What kind of flow meter is used to measure natural gas

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　　Below are a few common natural gas flow meters and their characteristics:

• 1、Differential pressure flowmeter: mainly including orifice plate flowmeter, venturi flowmeter, Aniuba flowmeter and so on. Orifice plate flowmeter is one of the mature and commonly used methods in natural gas measurement, but the accuracy is relatively low, usually between ± 2% and ± 5%, the range is relatively small, the length of the upstream and downstream straight pipe section requires high. The Anioba flowmeter can be used for natural gas measurement of large caliber with small pressure loss, but it is expensive.
• 2、Volumetric flowmeter: mainly including girdle wheel flowmeter, double rotor flowmeter and so on. Higher accuracy, usually up to ± 0.5% to ± 1%, no upstream and downstream straight pipe length requirements, suitable for small diameter, small flow of natural gas measurement.
• 3、Velocity flowmeter: mainly including turbine flowmeter, vortex flowmeter, ultrasonic flowmeter. Turbine flowmeter structure is simple, high reliability, accuracy and range is relatively high, usually between ± 0.5% and ± 1.5% accuracy, but the flow rate and the length of the upstream and downstream straight pipe section has requirements.
• 4、Ultrasonic flowmeter is not affected by gas pressure, temperature, component changes, high measurement accuracy, large measurement range (up to 100:1), but expensive, usually between ± 0.5% and ± 1% accuracy.
• 5、Mass flow meter: no upstream and downstream straight pipe section requirements, and higher accuracy, good stability, suitable for small diameter, small flow of natural gas measurement. Accuracy is usually between ±0.5% and ±1%.

　　Selection of natural gas flowmeter, need to be based on the actual measurement needs, economic conditions, installation conditions and environmental conditions and other factors for comprehensive consideration. For example, for large diameter, large flow of natural gas measurement, you can choose differential pressure flowmeter or ultrasonic flowmeter; for small diameter, small flow of natural gas measurement, you can choose volumetric flowmeter or mass flowmeter. At the same time, it is also necessary to consider the accuracy, repeatability, linearity and other performance indicators of the flow meter to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the measurement results.