Application and uncertainty analysis of a balance weighing system used in natural gas primary standard up to 60 bar

Abstract

A new 3-ton balance weighing system was designed and built up for a high level mass-time primary standard of natural gas up to 60 bar in CVB. The system is composed of a 3-ton electromagnetic balance, two tanks with thermal isolation, two platforms, two roller guide rails and two big weights which are used for special test. To achieve a lower uncertainty and the security application in natural gas measurement, several special methods were used in the system. Firstly, the tanks and platforms can be moved together steadily on the roller guide rail to be connected with pipeline system or to be weighted by the balance which also reduces the pipeline length between tanks and pipeline system. Secondly, the substitute weighing method is used for high accurate weighing. Finally, the whole system is located in a thermal isolated room with temperature and humidity controlling. Technical details, performance tests, uncertainty analysis and the future improvement ideas of the balance system are presented in the paper. The uncertainty analysis shows that the mass measurement uncertainty of gas can achieve less than 1.0g and the maximum relative standard uncertainty of natural gas mass measurement would be no more than 0.022%.