Regulations

R
l ti
for
f custody
t d transfer
t
f
measurements: meeting the needs?
Focus on liquid flow measurement systems/applications

Contents
- Requirements in OIML publications
- Uncertainty
y effects on trade
- Back to the basics
- Metrological design of flow applications
- Examples how things can go wrong while you
tthink you have
a e do
done
e tthings
gs pe
perfect
ect
- Conclusion / considerations
- Answer to the question
Regulations for custody transfer measurements: meeting the needs?

P2

Requirements in OIML publications

-

OIML R49 (1 to 3) Water meters

OIML R81 Cryogenic
y g
meters
OIML R75 (1 to 3) Heat meter
OIML R117-1 Dynamic measuring system
for liquids other then water
- meter, transfer point and hydraulic path with particular
characteristics
- gas elimination device, filter, pump and correction
device

Lets focus on accuracy and repeatability

P3

OIML R117-1 Accuracy Classes (1)

P4

OIML R117-1 Accuracy Classes (2)

Repeatability 2/5 of the value in line A.

Measurement uncertainty for a verification1/3 of the value in line A or B
depending on test and 1/5 for type approval.

P5

Uncertainty effects on trade, example

class 0.5
05

Petrol
Diesel

Truck
Price
[[/L]
/ ]
1,60
1,31

1tank
35000L
56000
45850

6xp/d
[[]]
336000
275100

5days 52weeks Class0.5

[[]]
[[]]
[[]]
1680000 87360000 436800
1375500 71526000 357630

Pipeline application: class 0.3 however non stop

flow!
Do re-calibrations,
D
lib ti
b
better
tt flflow meters,
t
other
th
equipment help to reduce these effects?
P6

Back to the basics

- The measurement proces is leading, not the
instruments (we buy or sell m3 and kg)
- Instruments need to be selected based on
the measurement proces
- Study the physics behind measurement
proces
- Best design: on basis of this study and
written standards (selection instruments)
- Perform a Metrological review and calculate
the expected measurement uncertainty
(redesign if needed)
P7

Metrological design of flow applications

Effects of surrounding environment on reliability,
comparability of a measuring system in operation
Piping (flow profile)
Pressure

Fluid properties

Temperature

Human errors

Vibrations

Design errors

Pulsations
EMC

Air in liquid
Liquid in air
P8

Leaking valves

Environmental conditions

Etc.

Impacting parameters on your

measurement (uncertainty) proces
- Procedures (people and automated processes)
- Instruments (calibration, turn down ratio, offset,
span, signal
i
l ttype, etc...)
t )
- Fluid properties (viscosity, density, composition
etc )
etc..)
- Flow conditions and design on application (flow
profile, high and low temperatures, pressures,
pulsations, flashing, cavitation etc..)
- Sampler systems and analysing instruments
- Flow
Fl
computers
t
and
d automatic
t
ti correction
ti
devices (correct equations, etc..)

Examples
- Flow meter calibrated in a laboratory and
operated in slightly different circumstances
- I/O input for flow computer
- Conversions to reference conditions
- Fl
Flow cutt off
ff and
d zero offset
ff t electronic
l t i flow
fl
meters
P 10

Example BIPM key-comparison

CCM.FF-K2
FF K2 Hydrocarbon flow
flow
CCM
Institute (NMI) Country
NEL
S
SP
CMI
VSL (NMI-VSL)
Force
CMS
NMI J
NMI-J
CENAM
MC

United Kingdom (pilot)

S
Sweden
Czech Republic
The Netherlands
Denmark
Chinese Taipei
Japan
Mexico
Canada

May 2005 - July 2007

CCM.FF-K2 package

Procedure of CCM.FF-K2
- Flow meters - PD and turbine meter (4 & 3)
measurements at the same time
- Viscosity range 1 to 10 mm2/s (cSt)
Used viscosities between 1.51 to 4.32 mPa/s
- Test with and without straightener
- Flow rates between 5 and 30 l/s (79 - 475
gal/min [US])
- One cardinal point at Reynolds 100000

PD meter, Configuration 1 (1)

PD meter, Configuration 1 (2)

Turbine meter, Configuration 1

I/O input example

Flow computers and other issues
- Correct all input and output I/Os
I/O s that
influence the result of the measurement
- Enough correction points for the I/Os
I/O s
- Use the correct Volume Correction Factor
table selected ((what is the uncertaintyy of the
VCF for your liquid?)
- Rounding of measurements
- Flow cut off on electronic flow meters! See
example

Meter Factor correction

+0,30

+0,25

+0,20

+0,15

M
Measurementerror[%]

+0,10

+0,05

+0,00

0,05

0,10

0,15

0,20

0,25

0,30
0

10

20

30

40

50
[ ]
Flowrate[%]

60

70

80

90

100

Density (VCF)
Differencebetweencalculateddensityandreferencedensity
0,10

0,08

0,06

D
Densityerror[%]

0,04

0,02

0,00

0,02

0,04

0,06

0,08

0,10
0

10

15

20
25
Temperature[C]

30

35

40

45

Flow cut off and zero offset

- OIML R117-1:
- Flow cut off maximum 20% Qmin = 2% Qmax (1:10)
- Zero offset maximum 0.1% at Qmin (line C)

- Zero offset can drift in time

Zero needs to be checked on a regular basis.
If a low flow cut off is set: a big positive zero
drift can be detected.

Live zero monitoring

ZerocheckIKSSKIDaftertests17th March2011
+0,03
Flowrate[kg/min]
MassTotal [kg]

Indicatedflowrate[kg/min] In
ndicatedmass[kg]

+0,02

+0,01

+0,00

0,01

Zero specification=0,002717 kg/min

0,02

0,03
0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

Time[s]

Zero spec conform OIML R117-1 equals 0.1% Qmin +/- 0.0056 kg/min

600

What do you need to do for a good

measurement?
- During the design of an application think
deeply about metrology (uncertainty sources)
and
d specify
if what
h t accuracies
i and
d
uncertainties need to be achieved
- Use proven procedures (use standards)
- Train operators in good measurement
practice (Metrology college)
- Determine the system uncertainty and
evaluate it on a regular
g
basis
- Audit the procedures on a regular basis

Conclusion / considerations
- Metrology is an art, and can be learned
- Take every
y input
p p
parameter seriously
y
(sensitivity study)
- Perform a metrological design review. (Even
existing applications)
- Don
Dontt forget to evaluate the measurement
accuracy and uncertainty of the application

P 23

Regulations for custody transfer

measurements: meeting the needs?
Depends highly on measurement system /
application and the intrinsic value of the
transported product!

VSL
PO Box 654
2600 AR Delft
The Netherlands
T
F
E
I

+31 15 269 15 00
+31 15 261 29 71
info@vsl.nl
www.vsl.nl

Erik Smits
E fsmits@vsl.nl