Programme : EH243
Course Name : RESERVOIR AND GAS LABORATORY
Course Code : CGE617
Semester : 20222
Tittle of experiment : GAS FLOWMETER
Date of Experiment :
Group :
Group Members 1.
2.
3.
4.
Lecturer :
Level of Openness :0
Total
No. Content Marks
marks
0 1 2
1 Introduction
2 Basic Concepts
3 Summary of Procedure 10
4 Analysis & Interpretation 10 10
of Result *
5 Discussion of Result 10 10 10
6 Conclusion and 10 10 10
Recommendations
Total Marks 20 30 40
*Students should present their results and analyses in the report
CGE617 GAS AND RESERVOIR ENGINEERING LABORATORY
GAS FLOWMETER
Introduction
Fluid flow can be defined as the volume or mass of a fluid that flows through the section
of a pipe of channel per time unit. Accurate and reliable measurement of gas flow will
ensure operability, safety and economic requirements in petroleum, chemical and other
related-engineering industries. The Gas Flow Measurement Bench (Model: FM 120) has
been designed for students to study on the fluid flow of compressible gas. The unit is self-
contained supplied with facilities for students to study the flow measurement using
different flow measuring devices, such as electronic flowmeter, orifice, venturi and
rotameter.
The investigation of a compressible fluid flow is done using different measuring
instrument and techniques. This includes primary flow measurement devices (e.g orifice
and venturi) as well as secondary flow measurement devices (e.g differential pressure
transmitter). In additional to this, a rotameter is also provided for direct flow measurement
and indication. Pressure and flow measurement are provided for flow compensation of a
compressible fluid. All the flow measuring devices are strategically arranged in a pipe work
for easy access and configuration, so that the comparison of different measurements or
devices can be accomplished.
Three different gas flow meter techniques are used in this experiment:
◦ Mass flow meter and rotameter
◦ Venturi meter
◦ Orifice meter
Rotameter works based on the balance force between the flowing fluid and the
gravitational force exerted by the float. The venturi meter works based on converging
section inside a tube, which corresponds to higher flow velocity and pressure drop. The
Orifice meter works based on pressure difference generated at concentric section in tube.
The flow rate (Q) in venturi meter and orifice meter can be calculated using the
following equation:
Objectives
1. To determine the operation and characteristic of mass flow meter and rotameter.
2. To determine the operation and characteristic of venturi meter.
3. To determine the operation and characteristic of orifice meter.
Apparatus/Methodology/Procedures
Electronic Flowmeter
Silencer
Differential Pressure Control Valve
Transmitter, DPT
Venturi meter
Rotameter
Pressure Transmitter
Temperature Transmitter
Orifice Meter Panel
Figure 1: Gas Flow Measurement Bench FM120 [Source: SOLTEQ]
GENERAL START-UP PROCEDURE
1. All valves should be closed
2. The compressor needs to be connected to the gas flow measurement using PU
tubes
3. The compressor pressure should be set at 1 bar
4. The main switch on the panel needs to be turned on
5. By using the experimental procedures, desired valves need to be opened
GENERAL SHUT-DOWN PROCEDURES
1. Pressure in the piping need to be released
2. The main switch on the panel needs to be switched off
EXPERIMENT 1: DETERMINATION OF THE OPERATION AND
CHARACTERISTIC OF MASS FLOW METER AND ROTAMETER
1. Pressure tubing need to be connected and the compressor pressure was set to 1
bar.
2. Valve 1, Valve 2 and Valve 13 need to be opened.
3. Valve 13 need to be adjusted to set the rotameter to 10 LPM.
4. The temperature reading (TT1), pressure reading (PT1), mass flow meter (FT1)
and differential pressure reading (DPT1) need to be recorded after the reading
has stabilized.
5. To take different flow rates, step 3 and 4 need to be repeated.
6. The experiment needs to be repeated for different compressor pressure.
The mass flow meter, FT1 unit LPM is defined at conditions 0°C, 1.0132 bar (abs).
The rotameter unit LPM is defined at conditions 20°C, 1.0132 bar (abs).
EXPERIMENT 2: DETERMINATION OF THE OPERATION AND
CHARACTERISTIC OF VENTURI METER
1. Pressure tubing need to be connected and the compressor pressure was set to 1
bar.
2. Valve 4, Valve 5, Valve 9 and Valve 10 need to be opened.
3. Valve 13 need to be adjusted to set the rotameter to 10 LPM.
4. The temperature reading (TT1), pressure reading (PT1), mass flow meter (FT1)
and differential pressure reading (DPT1) need to be recorded after the reading
has stabilized.
5. To take different flow rates, step 3 and 4 need to be repeated.
6. The experiment needs to be repeated for different compressor pressure.
EXPERIMENT 3: DETERMINATION OF THE OPERATION AND
CHARACTERISTIC OF ORIFICE METER
1. Pressure tubing need to be connected and the compressor pressure was set to 1
bar.
2. Valve 7, Valve 8, Valve 11 and Valve 12 need to be opened.
3. Valve 13 need to be adjusted to set the rotameter to 10 LPM.
4. The temperature reading (TT1), pressure reading (PT1), mass flow meter (FT1)
and differential pressure reading (DPT1) need to be recorded after the reading
has stabilized.
5. To take different flow rates, step 3 and 4 need to be repeated.
6. The experiment needs to be repeated for different compressor pressure.
Additional info:
◦ Rotameter (by Krohne) : https://youtu.be/Pz-Mvdc6nf4
◦ Venturi and orifice meter (by Endress-Hauser) : https://youtu.be/oUd4WxjoHKY
Results/Data
From experiment
Questions
Case-study #1: Operating actual flowmeter in petroleum pipeline
Operating flow meter in real petroleum system requires various considerations and factors:
impurities in gas flowline, consideration of two-phase flow regime inside pipeline, effect of
various fittings and joints and others. Provide one actual problem in petroleum industry,
related to our current flow meter technology. Do you think that the same methods are
applicable in the industry and needs further improvement?
Case-study #2: Differences between rotameter, venturi and orifice meter
Both orifice and venturi meter have the same principle where measurement of fluid
velocity is based on the constricted sectional area to artificially form pressure difference
across pipeline. On the other hand, rotameter usage seems to be more simple and practical
for the same purpose. However, these flow meter have advantages and disadvantages
when it comes to practical and real flow measurement. Discuss difference between these
three flow meter techniques by providing fundamental fluid mechanics and physical
explanations, comparison in given measurement as well as their practical application in
fields.
Case-study#3: Joule-Thompson effect in gas flow
Joule-Thompson effect represents the condition which may lead to change of temperature
with respect to pressure inside gas flow system. Concerning to the flow meter techniques
that adopt pressure differential as their measuring technique, do you think that Joule-
Thompson effect could take place inside the system?
GRADING CRITERIA
CO 1 Develop the procedures and understand the working principles of experimental units in order to conduct experimental works
successfully and safely either individually or in a group.
PO 3 Conduct investigations of complex problems via literature review, design of experiments, analysis and interpretation of data as
well as synthesis of information to provide valid conclusions.
NO ELEMENTS 1 2 3 4 5
1 Introduction No information on Little information on Some discussion on Some discussion on Discussion the purpose of
purpose/objectives purposes, objectives of purpose of work and no purpose of work, missing work with relevant
of work, no work and no background background information. some information background
background information. Background. Information.
information.
2 Basic concepts Able to identify the Able to discuss briefly on Able to discuss extensively Able to apply and analyse Able to evaluate the basic
basic concepts of the basic concepts of on the basic concepts of the basic concepts of concepts of respective
respective laboratory respective laboratory in respective laboratory in respective laboratory in laboratory in relation to
through report. relation to the relation to the relation to the engineering the engineering
engineering fundamental. engineering fundamental. fundamental. fundamental.
3 Summary of Unable to design Able to design the Able to design Able to design, find Able to design, find
procedures/methods experiment and no experiment with little experiment, find relevant standard procedure and relevant standard
explanations on the explanations on the standard procedure and clear with precise procedure and clearly
procedures of procedures of conducting sufficient explanations of explanations on stated with good
conducting experimental work. conducting experimental conducting experimental explanations on
experimental work. work. work. conducting experimental
work
4 Analysis and Data presented was Data presented is Data presented is relevant Data presented is relevant, Data presented is
interpretation of not relevant and not relevant but not and sufficient to analyse related to the objectives relevant, related to the
data sufficient to analyse sufficient to analyse and and interpret. and sufficient to analyse objectives, sufficient to
and interpret. interpret and interpret. analyse and accurate
interpretation of data.
5 Discussion of result No discussion on the Discussion on results is Little discussion on what Description of result is Result and discussion are
meaning of very difficult to follow, no result mean and generally clear. Some clearly stated, through
experimental results discussion on the implications of results. discussion on what results discussion on what results
and very difficult to meaning of results and Enough errors are made mean and implications of mean and implications of
follow. information is so to be distracting, but results. No significant results. Provide
inaccurate that makes some information is errors are made. consistently accurate
the report unreliable. accurate. information.
6 Conclusion and No attempt was Conclusion is derived Conclusion is good and Conclusion is good and Conclusion is excellent
Recommendations made to conclude from the collected and derived from the collected derived from the collected and derived from the
and objectives of the analysed data but does and analysed data and not and analysed data and not collected and analysed
lab were not not answering the from other sources but from other sources and data and not from other
answered. objectives. did not directly answering directly answer the sources. Conclusion clearly
Recommendations Recommendations are the objectives. objectives. answers the objectives.
are stated but not stated but are not well Recommendations are Recommendations are well Precise recommendations
related to the topic. discussed. well addressed and addressed and relevant to and closely relevant to the
relevant to the topic. the topic. topic.
