HCBBS Forum (English)
Submit Chemical Projects / Find Solutions
Amplify Your Requirements on a Broader Chemical Platform *Engineering · Technology · Equipment · Solutions*
Submit Request

How is the accuracy of vortex flowmeters ensured to remain stable

2020-09-07View Original

Thread Content

The Yokogawa multiphase flow meter is an instrument used to separate gas from liquid, or oil from gas and water, in the three-phase mixture produced by oil wells, through two-phase or three-phase separators. By controlling the liquid level in the liquid storage section of the separator, liquid can be discharged, enabling measurement of the liquid volume or the water content, as well as the amount of pure oil or pure water. Gas can also be discharged and measured by controlling the pressure in the separator. The flow meter is controlled by a microcomputer to manage the aforementioned operational processes and to collect and process data, thereby determining the production volumes of oil, gas, and water from the well, as well as various related test parameters. The main features of the Yokogawa multiphase flowmeters include a large number of manifolds and separators; they have a complex design and large size, making them suitable for use on offshore oil platforms ; Conventional measurement and testing equipment comes with many instruments, the calibration of these instruments is complicated, on-site maintenance is required frequently, and there is a high volume of work related to production and maintenance ; The control system is relatively complex ; Conventional metering and testing systems struggle to handle phase separation issues caused by foamy crude oil or hard-to-separate emulsions, often requiring chemical or mechanical intervention ; The flow meter has a compact structure and occupies little space ; The measurements are taken in real time and continuously, and can basically be carried out without human intervention ; Good reliability ; Applicable accuracy and repeatability ; Furthermore, the low initial investment and maintenance costs offer potential benefits in oil production, especially in offshore oil operations and well testing. In the calculation of the coefficient of the vortex flow meter, both atmospheric pressure and the gas pressure at the location of the flow meter as well as at the standard device play a role; it is thus evident that different pressure measurement locations can have an impact on the calculation results. In accordance with national standards and testing procedures, pressure sampling should be carried out at the pressure tap on the gauge body; when some flow meters do not have such a pressure tap, sampling is generally done on the pipeline upstream of the flow meter. Taking pressure readings from different locations can affect the calibration results of the flow meter as well as the accuracy of the vortex flow meter. So, under normal circumstances, how can we ensure the accuracy of the vortex flow meter? Vortex flowmeters are widely used, but their accuracy requirements are extremely strict. Therefore, we have several requirements: 1. Each vortex flowmeter is calibrated individually before leaving the factory. Since the discharge coefficient is calculated by software, and computer calculations are ultimately only approximate, there are still certain differences compared to the actual field conditions. Hence, to ensure measurement accuracy, it is recommended to conduct real-flow calibration for each flowmeter, compare the calculated discharge coefficient with the results obtained from software, determine the difference, and make necessary adjustments. 2. Modification of the Reynolds number: There is a definite relationship between the flow coefficient of a vortex flow meter and the Reynolds number. When the mass flow rate changes, the Reynolds number changes in inverse proportion, which in turn causes a change in the flow coefficient. 3. The effect of temperature on vortex flowmeters and methods to address it: Changes in fluid temperature lead to changes in density, which in turn alters the relationship between differential pressure and flow rate. Additionally, temperature changes affect the inner diameter of the pipe as well as the size of the orifice. To counteract the effects of temperature changes, temperature sensors are used to measure the actual temperature at the site, and the data is sent to secondary instruments in order to correct the errors caused by these temperature changes. 4. Contractibility proofreading. When using a vortex flow meter to measure steam or gas flow rates, it is necessary to perform a correction for the compressibility of the fluid; the detailed correction coefficients can be found in the throttle installation design manual. 5. Calculation of the mass flow rate of steam: When using a vortex flow meter to measure steam, the flow rate is first determined from the differential pressure signal; thereafter, the density is obtained by referring to tables based on the steam’s temperature and pressure values, so as to calculate the mass flow rate of the steam.

Submit a Project

**Looking for Chemical Technology, Equipment & Solutions?** No Registration Required Broader Platform Exposure | Global Chemical Service Provider Connections

Submit Request — Free Consultation

Disclaimer

This is an automated machine translation of the original thread. Some technical terms may have inaccuracies; the original text shall prevail. Click "View Original" at the top right to access the source page, which supports IP-based automatic real-time language translation. Please watch out for contact details and sales inducements to prevent fraud. All content and translations are for reference only, representing solely the poster's personal views. For enquiries, email service@hcbbs.com.