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Improving flowmeter calibration
Instrumentation engineers should understand the common methods used in measuring viscosity and their effects on final
flowmeter calibration data.
Ron Madison, Badger Meter
06/03/2016
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Calibrating a flowmeter is an essential part of any wellcontrolled process. pumps
However, accurate meter calibration not only requires a precision calibrator but Top 10 Co
also an accurate method to measure viscosity. Other than indicating a viscosity Engineeri
value on the calibration data sheet, calibration labs do not always expose their August 8:
viscosity measurement methods. highperfo
HMIs, oil
Background
skills gap
Calibration is a comparison between the reading of a device and traceable Inductive
standards. The process establishing this relationship is a set of interrelated sensors f
measurements and operations, which provide the comparison. Flow environm
measurement does not rely on a single parameter, nor does a flowbased
calibration. Converter
gate circu
Measurement of the volume or mass flow of a fluid depends on establishing Cybersec
verifiable measurements representing all the variables. The flow measurement
design, v
may be the quantity collected over time or the actual rate of flow.
System in
The volume measured by the can boos
calibration standard may be improve e
different from the volume passed
through the meter under test if Top 5 Con
temperature measurements are Engineeri
incorrect. Temperature affects fluid August 1
viscosity, density, and the bore control, s
diameter of the flowmeter under machines
test. This combination of fluid control sy
variables, coupled with how migration
accurately they are measured and their effects on the calibration standard, will
influence the uncertainty of the final calibration results (see Figure 1). Linear po
amplifiers
Understanding viscosity point radi
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Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's internal or intermolecular resistance to shear
stress, which influences the velocity profile in the pipe. When viewing a fluid breaker fo
flowing between two plates, the shear stress is the relationship between the forces exerted on the top plate to the area of the locations
plate. Therefore, τ (shear stress) = F/A. Shear rate takes into account the height between the two plates combined with the Mechatro
velocity of the top plate, or γ (shear rate) = v/h. Dynamic viscosity is the shear stress (τ)/shear rate (γ). These equations apply control se
to ideal or Newtonian fluids. 4.0 in mo
What are Newtonian fluids? These fluids have shearing stress that is related linearly to the rate of shearing strain. They are
referred to as "true liquids" because their viscosity is not impacted by shear, such as those found in agitation or pumping. Most
common fluids, such as water and hydrocarbons, are considered Newtonian fluids.
Some flowmeters are more sensitive to viscosity than others. But to some degree, they are all affected because viscosity
changes the flow profile. Knowing the viscosity of a liquid is undeniably one of the most essential parts of a liquid flowmeter
calibration.
Viscosity measurements can be accomplished by using several methods, which vary in equipment cost and measurement
time. The most widely used instruments for measuring viscosities are glass capillary (ASTM D445), rotational (ASTM D2983),
and Stabinger (ASTM D7042 equivalent to D445) viscometers. The Stabinger highprecision viscometer requires clean filter
fluid to achieve superior accuracy (see Figure 2).
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9/8/2016 Improving flowmeter calibration | Control Engineering
Flow calibration facilities cannot, and do not, use customerspecific liquid for each calibration. Not only would this be extremely
timeconsuming and less than environmentally friendly, it would also be costprohibitive and possibly hazardous. Therefore,
calibration facilities use a solvent/oil blend with a measured kinematic viscosity that matches the customer's fluid. This is based
on the Reynolds number relationship (Reynolds number, or Re, is a dimensionless quantity used to help predict similar flow
patterns in different fluid flow situations).
Re = (ρ x V x D)/µ
Where Re is the Reynolds number, ρ is density, D is the piper diameter, and µ is dynamic viscosity.
The fluid viscosity value in a positive displacement (PD) flowmeter calibrator is generated using a temperature/viscosity table,
which is developed by inputting the actual kinematic viscosity value at two diverse temperature points. Temperature sensors,
built into the calibrator piping, supply the actual fluid operating temperature used to extract the viscosity value from the
temperature/viscosity table. A realtime fluid temperature and viscosity value is then recorded for each data point collected over
the entire calibration flow range of the meter. It is worth noting that in a closedloop calibration system, the fluid increases in
temperature as it is continuously circulated through the piping.
Therefore, the precision of the calibration relies on the accuracy of:
The initial fluid viscosity measurement as determined by a viscometer
The accuracy of the fluid temperature measurements during the calibration.
Learn more about calibration data and advice on choosing a calibration facility.
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