PRODUCTIONOPERATIONSCOMPETENCYLEARNINGMODULE

Module7:
GasMeasurement

No. #:
Category:

Operations Production

Version:

01

Date:

February 2009

Initial Writing by:

Sardjono

Review by:

Kodeco Operations Team

Copyright to:

KODECOENERGYCO.,LTD.

GASMEASUREMENT
ORIFICEMETERMEASUREMENT

To measure volume of vapor/gas or liquid commonly use differential measurement device, orifice
meter.
Definitions:
DifferentialTaps:Formeterusingflangetapsthecenteroftheupstreampressuretapisplacedone
inchfromtheupstreamfaceoftheorificeplate.Thecenterofthedownstreampressuretapisplaced
one inch from the downstream face of the orifice plate. For meters using pipe tap the upstream
pressuretapisplacedtwoandonehalftimestheactualinsidepipediameterfromtheupstreamfaceof
theorificeplateandthedownstreampressuretapisplacedeighttimestheactualinsidepipediameter
fromthedownstreamfaceoftheorificeplate.
Differential Pressure : Differential pressure is the difference between two pressures. The differential
pressureacrossandorificeinametertubeisthedifferencebetweenthepressureattheupstreamtap
before the gas passes through the orifice and the pressure at the downstream tap after it has passes
throughtheorifice.

StaticorLinePressure : Static Pressure is usually measured by a coiled metal tube with a flattened
crosssection(apressurespring).Thepressureofthegasinthelineisadmittedtoandactsontheinside
of the tube and the atmospheric pressure acts upon the outside of the tube. Therefore the pressure
spring measures the difference between the pressure in the line and the atmospheric pressure. The
pressureinthelinemaybegreaterorlessthantheatmosphericpressure.Thestaticpressuremaybe
takenfromeithertheupstreamorthedownstreampressuretap.

Absolute Pressure : Absolute Pressure is the pressure above the absolute zero, or above a perfect
vacuum.Theatmosphericpressureisalwaysexpressedasanabsolutepressure.Ifthepressureofthe
gasinalineisgreaterthantheatmosphericpressure,theatmosphericpressureinpsiaisaddedtothe
gagepressureinpsigtoobtaintheabsolutepressureofthegasintheline.Ifthegagepressureis40psig
(above atmospheric pressure) and the atmospheric pressure is 14.4 psia, the absolute pressure Pf, is
54.4psia.
Tomeasurepressurebelowatmosphericpressurewithgagescalibratedininchesofmercuryvacuum.
In such cases it is necessary to convert the vacuum from inches of mercury into pounds per square

Page1

inchbymultiplyingbytheconversionfactor0.491;forexample,10inchesofmercuryvacuum=4.91
psig(10x0.491)belowtheabsolutepressureoftheatmosphere.

PressureBase:Thepressurebaseisthepressureatwhichthecubicfootistheunitofmeasurement
accordingtothecontract.Thebasicorificeflowfactorsinthispublicationwerecalculatedforapressure
baseof14.73psia.

Absolute Temperature : On the Fahrenheit thermometer scale the temperature is expressed in the
degreesaboveorbelowanarbitraryzero,whichis32degreesbelowthefreezingpointofwater.The
absolute zero is 460 degrees below the zero of the Fahrenheit thermometer scale. The absolute
temperatureisthetemperatureabovetheabsolutezeroandisobtainedbyadding460degreestothe
reading of the thermometer. If the reading of the Fahrenheit thermometer is 60, the corresponding
absolute temperature is 60 added to 460 or 520 F absolute. If the reading is 20 F, the absolute
temperatureis20F+460For440Fabsolute.

TemperatureBase : The temperature base is the temperature at which the cubic foot is the unit of
measurementaccordingtothecontact.Theorificeflowfactorsinthispublicationwerecalculatedfora
temperaturebaseconditionof520Fabsolute(60F).

SpecificGravity:Therealspecificgravityofagasistheweightofacubicfootofgascomparedtothe
weight of a cubic foot of dry air under the same pressure and temperature condition. If the specific
gravityofgasis2.0,itistwiceasheavyasair,orifthespecificgravityofagasis0.6,itissixtenthsas
heavyasair.
Acorrectlyinstalledorificecanprovideanoverallaccuracywithinplusorminus2%.
Theorificemeterconsistsofstaticpressureanddifferentialpressure recording gauges connected to
anorificeflangeororificefitting.
Theorificemetertube(meterrun)consistsofupstreamanddownstreamsectionofpipe.
Theorificeplateisheldperpendiculartoflowbyflangesorfitting.Borecircumference,edgesharpness.

Page2

ORIFICEFITTING
(3TypesofOrificeFitting)

StandardOrificeFlange.Requirethatthelineneedtobeshut down and depressurized in

ordertoinspectorchangetheorificeplate.
Single Chamber Orifice Fitting. This fitting also requires that the line be shut down and
depressurizedinordertoinspectorchangetheorificeplate.
SeniorOrificeFitting.Thisfittingallowstheremovalandinspectionofanorificeplatewhilethe
lineremainsunderpressure.

Page3

Page4

Page5

ORIFICEPLATE

Thethicknessoftheorificeplatefor2inchthrough10inchnominaldiameterpipeshallbeat
least0.115in.,for12inpipeshallbeatleast0.175in.

Theupstreamfaceoftheorificeplateshallbeflatandperpendiculartotheaxisofthemeter
tube,wheninposition betweentheorificeflangesorintheorificefitting,squareand sharp,
shallnothaveaburredorfeatherededgeandshallbe maintainedinthisconditionatalltimes.

Thethicknessoftheorificeplateattheorificeedgeshallnot exceedthesmallerof:
a.1/50ofthepipediameterD
b.1/8oftheorificediameterd

Page6

Page7

BETARATIO(d/D).

Theorificetometertubediameterratio,,beta=d/D,shouldbelimitedasfollows:

a.Withmetersusingflangetaps,betashallbebetween0.15and0.70

b.Withmetersusingpipetaps,betashallbebetween0.20and0.67

Whenusingtheabovebetaratio,thetoleranceoftheorificecoefficient(Fbfactors)isplusor
minus0.5%forflangetapsandplusorminus0.75%forpipetaps.Betaratiosdownto0.10and
upto0.75maybeusedforflangetapsbutthecoefficienttoleranceincreases.Betaratiosdown
to0.10andupto0.70maybeusedforpipetapsbutthecoefficienttoleranceincreases.

Page8

METERTUBE

The Meter Tube mean the straight upstream pipe of the same diameter (of length A and A)
betweentheorificeflangesorfittings,andthesimilardownstreampipe(lengthBbeyondthe
orifice).

Thesectionofpipetowhichtheorificeflangesareattachedshallcomplywiththefollowing:
a. Seamless pipe , the pipe walls may be honed, machined, or ground. The wall finish
shouldsimulatethatofnewsmoothpipe.
b. Grooves,scoring,pits,raisedridgesresultingfromseams,distortioncausedbywelding
whichaffecttheinsidediametershallnotbepermitted.

Page9

Page10

STRAIGHTENINGVANES

Thepurposeofstraighteningvanesistoeliminateswirlsandcrosscurrentssetupbythepipe
fittingsandvalvesupstreamofthemetertube.

Theconstructionofvanesthemaximumtransversedimensionaofanypassagethroughthe
vanes shall not exceed the inside diameter, Dof the pipe. The crosssectional area A of
anypassagewithintheassembledvanesshallnotexceed1/16 of the crosssectional area of
thecontainingpipe.ThelengthLofthevanesshallbeatleast10timesthelargesinsidea
dimension.Allthevanespassagesisnotnecessarythesame sizebutshouldbesymmetrical.
Thevanestubeshouldbesecurelyweldedtogetherateachtangentpoint.Allweldmetalshould
begroundoffsmoothtopreventdisturbancestotheflowandshouldbesecurelyanchoredin
themetertubebyuseofaflangeringorsetscrews.

Page11

Page12

Page13

Page14

GASMEASUREMENT.
Inthemeasurementofgasbyorificemeter,thechartcontainsrecordsofthedifferentialandthestatic
pressure.Fromtheserecordsthequantityofgasmeasuredisdeterminedbytheuseoftheformula:

,inwhich

Qh

=C

Qh

=rateofflowatbaseconditionincu.Ft.perhr.

C=orificeflowconstant.Itistherateofflowincu.Ft.perhr.atbaseconditionwhenthe

Pressureextension

hw

=differentialininchesofwater.

Pf

=staticpressureinpsia.

=1.000

=pressureextension

C=FbxFrxYxFpbxFtbxFtfxFgxFpvxFmxFaxF
Fb

:basicorificeflowfactor

Fr

:Reynoldsnumberfactor

:expansionfactor

Fpb

:pressurebasefactor

Ftf

:flowingtemperaturefactor

Fg

:specificgravityfactor

Fpv

:supercompressibilityfactor

Fm

:manometerfactor(formercurytypemetersonly)

Fa

:orificethermalexpansionfactor

:gagelocationfactor

Page15

Note:Fororificeconstantfactor,pleaseseetableonpage1through62oforificeconstant
factor.
BasicOrificeFlowfactor,Fb : The orifice factor is based upon the conditions : pressure base, Pb =
14.73 psia; temperature base, Tb = 60F (520 F absolute); specific gravity, G = 1.000; flowing
temperature,Tf=60F.(520Fabsolute);andunderconditionswheretheReynoldsnumberisinfinite
andexpansionfactorisunity.Thevalueofthisfactordependsonupon:thelocationofdifferentialtaps;
thediameteroftheorifice,d;andupontheinternaldiameterofthepipe,D.
TableofFbareshownonpage2through4forflangetaps.

ReynoldsNumberfactor,Fr:TheReynoldsnumberfactortakesintoaccountthevariationsofthe
discharge coefficient of an orifice with Reynolds number. The discharge coefficient of the orifice
decreases as the Reynolds number increases until the Reynolds number infinite, when the discharge
coefficientwillhavetheleastpossiblevalueforthatparticularinstallation.Dischargecoefficientsvary
considerablywithReynoldsnumberinthemeasurementofviscousliquids;theytendtobecomemore
constant as the viscosity of the liquid decreases, and as the Reynolds number correspondingly
increases.Withinthelimitsofcommercialmeasurementofgases,thedischargecoefficientispractically
constant, varying only slightly with Reynolds number. The variation is sufficiently slight, and the
viscosities of commercial gases are sufficiently constant to warrant arbitrarily using the average value
forthegasviscosityincomputingReynoldsnumberfactors.Forallpracticalpurposes,thisleavesthe
Reynolds number factor as a function of the orifice and meter tube dimensions, the location of the
differentialpressuretaps,andtherateofflowafunctionofthepressureextension,

When gases with other characteristics are to be measured, the Reynolds Number factor should be
adjustedasfollows:

(Fc),

Fc=5124

,whereistheabsolutevicosityinlb/ftsec

TablesofbvaluesfromwhichtheReynoldsnumberfactorcanbereadilyobtainedareshownonpage
10through15forflangetaps,andpages32through37forpipetaps.

ExpansionFactor,Y:
Whenagasflowsthroughanorifice,thechangeinvelocityandpresureisaccompaniedbyachangein
specificweightandafactormustbeappliedtothecoefficienttoallowforthischange.Theexpansion
factor depends upon the location of the differential pressure taps, the location of the static pressure
tap,andtheratiooftheorificediametertothediameterofthemetertube.Itisalsodependentupon
theratioofdifferential pressuretostaticpressureanduponofspecificheatsfortheflowinggas.The

Page16

variationofthefactorisslightandtheratioofspecificheatsforcommercialgasesissufficientlyconstant
towarrantusinganassumedconstantratioofspecificheats.Anassumedratioofspecificheatsofk=1.3
was used in calculating the expansion factors in A.G.A Report no.3 and this publication (Singer Orifice
Meter Constant Handbook). This permits tabulation of the factors according to the diameter ratio, ,
andtheratioofdifferentialpressuretostaticpressure,hw/pf.Inthetablespfisindicatedaspforpf
dependinguponwhetherthestaticpressureisobtainedfromtheupstreamtaporfromthedownstream
tap.
When gases being measured have a significantly different ratio of specific heats than the value of 1.3
assumed in Report No.31969, the desirability of using adjusted Y values can be determined from the
following:
)

AdjustedvalueofY=
AdjustedvalueofY=Y

Tablesofexpansionfactorsareshownonpages17through20forflangetaps.

Pressure Base Factor, F pb : The orifice factors were calculated to give gas volumes at a base
pressure,pb,of14.73psia.Ifthemeasurementatanyotherbasepressureisdesired,thenapressure
basefactormustbeapplied.Thesefactors,andtheequationrepresentingthefactors,areindicatedon
page16.(Fpb=14.73basepressure,psia.).

Temperature Base Factor, F tb : The orifice factors were calculated to give gas volumes at a base
temperature,Tb,of60F.(520F.absolute).Ifmeasurementatanyothertemperaturebaseisdesired,
then a temperature base factor must be applied. These factors, and the equation representing the
factors,areindicatedonpage16.(Ftb=

Flowing Temperature Factor, Ftf : The orifice factors were calculated, assuming that the gas is
flowingthroughthemetertubeatatemperature,Tf,of60F.(520F.absolute).Ifmeasurementistobe
made at any other flowing temperature, then a flowing temperature factor must be applied. These
factors,andtheequationrepresentingthefactor,areindicatedonpage21.
Ftf=

SpecificGravityfactor,Fg:Theorificefactorswerecalculatedtogivegasvolumesbaseduponthe
flowinggashavingaspecificgravity,G,of1.000.Forgaseshavingaspecificgravityotherthan1.000a

Page17

specific gravity factor must be applied. These factors, and the equation representing the factors, are
indicatedonpage16.Fg=

SupercompressibilityFactor,Fpv:Thesupercompressibilityfactoraccountsfordeviationfromideal
gaslaw.Inthebasicflowequations,gasvolumesareassumedtovarywithpressureandtemperature
in accordance with Boyles and Charles laws ( the ideal gas laws). Actually the volume occupied by
individualgasesdeviate,byaslightdegree,fromthevolumeswhichtheidealgaslawsindicate.The
amountofdeviationisafunctionofthecompositionofthegasandvariesprimarilywithstaticpressure
andtemperature.Theactualdeviationmaybeobtainedbyalaboratorytestconductedonasampleof
thegas,carefullytakenatlineconditionsofpressureandtemperature.
Practicalrelationshipshavebeenestablishedbywhichthisdeviationcanbecalculatedandtabulatedfor
natural gases containing normal mixtures of hydrocarbon components, considering the presence of
smallquantitiedofcarbondioxideandnitrogenandalsorelatingthedeviationtotheheatingvalueof
thegas.
TheA.G.AmanualfortheDeterminationofSupercompressibilityFactorsforNaturalGasshouldbeused
fordeterminationofthefactorFpv.ThevalueofthesupercompressibilityfactorFpvcanbedetermined
fromtablesonpages44through58.Illustrativeexamplesareincludedwiththesetablestoclarifythe
methodbywhichthesefactorsareobtained.

ManometerFactor,Fm:Themanometerfactorisusedwith themercurytypedifferentialgageto
correcttheslighterrorinmeasurementcausedbytheweightoftheunbalancedcolumnofdensegas
above the mercury. This factor is not applicable where measurement is made with bellowstype
differentialgagessincethereisnounbalancedcolumnofdensegasinamanometerofthattype.Atable
ofmanometerfactorsisshownonpage21.

Orifice Thermal Expansion Fator, F a : The thermal expansion factor is used to adjust for the
deviationoforificediameter,fromthatofitsmanufacture,withextremetemperaturechange.Withina
temperature range of 0F to 120F, this deviation ordinarily is no greater than tolerances assigned to
orifice plate manufacture. Therefore, it is recommended that this factor be ignored in natural gas
measurement. The thermal expansion factor is usually appied to steam and high temperature liquid
measurement. A table of thermal expansion factors for stainless steel and monel orifices is shown on
page22.

GageLocationFactor,Fl:Thegagelocationfactorisincludedinordertoadjustforlocationother
than45latitudeandsealevel.Atableoflocationfactorsisshownonpage22.

Page18

EXAMPLES
DETERMINATIONOFTHEORIFICEFACTOR,Fb
Thevalueoftheorificefactor,Fb,isexpressedbytheformula:
Fb=338.17Kod,inwhich
338.17 = constant for measurement when the pressure base is 14.73 psia, the temperature
basis60F,theflowingtemperatureis60F,andthespecificgravityis1.000.

Ko

=dischargecoefficientwhentheReynoldsnumberisinfinite.

=diameteroforificeininches.

When the orifice factor is to be determined for a meter tube of standard internal diameter and an
orificeofevensizethevalueofthebasicfactorcanbefoundfromtablescontainedonpages2through
4forflangetaps,andonpage24through26forpipetaps.
Example:Ifa2.375inchorificeisusedwithflangetapsina9.564inchI.D.line,theorificefactor,Fbis
foundfromthetableonpage3tobe1140.1.
Intheformula,Fb=338.17Kod,thedischargecoefficientKoforanygivenvaluefor,variesslightly
withthesizeoftheline.Theorificefactorforvarioussizesoforificesandforthelinesizesnotgivenin
thetablescanbecomputedbytheuseofthetablesonpages5through9forflangetaps,andonpages
27through31forpipetaps.
The basic empirical equations from which values of Ko are calculated are quite complex. It was felt
desirable to develop a method by which orifice factors could be determined without resorting to the
basicequations.
Inordertodothis,theformulafortheorificefactorisconvertedto:
Fb=FFddinwhich

=338.17Kofor4.026inchline.

Fd

=factorforconvertingKofor4.026inchlineforacertainvalueof,intoKoforthe
samevalueof,forothersizeoflines.

=diameteroftheorificeininches.

Page19

Fb=FxFdDinwhich

Fx

=338.17Kofora4.026inchlineorFx=F

Fd

=factorforconvertingKofor4.026inchlineforacertainvalueof,intoKoforthe
samevalueof,forothersizeoflines.

=internaldiameterofthepipeininches.

Example : If a 3.800inch orifice is used with pipe taps in a line 7.981 inches in diameter, = 3.800
7.981=0.47613.Refferingtopage31,
For=0.477,

Fx=54.994

For=0.476,

Fx=54.713

Byinterpolation,for=0.47613;Fx=54.749
Seepage29,for=0.476andD=7.981;Fd=0.9999
ThenFb=54.749x0.9999x7.981=3487.0

DETERMINATIONOFPRESSUREBASEFACTOR,Fpb
Using the table on page 16 for a pressure base of 14.65 psia the pressure base factor, Fpb, will be
1.0055.Tocomputeapressurebasefactor,Fpb,foranyvalueofpressurebasenotshown,thefollowing
relationshipcanbeused:
Fpb=

,where:

Pb=therequiredcontractpressurebaseinpsia.

Ifthecontractpressurebaseis14.65psiathenthepressurebasefactorequal
Fpb=

=1.0055

DETERMINATIONOFTEMPERATUREBASEFACTOR,Ftb
Tochangetoanybasetemperatureotherthan60F,thetableonpage16maybeused.Iftherequired
contracttemperaturebaseis70F,thenfromthetablethetemperaturebasefactorFtb=1.0192.Ifthe
contracttemperaturebaseisnotshowninthetablethefactorcanbedeterminedfromtheexpression:
Ftb=

,where:

Tb=theabsolutetemperaturebasespecifiedbythecontract,(460+F).

Page20

Using70Fasrequiredcontracttemperaturebase,thetemperaturebasefactor,
,=1.0192

Ftb=

DETERMINATIONOFSPECIFICGRAVITYFACTOR,Fg
Thespecificgravityfactor,Fg,canbedeterminedfromthetableonpage16.Ifthespecificgravityisnot
foundinthistablethenthefactorcanbedeterminedfromtheexpression:
Fg=

,where:G=specificgravityoftheflowinggas,air=1.000

Example:Ifthespecificgravityoftheflowinggasis0.450,thenthespecificgravityfactor,
=1.4907

Fg=

DETERMINATIONOFFLOWINGTEMPERATUREFACTOR,Ftf
When the flowing temperature of the gas being measured is something other than 60 F a flowing
temperaturefactor,Ftf,mustbeapplied.Foraflowingtemperatureof146Fafactorof0.9263canbe
obtainedfromthetableonpage21.Ifthetemperatureoftheflowingfluidisnotshowninthetablethe
factorcanbedeterminedfromtheexpression:
Ftf=

,where:

Tf=actualflowingtemperatureindegreesFabsolute,(460+F).

Iftheactualflowingtemperatureis146FthenFtf=

=0.9263

DETERMINATIONOFREYNOLDSNUMBERFACTOR,Fr
WhentheReynoldsnumberfactor,Fr,isrequiredusingastandardsizepipeandanevensizeorifice,
thisfactorcanbedeterminedusingthebfactorsonpages10through12forflangetaps,andpage32
through34forpipetaps.
Example : If an 8.000inch orifice is used in a 19.000inch meter tube, and the average extension,
, is 115, using flange taps, the Reynolds number factor,

1.0001.

Page21

DETERMINATIONOFEXPANSIONFACTOR,Y
Valuesofexpansionfactor,Y,arecontainedinthetablesonpages17through20forflangetapsandon
pages38through41forpipetaps.Sincetheexpansionfactordependsuponthepointwherethestatic
pressuretapsislocated,twotablesofexpansionfactorsforflangetapsarerequired:Y,forupstream
static pressure and Y, for downstream static pressure. For expansion factor using pipe taps, two
additionaltablesareprovided:Y,forupstreamstaticpressure,andY,fordownstreamstaticpressure.
Example:Usingflangetaps,withadifferentialof53inchesandwithastaticpressureof264.4psia(250
psig)observedatthedownstreamtap;=

=0.20.Ifthevalueofis0.40,thepropervalueof

theexpansionfactorcanbeobtainedfromthetableonpage19.Y=1.0013
DETERMINATIONOFSUPERCOMPRESSIBILITYFACTOR,Fpv
Thevalueofthisfactorcanbeevaluatedfromthetableslistedanddescribedonpages44through58.
It is recommended that the appropriate alternate method determining adjusting factor Fp and FT, be
usedforgasmixturesexceedingaspecificgravityof0.75.Forgasmixturesexceedingaspecificgravity
of1.00,itisrecommendedthatcompressibilitytestsberuntodeterminethesuitabilityofapplyingthe
standardoranalternatemethod.Thediluentcontentofanygasmixturetowhichthemethodistobe
appliedshouldbelimitedto15mol.percentcarbondioxideand15mol.percentnitrogen,andactual
testsarerecommendedfordiluentcontentexceedingthesequantities.
Thespecificgravity,carbondioxideandnitrogencontents,inconjunctionwiththeflowingpressureand
temperature,areusedtodeterminetheadjustingpressureandtemperaturenecessaryforrelatingany
gas to the supercompressibility data of the 0.600 specific gravity, hydrocarbon gas. The adjusted
pressureisobtainedbymultiplyingthegagepressureoftheflowinggasbythepressureadjustingfactor
Fp, and the adjusted temperature is obtained by multiplying the absolute temperature of the flowing
gasbythetemperatureadjustingfactorFTandsubtracting460fromthisproduct.AdjustingfactorFp
andFTarecalculatedasfollows:

WhereKpisthediluentpressureconstant,Kp=Mc0.392Mnand
WhereKTisthediluenttemperatureconstant,KT=Mc+1.681Mnand

G=specificgravity;Mc=Mol.Percentcarbondioxide;Mn=Mol.Percentnitrogen.
Adjustedpressure=PfFppsig;adjustedtemperature=TfFT460F

Page22

After the adjusted pressure and the adjusted temperature are determined, the supercompressibility
factorFpvcanbefoundintableA(page44through58)usingtheadjustedvalues.
Tables B (page 59 through 60) and C (page 61 through 62) give the values of Fp and FT for specific
gravities between 0.550 and 1.000 and appropriate ranges of the diluent constants. In the ranges
coveredbythesetables,conditionsmaybeindicatedwhichwouldneverexist;however,incommercial
measurementtheuseoftheseareaswillseldomoccur.
ThefollowingexampleillustratestheAGAspecificgravitymethodofcalculatingthesupercompressibility
factorFpv.
Example : Assume a gas having a specific gravity of 0.570, zero percent carbon dioxide and 1.1 mol.
Percentnitrogen,atapressureof370psigand65F.
Pressureconstant:Kp=00.392(1.1)=0.431
Referring to Table B, the pressure adjusting factor, Fp, for G = 0.570 and Kp = 0.431 is found by
interpolationas:Fp=1.0014.
Temperatureconstant:KT=0+1.681(1.1)=1.849
ReferringtoTableC,thetemperaturearenowcalculatedfrom:
Adjustedpressure=PfFp=370(1.0014)=370.5psig
Adjustedtemperature=TfFT460=525(1.0376)460=84.7F
Referring to TableAand usingtheadjustedpressure(370.5psig)andadjustedtemperature(84.7F),
thesupercompressibilityfactor,Fpvisfoundbyinterpolationas:Fpv=1.0254
DETERMINATIONOFTHEMANOMETERFACTOR,Fm
This factor is used with mercurytype meters where the gas comes in contact with mercury surfaces.
Thisfactorcanbeobtainedfromthetableonpage21.
DETERMINATIONOFTHETHERMALEXPANSIONFACTOR,Fa
Thisfactormaybeusedwhenflowingtemperatureareoutsidethelimitsof0Fto120Fandcanbe
obtainedfromthetableonpage22.
DETERMINATIONOFTHEGAGELOCATIONFACTOR,Fl
Thisfactorisspecificallyapplicabletothemanometer.Thisfactorisrepresentedbythetableonpage
22.

Page23

CALCULATIONOFORIFICECONSTANT,C
Thevalueoftheorificeconstant,C,correspondstotheexpression:
C=FbxFrxYxFpbxFtbxFtfxFgxFpvxFmxFaxFl
In the following examples the conditions of measurement and some of the calculations are
givenontheleft.Thefactorsrequiredtoobtaintheorificeconstant,withcorrespondingpage
references,aregivenontheright.

Example1.

ConditionAtMeter

MeterequippedwithPipeTaps

ValueOffactor

AndReferencePage

d=diameteroforifice=3.000inches
D=internaldiameterofmetertube=7.981inches.. Fb=2012.7

24

Staticpressureobtainedatupstreampipetap
Averagedifferential=64.5inches
Averagestaticpressure=539.4psia(525psig)
=3.0007.981=0.38

=pressureextension(average)=187.

Seepage36.For=0.38andD=7.981;b=0.0214
Fr=1+(0.0214187)Fr=1.0001 36
Differentialratio,hwPf=64.5539.4=0.12
Seepage38.For=0.38andhwPf=0.12.. Y=0.9983

38

Page24

Pb=pressurebase,4oz,above14.4=14.65psia. Fpb=1.0055

16

Tb=temperaturebase=60F. Ftb=1.0000

16

Tf=flowingtemperature=60F Ftf=1.0000

21

G=specificgravity=0.64. Fg=1.2500

16

Itisassumedinthisexamplethatthesupercompressibilityfactor
isnotused,bytermsofcontract.
Manometerfactor. Fm=0.9989

21

ThenC=2012.7x1.0001x0.9983x1.0055x1.0000x1.0000x1.2500x0.9989=2522.9
Foranaveragepressureextension,
Qh=C

=186.52,theflowratewouldbe

=2522.9x186.52=470,570cu.Ft.perhr.

Example2.

ConditionAtMeter

ValueOffactor

MeterequippedwithFlangeTaps

AndReferencePage

d=diameteroforifice=4.200inches
D=internaldiameterofmetertube=9.800inches
=4.2009.800=0.42857;interpolatingforFfromthetable,
page5,F=206.87
Interpolatingfromthetable,page7,Fd=0.9992
Fb=FxFdxd=206.87x0.9992x4.200.

Fb=3646.3

Staticpressureobtainedatdownstreamflangetap
Averagedifferential,hw=55.0inches

Page25

Averagestaticpressure,Pf=1523psia(1510psig)
=pressureextension(average)=290.
Seepage14,interpolatingfor=0.43andD=9.800,b=0.0227

=1+0.0227290

Fr=1.0001

14

Y=1.0002

19

Fpb=14.7313.625.

Fpb=1.0811

16

Tb=temperaturebase=50F.

Ftb=0.9808

16

Tf=flowingtemperature=70F

Ftf=0.9905

21

G=specificgravity=0.68..

Fg=1.2127

16

Differentialratio,hwPf=0.04
Seepage19,interpolatingforhwPf=0.04and=0.43..
Pb=pressurebase,10oz,above13.0=13.625psia

Supercompressibility,asdeterminedbyanactualtestfactor
Onasampleofgas..

Fpv=1.1130

Manometerfactor...

Fm=0.9957

21

ThenC=3646.3x1.0001x1.0002x1.0811x0.9808x0.9905x1.2127x1.1130x0.9957=5148.3
Foranaveragepressureextension,
Qh=C

=289.42,theflowratewouldbe

=5148.3x289.42=1,490,000cu.Ft.perhr.

Example3.

ConditionAtMeter

ValueOffactor

MeterequippedwithFlangeTaps

AndReferencePage

d=diameteroforifice=3.500inches

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D=internaldiameterofmetertube=6.065inches.. Fb=2654.9

Staticpressureobtainedatdownstreamflangetap
Averagedifferential=52.5inches
Averagestaticpressure=562.7psia(548psig)
=3.5006.065=0.577

=pressureextension(average)=171.877

Seepage10.For=0.577andD=6.065;b=0.0426
Fr=1+(0.0426171.877) Fr=1.0002

10

Differentialratio,hwPf=52.5562.7=0.093
Seepage19.For=0.577andhwPf=0.093.

Y=1.0006

19

Pb=pressurebase,14.7psia..

Fpb=1.0020

16

Tb=temperaturebase=60F. Ftb=1.0000

16

Tf=flowingtemperature=120F Ftf=0.9469

21

G=specificgravity=0.74. Fg=1.1625

16

Supercompressibilityfactor,N2=0.0856Mol.%,CO2=0.6087Mol.%
Thisfactorwouldbecalculatedinaccordancewiththeformulabelow:
Kp=Mc0.392Mn=0.60870.392(0.0856)=0.60870.03355=0.57515

=1.0102

KT=Mc+1.681Mn=0.6087+1.681x0.0856=0.7526

=0.8867

Adjustedpressure=PfFp=562.7x1.0102=568.43psig.
AdjustedTemperature=TfFT460=580(0.8867)460=514.286460=54.286F

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ReferringtoTableAandusingtheadjustedpressure(568.43psig)andadjustedtemperature(54.286
F),thesupercompressibilityfactorbyinterpolationas:.Fpv=1.04948
44
ManometerfactorFmandFlisneglected(notmercurytypemeter)
Areafactor,Fa(flowingtemperature120F):..Fa=1.0010

22

ThenC=2654.9x1.0002x1.0006x1.0020x1.0000x0.9469x1.1625x1.04948x1.0010=3078.7084
Foranaveragepressureextension,
Qh=C

=171.877,theflowratewouldbe

=3078.7084x171.877=529,159.1636cu.Ft.perhr.(12,699,819.9280cu.Ft.perday).

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ExampleofGasAnalyzeReport:
INSTITUT TEKNOLOGI SEPULUH NOPEMBER SURABAYA
LEMBAGA PENELITAN DAN PENGABDIAN PADA
MASYARAKAT
GAS COMPOSITION ANALYSIS
SPESIFIC GRAVITY AND CALORIFIC VALUE CALCULATIONS

Sample
: BW
Date of Sampling : July 28, 2008 at 17.00
Pressure
: 548 Psig
Temperatur
:

Opening Condition :
- Opening Press : 548 psig
- Opening Temp : 120 oF

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