HEAT METERS - LIQUID FLOW:

CALIBRATION

1.

SCOPE

This NORDTEST method is designed to evaluate heat meters for

the purpose of pattern approval. Methods are included for
determining accuracy, working range, mechanical and thermal
durability and resistance to changing ambient conditions.
The test method is applicable to meters constructed according
to paragraph 2.

2.

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The test method is primarily designed for testing heat meters

using water as a working liquid and consisting of the following
main parts:
- a flowmeter measuring the flowrate and/or volume flow of the
working liquid in the return feed,
- a device for measuring the temperature difference between the
supply and return feed,
- a device for calculating the transferred heat (integrating
unit).

published by

key words

classification

NORDTEST
Tekniikantie 12
FIN-02150 Espoo
Finland
www.nordtest.org

heat meters
water meters
calibration
accuracy
durability
test method

UDC 532.57:53.089.6

Heat transfer is calculated according to:

t

Q =

q (1 - 2)k*dt

using symbols as defined in paragraph 4.

This document deals with the flowmeter test. Temperature transducers and integrating units are dealt with in a separate
document (part II).

3.

REFERENCES

ISO
OIML
ISO

3534(1977)
(1978)
4006

Statistics:
Vocabulary

ISO/DIS

4064/3

of

Measurement
conduits

of

water

and

of

symbols

legal

metrology

fluid

flow

- vocabulary

Measurement
conduits

Vocabulary

fluid

- Meters

and
flow

for

- Part 3: Test

in

closed

symbols
in

closed

cold

potable

methods

and

equipment
OIML

(1982)

Sixth

preliminary

national
heat
EEC

4.

DEFINITIONS

4.1

Heat meter

79/830

Draft

Recommendation

of

an

Inter-

relating

to

meters

Directive

on

hot

water

meters.

A meter used for the measurement of heat delivery for the purpose of heating buildings and domestic hot water. The working
principle of the meter is described in paragraph 2.
4.2

Heat, Q
The heat delivered through the meter.

4.3

Flow meter
A device for measuring the flowrate or volume flow.

4.4

Hot water meter

A flowmeter designed for measuring water flows with temperatures
higher than 30C.

4.5

Volume flow, V
The volume of liquid passing through the meter.

4.6

Flowrate, q
The quotient of the volume of liquid passing through the flow
meter by the time taken for this volume to pass through the
meter.

4.7

Maximum flowrate, qmax

The highest flowrate at which the meter is required to operate
in a satisfactory manner for a short period of time, without
deteriorating or exceeding the permissible pressure loss.

4.8

Nominal flowrate, qn
Half the maximum flowrate, qmax.

4.9

Minimum flowrate, qmin

The lowest flowrate at which the meter is required to give indications within the maximum permissible tolerance of error. It is
determined in terms of qn.

4.10

Transitional flow, qt
A flowrate at which the maximum permissible error of the flowmeter
changes in value.
Maximum permissible error

i
T
I
T
T
f
4.11

q min

qt

k o.5qmax

9 max

Flowrate range
The range limited by the maximum and the minimum flowrates (qmax

and qmin).
This range is divided into two zones called upper and lower zones,
separated by the transitional flowrate.
4.12

Test flowrate
The mean flowrate calculated from the indication of the calibrated
reference device and the elapsed time.

4.13

Nominal working pressure, pn

The maximum permissible static pressure of the liquid immediately
upstream of the flowmeter.

4.14

Pressure loss, p
The pressure loss caused by the presence of the flowmeter in the
pipe.

4.15

Thermal coefficient, k
The product of the density p of the working liquid at the temperature 2 and the average value of the specific heat of water at
constant pressure, c in the range 1 - 2.

4.16

Supply temperature, 1
The average temperature over a crossection of the supply feed.

4.17

Return temperature, 2
The average temperature over a crossection of the return feed.

4.18

Upper limit of the temperature range, max

The maximum permissible temperature at the parts of the meter
in contact with the working liquid, without exceeding the limits
of error of the meter.

4.19

Lower limit of the temperature range, min

The minimum permissible temperature at the parts of the meter
in contact with the working liquid, without exceeding the limits
of error of the meter.

4.20

Nominal temperature, n
The maximum permissible temperature of the flowmeter for continuous operation.

4.21

Maximum temperature difference, max

The maximum permissible temperature difference between the
supply and return feed without exceeding the limits of error
of the meter.

4.22

Minimum temperature difference, min

The minimum permissible temperature difference between the
supply and return feed without exceeding the limits of error
of the meter.

4.23

Nominal diameter, Dn
The internal diameter of the flowmeter inlet pipe.

4.24

Nominal power, Pnom

The heating power measured at max and qn.

4.25

Maximum power, Pmax

The heating power measured at max and qmax.

4.26

Testing range of the heat meter

A range defined by limiting values for power, flowrate and
temperature without exceeding the limits of error of the meter.

4.27

Scale division, d and dd

The smallest partition of a scale, when the indication or
recording is analog (d). The difference between two successive
digital indications or recordings (dd).

4.28

Reference device
A working standard for measuring flowrate, volume flow, temperature or other quantities which has a calibration traceable to
national or international standards.

4.29

Inaccuracy of measurement
The inaccuracy expressed by the totality of the overall limiting
errors of measurements, including all the systematic errors as
well as the limiting random errors.

4.30

Repeatability of measurements
The closeness of the agreement between the results of successive

measurements of the same quantity carried out by the same method,

by the same observer, with the same measuring instruments, in
the same laboratory, at quite short intervals of time.
4.31

Reproducibility of measurements
The closeness of the agreement between the results of measurements of the same quantity, where the individual measurements
are made:
- by different methods, with different measuring instruments
- by differemt observers, in different laboratories
- after intervals of time, quite long, compared with the
duration of a single measurement under different normal
conditions of use of the instruments employed.

4.32

Error of measurement, E
The discrepancy between the result of the measurement and the
value of the quantity measured. This is normally expressed in
a percentage of the true, or as true considered, value,
E = (M - T) 100%
T

where M is the result of a measuring and T is the true, or as

true considered, value.

5.

SAMPLING

Flow meters to be tested shall be delivered ready for use together with any intended ancillary devices.
The number of meters to be supplied for testing, unless otherwise agreed, is indicated below:
Nominal flowrate qn, m3/h
qn < 1.5

Number of meters
10

1.5 < qn < 15

qn > 15

The meters shall be accompanied by the following information

and documents.

7
5.1
- Name of manufacturer and designation of metertype
- Nominal flowrate (qn)
- Transitional flowrate (qt)
- Minimum flowrate (qmin)
- Nominal temperature (n)
- Upper limit of the temperature range (max)
- Lower limit of the temperature range (min)
- Nominal working pressure (pn)
- Nominal diameter (Dn)
- Scale division (d or dd) for volumeflow and/or flowrate
- Maximum and minimum output frequency and the corresponding
signal amplitudes (corresponding to maximum and minimum
flowrate of the flowmeter)
- Working position (horizontal, vertical or any position)
- Testing range of the meter.
The information must be supplied individually for each type of
meter, together with information on all intended ancillary
devices.
5.2
An assembly drawing and a photography of each meter type and
ancillary device.
5.3
A description of the function of the meter and directions for
its installation.
5.4
Drawings and specification of materials for the following parts:
- the flowmeter housing and top, including gaskets
- the flowmeter measuring unit complete with bearing details
- the flowmeter computer and pulser
- marking plates.
5.5
Places for pattern approval signs for the flowmeter and the
pulser.

5.6
Electronic computers or ancillary devices shall be specified
by
- a detailed drawing of the pulser
- the designation numbers and functions of circuit boards
- a circuit diagram
- drawings of component positions on circuit boards together
with component specifications
- connecting diagrams
- a list of the components that are critical to the long term
stability of the meter. This information shall be supported
by design specifications.
Equipment using programmable electronics also requires the
following information:
- a logic flowchart where all program features can be observed
- the type of microprocessor used
- the kind of information that is directly programmable on
site (e g by switches) or programmable by means of memory
circuits like PROM, EPROM etc.

6.

METHOD OF TEST

For practical reasons the test is separated into two parts:

- a test of the flowmeter
- a test of the integrating unit and temperature transducers.
This document deals with the flowmeter test.
A test of the flowmeter consists of the following operations
carried out in the sequence stated below:
1) preparation of the test sample
2) testing the pressure tightness
3) determination of the error curve as a function of flowrate.
The influence of pressure, temperature and torqueload on the
performance of the flowmeter is also determined
4) determination of pressure loss
5) accelerated wear test
6) thermal shock testing of meters with qn 10 m3/h.

Tests are performed at an ambient temperature of (20 5)C

and with nominal values of supply voltage ( 2%) and frequency
( 0,5%) unless otherwise stated.

7.

7.1

APPARATUS

Pressurising equipment
Equipment

used

following

in

the

pressure

tightness

test

must

have

the

features:

- a maximum possible test pressure of more than twice the

rated working pressure of the tested flowmeter at + 90C,
but never less than 2.0 MPa
- it must be leakproof
- it must be possible to adequately clear the equipment of air
- it must be possible to apply pressure gradually and without
pressure surges
- it must be possible to keep the pressure constant within
5% and the temperature constant within 5 K during the
pressure test
- it must be equipped with instruments for measuring the
applied pressure and temperature at the meter.
7.2

Equipment for determination of the error curve

A test rig for the determination of the error curve of the
flowmeter consists of:
- a water supply (mains, non-pressurised tank, pressurised tank,
pumps, etc)
- pipework
- means for reading the meter indication visually of automatically
- a calibrated reference device (calibrated tank, weighing
equipment, prover loop, reference meter, etc)
- means for measuring the elapsed time of the test
- means for applying a torque load to the meter.
Water supply
The water supply must be of such a quality that it is not
detrimental to the performance or durability of the tested

10

meter. The quality is to be checked regularly. The water supply

must have a heating equipment and it must be equipped with a
device for setting the operating temperature within 5K of a
prescribed value. The temperature variation during a test must
be less than 2K. The water must not contain airbubbles.
Pipework
Pipework shall include mandatorily:
- a test section in which the meter(s) is/are placed. Flowleakage, input or drainage is not permitted between the
meter(s) and the reference device or from the reference
device. Pipework downstream of the test section shall be
such that the static pressure within the tested meter(s) is
at all times higher than the atmospheric pressure + 5 kPa
+ the vapour pressure at the temperature in question.
It is recommended to have a recovered static pressure of at
least 100 kPa downstream of the last meter in the test
section. The devices placed in the test section shall not
cause cavitation of flowdisturbances capable of affecting
meter performance of measurement errors. All pipes filled
with water under pressure at the start of the test must be
equally so at the end of the test and conversely
- means to establish the desired flowrate within 5% and
keeping it constant within 2.5% from qmin to qt and within
5% from qt to qmax. Throttling devices shall be placed
downstream of the testsection
- means to establish the desired pressure and keeping it
constant within 10%. For flowrates less than qt constancy
must be within 5% and preferably a constant head tank is
used
- one or two isolating devices
- instruments for measuring flowrate, pressure, pressure loss
and temperature before and after the test section. Instruments
for measuring these quantities are preferably of a type giving
an electrical output to facilitate a continuous recording or
frequent sampling during the test
and if necessary:
- one or more air bleeds, preferably connected to a vacuum source

11

-- a non return device

- an air separator
- a filter.
Reference device
The reference device shall have:
- a volume large enough to reduce discrimination errors in
reading the tested meter. The volume must be large enough
to make the minimum elapsed time for a test greater than
60 seconds using a standing start/stop technique and greater
than 30 seconds using a flying start/stop technique. A
standing start/stop test is accomplished by reading the
meter at rest, establishing the test flowrate for a fixed
time and then stopping the flowrate to read the meter at
rest again. Elapsed time is measured between the beginning
of opening and closure of the valve used for this purpose.
A flying start/stop test is accomplished by reading the
meter in a steady state at the desired stabilised flowrate.
Meter readings are synchronised with measurements of elapsed
time and volumeflow
- if necessary a device for measuring the temperature in the
reference device.
Measurement of elapsed time
A timer used for measuring elapsed time must be synchronised
with the starting and stopping og the test. It must have a
resolution of 0.5 s or less.
Application of torque load
It must be possible to apply a steady torque load to the flowmeter output shaft of 0.6 mNm. The variation of the applied
torque during a test must be less than 5%.
7.3

Equipment for determination of the pressure loss

Equipment for determination of pressure loss consists of:
- a a measuring section of adequate length
- pressure tappings up- and downstream of the measuring section
- a differential pressure gauge
- means for establishing and measuring the desired flowrate.

12

Measuring section
The measuring section must be long enough to allow full pressure
recovery downstream of the tested meter. There must be straight
length of pipe of at least 15 Dn up and downstream of the meter
having the same internal diameter Dn as the tested meter. (For
further details, see ISO 4064/3.)
Pressure tappings
Holes for pressure tappings must be normal to the pipe axis,
sharp, but free from burrs, and have a diameter less than or
equal to 4 mm but never more than 0.08 Dn.

Preferably several

holes are spaced equidistantly around the pipe perimeter. The

inlet pressure tapping shall be located 5 Dn upstream of the
meter and the outlet pressure tapping 10 Dn downstream of the
meter.
The differential pressure gauge
The differential pressure gauge shall be connected to the
pressure tappings by leakfree tubes. It must be possible to
remove air from the pressure gauge and connecting tubes. The
pressure gauge must have a resolution not exceeding 1 kPa.
Measurement of flowrate
It must be possible to establish a flowrate that is constant
within 2.5%. There must be means for measuring the flowrate.
7.4

Equipment for accelerated wear testing

Equipment for accelerated wear testing consists of the following
parts:
- a water supply
- pipework
- means for measuring the elapsed time and the number of test
cycles
- control devices for the cyclic tests.
Water supply
See 7.2.
Pipework
See 7.2 except for the demands on pressure and flowrate stability.

13

The flowrate must not vary by more than 10% outside of

starting and stopping periods.
Measurement of elapsed time and the number of test cycles
A timer used for measuring elapsed time must be synchronised
with the starting and stopping of the test. It must have a
resolution of 0.5 hours of less.
A counter synchronised with the stopping of each cycle shall
count the number of cycles during cyclic tests. It must have
at least 6 digits.
Control devices for cyclic tests
A control device must be provided for cyclic tests. It shall
perform the following tasks:
- inititate the sterting and stopping of waterflow through the
tested meter(s) with a time interval of (15 1) seconds
- control the acceleration and deceleration times of the flowrate so that these times are approximately 0.15(qn) seconds
but never less than 1 second,

where (qn) is the value of qn

expressed in m /h
- end the test after a preset number of cycles.
7.5

Equipment for thermal shock testing

Equipment for thermal shock testing consists of the following
parts:
- two water supplies
- pipework
- means for measuring the elapsed time and the number of test
cycles
- control device; for the test cycle.
Water supply
See 7.2. A second water supply is required, having a temperature
0
of (20 10 )C
Pipework
See 7.2 except for the demands on pressure and flowrate stability. The flowrate must not vary by more than 10% outside of
starting and stopping periods. The starting or stopping times

14

shall be approximately O.l5(qn) seconds but never less than 1

second, where (qn) is the value of qn

expressed in m3/h.

Pipes leading from the two water supplies to the test section
must converge upstream and diverge downstream as close as
possible to the meter under the test to avoid undue mixing of
the two water supplies. These pipes shall each be equipped
with shut off valves in the immediate proximity of the pipe
convergence upstream of the meter and the divergence downstream of the meter.
Measurement of elapsed time and the number of cycles
A timer used for measuring elapsed time must be synchronised
with the starting and stopping of the test. It must have a
resolution of 10 seconds or less.
A counter synchronised with the stopping of each cycle shall
count the number of cycles during the test. It must have at
least 3 digits.
Control devices for the test cycle
A control device must be provided for the test cycle. A test
cycle consists of one period with hot water slow, one intermission at rest, one period of cold water flow and finally another intermission at rest. The control device shall perform
the following tasks:
- initiate the starting and stopping of the two waterflows
through the tested meter(s) with a time interval of l-2
minutes between the hot and cold waterflows. The duration of
each hot or cold flowperiod shall be (8 0.5) minutes
- control the acceleration and deceleration times of the flowrate
- end the test after a preset number of cycles.

8.

8.1

PREPARATION OF TEST SAMPLES

Conditioning the meter

A flowmeter to be tested shall be mounted in the test section
according to the instructions of the manufacturer. It shall
then be gradually and smoothly filled with water and carefully

15

evacuated of air. There after the flowrate is gradually increased until qn is reached. The flowmeter is excercised at
this flowrate for at least 1 hour at a pressure of (0.5
0.2)pn and a temperature of (50 5)C.
8.2

Adjusting the meter

If the meter has an adjusting device, adjust this device to
its minimum and maximum positions and determine the meter
readings respectively. Repeat 3 times. Calculate the meter
adjusting range in % of the true flowrate/volumeflow and adjust the meter to have an error of measurement as close to
zero as possible at the flowrate qn.

9.

PROCEDURE

Tests shall be carried out in the following sequence:

9.1

Preparing the meter

The meter is prepared according to 8.1 and 8.2.

9.2

Determination of pressure tightness

- Connect the meter to the test equipment
- Carefully fill the meter with water at a temperature of
(85 5)C and keep the meter at a temperature within these
limits
- Gradually increase the pressure until a pressure of (1.6
O.l)pn is reached
- Retain the pressure at this value for (15 0.5) minutes and
carefully observe that no leakage occurs
- Gradually increase the pressure until a pressure of (2.0
0.1)pn is reached
- Retain the pressure at this value for (1 0.1) minutes and
carefully observe that no leakage occurs
- Relieve the pressure and disconnect the meter.

9.3

Determination of the error curve of the meter

- Mount the meter(s) in the test section
- Precondition the meter according to 8.1. Adjust the temperature
to (50 5)C

16

- Determine the error of measurement of the meter for at least

7 flowrates of which the following 5 flowrates are mandatory:
(1.0

0.1
)q
0.0 min

(1.0 0.05)qn

0.1
(1.0 0.0 )qt

(1.0

(0.5 0.05)qn

0.0
)qmax
0.1

Flake 3 determinations for each flowrate.

- Draw the error curve of the meter plotting the error as a
function of flowrate, and using a linear y-axis in % and a
logarithmic x-axis im m3/h or l/h
- Repeat all the steps above at temperatures of (85 5)C and
5
(30 0 )C. If the meters are intended to be calibrated using
cold potable water, a test should also be made at a temperature of (15 5)C
- Draw the respective error curves in the same diagram as the
first determined error curve
- Also investigate the transient behaviour of meters with qn
< 5 m3/h by measuring a quantity of water delivered in a
number of 10 second periods, with a flowrate qn

separated

by a number of 30 second intermission with zero flowrate

- Investigate the effect of static pressure on the meter reading
by varying the pressure between 0.1 pn and pn at the flowrate
of qn and a temperature of (50 5)C. Determine the error of
measurement
- Investigate the effect of torque load (if appropriate) by
applying a torque load of 0.6 mNm to the meter output shaft
at a flowrate of qmin and a temperature of (50 5)C. This
test is performed on meters intended for use with different
types of mechanical pulsers and when it is not practical to
test the flowmeter with all these pulsers.
Pulsers shall be controlled with their nominal supply voltage/
current connected. The torque load shall be measured for different conditions corresponding to the temperature and flowrate
ranges of the flowmeter for pulsers that are tested separately.

17

9.4

Determination of pressure loss

- Connect the differential pressure gauge and carefully remove
all trapped air
0.0
)q , the working pressure to
0.1 max
5
(0.5 0.2)pn and the working temperature to (30 )C.

- Set the flowrate to (1.0

- Measure the pressure loss, flowrate and temperature 3 times.

Calculate the mean value of:

pmax =

(qmax)2 p
q

andsubtract the pressure loss (at the same flowrate) of the

test section between the pressure tappings with the flowmeter
replaced by a suitable pipe.
- Set the flowrate (1.0 0.05)qn and keep the working pressure
and the working temperature as above
- Measure the pressure loss, flowrate and temperature 3 times.
Calculate the means value of:
p =

(qn)2 p
q

and proceed as above.

9.5

Accelerated wear testing

- Mount the meter(s) in the test section
- Precondition the meter according to 8.1, mount any pulsers or
apply the prescribed load. If there are several options of
pulsers, the one giving the highest torque shall be chosen.
Pulsers shall operate with their intended electrical load.
- Adjust the temperature to (50 5)C
- Draw the error curve at (50 5)C from 9.3 in a new diagram
- If the meter size is qn < 10 m3, carry out a test according
to the following program:

18

Cyclic test, meter sizes qn < 10 m3/h

Flowrate
temperature
qn

Number
of cycles

Flow
period

Rest
period

Starting and
stopping times

100 000

15 s

15 s

0.15(qn)s

(50 5)C

but not less

than 1 s

A test cycle consists of a period with the meter at rest, a

transient period with an accelerating flow through the meter,
a period of steady flow through the meter and finally a transient period with a decelerating flow through the meter.
The number of cycles and their duration are shown in the table
above.
- Check the error curve of the meter at a temperature of
(50 5)C at the 5 flowrates given in 9.3. Draw the error
curve in the diagram made previously in 9.5.
If it is necessary to dismount meter(s) for this check, the preconditioning procedure in 8.1 must be observed.
- If the meter size is qn 10 m3/h, carry out a test according
to the following program:
Steady state test, meter sizes qn > 10 m3/h

Flowrate

Temperature

Duration

qn

(50 5)C

500 h

- Check the error curve of the meter at a temperature of (50

5)C at the flowrates given in 9.3. Draw the error curve in
the diagram made previously in 9.5.
If it is necessary to dismount the meter(s) for this check,
the preconditioning procedure in 8.1 must be observed,
- Carry out a test according to the following program:

x (qn) is the nominal flowrate expressed in m3/h

19

Steady state test, all meter sizes

Flowrate

Temperature

Duration

qmax

(85 5)C

100 h (qn 10 m3/h)

200 h (qn 10 m3/h)

- Check the errorcurve of the meter at a temperature of (50

5)C at the flowrate given in 9.3. Draw the error curve in
the diagram made previously in 9.5.
If it is necessary to dismount the meter(s) for this check,
the preconditioning procedure in 8.1 must be observed.
9.6

Thermal shock testing

- Mount the meter in the test section
- Precondition the meter according to 8.1
- Adjust the flowrate in the hot- and cold water conduits to a
0
value of (1 0 )qmax
- Adjust the temperature of the two water supplies to (85 5)C
0
and (20 10 )C respectively
- Carry out the following test program:
Thermal shock test, 25 cycles
Flowrate

Temperature

Duration

qmax

(85 5)C

8 minutes

--

qmax
0

0
(20
)C
10
--

1-2 minutes
8 minutes
1-2 minutes

Check the error curve of the meter at a temperature of (50 5)C

at the flowrate given in 9.3. Draw the errorcurve in the diagram
shown under 9.5. If it is necessary to dismount the meter(s) for
this check, the preconditioning procedure in 8.1 must be observed.

10.

EXPRESSION OF RESULTS

Results shall be expressed in the following SI-units where

appropriate. Accepted supplementary units are put in parentheses.

Volume flow (4.5) : m3, dm3, (1)

Flowrate

(4.6) : m3/h, dm3/h, (l/h)

20

Temperature (4.16 - 4.22) : K, (C)

Pressure

(4.13 - 4.14)

: Pa, kPa, Mpa, (bar)

Error of measurement (see 4.31): One of the above units or %.

A report on the test shall contain the following information

about the test results (paragraph 12 "o").

- Comments to the result of the pressure tightness test

- Tables of the results from determinations of the error curve
and a diagram with the error curve at 3 (or 4) different
temperatures
- Tables of the results from determinations of the influence
of static pressure, torque load and if appropriate tests of
transient behaviour
- The results and computations from the pressure loss test
- Tables of the results from determinations of the error curve
after each accelerated wear test and after the thermal shock
test. A diagram showing the corresponding error curves
- Comments to the results from the accelerated wear and thermal
shock tests
- Any other comments (eg concerning documentation)

11.

INACCURACY

The inaccuracy of the test is affected by three different types

of errors:
- the inaccuracy of the meter and the meter reading. These are
the quantities to be determined as correctly as possible.
- the inaccuracy of the calibrating equipment and the test
procedure
- the interaction between the test equipment and the tested
meter. This interaction can result in a determined error curve
that strongly deviates from an error curve determined under
ideal conditions.

The following maximum permissible errors apply:

21

11.1

Meter reading

It is accepted that the maximum interpolation error for a scale

does not exceed half a scale division per observation. Thus the
two meter readings of a test give a maximum interpolation error
of one scale divisions. This error must not exceed 0.5 %
between qmin and qt (exclusive) and 0.2 % from qt to qmax.

Furthermore the volumeflow must be large enough to force any

rotating parts to make a sufficient number of revolutions to
avoid cyclic errors.

11.2

Test equipment

- Determinations of the volumeflow through the meter shall have

an inaccuracy not exceeding 1.0 % between qmin and qt
(exclusive) and 0.4 % from qt to qmax
- Determinations of the test flowrate shall have an inaccuracy
not exceeding 2.5 % between qmin and qt (exclusive) and
5 % from qt to qmax
- Determinations of the test working pressure shall have an
inaccuracy not exceeding 5 % between qmin and qt (exclusive)
and 10 % from qt to qmax
- Determinations of the pressure loss shall have an inaccuracy
not exceeding 5 % at qmax and the simultaneously determined
flowrate shall have an inaccuracy not exceeding 2.5 %
- Determinations of the meter working temperature shall have an
inaccuracy not exceeding 1 K. The same applies to the
temperature of the reference device if this is required
- The discharged volume flow during a steady state accelerated
wear test must be determined within 5 % of the theoretical
test flow times the theoretical duration
- The discharged volume flow during a cyclic accelerated wear
test must be determined within 10 % of the theoretical test
flow times half the theoretical duration. The number of cycles
must be determined within 1 %

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11.3

Interactive errors

- Transient errors have to be considered for standing start/stop

tests. A simple rule to sufficiently reduce these errors does
not exist, so the duration of the test (tD) must be sufficiently
long, relative to the starting and stopping times (ts). tD must
always be greater than 60 s.

For flying start/stop tests the transient errors are considered

negligible, if the duration of the test (tD) is long enough
t
relative to the starting and stopping times (t s) to make s < 0.02
tD
tD must always be greater than 30 s and ts must identical within
5 % for both start and stop

- Influences on the meter performance from hydrodynamic flow

characteristics which differ from the characteristics of
undisturbed flow (gravitational flow) must be minimized. Two
types of disturbances are recognized, velocity profile
distortion and swirl. To avoid these disturbances it is
important to have sufficient straight lenghts of pipe having
the nominal internal diameter of the meter upstream and
downstream of the meter. The use of flow straightening devices
is strongly recommended. Avoid bends in different planes,
partial obstructions and swirling pumps in the proximity of
the meter(s).

12.

TEST REPORT

The test report shall include the following information, if

relevant:
a) Name and address of the testing laboratory
b) Identification number of the test report
c) Name and address of the organization or the person who
ordered th test
d) Purpose of the test
e) Method of sampling and other circumstances (date and
person responsible for the sampling)
f) Name and address of manufacturer or supplier of the
tested object

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g) Name or other identification marks of the tested object

h) Description of the tested object
i) Date of supply of the tested object
j) Date of the test
k) Test method
l) Conditioning of the test specimens, environmental data
during the test (temperature, pressure, RH, etc)
m) Identification of the test equipment and instruments used
n) Any deviations from the test method
o) Test results (use SI units)
p) Inaccuracy or uncertainty of the test result
q) Date and signature