Reynolds Number Meter Proving

by Paul W. Tang, M.Sc. P.Eng.

Senior Engineer Specialist

January 13, 2015

Industry Measurement Group Presentation

 Reynolds Number Meter Proving

Topics

 What is Reynolds Number

 Reynolds Number and the Turbine Meter

 Reynolds Number Meter Proving

 The FortisBC Triple Point Meter Proving  Facility

 Questions

2
 Dimensionless Quantity

A dimensionless quantity is a number which has no

association with any physical dimensions …….

3
 Dimensionless Quantity
Examples of dimensionless quantities:

Name Symbol Description

Specific gravity SG ratio of density of a substance to
a reference substance
Pi π ratio of a circle’s circumference to
its diameter
Q factor Q damping of oscillator or resonator,
energy stored vs energy lost
Gain G signal output to signal input ratio

Mach number M Ratio of speed of an object

moving through a fluid and the
local speed of sound
Reynolds number Re ratio of fluid inertial and viscous
forces
4
 Dimensionless Quantity

For example:

Vobject
Mach Number M =
Vsound

M is independent of the units used in the velocities, as long as

the two velocities have the same units.

5
 Buckingham Pi Theorem

6
 No, it is a different
Buckingham Pie kind
?? of pi !

7
 Buckingham Pi (π) Theorem

The Buckingham Pi Theorem was named after an

American physicist Edgar Buckingham for his work
in fluid mechanics in 1914.

It states that any physical law can be expressed as

an identity involving only dimensionless
combinations (ratios or products) of the variables
linked by the law.

The Buckingham π Theorem proves the general 

method for Dimensional Analysis.

8
 Reynolds Number is a good example
of such dimensionless number

9
 Osborne Reynolds (1842-1912)

• Osborne Reynolds was a British

physicist and engineer.

• His most notable work was in

fluid dynamics – conditions in
which fluid flow in pipes
transitioned from laminar flow to
turbulent flow.

• Reynolds number (Re), is

a dimensionless quantity that is
used to predict similar flow
patterns under different fluid flow
conditions. It is named after
Osborne Reynolds at age 24 (1866) Osborne Reynolds.

10
 Reynolds Number

Inertial Forces

ρvD ρ = fluid density

Reynolds Number = ν = flow velocity
µ D = characteristic dimension
µ = dynamic viscosity

Viscous Forces

11
 Dimensional Analysis of Reynolds Number

ρvD
Reynolds Number =
µ

ρ = fluid density kg·m-3

ν = flow velocity m·sec-1

D = characteristic dimension m

µ = dynamic viscosity poise = Pa·s = kg·m-1·sec-1

12
 Dimensional Analysis of Reynolds Number

ρvD
Reynolds Number =
µ

kg·m-3 m·sec-1 m
Re =
kg·m-1·sec-1

Reynolds
ReynoldsNumber
Numberis has
a “Dimensionless Quantity”
no physical unit !

13
 Flow Profiles at Various Reynolds Number

Laminar if Re < 2000

Transient if 2000 < Re < 4000
Turbulent if Re > 4000

Reynolds Number examples:

12” Standard Capacity Turbine Meter at 350 psia
at 10% of capacity Re = 700,000
at 95% of capacity Re = 6,800,000

Velocity Profiles in Laminar and Turbulent Pipe Flow

Flow Measurement Engineering Handbook – R.W. Miller, McGraw-Hill

14
 Flow Profiles at Various Reynolds Number

ρvD
Re =
µ

More inertial forces  more turbulent flow

More viscous forces  more orderly flow

Velocity Profiles in Laminar and Turbulent Pipe Flow

Flow Measurement Engineering Handbook – R.W. Miller, McGraw-Hill

15
 Visible Reynolds Number ?

Reynolds Number can be observed

in everyday life….

16
 Dynamic Similarity

• Dynamic Similarity describes the relationship between two fluid flows

having identical types of forces that are parallel at all corresponding
points, with magnitudes related by a constant scale factor.

• Dynamic Similarity can be achieved by matching the Reynolds number of

two fluid flows.

17
 Dynamic Similarity and Reynolds Number

• The theory of dynamic similarity 
stipulates that the same object when 
exposed to a flow with the same 
Reynolds number would behave the 
same way.

• Dynamic similarity makes it possible 
to scale results from model tests to 
predict corresponding results for the 
full‐scale prototype.

18
 How does turbine
From Reynolds meter Turbine
Number work ?Meter

19
 The Law of Conservation of Energy

Kinetic Energy = Dynamic Energy of Mass in Motion

Velocity = V
KE  =  1/2 M V2
Where:   KE =  Kinetic energy of the moving  gas molecules
M  =  Mass of gas molecules
Mass of gas molecules = M V   =  Velocity of gas molecules

In an turbine meter, a portion of the linear kinetic energy of the moving gas molecules is 
converted into rotational energy of the rotor

20
 Principle of Turbine Meters

Analysis of an Ideal Rotor r is the average of the rotor radius

Q is the volume flow rate
A is the annular flow area
 is the blade angle
V 1, V 2 are the gas velocities at point (1) and (2)
 1,  2 is the fluid velocity relative to the rotor blades
i is the ideal angular velocity

——————— (1)

——————— (2)

The angular velocity of the rotor is proportional

to the volume flow rate

Q  i ——————— (3)

Material quoted in part from Sensus publication

21
Performance Curve of an “Ideal” Gas Turbine Meter
Performance Curve of an “Ideal” Gas Turbine Meter

1.0

0.5

Constant k-factor
ERROR (%)

‐0.5

‐1.0
0 25 50 75 100 125
CAPACITY (%Qmax)

An ideal turbine meter has a single k‐factor and a flat error curve 
extending from Qmin to Qmax

22
 Non-ideal Turbine Meter Characteristics

Of course nothing is perfect:

1.0
Non-fluid friction

0.5
Error (%)

Ideal turbine meter

0 Real turbine meter

Fluid dynamic forces

-0.5

-1.0
0 25 50 75 100 125
Capacity (%Qmax)

Performance curve of a “real” gas turbine meter

23
 Turbine Meter Error Performance vs Flow Rate

Error of indication (%)

1
air, atmospheric
natural gas, 8 bar natural gas, 50 bar
0.5

-0.5

-1
0 25 50 75 100 125
Capacity (%Qmax)
Typical Turbine Meter Performance vs Flow Capacity

24
 Pipe Flow Reynolds Number

Characteristic Dimension = Pipe diameter D

Density of gas = ρ
Viscosity of gas = µ
Turbine Meter

gas flow with velocity = v

D

ρvD
Pipe flow Reynolds number =
µ

25
 Pipe Flow Reynolds Number

Turbine Meter

Fluid 1
D

Fluid 2
D

ρ1v1D ρ2v2D
Pipe flow Reynolds number = =
µ1 µ2
Based on the theory of Dynamic Similarity, a turbine meter is expected to
behave in the same way even when it is exposed to a different fluid if the
Reynolds number of the two flows are identical.

26
 Reynolds Number

Studies conducted at SwRI* and CEESI * demonstrated that the 

calibration factors of commercially available gas turbine 
meters are significantly affected by the Reynolds numbers of 
the flow.

References:

(1) Effects of Line Pressure and Density of Turbine Meter Measurement Accuracy Between 30 and 700 psig in Natural Gas,
GRI-03/0050, July 2003;
(2) Effects of Line Pressure and Density of Turbine Meter Measurement Accuracy at Conditions from Atmospheric Air to 700
psig Natural Gas, GRI-03/00172, August 2004;
(3) Measurement of Natural Gas by Turbine Meters, 3rd revision published by AGA, February 2006.

27
 Reynolds Number Effect on Turbine Meters

What does that mean in terms of meter performance?

28
 Pressure Effect on a Turbine Meter

29
 Pressure Effect on a Turbine Meter


 Each one of these three 
curves has very distinct 
and different attributes.

 Any one of these three 
calibration curves does 
not represent the 
behavior of the meter 
operating under the other 
two sets of conditions.

30
 Performance Curve Expressed in Reynolds number

31
 Reynolds Number

The performance of turbine meters are closely related to Reynolds number

Turbine meters are essentially

Reynolds number machines !

32
 Cost of Flow Measurement Error

An 8-inch standard capacity

turbine meter operating at 30%
capacity on average at 500
psig for 6 years will cost the
gas company or its customer
$750,000 if the meter was
calibrated in atmospheric air.

Note 1: Turbine meters operating at 30% of Qmax average

2. Energy content of natural gas based on 1.0205 MBtu/cu.ft.
3. Cost of energy calculated based on $4.00 USD per MMBtu

33
 Recommendations in AGA-7 Report

…….….a meter calibration carried out in a test facility over a

particular range of Reynolds numbers characterize the
meter’s performance when used to measure gas over the
same range of Reynolds number when the meter is in
service
……… the expected operating Reynolds number range
and/or density for a meter needs to be taken into account
when designing a calibration program ……

Quote from AGA Report No. 7 February 2006, section 6.3.2 “Calibration Guidelines”

34
 Turbine Meter Proving

35
 Principle of Transfer Meter Provers

Test flow Reference Meter Meter Under Test

(Master) (MUT)

Comparing the volume throughput with a well known 
reference under the same conditions

i.e. Testing or converting to the same pressure and temperature

36
 A Conventional High Pressure Transfer Prover Loop

High Pressure Natural

Gas Source

Process Cooler Filter

Compressor

Natural gas stream

maintained at constant
temperature and
pressure

Meter Under Test Reference Meter

LAYOUT OF A TYPICAL CLOSE-LOOP HIGH PRESSURE METER PROVING FACILITY

37
 A Conventional High Pressure Transfer Prover Loop

Requirements:
High Pressure
Natural Gas Source • Proximity to high pressure
natural gas pipeline
Filter

• Wide range of flow rate

Process Cooler

• Ability to utilize “used” gas

Compressor
Natural gas stream
maintained at
constant temperature
• Ability to support flow rate
and pressure year round

Meter Under Test Reference Meter

Locations suitable for building

a conventional high pressure
LAYOUT OF A TYPICAL CLOSE-LOOP HIGH PRESSURE METER PROVING
FACILITY meter proving station are rare

38
 Meter Calibration with Alternate Fluids

What about calibrating turbine meters with an alternate test fluid?

• Not a new idea, air has been used extensively for

calibrating turbine meters for many years.

• Based on some of the earlier research work, it should be

possible to get the same test result using an alternate gas if
the Reynolds number is matched to field conditions.

39
 The Fortis BC Triple Point High
Pressure Meter Calibration Facility

 Use of an alternate test medium other

than natural gas to establish high
Reynolds number flow.
 Use the same test medium as a
cooling agent for the test loop.

40
 Advantages of using Carbon Dioxide Gas for Proving
Turbine Meters

Test flow Reference Meter Meter Under Test

(Master) (MUT)

• Being non‐combustible, carbon dioxide is safer to handle than natural gas at 
a test facility; 
• Comparing to both natural gas and air, the lower operating pressures needed 
to reach the target meter test Reynolds number require less compression; 
• The fact that the carbon dioxide meter proving loop can operate at a lower 
pressure means that time saving devices such as automated test meter 
clamps can be easily and inexpensively deployed; 
• The triple point of carbon dioxide occurs much closer to ambient conditions 
than most gases, a property that allows the temperature of the flowing gas in 
the test loop to be controlled by direct injection of carbon dioxide in the 
liquid phase.

41
 Advantages of using Carbon Dioxide Gas for Proving
Turbine Meters

Comparing CO2 to Natural Gas:

……..(3)

2.10 ……..(4)

Effective Test Pressure (CO2) = 2.10

42
 Advantages of using Carbon Dioxide Gas for Proving
Turbine Meters

Comparing the Density of Air, Natural

Gas, and Carbon Dioxide:

Similar considerations can be given to  ρ(Air)
the density ratios of the gases used in  = 1.67 ……..(5)
ρ (Natural gas)
the previous example. Comparing air 
with natural gas under the same 
operating conditions, the density ratio  ρ(CO2)
= 2.75 ……..(6)
is 1.67. The carbon dioxide to natural  ρ (Natural gas)
gas density ratio is 2.75.

43
 CO2 High Pressure Prover Loop

This prover loop is just like any

conventional high pressure
test loop, but with the following
two exceptions:

A. The test medium is carbon

dioxide;

B. The cooling agent is

liquefied carbon dioxide.

44
 Fortis BC Triple Point Test Facility’s performance standards:

 ISO 17025 Approval

 Recognized by Measurement Canada under Bulletin G-16

 Measurement traceable to NMI (Dutch) and Pigsar (German)

 Routine intercomparison with SwRI (NIST) and TCC

(Canada)

45
 Inter-Comparison Program

46
 Comparison of test facilities

TeST is a interfacility measurement quality assurance program

T e S T

Terasen TransCanada
(Penticton, BC) Calibration
Southwest Research (Ile des Chenes,
Institute Manitoba)
(San Antonio, Tx)

47
 Comparison of test facilities

The TeST artifact was comprised of two 8-inch diameter

Instromet SM-RI-X-L G1000 turbine flow meters plumbed
in series

5D 5D 3D 5D 5D 3D 3D

TT TT

CPA-50E Flow Conditioner 10510034 CPA-50E Flow Conditioner 10510035

TeST Watchdog Artifact Layout

48
 Comparison of test facilities

TCC
SwRI
TeST Artifact

Dual Instromet turbine meter

package with a CPA-50E plate
upstream of each meter.
Each lab uses its own P&T
Fortis BC measurement

49
Artifact - Sensus AAT-230 turbine meter
 Comparison of test facilities

“WATCHDOG” artifact being tested at

the Triple Point facility - 2014

50
 Comparison of artifact test data

1.00 1.00

0.80 TM 140 psi 0.80 TM 140 psi

TM 240 psi TM 240 psi
SWRI 300 psi SWRI 300 psi
0.60 0.60
SWRI 900 psi SWRI 900 psi
TCC 880 psi TCC 880 psi
0.40 0.40

0.20 0.20

Error (%)
Error (%)

0.00 0.00

-0.20 -0.20

-0.40 -0.40

-0.60 -0.60

-0.80 -0.80

-1.00 -1.00
0.1 1.0 10.0 100.0 0.1 1.0 10.0 100.0
6 6
Pipe Reynolds Number (x10 ) Pipe Reynolds Number (x10 )

Comparison of Test Results for Meter No. 10510034 Comparison of Test Results for Meter No. 10510035

51
 Comparison of Test Facilities

Results show an agreement between the labs 
within ±0.08% of reading over the range of 
conditions tested.  

This result is very similar to historical values of 
past inter‐lab comparisons. 

52
 Comparison of test facilities

The artifact is shipped between

the participating test facilities
for inter-comparison tests.

53
 In Summary

 What is Reynolds Number

 Reynolds Number and the Turbine Meter

 Reynolds Number Meter Proving

 The FortisBC Triple Point Meter Proving  Facility

 Questions

54
 Quote:

[To] mechanical progress there is apparently no end:

for as in the past so in the future, each step in any
direction will remove limits and bring in past barriers
which have till then blocked the way in other directions;
and so what for the time may appear to be a visible or
practical limit will turn out to be but a bend in the road.

55
 THANK YOU !

www.fortisbc.com/NaturalGas/Business/Measurement