Direct Velocity Profile Measurement in Pulsating Natural Gas Flow - with Implications for Ultrasonic Flow Metering

摘要

Sources of measurement error in ultrasonic flow meters (USMs) are still being discovered and studied. One of the most poorly understood sources is pulsation, or traveling pressure and velocity fluctuations in the flow. Pulsations can manifest from a variety of common sources found in gas metering applications. They can be difficult to detect and mitigate. The mechanisms by which pulsations affect measurement are still being studied. For the case of ultrasonic meters in natural gas, this is especially true. Very few studies have been done to explore and characterize the effects of pulsations in field condition natural gas applications. Given the monetary losses incurred due to pulsation-induced meter inaccuracy, it is critically important that this phenomenon is better understood.