Shell Chemical Company

Shell Oil Products Company

Engineering Guides and General Specifications

16 EG-140
Flow Measurement

Table of Contents

1. Introduction.................................. 2 3.4 Linear-Output Flowmeters................12

3.5 Variable Area Flowmeters
2. References ................................... 2 (Rotameters)....................................12
2.1 Industry Documents .......................... 2 3.6 Local Flow Indicators .......................12
2.2 Shell Documents ............................... 2 3.7 Flow Switches..................................12
2.3 Industry References .......................... 3 3.8 Restriction Orifices ..........................13

3. Technical Discussion.................. 3 Table 1 - Characteristics of

3.1 General ............................................. 3 Commonly Used Flowmeters ....14
3.2 Differential Pressure Flow
Instruments ....................................... 4
3.3 Pulse-Frequency Flowmeters .......... 10

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1. Introduction

This Engineering Guide (EG) provides assistance in using the associated General
Specifications (GSs): 16 GS-140 and 16 GS-149V. This EG includes background and
philosophy type information on instrumentation design, but not requirements. The Shell
Instrument Engineer shall be consulted for approval on any proposed designs by contractors,
or others, which are based on this section if such designs deviate from requirements of any
EGGS GS sections.

This EG is not a stand-alone document. The user must refer to the associated GSs for related
requirements.

2. References

The latest edition of the reference documents cited below provide related background
information. References cited in the GS are not listed again below but may be referred to in
the body of this EG.

2.1 Industry Documents

Fluid Meters, Their Theory and Application, Sixth Edition, 1971; American Society of
Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Flow Measurement Engineering Handbook; Richard W. Miller, Second Edition,
McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, 1989, New York, NY.
Instrument Engineers' Handbook, Process Measurement; Béla Lipták, Editor-in Chief,
Revised Edition, Chilton Books, c. 1985, Radnor, PA.
Shell Flow Meter Engineering Handbook; (Royal Dutch/Shell Group) Second
Edition, 1985; G.W.A. Danen, Editor, McGraw-Hill Book Company (UK)
Limited

2.2 Shell Documents

16 EG-001 Instrumentation Conceptual Design Criteria

16 GS-100 Instrument Location, Mounting and Identification Requirements
16 EG-110 Pressure Measurement
16 GS-140 Design Requirements for Flow Systems

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2.3 Industry References

API Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards:

Chapter 5.1 General Considerations for Measurement by Meters
Chapter 5.2 Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Displacement
Meters
Chapter 5.3 Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Turbine Meters
Chapter 14.3 Concentric Square Edge Orifice Meters
ASME MFC-4M Measurement of Gas Flow by Turbine Meters
ASME MFC-6M Measure of Fluid Flow in Pipes Using Vortex Flow Meters
ISA RP 31.1 Specifications, Installations, and Calibration of Turbine Flow
Meters

3. Technical Discussion

The following technical discussion provides guidance for system design and selection of flow
instruments covered in the associated GSs.

3.1 General

Flow metering selection probably presents more choices than for any other
process monitoring application. Meter selection is based on cost, accuracy and
rangeability requirements, physical size, upstream piping requirements,
accessibility, and process fluid conditions. Process fluid conditions that must be
considered include fluid state (vapor or liquid), viscosity, pressure and pressure
drop available, vapor pressure, temperature, chemical composition
(homogeneous, mixture, corrosive), and abrasive or plugging tendencies.
Presently the square edge orifice is the default choice for most flow meter
applications. They are relatively inexpensive, very widely used (so well
understood), easy to re-range and troubleshoot, and they typically give a
repeatable, controllable signal even when operated well outside of their
“accurate” turndown limits. Some drawbacks of the square edge orifice plate
include, limited accurate turndown, significant upstream piping configuration
requirements, and relatively high permanent pressure loss. Additionally, the
process fluid must be piped (through tubing and fittings) to the transmitter for the
orifice d/P to be measured. This hook-up requirement introduces multiple
process hardware connections “outside the pipe” which are susceptible to process
leaks and often necessitates extensive freeze protection.
Because of the orifice meter drawbacks listed above, other flow meter
technologies are gradually gaining a larger share of the flow meter applications in

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industry. Many offer higher accurate turndown, lower permanent pressure loss,
and can handle entrained solids. Some give a true mass flow measurement. Most
keep the process “in the pipe”, eliminating most leak sources and minimizing
freeze protection requirements. Advances in microprocessor technology have
improved performance and reliability over models available just two to three
years earlier.
When an orifice meter limitation proves significant for a particular flow
application, newer flowmeter technologies should be addressed on a case-by-case
basis. It should be noted that each of these newer technologies has some
application drawback. Depending on the flow meter, it may be Reynold’s number
limitations, or pipeline vibration, or mounting support requirement, or process
parameter requirements that are not available or well documented (e.g., speed of
sound or thermal conductivity for a mixed fluid). Many flow meters are in-line
devices that require bypass lines or shutting down the process stream to do some
maintenance activities. Because of the significantly smaller user base, none of
these limitations are as well understood as the limitations of the orifice meter.
Special attention should be paid to each flow meter application where a newer
technology is chosen to ensure the application requirements and the limitations of
that technology are met.
Custody transfer flow metering instruments are not covered in this EG or related GSs.
Custody transfer metering specifications are typically negotiated between the two
companies and are typically much more stringent (as tight as ± 0.1% uncertainty)
and costly than most general flow applications require. For All Custody Transfer
Meter applications, contact the Flow EGGS Gatekeeper (i.e., Author of Record)
for name of Shell's custody transfer flow meter specialist. Shell's specialist must
provide guidance and specifications for all custody transfer meters design and
installation.
Upstream strainers should be considered for flow measurement in dirty process
applications or when the orifice diameter of an integral orifice is less than one eighth
of an inch.

3.2 Differential Pressure Flow Instruments

All differential pressure producing flowmeter elements (orifice plates, venturis,

pitot tubes, etc.) develop a square root relationship between the differential
pressure and flow.
Differential pressure flowmeters that produce a differential pressure of 100 inches of
water column equal to the full flow rate range are preferred. This range is usually the
best compromise between transmitter versatility, process d/P measurability, and
permanent pressure drop. A 100 inch range gives the maximum room in both
directions to re-range the transmitter in the case of changing flow measurement
requirements. This range is high enough that most transmitters are capable of
very good d/P resolution and repeatability. Additionally, minor d/P measurement
errors (e.g., 0.1 in. to 0.2 in. that might result from small zero drifts or not

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venting the transmitter properly) will not seriously affect the overall flow
measurement accuracy over normal turndowns. At a flow rate of 75% of full
scale, the resulting permanent pressure loss of approximately two pounds is
normally quite acceptable.
Instruments that provide a differential pressure of 25 to 400 inches of water column
may be acceptable for special applications. Lower ranges would be allowed for
flashing/cavitation and low pressure gas flow applications. Higher ranges would be
allowed because of beta ratio considerations. In most cases the differential range
should be a round number, (e.g., 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, or 400 inches of water
column).
For gas or steam flow, the meter differential pressure range, in inches of water, should
not exceed the flowing pressure, in pounds per square inch absolute. Above this, the
gas expansion factor will introduce increasingly significant errors to the flow
measurement.
Orifice meter calculations for gas flow are particularly sensitive to the flowing
pressure entered into the program. Start up and post start up flowing pressures
often do not match the design pressure that was assumed and entered into the
flow calculation. When troubleshooting gas flow measurement errors,
confirmation of the meter calculation (in particular the pressure) should be one of
the first items addressed.
Configured meter maximum differential pressures of less than 10 inches of water
column should be avoided when possible. Transmitters with meter maximum of 5
inches and less have proven to need multiple zero corrections when non-zero
figures are observed on digital receiving indicators and controllers. This is
typically due to the errors caused by transmitter ambient temperature differences
(i.e., summer to winter) acting on the sensitive low end of the square root curve.
This problem is rarely seen when the configured meter maximum is 20 inches and
greater.
If an acceptable beta ratio (<0.7) cannot be obtained with a differential of 100
inches of water, this is a flag to check the process data and pipe size. High
differential or need to increase pipe size for the orifice run is a possible indication
of undersized process pipe.

3.2.1 Orifice Flowmeters

1. Using an orifice plate type flowmeter provides the following advantages:
a. Maintenance can be performed on the transmitter without
interrupting the process flow and without the use of bypass piping
or orifice plate fittings.
b. Installation is simple.
c. The flow factor can be easily calculated.
d. Capital costs are low compared to most other types of flowmeters
(especially those suitable for large flows).

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e. Suitable for most types of refinery or chemical plant fluids.

f. Adjustable transmitter range extends flow measurement
rangeability.
Weep (vent or drain) holes in orifice plates are seldom required and
should be avoided, particularly on small bore meter runs. For wet
vapor applications, consider an eccentric orifice plate or install the
meter in a vertical run with flow down. For liquid flow with high
vapor content, consider an eccentric plate.
If a weep hole is necessary, use the standard Shell program to size the
orifice and ignore the effect of the weep hole. The following note should
be placed on the orifice calculation sheet: “1/8 inch drain (vent) hole
effect ignored in calculation.”
Vertical liquid meter flow applications should be avoided because of
the two inch (2”) elevation difference in taps. Even though this
elevation difference can be accounted for in the meter calibration,
the square root extraction in the Honeywell Smart Transmitter is
not correctly handled.
Pulsating process pressure conditions at a differential pressure flow
meter will introduce measurement errors. Damping devices can be
installed which decrease the pulsations seen by the transmitter or the
transmitter flow signal indication can be dampened. Any damping
will cause measurement error and will partially “mask” true
dynamic process changes. Therefore, damping should be limited to
that absolutely required, and signal damping should be performed in
the receiver rather than the transmitter. This will allow the process
“noise” to be identified and will help to eliminate masking or unduly
smoothing true process dynamic changes.
2. Concentric, square-edged orifice plates should be used for applications
in which the process flow Reynold's number value is sufficient.
Reynold’s number effect on meter accuracy is complex and
dependent on other parameters, in particular Beta ratio. In general
the larger the Beta ratio, the more critical the Reynold’s number.
For a Beta ratio of 0.5, Reynold’s numbers of 10,000 may lead to
errors in the 2% to 3% range. For a Beta ratio of 0.7, those errors
may be as high as 7% or 8% with everything else being equal. The
accuracy at the low flow rate (i.e. turndown requirement) must be
addressed for any orifice plate application where that low flow rate
results in Reynolds numbers below 10,000. Repeatable, controllable
flow measurement is quite achievable, but “accuracy” on the lower
end may be sacrificed unless special precautions are taken.
Reynold’s numbers below 4000 are an indication of transition from
turbulent to laminar flow.

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The orifice plate Beta (ß) ratio (i.e., the d/D ratio) is the ratio of the
orifice diameter to the inside diameter of the pipe. Beta ratios should be
restricted to values within a 0.2 to 0.7 range.
The dimension from the orifice plate face to the center line of the orifice
tap is assumed to be one inch. When using sheet type gaskets, a 1/16
inch gasket dimension must be taken into consideration. When using
spiral wound gaskets the dimension is 1/8-inch. This requires different
flange face-to-orifice tap dimensions from the orifice flange vendor.
This dimensional requirement is a standard no cost option from
orifice flange vendors as long as they are made aware of which type
of gasket will be used. If this one inch (1”) dimension cannot be
accomplished, the Beta ratio limits should be further limited. Refer to
API MPMS Chapter 14.3 for the effect on metering accuracy caused by
nonstandard orifice tap placement. One guideline previously used was
to restrict Beta ratios for orifice plates in spiral wound gasket line
specs to the following:
a. Three inch nominal pipe size or less: between 0.2 and 0.45.
b. Four inch nominal pipe size and larger: between 0.2 and 0.65.
A special orifice plate spiral wound gasket design which has special
orifice flange dimension requirements is shown on Shell drawing
16 DC-1411. This design uses the spiral wound gasket as the outside
edge of the orifice plate. It is primarily used to decrease the number of
mating surfaces in high pressure hydrogen service, but could be used to
satisfy dimensional requirements when necessary. When using this
orifice plate/gasket combination there is no allowance made for the
gasket since the crushed gasket and the orifice plate itself have the same
thickness.
3. Concentric quarter-circle orifice plates should be used for applications
where the Reynold's number is less than what is allowed for sharp-edged
orifices. This is typically the result of a highly viscous fluid.
4. Orifice meter tube sizing and length calculations should be based on a
0.7 Beta ratio to improve metering accuracy and provide for possible
future flow increases. Meter tubes shall be line size wherever possible.
5. Prefabricated meter tubes from a specialty vendor (e.g., Daniels)
should be used only when a flow measurement application requires a
greater accuracy. A list of these flow applications would include:
a. Any meter used for accounting of product for contract, tax,
regulatory, sale or purchase requirements.
b. Any meter which can effectively be used for a secondary
verification of the meter listed above.

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c. Any meter used for plant or terminal yield accounting and

inventory studies such as the Hydrocarbon Management System
(HMS) within Shell.
d. Any meter used for the yield accounting and profitability studies
of process units (e.g., unit battery limit meters for feed, product
and major utilities.)
e. Any process measurements where accurate flow measurement
will preclude the need for frequent analytical assessments of
product quality (e.g., blender).
f. Any flow measurement that is specifically identified by the
Process Group or the Control Group as requiring increased
accuracy.
g. Any pilot plant or research operation where the resulting data is
to be used for future designs.
h. Loss control applications utilized for line break and line leak
detection.
When the greater accuracy of a prefabricated meter tube is not
required (most flow measurement applications in a refining or
petrochemical process unit), meter runs should be shop or field
fabricated as part of the pipe spools purchased on a project. This is
particularly true for larger size meter runs (6” and above). The
installed cost savings of a shop fabricated or field fabricated orifice
meter run versus a prefabricated meter tube can be as high as 50%.
In general, the larger the meter run, the greater percentage of cost
savings that can be realized. Additionally, the small fabrications
errors that may occur for shop or field fabricated meter runs (e.g.,
step function of the welding ridge at the pipe to flange junction, etc.)
will have less of an effect on the accuracy of large meter runs than on
small meter runs. In any case, with standard pipe fabrication
quality control, the uncertainty is expected to be better than ±5%
and the repeatability is expected to be even better.

3.2.2 Flow Nozzles, Venturi Tubes, and Flow Tubes

Flow nozzle, venturi tube, and flow tube designs should be based on industry
standards for these devices. Custom and proprietary designs should be
avoided.
Final sizing of these types of flowmeters should be by vendor calculation.
For Venturi Tubes, straight run upstream piping is still necessary to
provide a proper velocity profile. However, in most installations,
shorter upstream piping is required than for orifices or pitot tubes
because the Venturi’s hydraulic shape itself provides some flow
conditioning. Often, the combined length of a Venturi and its upstream

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piping is less than the overall amount of piping required for an orifice.
Consult vendors literature and flow meter reference manuals for
upstream lengths.

3.2.3 Other Differential Pressure Producing Flowmeters

Other differential pressure producing flow metering devices (e.g., averaging
pitot tube, wedge, target, elbow-tap, and integral orifice transmitter types)
should be designed by vendor calculation methods.
Integral orifice transmitter flowmeters should be used to measure flow rates
that are too small for the practical application of a conventional two-inch
line size orifice meter run. The design should be such that the process flow
does not go through the differential pressure transmitter body (i.e., the
transmitter can be removed and calibrated without interrupting the
process flow).

3.2.4 Differential Pressure Transmitters

Conventional analog differential pressure transmitters (pneumatic and
electronic) used with the orifice flow metering elements discussed above
allow a normal rangeability turndown ratio of three to one (3:1). The
minimum flow they can accurately measure should not be less than 30% of
their maximum range.
Smart (digital based) electronic differential transmitters typically have
very high d/p measurement turndown (20:1 and greater). As a result
the transmitter accuracy is no longer the limiting factor for flow meter
turndown when a standard configured range (0 to 100”) can be used.
Process parameters, and to a lesser degree meter tube fabrication, are
normally the limiting factors. For smart transmitter flow measurement
use a turndown ratio of five to one (5:1), which would allow an accurate
minimum flow measurement down to 20% (d/P of 4%) of maximum
range. In many applications, the flow meter parameters (e.g., Reynold’s
No., Beta Ratio, etc.) can be chosen that will allow accurate turndowns
even greater. Utilizing the digital mode, when properly integrated with
the receiving device, will also improve turndown. In addition,
multivariable transmitters can stretch the accurate turndown of most
orifice meter applications to rival some of the newer flow meter
technologies.
Smart differential pressure transmitters should have the square root
extraction done in the transmitter for the following reasons:
1. Square root drop out is more consistently handled.
2. In the linear analog configuration, errors associated with the digital to
analog (D/A) conversion, and with those input signals where some
averaging occurs due to a time delay, can be eliminated.

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3. Control linearity may be improved by putting a linear signal instead of a

square-root signal into the control algorithm.
4. Allows more flexible use of the signal by eliminating the problems of
mixing nonlinear (square root) and linear signals (e.g., summers, alarms,
and control function modules incorporating other linear process
variables).
5. Has a 0 to 100 output gauge that is easier to read and more consistent
with other readouts.
6. Calibration and maintenance is easier and more consistent.
7. It is consistent with the implementation approach utilized with the
Honeywell Smart transmitter communicating in the digital mode to a
TDC APM.
Differential pressure transmitters not having a square root extractor can be
used in the following applications:
1. When using a mass flow algorithm which is assuming a non-linear
signal.
2. The receiving instrument has provisions to extract the square root or
display the flow rate on a square root scale.
3. Surge control, where the surge line is a function of differential
pressure rather than flow.
Smart transmitters should not be used in compressor control
applications which require fast response (e.g., CCC). This is because of
the output signal update time inherent in all microprocessor based
transmitters. Conventional electronic analog transmitters should be
used.
Transmitters should have zinc-coated carbon steel flanges with a 316
stainless steel diaphragm as a minimum; the process may require the use of
other metals. A Hastelloy C diaphragm should not be used with zinc-coated
carbon steel flanges, because these dissimilar metals foster galvanic
corrosion.
Transmitter diaphragms in hydrogen service should be composed of 316
stainless steel for most applications and gold plated when certain process
conditions exist. A complete discussion of transmitters used in hydrogen
service is presented in Shell specification 16 EG-110.

3.3 Pulse-Frequency Flowmeters

In addition to the summary in Table 1, technical information covered in R. W. Miller's

"Flow Measurement Engineering Handbook" should provide additional guidelines for
the selection of pulse-frequency type flowmeters.

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3.3.1 Turbine Meters

Turbine meters should be selected according to the guidelines listed in API
MPMS Chapters 5.1 and 5.3 for measuring liquid hydrocarbons, ASME
MFC-4M for gas flows, and ISA Recommended Practice 31.1 regarding
turbine meters.
A 10 to 1 turndown is typically achievable with turbine meters.
However, the meter should be sized to operate between 40% and 100%
of the meter as this is typically the most linear part of the meter curve.
Magnetic turbine meter pickups should be specified instead of the RFI
type.
Turbine meter tubes without straightening vanes should have a minimum
straight run of 20 pipe diameters upstream of the meter. When straightening
vanes are necessary and approved by Shell, a minimum straight run of 10
pipe diameters upstream of the meter should be required.

3.3.2 Positive Displacement Meters

Positive displacement meters for measuring liquid hydrocarbons should be
selected according to the guidelines listed in API MPMS Chapter 5.2.

3.3.3 Vortex Shedding Meters

Vortex shedding meters for measuring liquid flow should be selected
according to the guidelines listed in ASME MFC-6M.
Vortex shedding meters can typically be specified with a pulsed or an
analog (4-20 mA) output.
Vortex shedding meters are inherently insensitive to specific gravity
changes (i.e., they strictly measure velocity).
Vortex shedding meters require a turbulent Reynold’s number to
function. Unlike an orifice meter which just loses accuracy, a vortex
meter output will become non-repeatable or will cut off and produce a
0% signal below some minimum Reynold’s number. The
manufacturer’s Reynold’s number recommendation should be
considered a base minimum. This will often result in swageing down to
accommodate a vortex meter required to be smaller than the pipe line
size.
The design of vortex shedding flowmeter installations should prevent pulses
that are caused by line vibration from being introduced into the pulse
counting input circuitry.

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3.4 Linear-Output Flowmeters

In addition to the summary in Table 1, technical information covered in R. W. Miller's

"Flow Measurement Engineering Handbook" should provide additional guidelines for
the selection of linear-output type flowmeters.

3.4.1 Magnetic Flowmeters

The pulsed DC type design of magnetic flowmeters should be selected over
AC operated meters. The latter design incorporates outmoded technology.
The only exception that could require an AC type magnetic flow meter
would be an application where the liquid stream has an extremely low
conductivity range of under 0.2 down to 0.1 micromhos.

3.4.2 Other Linear-Output Flowmeters

Other linear-output type flowmeters (e.g., ultrasonic [sonic], thermal sensor,
and Coriolis mass flow) should be calibrated at the vendor's factory.
Calibration curves or meter factor data should be furnished by the vendor for
each flowmeter. Vendor calculation data and information that is proprietary
would not be required.

3.5 Variable Area Flowmeters (Rotameters)

All rotameters should have metal metering tubes with pressure ratings compatible with
the process maximum working pressure. Small air, nitrogen, or liquid purge meters
operating at near-atmospheric pressure do not require a metal (armored) metering
tube if they do not measure combustible or toxic materials, and if the purge fluid is not
flowing into a hazardous or toxic material.

3.6 Local Flow Indicators

Each local flow indicator and/or controller should use a separate transmitter and
receiving instrument. Indicators activated by a bellows-type differential pressure cell
or a flow rate sensor in direct contact with the flow stream should not be used because
of their low accuracy, low reliability, high initial cost, and high maintenance costs.

3.7 Flow Switches

The use of direct connected flow switches is discouraged. When direct connected flow
switches are used, the thermal design is preferred over the paddle type design.
Because they typically have only a single barrier between the process and
atmosphere, paddle type switches should strictly be limited to non-hazardous
processes such as air or HVAC applications.

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The design of thermal sensor type flow switches should be such that any heat buildup
occurring in the sensor when the flow line is empty will not cause the instrument to fail
or shift calibration beyond vendor published limits.

3.8 Restriction Orifices

Restriction orifices bore sizing is less critical than the sizing of flow orifice meter
bores. It is generally acceptable to bore a restriction orifice to the standard drill
size which comes closest to the calculated bore.
Restriction orifice flange ratings are not required to be 300 pound minimum as
flow orifices are. Restriction orifice flanges rated for 150 pound service are
acceptable when the line specifications denote this pressure rating.
A single restriction orifice should not be used to drop pressures greater than a 3:1
ratio. Multiple plates in series, sized for a drop ratio of 1.8:1 each is a
recommended “rule of thumb”.
When used in the same process line with a control valve, restriction orifices
should be installed downstream of the control valve. This helps ensure that the
process fluid stays single phase and that the flow profile at the control valve is not
influenced by the plate.

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Table 1 - Characteristics of Commonly Used Flowmeters

Meter Rangeability/ Typical Field of Relative Specific Specific

Type Response Error Application Price Advantages Disadvantages
Concentric 5:1 Sq. Rt. 2% of span General Inexpensive Transmitter is Piping
Square-Edged purpose, maintainable requirements;
Orifice Note 1 nonviscous and flexible pressure loss;
fluids, without process rangeability
relatively clean outage; low
cost; rugged
Quarter 4:1 Sq. Rt. >3% of span Viscous fluids, Inexpensive As above As above; less
Circle Orifice low Reynolds accurate
Note 1 numbers
Eccentric or 4:1 Sq. Rt. >5% of span Slurries, dirty Inexpensive As above As above; less
Segmental fluids accurate
Square-Edged Note 1
Orifice
ISA Nozzle 4:1 Sq. Rt. 2% of span Viscous fluids Moderately As above As above
Note 1 expensive
Integral 4:1 Sq. Rt. 3% of span Pipe size <2" Inexpensive As above As above
Orifice Flow Note 1
Meter
Segmental 3:1 Sq. Rt. 3% of span Accurate for Expensive Can be used Normally requires
Wedge Flow low range for viscous or a remote seal D/P
Element Note 1 Reynolds Nos. nonviscous transmitter
Good for fluids
slurries, dirty
fluids
Venturi Tube 4:1 Sq. Rt. 2% of span Large lines Moderately Low Higher cost than
Note 1 requiring low Expensive permanent orifice; needs
pressure loss pressure loss larger Reynold’s
nos.
Averaging 4:1 Sq. Rt. 3% of span General Inexpensive Can be Long term
Pitot Tube Note 1 purpose, clean installed with accuracy affected
(e.g., nonviscous hot tap (valve by wear or dirt
AnnubarTM) fluids and packing buildup; low
gland); low measured ∆p
pressure loss

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Table 1 - Characteristics of Commonly Used Flowmeters (Cont’d)

Meter Rangeability Typical Field of Relative Specific Specific

Type / Response Error Application Price Advantages Disadvantages
Rotameter 8:1 linear 2% to 5% of Local indicators Inexpensive Inexpensive as Operation
span for small in small small local impaired by fluid
quantities of sizes indicator surge;
clean fluids maintenance
requires opening
process line
Positive 10:1 linear 0.1% to 1% High accuracy Inexpensive Accuracy, Maintenance
Displacement volume of span at wide for low and rangeability requires opening
Meter: Liquid (Better with rangeability; expensive process line; cost;
prover) suitable for for high calibration;
clean viscous capacities damage by fluid
fluids shocks and
overranging
Turbine 10:1 linear 0.1 to 1% of High accuracy Expensive Accuracy Maintenance
Meter volume span (Better at wide requires opening
with prover) rangeability (of process line;
low viscosity calibration;
clean fluids) damage by
overrange
Vortex 12:1 linear 1% of span Liquids, gases. Inexpensive Rangeability; Maintenance may
Shedding volume Wide in small no moving require opening
Flow Meter rangeability. sizes, parts; not process line;
moderately damaged by Reynold’s No.
expensive in liquid slugs requirement
larger sizes
Magnetic 20:1 linear 1% of span Conductive Moderately Rangeability; Maintenance
Flow Meter volume slurries, expensive to suitable for requires opening
corrosive fluids expensive corrosive or process line; fluid
(dependent dirty fluids; must be
on line size) low pressure conductive
drop
Ultrasonic 20:1 linear 1% to 5% of Large sizes, Relatively Relative cost Expensive for
(transit time) volume span clean liquids inexpensive for large sizes; small sizes;
depending on and gasses (for large rangeability requires liquid full
manufacturer sizes) line-zero flow to
and model zero meter;
complex

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Table 1 - Characteristics of Commonly Used Flowmeters (Cont’d)

Meter Rangeability/ Typical Field of Relative Specific Specific

Type Response Error Application Price Advantages Disadvantages
Coriolis force 20:1 linear 0.5% of Smaller sizes, Moderately Accuracy; Maintenance may
type mass span good accuracy expensive rangeability; require removal
flow mass flow from line; large
measurement, sizes/ high
almost any fluid pressure ratings
not available
Weigh 1000:1 linear 0.1% of Blending Expensive High accuracy, Cost; expensive to
Systems mass span operations, high maintain
(Loss in liquids or solids rangeability
weight flow)

Notes:

1. Will typically give repeatable, controllable rangeability approaching 10:1 at decreased

accuracy.

Page 16 of 16 Shell Chemical Company/Shell Oil Products Company