A method of in line verification of a flow meter installed in a flow line by means of one or two ultrasonic clamp on flow meters to be installed in line with the flow meter u.sub.Δ, comprising a preparatory phase, during which a virtual pipe diameter is determined, which if it had been applied during the simultaneous measurements would have minimized the differences between the measured flow indications of the flow meter and the measured flow indications, and comprising a verification phase, during which the ultrasonic flow meters are set up to determine their measured flow indications based on the virtual pipe diameter, during which simultaneously derived measured flow indications of the flow meter and the ultrasonic flow meters are recorded, and during which an alert is issued in case a deviation between simultaneously derived measured flow indications of the flow meter and the ultrasonic flow meter or between measured flow indications of the flow meter and averages of the measured flow indications of the ultrasonic flow meters respectively exceeds a predetermined deviation limit, which was set based on a measurement uncertainty inherent to the determination of the deviation.

A mass flow controller comprises: a first flow meter constructed and arranged to measured flow rate of mass through the mass flow controller; a second flow meter constructed and arranged to measure flow rate of mass through the mass flow controller; a control valve constructed and arranged so as to control the flow rate of mass through the mass flow controller in response to a control signal generated as a function of the flow rate as measured by one of the flow meters; and a system controller constructed and arranged to generate the control signal, and to provide an indication when a difference between the flow rate of mass as measured by the first flow meter and the flow rate of mass as measured by the second flow meter exceeds a threshold.

The invention provides generally methods and systems in a bi-directional sphere prover for generating diagnostic information by calculating and using multiple meter factors (MF) from four detector switches. A Data Acquisition and Monitoring System gathers the signals of the four detector switches and calculates the base prover volume (BPV) for each section of the prover based on these readings. Then, the different base prover volumes are used to create multiple meter factors for each section of the prover to derive the diagnostic information. The Data Acquisition and Monitoring System displays, archives, and trends the meter factors. Depending upon what particular meter factor ratios are within the acceptable limit, the correct detector switch can be diagnosed and fixed without a substantial amount of down time for the prover. Trend lines for meter factors can also be analyzed for different process fluids that are sent through the prover.

Methods and systems for determining a base field prover volume of a field prover include connecting together a transfer meter assembly, a master prover, and the field prover in series. A flow of fluid at a first flow rate is provided and a calibration sequence is performed at the flow rate. The calibration sequence includes counting pulses generated by the transfer meter assembly over a duration of each pass of the master prover and a pass of the field prover. An intermediate calibrated field prover volume is determined from a ratio of the field prover pulse count to the average master prover pulse count, multiplied by a base master prover volume. The calibration sequence can be repeated to provide at least three intermediate calibrated field prover volumes at the first flow rate. The calibration sequence can be repeated at different flow rates to arrive at the base field prover volume.

A hybrid flow meter includes a fluid obstruction element, two or more pressure ports, a support member, and a vortex shedding sensor system. The fluid obstruction element is placed in a fluid conduit, and includes a cone-shaped member having a pair of frusto-conical portions joined at their larger ends. The pressure ports provide measurement points for measuring a change in fluid pressure caused by the fluid obstruction element. The support member for the fluid obstruction element extends across the entire diameter of the fluid conduit, and is shaped to function as a vortex shedding bluff body, holds in place the fluid obstruction element. The vortex shedding sensor system provides a measurement point for measuring a vortex shedding frequency generated by the support member.

A rate-of-change flow measurement device is provided including first pressure sensor, a position control valve with a valve position sensor, a second sensor position and a chamber comprising a part of the flow path of the device, and an isolation valve, arranged in this order along the flow path of the device. The device receives valve position data from the valve position sensor and pressure data from the pressure sensors, and calculates a volume of the chamber at least in part using the valve position data when a calibration of a device-under-test is performed by decreasing a pressure of the chamber or increasing the pressure of the chamber while opening the position control valve to maintain the pressure reading of the first pressure sensor constant to stay at a pressure set point.

A method produces a void fraction (VF) error curve which correlates an apparent VF with the actual VF of a multi-phase flow, the method comprising (a) using a device to measure a property of the multi-phase flow from which an apparent VF may be calculated; (b) calculating the apparent VF using the measured property from the device; (c) determining the actual VF of the multiphase flow using a radiometric densitometer; (d) using the values from steps (b) and (c) to calculate the VF error; (e) repeating steps (b) through (d) for all expected flow conditions to generate a VF error curve.

A fluid flow meter is described, that includes intermeshing gears that rotate synchronously. The fluid flow meter has a nominal operating range between a maximum volumetric flow rate and a minimum volumetric flow rate. The flow meter has a flow sensor to produce a pulsed output and a controller operatively coupled to a data storage medium. The controller can receive detection signal from the flow sensor to generate input pulses and determine an input pulse frequency. The controller can determine whether the fluid flow meter is operating outside the nominal operating range and apply a correction function to input pulses to generate linearized output pulses. The controller may generate the correction function based on the input pulse frequency and a predetermined pulse frequency; or based on the time interval between input pulses and a predetermined interval between input pulses; or based on a generic calibration of the fluid flow meter.

A method for calibrating a multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) includes a first flow conduit (201) conducting a first flow stream and a pair of first pickoff sensors (215, 215′) affixed to the first flow conduit (201). The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) further includes at least one additional flow conduit (202) conducting at least one additional flow stream and at least one pair of additional pickoff sensors (216, 216′) affixed to the at least one additional flow conduit (202).

A platform configured for evaluating metering technologies and generating meter profiles using information derived from a plurality of meters retrieved from a plurality of environments. The platform may include a centralized data storage system in communication with a fluid meter test bench system. A computing device automatically controls fluid meter test bench system to measure the accuracy of fluid meters and transfers meter data to at least one of the centralized data storage system or a local data silo in communication with the centralized data storage system. Exemplary meter data includes meter type data, meter test data and meter environmental data. Meter environmental data may comprise meter install location and at least one of fluid quality data or fluid meter mounting position. The platform is configured to provide a meter profile for each meter tested based at least in part on the meter data and the test system data.