Apparatus and method for determining the measurement accuracy of electronic gas meters
First Claim
1. An apparatus for automatically determining the measurement accuracy of an uncalibrated field fluid flow meter by comparing its fluid flow volume measurement, Vf, to a fluid flow volume measurement, Vm, of a master meter of known accuracy, the apparatus comprising:
- a blower operably coupled to the field and master meters for passing a common fluid stream through the field and master meters at a predetermined flow rate until a predetermined volume of fluid has been registered by the field meter;
first measurement signalling means coupled to said field and master meters for generating data representing the fluid volume registered by each of said meters;
second measurement signalling means operatively coupled to the fluid stream for generating data representing a first input temperature, T1, and a first input pressure, P1, of the common fluid stream to the field meter and a second input temperature, T2, and a second input pressure, P2, of the common fluid stream to the master meter;
a computer including an input for operator interface with said apparatus and for automatically controlling the predetermined flow rate and calculating average pressures and temperatures, P1avg, P2avg, T1avg, and T2avg and a percent field meter accuracy according to the equation;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">% Accuracy=V.sub.f /V.sub.m ·
P.sub.1avg /P.sub.2avg ·
T.sub.2avg /T.sub.1avg 100;
said computer presenting graphic display to prompt said operator through a controlled test of the field meter;
a controller coupled to the computer for sending data to and receiving commands from said computer and for configuring a sequential control of said test of the field meter according to parameters designated by the computer and selected by the operator according to said graphic display prompts;
said blower being-operably coupled to the controller for forcing fluid through both the field and master meters as instructed by the controller;
a memory in the computer for storing a plurality of preset flow rates selectable by said operator according to said graphic display prompts and storing the calculated pressures, temperatures, and accuracy of the related field meter;
the controller being coupled to the first and second measurement signalling means;
the controller including a microprocessor for gathering data from the first and second measurement signalling means and for providing temperature, pressure, and fluid volume values to the computer; and
display means for displaying the calculated pressures, temperatures, and accuracy of the tested field meter.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for automatically determining the measurement accuracy of an uncalibrated field fluid flow meter by comparing its fluid flow volume, measurement, Vf, to a fluid flow volume measurement, Vm, of a master meter of known accuracy. The apparatus comprises fluid flow device operably coupled to the field and master meters for passing a common fluid stream through each of the meters at a predetermined flow rate until a predetermined volume of fluid has been registered by the field meter; a first measurement signalling device for a generating data representing the fluid volume registered by each of the meters; a second signalling device for generating data representing input temperatures and pressures to each of the meters; and a computer coupled to the fluid flow device for automatically controlling the flow rate and calculating the accuracy of the field meter.
49 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for automatically determining the measurement accuracy of an uncalibrated field fluid flow meter by comparing its fluid flow volume measurement, Vf, to a fluid flow volume measurement, Vm, of a master meter of known accuracy, the apparatus comprising:
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a blower operably coupled to the field and master meters for passing a common fluid stream through the field and master meters at a predetermined flow rate until a predetermined volume of fluid has been registered by the field meter; first measurement signalling means coupled to said field and master meters for generating data representing the fluid volume registered by each of said meters; second measurement signalling means operatively coupled to the fluid stream for generating data representing a first input temperature, T1, and a first input pressure, P1, of the common fluid stream to the field meter and a second input temperature, T2, and a second input pressure, P2, of the common fluid stream to the master meter; a computer including an input for operator interface with said apparatus and for automatically controlling the predetermined flow rate and calculating average pressures and temperatures, P1avg, P2avg, T1avg, and T2avg and a percent field meter accuracy according to the equation;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">% Accuracy=V.sub.f /V.sub.m ·
P.sub.1avg /P.sub.2avg ·
T.sub.2avg /T.sub.1avg 100;said computer presenting graphic display to prompt said operator through a controlled test of the field meter; a controller coupled to the computer for sending data to and receiving commands from said computer and for configuring a sequential control of said test of the field meter according to parameters designated by the computer and selected by the operator according to said graphic display prompts; said blower being-operably coupled to the controller for forcing fluid through both the field and master meters as instructed by the controller; a memory in the computer for storing a plurality of preset flow rates selectable by said operator according to said graphic display prompts and storing the calculated pressures, temperatures, and accuracy of the related field meter; the controller being coupled to the first and second measurement signalling means; the controller including a microprocessor for gathering data from the first and second measurement signalling means and for providing temperature, pressure, and fluid volume values to the computer; and display means for displaying the calculated pressures, temperatures, and accuracy of the tested field meter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for automatically determining the measurement accuracy of an uncalibrated field fluid flow meter, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) operably connecting a blower to the field meter and a master meter for passing a common fluid stream through both of the meters at a predetermined fluid flow rate for a predetermined fluid flow volume indicated by the field meter; (b) operably coupling a controller to the blower, field meter, master meter, and a computer; (c) providing graphic displays with said computer to prompt an operator through a controlled test of the field meter, said selected prompts causing the controller to adjust the blower to obtain a predetermined fluid flow rate through the field and master meters in response to commands from the computer as selected by the operator according to said graphic display prompts; (d) gathering data with the controller representing a first input temperature, T1, and a first input pressure, P1, of the common fluid stream to the field meter and a second input temperature, T2, and a second input pressure, P3, of the common fluid stream of the master meter, and data representing the volume of fluid passed by each of the field meter and master meter; (e) freezing the master meter volume data when the field meter indicates a predetermined volume has been passed; (f) storing said frozen master meter volume data for subsequent use by said computer; and (g) calculating proof, accuracy, and error values of the field meter relative to the master meter with the computer from the gathered data and storing the calculated values in a memory portion of the computer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification