Flow Meter Selection

Craig Marshall
Consultant
9 December 2014

Contents

NMO/NMS
Introduction
General Considerations
Process Conditions
Installation
Case Studies

Why is measurement important?

Measurement plays a fundamental part in the innovation process. To
develop new products and processes, companies need to measure
quantity, quality and performance.
To trade successfully, companies utilise a regulatory framework,
based upon measurement confidence, ensuring access to global
markets that are fair and open and without unnecessary barriers to
trade.

National Measurement Office (NMO)

National Measurement System (NMS)

NEL
UK National Standard for Fluid Flow Measurement:
A Global centre of excellence for flow measurement and fluid flow
systems serving both industry and Government
World class research, development, modelling, calibration,
consultancy, measurement and testing services to clients across
many sectors including: Energy, Oil & Gas, Low Carbon Technology
and the Environment

Introduction
There are many applications in industry that
require flow to be measured...
Each will have there own specific criteria and
demands on the measurement uncertainty...
The correct meter for the application has to be
chosen with these criteria in mind...

Introduction
Choosing the correct meter for an application can
be difficult...
You must know the basics of how each technology
works...
... And be able to justify your choices to
management!

Ultrasonic?

Coriolis?

Turbine?

Turbine?

Differential
Pressure?

Vortex?
Electromagnetic?

General Considerations
Do you
need to
measure it?

Why measure
it?

What do you
need to
measure?

?
Use another
way?

Can you
measure it?

General Considerations
So, you have decided you need to measure flow...
And you know what uncertainty in measurement
you require...
What next?

Process Conditions
Fluid
Liquid, gas,
multiphase

Density
Range

Temp
Range

Flow
Range

Reynolds
Range

Pressure
Range
Vapour
Pressure/
Dew Point

Corrosive
/Erosive
Viscosity
Range

Dynamic
Flow
Changing
Flow

Meter Information
What do the process conditions tell us about the
required meter attributes?

Turndown
Sensitivity to physical properties
Reynolds number
Sensitivity to non-ideal conditions

Physical Conditions
Now, consider the physical constraints you may
come across...
Upstream
Pipe Work

Space
above and
below

Removal

Downstream
Pipe Work

Height
Space for
Additional
Equipment

Weight

Additional Equipment
Data
Historian
Flow
Computer

Control Room

Sampling
P
Q

Environmental Conditions
Ambient
Temperature

Ambient
Humidity

Wind

Sunlight
Rain
Hazardous
Area

Electromagnetic
Interference

The Application and Budget

Keep referring back to the application, the budget
and the reasons for measurement...
There is no point spending time on something that
can be ruled out early...

The Meter Selection Process

1. State your requirements and most important
criteria
2. Eliminate non-suitable technologies early
3. Use the process, physical and environmental
conditions to narrow down the list
4. Keep the budget and application in mind at all
times
5. Review your final decision...

Compromise!!
You will find that there is no one meter to match all
situations...
There will probably be no perfect meter for your
own application...
You will have to compromise to achieve the
uncertainty, the practicalities and most
importantly the project budget!

Case Study 1
There is a need to install flow measurement equipment
on the outlets of a test separator. Which meter type
would you choose for each stream?
Parameter

Water

Oil

Gas

Flow Range

50 - 1000

10 - 100

50 - 200

Minimum Reynolds No.

100,000

200

1,000,000

Temperature (C)

20

20

20

Pressure (bar)

60

60

60

Upstream D Length

20

Required Uncertainty

1%

0.2%

0.5%

May contain either

oil or gas carry
under (max 2% vol)

May contain either

water or gas carry
under (max 10% vol)

Limit pressure drop to

minimise liquid drop
out

Comments

Case Study 1 - Oil

Which meter would you choose for the oil
stream?
A. Electromagnetic Meter
B. Coriolis Meter
C. Positive Displacement Meter
D. Differential Pressure Meter

Case Study 1
There is a need to install flow measurement equipment
on the outlets of a test separator. Which meter type
would you choose for each stream?
Parameter

Water

Oil

Gas

Flow Range

50 - 1000

10 - 100

50 - 200

Minimum Reynolds No.

100,000

200

1,000,000

Temperature (C)

20

20

20

Pressure (bar)

60

60

60

Upstream D Length

20

Required Uncertainty

1%

0.2%

0.5%

May contain either

oil or gas carry
under (max 2% vol)

May contain either

water or gas carry
under (max 10% vol)

Limit pressure drop to

minimise liquid drop
out

Comments

Case Study 1 - Oil

Which meter would you choose for the oil
stream?
A. Electromagnetic Meter
B. Coriolis Meter
C. Positive Displacement Meter
D. Differential Pressure Meter

Case Study 1 - Gas

Which meter would you choose for the gas
stream?
A. Ultrasonic Meter
B. Coriolis Meter
C. Positive Displacement Meter
D. Differential Pressure Meter

Case Study 1
There is a need to install flow measurement equipment
on the outlets of a test separator. Which meter type
would you choose for each stream?
Parameter

Water

Oil

Gas

Flow Range

50 - 1000

10 - 100

50 - 200

Minimum Reynolds No.

100,000

200

1,000,000

Temperature (C)

20

20

20

Pressure (bar)

60

60

60

Upstream D Length

20

Required Uncertainty

1%

0.2%

0.5%

May contain either

oil or gas carry
under (max 2% vol)

May contain either

water or gas carry
under (max 10% vol)

Limit pressure drop to

minimise liquid drop
out

Comments

Case Study 1 - Gas

Which meter would you choose for the gas
stream?
A. Ultrasonic Meter
B. Coriolis Meter
C. Positive Displacement Meter
D. Differential Pressure Meter

Case Study 2
You are required to measure a corrosive flow over
a turndown of 20:1 and a minimum Reynolds
number of 50,000. The temperature is 85C and
there are over 100D of upstream pipe for
measurement. Which meter would you choose?

Case Study 2
Which meter would you choose for the
stream?
A. Clamp-on Ultrasonic Meter
B. Coriolis Meter
C. Turbine Meter
D. Differential Pressure Meter

Case Study 2
You are required to measure a corrosive flow over
a turndown of 20:1 and a minimum Reynolds
number of 50,000. The temperature is 85C and
there are over 100D of upstream pipe for
measurement. Which meter would you choose?

Case Study 2
Which meter would you choose for the
stream?
A. Clamp-on Ultrasonic Meter
B. Coriolis Meter
C. Turbine Meter
D. Differential Pressure Meter

Summary
Flow meter selection can be a difficult task...
Sometimes there is no perfect meter to choose...

We generally have to compromise for the specific

application through knowledge of the process,
environment and installation requirements

Thank you for listening!

Any Questions?
Email: craig.marshall@tuv-sud.co.uk

NEL Contact Tel: + 44 (0) 1355 220222

NEL Contacts
Audit & Allocation
CFD
Densitometers
Erosion
Flow Consortium
Heavy Oil
Measurement Consultancy
Measurement Uncertainty
Meter Diagnostics
MeterVue
Multiphase
PPDS
Single Phase Metering
Training
Umbilicals
Valve Testing
Wet Gas

Alick MacGillivray
Neil Bowman
Norman Glen
John Peters
Phil Mark
Chris Mills
Craig Marshall
Chris Mills

alick.macgillivray@tuv-sud.co.uk
neil.bowman@tuv-sud.co.uk
norman.glen@tuv-sud.co.uk
john.peters@tuv-sud.co.uk
phil.mark@tuv-sud.co.uk
chris.mills@tuv-sud.co.uk
craig.marshall@tuv-sud.co.uk
chris.mills@tuv-sud.co.uk

Alick MacGillivray
Craig Marshall
Phil Mark
Terri Leonard
Norman Glen
Bob Belshaw
Helen Tulloch
John Dods
John Dods
Emmelyn Graham

alick.macgillivray@tuv-sud.co.uk
craig.marshall@tuv-sud.co.uk
phil.mark@tuv-sud.co.uk
terri.leonard@tuv-sud.co.uk
norman.glen@tuvnel.com
bob.belshaw@tuv-sud.co.uk
helen.tulloch@tuv-sud.co.uk
john.dods@tuv-sud.co.uk
john.dods@tuv-sud.co.uk
emmelyn.graham@tuv-sud.co.uk

For general queries contact the sales team on sales@tuvnel.com

The National Measurement System is the UKs national infrastructure of measurement

laboratories, which deliver world-class measurement science and technology through four
National Measurement Institutes (NMIs): LGC, NPL, the National Physical laboratory, NEL the
former National Engineering Laboratory, and the National Measurement Office (NMO).