4 Steps to Select the Correct Natural Gas Flow Meter

Accurate gas flow measurement begins when selecting the correct gas flow meter for an application. Here are four steps to help choose a natural gas flow meter, along with a flow meter comparison and a flowmeter selection guide.

You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.

Need help selecting a flow meter?

1. Understand the Application.

Before selecting your flowmeter technology, understand the application. In a recent post, we provided tips to consider when choosing a gas flow meter technology. To paraphrase, better understand the application by determining:

1. What is the purpose? Why do you need the meter? Is it for custody transfer, submetering, monitoring, or industrial process gas? Do you need mass flow or volumetric flow? What is your budget?
2. What is the gas type? Single gas or a mixture? What is the operating flow range, accuracy requirement, process temperature, and pressure? Is the gas dry and clean? Alternatively, wet, corrosive, or dirty?
3. Where is the meter intended to be installed? What are the environmental conditions? Will there be extreme temperatures? Is there good straight run? Are there regulations to consider? Noise or vibration concerns?
4. What do you need from the meter? Do you need a totalizer or a local display? What are your calibration expectations? Do you need to be able to upgrade the meter to advanced electronics? What are your maintenance requirements?

Gathering this information will help you make an intelligent selection to measure your natural gas.

2. Review our Natural Gas Flow Meter Selection Guide.

After understanding the application, review our cheat sheet to help guide which technology to consider. Click on the image to view this guide. Additionally, keep in mind that there are four different natural gas flow meter types:

If you want to learn more, please visit our website tnma.

• mass flow
• volumetric flow
• velocity meters
• inferential flowmeters

3. Flow Meter Comparison and Selecting the Correct Technology

After reviewing the selection guide, you likely have honed in on one or two meter types. Compare these technologies to understand each flowmeter type&#;s operation principle, advantages, and disadvantages. Here are convenient links to the different meter types to guide your review.

4. Still unclear? Have questions? Call 303 697-.

Request a Quote

Our dedicated staff is happy to walk you through the selection process and may have recommendations on some natural gas meters for your application.

Bonus Video &#; Selection of Flow Meters

4. How to select the best flow meter for your application?

In this paragraph we will discuss some of the essential elements that go into the decision-making process of selecting a flow measuring instrument. Thereby, we consider the differences between various measurement principles. Read below what to think of when selecting an instrument.

There is a big difference between lab and industrial applications. but most of the considerations are required for both application fields.

Phase of the fluid: gas/liquid/vapour 

Some meters can be easily eliminated because they simply will not work with the application. For instance, electromagnetic flow meters will not work with hydrocarbons and require a conductive liquid to function. Many flow instruments cannot measure vapors or slurries.  

Listed below are some of the main flow meter categories paired with the fluid type the meters can handle: 

• Gas &#; Coriolis Mass, Thermal Mass, Ultrasonic, Variable Area, Variable Differential Pressure, Positive Displacement, Turbine 
• Liquid &#; Coriolis Mass, Thermal Mass, Ultrasonic, Variable Differential Pressure, Positive Displacement, Turbine, Electromagnetic 
• Vapour &#; Vortex, Ultrasonic, Diaphragm, Floating Element 

Some meters can be easily eliminated because they simply will not work with the application. For instance, electromagnetic flow meters will not work with hydrocarbons and require a conductive liquid to function. Many flow instruments cannot measure vapors or slurries.Listed below are some of the main flow meter categories paired with the fluid type the meters can handle:

Want more information on Gas Flow Measurement Instruments? Feel free to contact us.