Using Coriolis Meters for Gas Measurement:

An Update on AGA 11
Tim Patten - Director of Measurement Technology, Keven Dunphy - Business
Development Manager, Process Gas, Franki Parson - Global Key Account Manager,
Micro Motion, Inc., Boulder, CO; Patrick Skweres - Instrument Technology Leader, Dow
Chemical Co., Freeport, TX

Abstract

Beginning in the 1980’s, Coriolis meters have gained worldwide acceptance in liquid
applications with a worldwide installed base of nearly 300,000 units. Newer designs
have shown greatly improved low-flow sensitivity, lower pressure drop, and immunity to
noise; factors which now enable their successful use in gas-phase fluid applications.
With more than 20,000 units on gas around the world, groups including the AGA, API,
Measurement Canada, German PTB, and Dutch NMi are all involved in writing
standards for this “emerging” gas flow technology.

Why consider Coriolis flow meters?

For many years, turbine meters and differential pressure devices have been the
accepted and preferred flow measurement technologies for gas applications in general
and custody transfer of natural gas in particular. Standard volume units are the
prescribed output for flow technologies used for these applications. To arrive at
standard volume units the flow output for traditional flow technologies must be
compensated to accommodate for changes in the pressure and temperature of the gas
being measured. Ancillary measurement equipment is needed to perform this
compensation. This equipment increases the purchase price, installation, maintenance
and ownership costs, as well as the uncertainty for the entire metering system.

Unlike traditional flow technologies, Coriolis meters provide mass flow directly. This
mass flow is easily converted to standard volume units, eliminating the need for pressure
or temperature compensation. (The method for converting mass flow to standard
volume flow will be discussed later in this paper.) Eliminating the need for compensation
equipment has been a breakthrough for end-users. Consequently, Coriolis flow meters
have helped to reduce the purchased and installed costs for gas measurement systems.
Similarly, Coriolis flow meters have helped to dramatically reduce the overall uncertainty
of metering systems by eliminating the need for flow compensation.

Traditional flow measurement technologies require rigorous installation procedures to

deliver the performance that is required for custody transfer applications. Specifically,
non-turbulent flow is needed to ensure that traditional flow technologies deliver optimum
performance, i.e. accuracy, for the application. Straight runs of pipe and/or flow
conditioners are often used to ensure that the system delivers on performance
expectations.

Page 1
Coriolis based metering systems do not require straight runs of piping and flow
conditioners because the meters do not rely on a predictable fluid velocity profile to
measure flow. Eliminating the need for additional piping and/or flow conditioners helps
to reduce the overall cost of the metering system. For skid-based metering systems,
decreasing the overall piping requirement helps to reduce the overall size of the system.

Traditional metering systems have numerous mechanical components that can

deteriorate over time. For instance:

! Turbine meter bearings wear especially when exposed to non-lubricating fluids such
as natural gas.
! Excessively high fluid velocities can damage the bearings and rotors
! Any solids or entrained liquids that are present in the gas flow stream will damage
turbine meter or orifice plate.
! The pressure and temperature devices that are used to compensate for changing
fluid conditions will drift over time, requiring periodic recalibration.

Most Coriolis meters do not experience a time dependent drift in their performance.
While performance can deteriorate in the presence of corrosion, erosion, or product
buildup in the tube set, careful meter sizing and metallurgy selection can avoid the
possibility of introducing this uncertainty. Proper installation (covered later in this report)
also helps to reduce the likelihood of
DS150S C ompressed Air Test, 250 psia, 70°F
experiencing these issues. Evidence of S/N 138085, Installed 1991
a Coriolis flow meters performance over Natural Gas Cavern Storage (bi-directional use)
time can be seen here. A flowmeter
3
was installed on sour natural gas
cavern storage service for over nine 2

years. A factory calibration was 1

performed on water prior to installation,

erro r, %

0
with no additional calibrations
-1
performed during its installation. As the
data at right shows, nine years after -2

installation flow verification on air and -3

water show no change in performance 0 50 100 150 200 250

lbs/min
during its installed life.
sp ec sp ec Air cal (M ay 2000) W ater cal (M ay 2000) W ater cal (Sept 1991)

Coriolis flow meters have been widely used in the custody transfer of liquids, because
they are very accurate devices. This performance history transfers to gases with
installed accuracy often better than 0.5%. This excellent accuracy and the ability to
measure high velocity gas flows without damaging the meter results in the ability to
measure over a wide flow range with a single meter. With the advent of new signal
processing technology, some Coriolis suppliers have been able to demonstrate improve
meter performance on gases to 0.35%.

End users must consider the flow range over which a gas meter must maintain its
performance. Most custody transfer installations must maintain 1.0 per cent accuracy
over a specified flow range. Differential pressure meters have the narrowest flow range,
maintaining their performance over at best a 10:1 turndown. Turbine meters provide an
improvement over differential pressure meters with turndowns nearing 30:1. To ensure
the best flow measurement possible it is important that proper flow conditioning be

Page 2
installed and that there be minimal changes in the composition of the fluid being
measured.

Coriolis flow meters have demonstrated their ability to provide exceptional flow
performance over a broad flow range. Many Coriolis flow meters will maintain 0.35 %
accuracy over a 50:1 turndown. Coriolis meters routinely deliver on 1% accuracy
requirements for natural gas custody transfer at turndowns approaching 100:1. No flow
conditioning is needed to obtain this n Acetylene (C H ) n Hydrogen Chloride (HCl)
2 2
level of performance from a Coriolis n Air n Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN)
meter. n Ammonia (NH3) n Hydrogen Sulfide (H S) 2
n Argon (Ar) n Methane (CH4)
Over the past five years, Coriolis n Carbon Dioxide (CO2) n Natural Gas
meters have been installed to n Chlorine (Cl2) n Nitrogen (N2)
measure a large number of gas n Ethane (C2H6) n Oxygen (O2)
products. Over 20,000 Coriolis n Ethylene (C2H4) n Phosgene (COCl2)
meters have been installed on n Freon n Propylene (C3H6)
numerous gas applications to date. n Fuel gas n Steam
n Helium He) n Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
n Hydrogen (H2) n Trifluoro Ethylene (TFE)

Coriolis meters deliver measurement in standard gas flow units

Coriolis flow technology measures gas flow in mass units. Mass flow units can be
converted to standard flow units (i.e. SCFM or NM3/hr) without the use of flowing density,
operating pressure, temperature, or a flow computer. This conversion requires
knowledge of the gas composition to access a standard or base density. In the case of
many gas applications (i.e. hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, air, oxygen), the standard
density is a fixed number that can be located in most physical properties databases. In
some instances, the variable composition of a mixed gas stream would require the user
to calculate the standard density using an equation of state such as AGA Report No. 8
(Compressibility Factors of Natural Gas and other Related Hydrocarbon Gases).

In constant composition
applications, the Q (scfm) = Q (lbs/m) / D Gas Standard Density (lbs/ft3)
standard or base density
can be found in most
Output in Measured by Value Input
physical properties Desired Units MMI meter by User
databases. This fixed
value can then be
entered into the Coriolis Q (Nm3/m) = Q (kg/m) / D Gas Standard Density (kg/m3)
flowmeter electronics as
a unit conversation of
the mass flow.

In some cases, Coriolis meters measure the flowing density in addition to the mass flow
rate. Is it important to note that the flow density measurement from a Coriolis
meter is not used to calculate flow at standard conditions. In addition, no external
pressure, temperature, or flow algorithms are required. This elimination of ancillary

Page 3
equipment is one source of installed cost reduction when considering the use of a
Coriolis meter on a gas application.

In changing composition gas applications, a user needs to decide how they would like to
proceed. In some process natural gas applications for example, users have decided that
the changing composition of the natural gas is not a significant source of uncertainty. As
such, they have assumed a constant composition thereby allowing the use of a Coriolis
meter as stated above.

In applications where the changing composition of a mixed gas stream is an important

variable, the user has two options. First, they can dynamically calculate the standard
density using some equation of state (i.e. AGA Report No. 8). This typically involves the
use of a gas chromatograph to dynamically calculate the impact of the variable
composition. In this instance, the Coriolis meter replaces the primary element and
pressure and temperature compensation. The output of the flow meter and the gas
Mass/time
chromatograph would
Flow Energy flow then be combined in a
Computer (BTU/hr, etc) flow computer.

Users do have a second

E/mass
unique option enabled by
a Coriolis meter. The flow
GC output in mass units is not
subject to additional
uncertainty due to the
changing composition of the measured fluid. As such, if the user is able to use mass
flow units (i.e. lb/min or kg/hr), they can eliminate any further compensation. This
typically requires an adjustment in the mindset of the user to accept gas flows expressed
in mass flow units.

Field Experience with Coriolis Flow Meters

In December 1996, Transmission Pipelines Australia began a project to install custody

transfer meters at all offtakes from their transmission system. This involved a total of
102 new meters including 18 multipath ultrasonic meters, 60 turbine meters and 24
Coriolis meters. For small metering installations, turbine meters did not have sufficient
turn down ratio and rotary positive displacement meters were not available off-the-shelf
at the required pressures. Coriolis meters were chosen for these installations, because
they offer high turndown ratio capability and the meter can be calibrated on water and
used on gas with an added uncertainty of less than 0.5 per cent.

Coriolis Gas Flow Measurement Test Results

Noise Immunity

It has been reported1 that at high rates (gas velocity in excess of 60 m/s) Coriolis signal
noise becomes high, causing repeatability concerns. Beginning in June 2001, testing
was commenced to quantify the improved noise rejection of new signal processing

1 th
Karnik, 4 Flow Symposium

Page 4
techniques. The newest electronics deliver much improved noise rejection, resulting in
better signal-to-noise characteristics and therefore better repeatability.

The MVDTM transmitter is Digital Signal

Processing (DSP) based. The Coriolis
signal processing resides in a unit Signal
outputs
mounted directly to the sensor. The 4-20 mA
pulse
transmitter receives a 2-wire digital MODBUS
signal from the signal processing unit,
and converts to usable signals, i.e. 4-20
mA, 10000 hz pulse, MODBUS, etc.

A test was performed with three meters

in series, to evaluate the effectiveness
of the DSP signal processing on high
velocity gas flow. A 3” Coriolis meter
with the new DSP based transmitter, a 4-wire cable (2 power, 2
digital)
second 3” Coriolis meter with the older
“analog” transmitter, and an orifice plate
were run on air at 25 psig. Pipeline velocity was 100 m/s in a 3” sch40 pipe.

250 Avg flow 200 lbs/min = 160 mscfh

240
"Old" signal The data shows improved
230
processing
"DSP"
signal stability over the “old
220
signal analog” signal processing.
Rate, lbs/min

210
Flow measurement
200
repeatability was improved by
190 approximately 10 times over
180 the analog transmitter.
170 Additionally, noise levels are
160 Noise improve by 10X, from +/-30 approaching those of orifice
lbs/min
150 plates. Note that no attempt
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 was made to assess accuracy
Time of the meters, only the relative
CMF300 w/ MVD CMF300 w/ R FT9739 Orifice Plate noise levels.

Page 5
Meter Linearity and Accuracy

Overall accuracy and meter linearity assessments are easily possible with a precise flow
measurement afforded by good noise rejection. Encouraged by the good results of the
noise rejection studies outlined above, performance tests were scheduled and
conducted at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) on natural gas.

Tests were conducted over two days, between 17 and 69 bar (250 and 1000 psi) on a 4”
Coriolis meter. Results are shown below:
All data, with only two data-point exceptions, falls within +/-0.5%; 90% of the data falls
within +/-0.35%.
1.00
An important Coriolis
meter performance 0.80

parameter is its linearity

0.60
vs. flow rate.
Secondary effects on 0.40

the meter are also

Mass Flow Error, %

0.20
linear. The above data Spec +
Spec -
was linearly 0.00 250 psig
600 psig
compensated for the -0.20
1000 psig

effect of pressure on
the measurement tubes -0.40
96 mmscfd

by +0.00009% per bar -0.60

117000 Nm3/h

(+0.0013% per psi). 4 mmscfd

2900 Nm3/h
-0.80
The pressure effect is a
result of tension in the -1.00
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
metering tubes that Rate, lbs/sec

cause it to stiffen very

slightly.

AGA-11 and Future Testing

Although a relatively new technology for gas applications outside of compressed natural
gas (CNG), Coriolis meters have gained worldwide acceptance for other fluids and other
industries. With a worldwide installed base of around 300,000 units, Coriolis technology
is seeing expanded use for natural gas and other process gas applications. A number of
countries and groups have either drafted standards or are in the process of studying the
technology.

Technology limitations of earlier designs, such as large calibration changes vs. pressure
and susceptibility to noise, have been largely overcome with high accuracy
measurement now. Coriolis “sweet spots” are mainly in lines of 6-8” and smaller, where
high turndown is needed, flow conditioning to meet new AGA3-like requirements is
costly, and/or the gas is dirty, sour, or of changing composition.

Third-party data from CEESI, Pigsar, SwRI, and others show little if any effect of flow
profile, and for at least one manufacturer, little if any shift in meter factor from factory

Page 6
calibration to gas application. Examples of typical certificates demonstrating one
manufacturers acceptance on gas applications are attached. A working group within
AGA (AGA Task Group #11) has completed the AGA Technical Note scheduled to be
released in November 2001. This note summarizes the current understanding of
Coriolis natural gas measurement capabilities. It also included a third party test plan to
formally quantify the effects of swirl and velocity profile on different manufacturers and
tube configurations. The reader is encouraged to review the Engineering Technical Note
that can be found at the AGA website (www.aga.org).

Coriolis Gas Meter Installation Guidelines

A Coriolis meter is a highly versatile measurement device. However, it is not capable of

measuring two phase flows. Most of the installation guidelines are driven by a desire to
eliminate the possibility of liquid collecting in the tube set. As such, typical gas
installations would see the meter mounted at a relatively high point in the piping in a
vertical, or tube up configuration. This would allow any liquid in the flow stream to drain
from the meter, ensuring proper operation.

It should be noted that liquid in the flow tubes

would not damage the meter. If liquid collects in
the tubes, an erratic flow output would be seen
during the two-phase flow condition. Once that
condition is alleviated, however, the meter will
then return to normal operation without damage
or flow calibration shift. This is in marked
contrast to more traditional gas flow
measurement such as turbines or orifice plates
that can be significantly damaged by liquids in a
flowing gas stream.

Another common application is steam flow.

Most Coriolis meters can make a steam flow
measurement if the steam is clean and dry. However, this is seldom the case. Users
typically avoid unnecessary heat addition to the steam. As such, it is normal to see
some amount of condensate along with the steam. This would typically create a
situation where the Coriolis meter would see two phase flow and subsequently perform
erratically. Users can avoid this situation by ensuring that the process fluid is clean and
dry at the point of flow measurement.

Most Coriolis meters use a sizing program to make recommendations for which sensor
size to use with a given set of process conditions. Using this sizing program allows a
user to select the meter with the appropriate balance between accuracy, pressure drop,
and turndown. Looking at the example of a low static pressure gas application can
make a final point on the sizing and selection of a Coriolis flow meter. The accuracy of a
Coriolis meter is a function of the mass flow fluid. At low static pressures, the mass flow
of the fluid would also be low. This would tend to drive the selection to a relatively small
sensor. A small sensor would have a relatively large pressure drop. More than likely,

Page 7
this would drive the pressure drop too high for the application. The net result is a poor
application for a Coriolis meter, driven by the interaction between low mass flow rate and
pressure drop.

Appendix A
NMI Certificate for CMF200
NMI Water Calibration Tracability

Page 8
 DECLARATION
Number VN/9729
Page 1 of 1
Projectnr.
10100694
Applicant: Fisher Rosemount Flow
Groeneveldselaan 8
3900 AB Veenendaal
The Netherlands

Submitted: Coriolis meters

Manufacturer : Micro Motion
Sensor Models : CMF100, CMF200 and CMF300
Electronics : RFT9739

Scope of Investigation of the Micro Motion coriolis meters, model CMF100, CMF200
and
investigation: CMF300, with both water and natural gas as medium. The background of the
investigation is to find out whether those meters can be used for custody
transfer purposes with gas, while they are verified with water, without
testing them with gas.

Tests: With several gas meters of the above mentioned models an accuracy test is
performed with water. After that the accuracy test is repeated with natural
gas under high pressure. During both tests each meter is programmed with
the same calibration parameter (FlowCal factor).

Result: The maximum measured difference between both accuracy tests is 0,4%.
Concerning this maximum measured difference while adding an extra safety
marge of 0,3%, the verification of the coriolis meters may be performed with
water, without testing them with gas, when using the maximum permissible
errors with water, as stated in the table below.

Flow range Maximum permissible errors Maximum permissible errors

with natural gas with water
Qmin - 0,2 Qmax ± 2,0% ± 1,3%
0,2 Qmax - Qmax ± 1,0% ± 0,3%

Remark The above mentioned safety marge of 0,3% is applied due to the fact that
only a limited number of meters is used for this declaration. This safety
marge may be reduced, when this is justified by extra tests in future.

Dordrecht, 25 February 2000

NMi Certin B.V.

W.A.C.M. van Leeuwen

manager Certification Dordrecht

Nederlands Meetinstituut
Hugo de Grootplein 1
3314 EG Dordrecht (NL)
Telephone +31 78 6 332 332
Telefax +31 78 6 332 380
NMi B.V. (Chamber of Commerce
Haaglanden no. 27228701)
Subsidiary companies:
NMi Certin B.V. (27233418)
NMi Van Swinden laboratorium B.V. (27228703)
NMi International B.V. (27239176)
This document is issued under the provision that NMi B.V.
nor its subsidiary companies accept any liability.
Reproduction of the complete document is allowed.
Parts of the document may only be reproduced after written
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