Reference Guide
MC-002152
2/2018 ELITE® Coriolis Flow Meters
Guidelines for Troubleshooting and Operation
of Provers with Micro Motion ELITE® Coriolis
Flow Meters
Micro Motion® ELITE® flow meters are high- Prover Conditions
precision Coriolis flow meters that are often used
in the oil and gas industry in conjunction with It is important to prove at conditions that are as
volume provers. These guidelines are designed similar as possible to the expected operating
to aid in troubleshooting and operation of provers conditions. There are many conditions and factors
that are in use together with Micro Motion Coriolis that can influence the success of proving systems.
meters. Proving results may vary if unstable
process conditions exist during proving. • Prover equipment and all supporting reference
measurement devices must be well-maintained
and verified to ensure measurement traceability,
Proving Methods and Proving Data Evaluation reproducibility, and repeatability (API MPMS
Ch. 4 and Ch. 21.2, paragraph 2.11).
The American Petroleum Industry (API) Manual
of Petroleum Measurement Standards (MPMS) • Stability of flow rate, density, temperature, and
Chapter 4.8, Second Edition, Operation of Proving pressure is critical during proving. System design,
Systems, Annex A, Evaluating Meter Proving prover settings, and maintenance can all impact
Data explains the relationship between the number flow rate stability during proving.
of proving runs, the observed repeatability, and the
random uncertainty of the resulting meter factor. • The liquid inside the piping connecting the meter
One important principal is that a lower meter factor to the prover should remain stable.
uncertainty will always result as more runs are
collected and averaged. o Minimize piping between the meter and
prover.
Prover Size and Selection for Fixed-Volume
o Avoid dead-end branches between
Provers (Does Not Apply to Master Meter
meter and prover that may act as a volume
Provers)
“spring” with compressible fluids.
Important Note: The prover size should never
result in a pass time of less than 0.5 seconds or
a pre-run time of less than 0.25 seconds.
Increasing the Base Prover Volume (BPV) will result in
passing repeatability requirements with fewer prover
passes. Increasing the number of passes will allow
for passing repeatability requirements with a smaller
prover. A decision may be made either to size the
prover with a smaller BPV (lower capital investment)
with a longer overall proving time, or with a larger BPV
with reduced runs (less long-term wear and tear) and
shorter overall prove time.
www.Emerson.com/MicroMotion
Reference Guide
MC-002152
2/2018 ELITE® Coriolis Flow Meters
• Flow pulsation from PD pumps, including lack
of back-pressure regulation, may influence
repeatability and additional passes may be
needed to meet random uncertainty requirements.
• Enabling compensation for the effect of pressure
on the meter (consult the Transmitter Configura-
tion and Use Manual) can improve repeatability
in applications where line pressure varies by more
than 30 psig during proving runs.
Meter Operation
When using smaller provers, it is important to
ensure that the meter is configured for optimum
filtering and speed of response.
1. Select the fastest speed of response available:
o 5700 transmitter: select “Low Filtering”
response mode
o 2700 transmitter: select “Special” for Update
• Sufficient back pressure must be maintained on Rate and either “Special” or “Low Filtering”
both the prover and the meter to avoid vapor for Calculation Speed
breakout and to maintain a stable flow rate during
displacer launch and travel. Minimum recom- 2. Set flow damping to a value between 0.0 and
mended back pressure is shown by Equation 4 0.08 seconds.
(from API MPMS Ch. 5.6).
3. Set density damping to 0.16 seconds.
Equation 1: ρb ≥ 2 Δρ + 1.25 ρe
4. Proving Wizard software is available from
Emerson to aid in preparing Micro Motion
Where: ρb = Minimum back pressure (psig)
Coriolis meters for proving
Δρ = Pressure drop across meter at max.
flow rate When the meter factor remains stable between
proving events, this indicates that the meter zero
ρe = Equilibrium vapor pressure at setting value is good. A change in the meter factor
operating temperature (psia) may or may not be related to the meter zero, so it is
important to always perform a Zero Verification Test
(consult Transmitter Configuration and Use manual)
• Accurate prover density measurement is crucial before making any zero adjustments. Only adjust
when mass proving with a volumetric prover. The the meter zero if advised to by the Zero Verification
following tolerances are advised when using a Test. If a meter zero is adjusted, reprove the meter.
pycnometer (API MPMS Ch. 14.6).
Coriolis flow meters do not have a fixed K-factor
o Max. temperature difference = 0.2 °F
(number of pulses output per unit of flow). The
o Max. pressure difference = 1 psi number of pulses output per unit of flow (e.g. pulses
per barrel) from a Coriolis meter is an adjustable
o Density Meter Factor (DMF) repeatability parameter that can be set to any desired value.
should be 0.05% or better between consecutive However, the frequency of pulses during the highest
pycnometer tests flow rate must not exceed the pulse input capacity
of the prover pulse counting device.
Page 2
Reference Guide
MC-002152
2/2018 ELITE® Coriolis Flow Meters
API MPMS Chapter 5.6 Measurement of Liquid Master Meter Proving
Hydrocarbons by Coriolis Meters defines a pulse
scaling factor (PSF) as the number of pulses output Micro Motion Coriolis meters can be used as
by a Coriolis meter per unit of flow. In this way, a master meters per API MPMS Ch. 4.5 for proving
Coriolis meter PSF is like a mechanical meter’s with the following advantages:
K-factor, but adjustable.
• A Coriolis master meter can be used to prove in
Micro Motion transmitters typically provide a frequency either volume and/or mass units.
output of up to 10,000 Hz (10,000 pulses per second).
• Pass duration can be lengthened to improve
Many field device pulse input specifications have a
repeatability.
similar maximum pulse input rate of 10,000 Hz.
However, some field devices have a maximum pulse • Maintaining stable process conditions is much
input rate that is less than 10,000 Hz. The PSF of the easier with no effects due to a displacer launch.
Coriolis flowmeter can be adjusted to stay within the
constraints of any field device that is counting the • Low maintenance and high reliability, with no
pulses from the meter per the equations shown here: seals or moving parts.
Need More Information?
Emerson has extensive field experience in mass
and volume proving of our Micro Motion Coriolis meters.
Contact us at 1-800-522-6277 or visit our website at
www.MicroMotion.com
Emerson Automation Solutions
7070 Winchester Circle
Boulder, CO USA 80301
T +1 303 527 6277
F +1 303 530 8459
www.Emerson.com
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