Field test of a swirlmeter for gas flow measurement

Abstract

In this paper the experimental results of a field test in natural gas measurement are presented. A vortex precession meter (swirlmeter) has been tested by means of a master–slave calibration technique, using, as reference, a turbine gas meter for custody transfer. The main aim of this study is to assess the metrological behaviour and the sensibility to the installation effects of a vortex precession flowmeter (swirlmeter), which, although well known in the control of the process industry, is quite a new instrument in natural gas applications. The experimental results here reported can be considered as only a first but necessary step to realise an exhaustive metrological analysis of this meter, since field tests must always be combined with laboratory tests in order to reach a comprehensive knowledge.