TABLE OF CONTENTS James E. Gallagher
Shell Pipeline Corporation, cognizant of the importance of highly accurate orifice measurement for polymer-grade ethylene, embarked on a development program to improve the overall uncertainty of orifice metering. The program's goal was to successfully apply master meter proving techniques to dense phase ethylene orifice meter facilities operated on a mass basis.
This paper presents the techniques and results of mass proving concentric, square-edged, flange-tapped orifice meters. All data were obtained on commercially operated metering facilities that are in compliance with ANSI 2530 requirements.
Results indicate an overall orifice meter uncertainty tolerance of approximately 0.31% is attainable when orifice meters are mass proved in situ using master meter proving techniques.
During the past decade, increasing commercial activity for ethylene demanded improvement of measurement technology. Significant measurement uncertainties were being experienced on ethylene pipeline systems. In response, a development program to improve the overall uncertainty of orifice metering was initiated by Shell Pipeline Corporation.
The program's goal was to develop an economical method for proving ethylene orifice meters under actual operating conditions. Master meter proving on a mass basis was selected as the only viable approach.
An ethylene distribution system consists of a pipeline network and salt dome storage facility linking producers and consumers. Since producers and consumers are not equipped with on-site storage facilities, the pipeline is designed with maximum flexibility to satisfy the continually changing demands...
