 5, Section 6 Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Coriolis Meters for a complete and thorough treatise of guidelines for field proving. Applications Coriolis meters are widely used in the Petroleum industry in applications ranging from oil well stimulation to the cus- tody transfer of asphalt. Initial use of Coriolis meters tended toward severe or diffi- cult applications that could not be effectively addressed with conventional flowmeter technology. As Coriolis meter installations increased so has user experience and accep- tance. The rate of adoption of Coriolis meters by the Petroleum industry is expected to increase. Factors con- tributing to this trend are: Direct mass measurement can be used to measure practically anything, e.g. non- conductive fluids, slurries etc. Accuracy and turndown accurate measurement over a wide dynamic range No moving parts in the flow stream - long service life and reduced maintenance costs Multivariable measurement mass, density, volume and temperature Replacement of mechanical meters A partial listing of Petroleum industry applications follows: Production Stimulation CO 2 injection Net oil determination Lease automatic custody transfer systems Transportation Ship, barge, and rail loading and unloading Pipeline friction reducer injection Gathering crude tank trucks Leak detection LNG, LPG, NGL Refining Pipeline Catalytic crackers Material balance Lube oils and gas blending Refined Product Distribution Ship, barge and rail loading and unloading Pipeline Truck marketing terminals Conclusion Direct mass measurement has the potential to improve liquid flow measurement accuracy. Simultaneous mass flow, density, temperature and volume flow measurement enhance application knowledge and flowmeter versatility. Coriolis meters have no moving parts to wear out. Overall lower cost of ownership, enhanced performance and re- duced maintenance are driving the increased use of Corio- lis meters for liquid measurement in the Petroleum indus- try. Coriolis meters are a new flowmeter technology. As user experience and acceptance of mass meters extend use to custody transfer applications, adaptation of established field proving practice and calibration methods are areas of ongoing evolution of the state-of-the art of liquid measure- ment by Coriolis meters. Reference Documents 1.Anderson, D., Mass Meters for Liquid Measurement, paper prepared for International School of Hydrocarbon Measurement, 1997. 2.Apple, C., Proving Coriolis Flowmeters, paper prepared for International School of Hydrocarbon Measurement, 1997. 3.Smith Meter, Inc., Considerations When Applying the Coriolis Mass Flowmeter in Custody Transfer Applica- tions, 1993. 4.Spitzer, D.W., Flow Measurement, Practical Guides for Measurement and Control, pp 221-247, 1991. 5.Smith, S.J., Mass Meters for Liquid Measurement, paper prepared for International School of Hydrocarbon Measurement, 1999. 6.Baker, R.C., Flow Measurement Handbook, pp 391- 424, 2000 7.American Petroleum Institute Manual of Petroleum Mea- surement Standards Draft Standard, Measurement of Single-phase, Intermediate and Finishing Hydrocarbon Fluids by Coriolis Meters, November 2000. 8.American Petroleum Institute Manual of Petroleum Mea- surement Standards, Chapter 5 Metering Section 6 Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Coriolis Meters, October 2002. 9.American Petroleum Institute Manual of Petroleum Mea- surement Standards, Chapter 12 Calculation of Petro- leum Quantities Section 2 Calculation of Petroleum Quantities Using Dynamic Measurement Methods and Volumetric Correction Factors, October 1998 10.American Gas Association, Engineering Technical Note on Coriolis Flow Measurement for Natural Gas Applica- tions, December 2001 11.Ducker Research Company, Inc., The World Market for Flowmeters, February 2003 Printed in U.S.A. 4/05 FMC Measurement Solutions. All rights reserved. TP0M004 Issue/Rev. 0.0 (4/05) Visit our website at www.fmcmeasurementsolutions.com The specifications contained herein are subject to change without notice and any user of said specifications should verify from the manufacturer that the specifications are currently in effect. Otherwise, the manufacturer assumes no responsibility for the use of specifications which may have been changed and are no longer in effect. 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