CHAPTER 12

METROLOGY

Purpose and Scope

To familiarize all practitioners with the concepts and techniques of measuring

instruments. It covers the application of metrology in all industries, which concerns with the
fundamental standards and techniques of measurements and with the scientific principles of the
instrumentation involved.

Definitions
Correctness/Accuracy - Degree of conformity of a measured or calculated value to some
recognized standard or specific value. The difference between the measured and true value is the
error of the measurement. Precision is the repeatability the measuring process, or how well
identically performed measurement agree, which concept applies to a set of measurements.
Tolerance/Allowance - Tolerance is the amount of variation permitted in the part of total
Variation allowed in a given dimension while allowance is the minimum clearance space
intended between the mating parts and represents the conditions of tightest possible fit.
Standard - Something that is set up and established by authority as a rule for the measure of
quantity weight, extent, value or quality.
Sensitivity/Readibility - Sensitively and readibility are primarily associated with the measuring
instrument while accuracy and precision are associated with the measuring process. Sensitivity is
the ability of a measuring device to detect small differences in a quality being measured, while
readibility is the susceptibility of a measuring device to having its indication convened to a
meaningful number.

Measurement Concepts

The International System of Units (SI) - The conference Generals des Poids (CGPM)
which is the body responsible for all international matters concerning the metric system, adopted
in 1954, a rationalized and coherent system of units based on the four MKSA units (meter-
kilogram-second-ampere). In 1960 the CGPM, formerly named this system the Systems
International d' Unites, for which the abbreviation is SI in all languages.

Mechanics

The use of the Metric SI System in Mechanics Calculations. The SI system is a

development of the traditional metric system based on deci- fractions is avoided. For each
physical quantity, units of different size are formed by multiplying or dividing a single base
value by powers of 10. Thus, changes can be made very simple by adding zeroes or shifting
decimal points. For example, the meter is the basic unit of length; the kilometer is a multiple (1,
000 meters); and the millimeter is a submultiple (one-thousandths of a meter).

Classification of the Common Measuring Instrument Used in the Industry

 - Linear Measurement
- Angular Measurement
- Plane Surface Measurement
- All-Purpose Special Measurement

Graduated Manual Measuring Tools

- Rules
- Calipers
- Vernier Height Gages
- Micrometer Calipers
- Protractor
- Dial Indicators
- Planimeter

Non-Graduated Manual Measuring Tools

- Calipers
- Bevels
- Trammels
- Gages
- Straight Edges
Special-Purpose Measuring Tools

- Tap and Drill Gages

- Wire Gages
- Screw Pitch
- Gages Radius Gages
- Thickness/Feeler Gage

Non-Destructive Inspection

- Hardness Measurement
- Magnetic Particle Inspections
- Radiographic Inspection
- Fluorescent Penetrants
- Ultrasonic Testing
- Eddy Current Testing

Pressure and Vacuum Measurements

1. Pressure measurement by balancing an unknown pressure against a known force is the

simplest and oldest method that will automatically balance the static pressure being
 measured against a resisting force whose magnitude can be read directly from the
instrument or can be easily computed.

- Liquid-column gages
- Limp-diaphragm gages
- Bell-type gages
- Piston gages

2. Pressure measurement by deformation of an elastic membrane is the most universally

used for measuring high and medium-pressure because of its simplicity, compactness
and maintenance-free property. It is also widely used in the field of low-pressure
measurement where a large actuating force is not needed.

- Bourdon tube gage

- Helical type Pressure Gage
- Spiral type of Pressure Gage
- Metallic-diaphragm pressure gage
- Sector Gear Arrangement
- Cam and Roller Arrangement
3. Electromechanical pressure instruments usually employ a mechanical means for
detecting the pressure, and an electrical means for' indicating or recording the detected
pressure.

4. Electronic pressure measuring instruments normally depend on some physical change

that can be detected and indicated or recorded electronically.

5. Vacuum Gages-Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic. The pressure gages used primarily
for measuring pressure below atmospheric pressure, which is most often referred to as a
vacuum, are McLeod gages, Pirani gages, Knudsen gages, thermocouple gages,, Phillips
gages, and ionization gages.

- McLeod Gage
- Pirani Gage
- Knudsen Type Vacuum Gage
- Phillips Vacuum Gage
- Vacuum Gage Calibration

Classification of Flow Meters

1. Inferential type - The inferential type of meter obtains a measurement of the flow of a
fluid or gas not by measuring the volume or weight of the medium but by measuring
some other phenomenon that is a function of the quantity of fluid passing through the
pipe.

a. The differential-pressure meter

1. Venturi-tube type
 2. Flow-nozzle type
3. Orifice-plate type
4. Pilot-tube type

b. Area meters/Rotameters
c. Anemometers
d. Electrical meters

1. Electrical Air-conductance meters

2. Electromagnetic Flowmeter

3. Volumetric and Current types

Piston-type volumentric flow meter

(1) Nutating-disc pump
(2) Rotary sliding-vane flowmeter
(3) Oscillating-piston flowmeter
(4) Rotating-bucket flowmeter
(5) Screw type of flowmeter
(6) Spiral-vane flowmeter
(7) Bellows-type Gas Flowmeter
(8) Water-sealed Rotary Gas Meter
(9) RootsType of Volumetric Gas Meter
(10) Turbine-type, Current Flowmeters

12.11.2 Installation of Volumetric Flow Meters.

All volumetric flowmeters that are subjected to high head pressures should be protected by
means of a by-pass check valve which will relieve the pressure in case the meter should become
jammed owing to foreign materials. It is also desirable to install the meter, in a by-pass circuit
which will permit its removal or servicing without shutting down the process. Where a relief
valve is installed to by-pass the meter, it is essential to check it periodically to see that it does not
stick. Where the liquid metered is hot and likely to solidify in the meter and pipe line if allowed
to stand, it is necessary to blow the meter with steam after each run. In this case care must be
exercised to blow the line clear by means of a by-pass and then to clear the meter with only a
short period of blowing. If too much pressure is used in blowing out the meter, it is likely to race
in and cause damage to the moving parts. The piping manifold should also have a draw-off
connection to permit calibration of the meter in service. Calibration may be done volumetrically
by observing the time required to fill a container of a certain volume, or the flow may be
determined by using a scale to check the delivery by weight.

Article 12.12 Measurement of Weight

Weight is a primary method of measuring force and volumetric devices are calibrated initially by
weighing. Scales have been constructed to weigh a million kilograms or more, while the chemical
balance, at the opposite extreme will easily weigh a millionth of a kilogram.