The effect of turbulence on measurement and regulator stations can cause erroneous measurement as well as pipe fatigue, noise levels that are not healthy for the human ear, and a host of other undesirable elements.Measurement stations alone will rarely be a major source of noise given that the station can be designed using pipe cross-sectional area that will produce less than turbulent flow. However a flow meter that has been calibrated in a controlled environment can sometimes face insurmountable odds when it is moved to a field installation where piping configurations are less generous. Pipe fittings, valves, elbows, and regulators upstream of a metering device can produce unfavorable flow conditions such as swirl, and asymmetric velocity profiles. The presence of swirling flow or an abnormal velocity distribution upstream of a metering device can cause serious metering error unless calibration in place is employed or sufficient straight pipe is inserted between the meter and the source of disturbance.
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