Objective

The experiment is conducted to familiarise student with the basic operation capability of the
station and imparting calibration process knowledge technology by employing a reference
meter concept using Calibration Station Model SOLTEQ/CLB/0104/RR

Theory

Standards for flow measurement are based on a comparison of the quantity of fluid passed,
or passing through the flowmeter with the quantity measured by the standard. Standards can
be based on the measurement of mass or volume. The required mass or volume quantity
can be calculated from the measured quantity from a knowledge of the fluid density at the
test flowmeter. Standards may be static or dynamic, and this choice is made on the basis of
the output and end use of the flowmeter. Some flowmeters are used to measure quantity
and have fast response time; others are designed to measure flow rate and have slow
response time. Calibration of a flowmeter should cover a significant flow-rate range for the
flowmeter and establish a performance across that range.

A ‘standard’ for flow calibration should replicate as closely as practicable the conditions
under which the flowmeter will be used. Full replication is impossible, and the key to success
is to be as close as practicable, and to recognize the nature and performance of the
flowmeter type being tested. The factors that should be addressed are the fluid viscosity, the
installation effects due to bends and fittings, temperature, and pressure. The standard
should also have a defined traceability and uncertainty chosen to match the expectation of
the final measurement. The choice of standard must also recognize the dynamic
performance of the flowmeter and the nature and resolution of the output. As a calibration is
a comparison, the quantity measured by the standard must match the quantity measured by
the flowmeter and this must take cognizance of the resolution of the flowmeter. A flowmeter
used to measure very large quantities of fluid over a long period of time may not have a
resolution suitable for measuring the smaller quantities measured by a standard.

Calibration is not an absolute operation, but a comparison between the reading of a flow
meter and that of a standard. Therefore to consider what properties are required from a
standard. Firstly, the standard should measure the same quantity as the flow meter. For flow
measurement, the standard is a system comprising of a measure of quantity and the
subsidiary measurements to determine the fluids conditions, properties and influence factor.
Another feature of the standard is that there must be confidence that the measurement taken
by the standard accurate.
However, the quantity measured by the standard may be different from the quantity passed
through the test device due to changes in volume between the meter and the standard,
which are usually related to the influence factors such as temperature, pressure, viscosity
and expansion. As the measurement of fluid flow is dynamic and all measurement device
are affected in some way by the conditions of use, it is impossible to have a standard which
fully reproduces the conditions under which the meter will be used in practice. The
combination of fluid influence the factor come together to define a set of operations which
are used to provide the calibration. This is express in a way which gives a meaningful
expectation of how the device is used.

The result of a flowmeter calibration will normally provide two related figure: one related to
the flow rate and the other as a performance indicator. Flow rate will be expressed as mass
per unit time, volume per time, Reynolds number, or some other flow rate-related measure.
The performance indicator relates the expected performance of the meter to the measured
performance. Examples of performance indicators are K-factor, error, and meter factor.

In general, all the methods for the calibration of gas flowmeters have analogies with liquid
methods. The main difference between the calibration of a gas and a liquid flowmeter is the
compressibility of the gas and the fact that the gas has to be contained in a closed container.
As a gas is compressible, the volume measured at the standard and the volume measured
at the test device have to be corrected to a common a to a ‘standard’ condition.

Gas flowmeters can also be calibrated using mass as the reference quantity. This can be
done gravimetrically by weighing high-pressure gas collected from, or delivered to, a test
meter. Alternatively, the mass can be calculated using PVT(pressure/volume/temperature)
calculations if a fixed volume is used. Critical flow nozzles provide an extremely stable
calibration device. In this device, when the velocity of gas reaches the speed of sound in the
throat of the nozzle, the mass flow will be a function of the upstream pressure and the
properties of the gas only. The equation is given by
Apparatus

Gas Meter Calibration unit:

a) Calibration station model SOLTEQ/CLB/0104//RR

b) Air compressor
c) Stop watch.

Procedure

1. Simultaneous Verification of Diaphragm Gas Meter

a) Record the initial reading of each meter: reference wet type meter, individual
diaphragm gas meter 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Record also the reading of the
pressure and temperature of the related position using online touch-screen
system.
b) Open isolation valves no: V-SAT, V-REF, V-1, V-2, V-4, V-5, V-7, V-8, V-10,
V-11, V-13, AND V-14.
c) Open the gas supply system from cylinders.
d) Ensure isolation valves V-3, V-6, V-9, V-12, and V-LOAD is fully closed.
e) Gradually, open the V-LOAD valves.
f) Simultaneously, start the stopwatch.
g) At the end 2 minutes record the pressure, temperature, and meter reading at
each individual meter including the wet type gas meter section.
h) At the end of 4 minutes repeat the about instruction(g)
i) Close isolation valve V-LOAD at this particular moment.
j) Stop the stop watch.
k) Stop the gas supply from the cylinders by the closing the valve V-SAT.
l) Close all isolation valves.
m) Tabulate results obtained.
2. Diaphragm Meter No 1 and Reference Meter
a) Record the initial reading of reference wet type meter and meter no.5. Record
also the reading of the pressure and temperature of the related position using
online touch-screen system.
b) Open isolation valves nos : V-SAT, V-REF, V-1, V-2, V-6, V-9, V-12, and V-
15.
c) Open the gas supply system from cylinders.
 d) Ensure isolation valves V-3, V-4, V-5, V-7, V-8, V-10, V-11, V-13, V-14 and V-
LOAD is fully closed.
e) Gradually, open the V-LOAD valves.
f) Simultaneously, start the stop watch.
g) At the end of 2 minutes record the pressure, temperature and meter reading
at reference meter and meter no.1.
h) At the of 4 minutes repeat the about instruction(g)
i) Close isolation valve V-LOAD at this particular moment.
j) Stop the stop watch.
k) Stop the gas supply from the cylinders by closing the valve V-SAT.
3. Diaphragm Meter no.2 and Reference Meter
a) Record the initial reading of reference wet type meter and meter no.2. Record
also the reading of the pressure and temperature of the related position using
online touch-screen system.
b) Open isolation valves nos: V-SAT, V-REF, V-3, V-4, V-5, V-9, V-12, and V-15.
c) Open the gas supply system from the cylinders.
d) Ensure isolation valves V-1, V-2, V-6, V-7, V-8, V-10, V-11, V-13, V-14, and
V-LOAD is fully closed.
e) Gradually, open the V-LOAD valves.
f) Simultaneously, start the stop watch.
g) At the end of 2 minutes record the pressure, temperature and meter reading
at reference meter and meter no.2.
h) At the of 4 minutes repeat the about instruction(g)
i) Close isolation valve V-LOAD at this particular moment.
j) Stop the stop watch.
k) Stop the gas supply from the cylinders by closing the valve V-SAT.
l) Tabulate results obtained.
4. Diaphragm Meter no.3 and Reference Meter
a) Record the initial reading of reference wet type meter and meter no.3. Record
also the reading of the pressure and temperature of the related position using
online touch-screen system.
b) Open isolation valves nos: V-SAT, V-REF, V-3, V-6, V-7, V-8, V-12, and V-15.
c) Open the gas supply system from the cylinders.
d) Ensure isolation valves V-1, V-2, V-4, V-5, V-9, V-10, V-11, V-13, V-14, and
V-LOAD is fully closed.
e) Gradually, open the V-LOAD valves.
f) Simultaneously, start the stop watch.
 g) At the end of 2 minutes record the pressure, temperature and meter reading
at reference meter and meter no.3.
h) At the of 4 minutes repeat the about instruction(g)
i) Close isolation valve V-LOAD at this particular moment.
j) Stop the stop watch.
k) Stop the gas supply from the cylinders by closing the valve V-SAT.
l) Tabulate results obtained.

5. Diaphragm Meter no.4 and Reference Meter

a) Record the initial reading of reference wet type meter and meter no.3. Record
also the reading of the pressure and temperature of the related position using
online touch-screen system.
b) Open isolation valves nos: V-SAT, V-REF, V-3, V-6, V-9, V-10, V-11, and V-
15.
c) Open the gas supply system from the cylinders.
d) Ensure isolation valves V-1, V-2, V-4, V-5, V-7, V-8, V-12, V-13, V-14, and V-
LOAD is fully closed.
e) Gradually, open the V-LOAD valves.
f) Simultaneously, start the stop watch.
g) At the end of 2 minutes record the pressure, temperature and meter reading
at reference meter and meter no.4.
h) At the of 4 minutes repeat the about instruction(g)
i) Close isolation valve V-LOAD at this particular moment.
j) Stop the stop watch.
k) Stop the gas supply from the cylinders by closing the valve V-SAT.
l) Tabulate results obtained.
6. Diaphragm Meter no.5 and Reference Meter
a) Record the initial reading of reference wet type meter and meter no.3. Record
also the reading of the pressure and temperature of the related position using
online touch-screen system.
b) Open isolation valves nos: V-SAT, V-REF, V-3, V-6, V-9, V-12, V-14, and V-
14.
c) Open the gas supply system from the cylinders.
d) Ensure isolation valves V-1, V-2, V-4, V-5, V-7, V-8, V-10, V-11, V-15, and V-
LOAD is fully closed.
e) Gradually, open the V-LOAD valves.
f) Simultaneously, start the stop watch.
g) At the end of 2 minutes record the pressure, temperature and meter reading
at reference meter and meter no.5.
h) At the of 4 minutes repeat the about instruction(g)
i) Close isolation valve V-LOAD at this particular moment.
j) Stop the stop watch.
k) Stop the gas supply from the cylinders by closing the valve V-SAT.
l) Tabulate results obtained.