Flow Measurement Design Criteria
Flow Measurement Design Criteria
August 2006
PIP PCCFL001
Flow Measurement Design Criteria
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In an effort to minimize the cost of process industry facilities, this Practice has
been prepared from the technical requirements in the existing standards of major
industrial users, contractors, or standards organizations. By harmonizing these technical
requirements into a single set of Practices, administrative, application, and engineering
costs to both the purchaser and the manufacturer should be reduced. While this Practice
is expected to incorporate the majority of requirements of most users, individual
applications may involve requirements that will be appended to and take precedence
over this Practice. Determinations concerning fitness for purpose and particular matters
or application of the Practice to particular project or engineering situations should not
be made solely on information contained in these materials. The use of trade names
from time to time should not be viewed as an expression of preference but rather
recognized as normal usage in the trade. Other brands having the same specifications
are equally correct and may be substituted for those named. All Practices or guidelines
are intended to be consistent with applicable laws and regulations including OSHA
requirements. To the extent these Practices or guidelines should conflict with OSHA or
other applicable laws or regulations, such laws or regulations must be followed.
Consult an appropriate professional before applying or acting on any material
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contained in or suggested by the Practice.
PRINTING HISTORY
June 1998 Issued
August 2006 Complete Revision
PIP PCCFL001
Flow Measurement Design Criteria
Table of Contents
3.10 Mass Meter (Coriolis) ..................... 9
1. Introduction................................. 2 3.11 Mass Meter (Thermal) .................... 9
1.1 Purpose .......................................... 2 3.12 Ultrasonic Meter (Transit Time &
1.2 Scope ............................................. 2 Doppler).......................................... 9
3.13 Vortex Meter................................... 9
2. References .................................. 2 3.14 Variable Area Meter ..................... 10
2.1 Process Industry Practices............. 2
2.2 Industry Codes and Standards....... 2 Tables
2.3 Other References ........................... 3
Table 1 Minimum Straight Run Lengths for
Orifice Runs and Other Flow
3. Requirements.............................. 3 Elements in Accordance with
3.1 General........................................... 3 ISO 5167-2 Column B
3.2 Orifice Meter................................... 5 Table 2 Minimum Straight Run Lengths for
3.3 Flow Nozzle.................................... 6 Orifice Runs in Accordance with
3.4 Venturi (Classical and Proprietary ANSI/API (ISO 5167-2, Column A)
Designs) ......................................... 7 Table 3 Minimum Straight Run Lengths for
3.5 Averaging Pitot Element................. 7 Venturi Tubes and Flow Nozzles
3.6 Integral Orifice ................................ 8 In Accordance with ANSI/API
3.7 Turbine Meter ................................. 8 (ISO 5167-3)
3.8 Positive Displacement Meter.......... 8
3.9 Magnetic Flow Meter ...................... 9
1. Introduction
1.1 Purpose
This Practice provides requirements for the design of flow measurement systems.
1.2 Scope
This Practice describes the design requirements for flow measurement systems that
include head (differential pressure), velocity, oscillatory, electromagnetic and mass
flow meters.
This Practice does not cover:
a. Restriction flow elements and flow switches
b. Process isolation (root) valves, secondary transmitters, or process piping
c. Custody transfer measurement requirements
2. References
Applicable parts of the following Practices, industry codes and standards, and references shall
be considered an integral part of this Practice. The edition in effect on the date of contract
award shall be used, except as otherwise noted. Short titles are used herein where appropriate.
3. Requirements
3.1 General
3.1.1 Data
3.1.1.1 A data set shall be provided for each flow meter.
3.1.1.2 The data set may be provided in electronic or hardcopy format.
3.1.1.3 The minimum data set shall be in accordance with ISA S20,
Specification Forms for Primary Elements, Sections 20.21, 20.22,
20.23, 20.24, and 20.25.
3.1.1.4 For flange tap orifice meters, gasket thickness shall be specified.
3.1.2 Instruments Sizing
3.1.2.1 Calculation methods and tools used shall be subject to owner’s
approval.
a. All calculation results shall be provided to the owner.
b. Unless otherwise specified by owner, calculations for sizing
of concentric, square-edged orifice meters shall be in
accordance with ANSI-2530/API-14.3/AGA-3/GPA-8185.
c. Nozzle, venturi, and other differential pressure device
calculations shall be in accordance with Flow Measurement
Engineering Handbook.
d. For any other proprietary meter, the manufacturer’s sizing
and calculation methods shall be used.
3.1.2.2 Head meter bore shall be sized to provide non-fractional maximum
differential pressure calibration spans and give even scale flow
display units.
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Process Industry Practices Page 3 of 15
Copyright Process Industry Practices
Provided by IHS under license with PIP Licensee=CH2M Hill Worldwide/5960458046, User=Alvarez, Marcos
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale, 08/30/2010 18:06:24 MDT
PIP PCCFL001 COMPLETE REVISION
Flow Measurement Design Criteria August 2006
3.1.2.3 In general, head type flow instruments shall be sized such that
normal flow is between 65% to 80% of expected maximum.
3.1.2.4 The units of measurement for flow instruments shall be in
accordance with the owner’s specifications in PIP PCCGN001.
3.1.2.5 Owner shall identify default metering uncertainty (1, 2 or
undesignated) in the checklist PIP PCCGN001.
3.1.3 Installation
3.1.3.1 Unless otherwise specified by owner, the piping specifications
PIP PNF00200 shall be followed.
3.1.3.2 Manufacturer’s installation requirements shall be followed as a
minimum.
3.1.3.3 Meters in liquid service shall be installed so that meters are always
full of liquid and trapping of gases is avoided.
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3.2.5 Orifice plates shall be fabricated in accordance with ANSI 2530/API 14.3
Part 2.
3.2.6 Vent or drain holes in orifice plates shall be used only if approved by owner.
3.2.7 Flange type and material shall be in accordance with piping specifications.
Orifice flanges shall be rated at a minimum of ASME Class 300 and shall be
in accordance with ASME B16.36 and ANSI 2530/API 14.3/AGA-3/GPA-
8185.
3.2.8 Unless otherwise approved by owner, orifice “flange taps” shall be used for
line sizes 2 inches (50 mm) and larger.
3.2.9 Corner taps shall be used for line sizes less than 2 inches (50 mm).
3.2.10 Unless otherwise required by piping specifications, orifice flange tap
connections shall be 1/2 inch (12 mm) if used in ASME Class 600 service
and below.
3.2.11 Unless otherwise required by piping specifications, orifice flange tap
connections shall be 3/4 inch if used in ASME Class 900 service.
3.2.12 Connection type (threaded or socketweld) shall be in accordance with the
piping specifications.
3.2.13 If used, other tap shall be in accordance with piping specifications.
3.2.14 Piping design for orifice runs shall be in accordance with the following:
a. Orifice meters shall be installed in horizontal runs to minimize
measurement inaccuracies. Vertical orifice runs shall be used only
with owner’s approval.
b. Orifice meter tap locations shall be as follows:
1) For “flange tap” designated orifice meters, the taps shall be
located at 1 inch (25 mm) upstream and 1 inch (25 mm)
downstream from the orifice plate face including gasket
thickness.
2) For “pipe tap” designated orifice meters, the taps shall be located
2-1/2 internal pipe diameters upstream and 8 internal pipe
diameters downstream of the orifice plate face.
3.2.15 Process Piping Connections
3.2.15.1 Primary orifice taps shall have a separate isolation (root) valve in
addition to any manifolds.
3.2.15.2 Piping from taps to and through first isolation (root) valve shall be
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in accordance with applicable piping specifications.
3.2.15.3 Unused orifice taps shall be plugged in accordance with piping
specifications.
3.2.16 Meter tube pipe and orifice flanges internal dimensional tolerances
shall be in accordance with ANSI 2530/API 14.3/AGA-3/GPA-8185.
3.2.17 Straight run piping before and after an orifice plate flow element
shall be no less than those specified in Table 1 for applications that
require 1/2% uncertainty (flow control and monitoring) or Table 2
for applications that require no uncertainty and increased accuracy
(custody transfer).
3.3.2 In high pressure (1000 psig or higher) applications, the flow nozzle shall be
welded directly into the pipe.
3.3.3 Tap connections shall be installed 1 inside pipe diameter upstream and 1/2
inside pipe diameter downstream in accordance with ASME-MFC-3M.
3.3.4 Minimum straight run pipe length requirements shall be in accordance with
Table 3.
Comment: Where owner approves additional metering uncertainty,
minimum piping run lengths may be in accordance with
ASME-MFC-3M.
3.3.5 Unless otherwise required by process service or piping specifications, flow
nozzles shall be type 316 SS.
Page 8 of 15
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Process Industry Practices
Copyright Process Industry Practices
Provided by IHS under license with PIP Licensee=CH2M Hill Worldwide/5960458046, User=Alvarez, Marcos
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale, 08/30/2010 18:06:24 MDT
COMPLETE REVISION PIP PCCFL001
August 2006 Flow Measurement Design Criteria
3.8.6 Meters in line sizes 1-1/2 inches (37 mm) and above shall be flanged body
style.
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Process Industry Practices Page 9 of 15
Copyright Process Industry Practices
Provided by IHS under license with PIP Licensee=CH2M Hill Worldwide/5960458046, User=Alvarez, Marcos
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale, 08/30/2010 18:06:24 MDT
PIP PCCFL001 COMPLETE REVISION
Flow Measurement Design Criteria August 2006
3.13.5 The meter factor data shall be provided by the manufacturer and be based on
the actual piping schedule.
3.13.6 Welds on mounting flanges shall be ground smooth.
3.13.7 Proper gasket sizing shall be followed to avoid protrusion into the process
piping.
Table 1
Minimum Straight Run Lengths for Orifice Runs and Other Flow Elements
in Accordance with ISO 5167-2 Column B
Beta Ratio
Upstream disturbance Dimension 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.67 0.75
3 3 9 13 20 20
Single elbow
Note 4 Note 4 10 18 18 18
Two elbows in same plane 30D>S>10D
A
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Note 4 Note 4 10 18 20 22
Two elbows in same plane 10D>S
18 18 18 18 20 20
Two elbows in different planes 30D>S>5D
A
Note 4 Note 4 5 5 6 8
Reducer
A
Note 4 8 9 11 14 18
Expander
A
6 6 6 7 9 12
Full Bore Ball or Gate valve, fully open
Downstream Length for all B 2 3 3 3.5 3.5 4
pictured disturbances
Table 2
Minimum Straight Run Lengths for Orifice Runs in Accordance with
ANSI/API (ISO 5167-2, Column A)
Beta Ratio
Upstream disturbance Dimension 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.67 0.75
6 16 22 42 44 44
Single elbow
A
10 10 18 30 44 44
Two elbows in same plane 30D>S>10D
A
10 10 22 42 44 44
Two elbows in same plane 10D>S
A
19 44 44 44 44 44
Two elbows in different planes 30D>S>5D
A
5 5 8 9 12 13.5
Reducer
A
6 12 20 26 28 36.5
Expander
A
12 12 12 14 18 24
Full bore Ball or Gate Valve Fully Open
Downstream Length for all
B 4 6 6 7 7 8
pictured disturbances
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Table 3
Minimum Straight Run Lengths for Venturi Tubes and Flow Nozzles in
Accordance with ANSI/API (ISO 5167-3)
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Downstream Run Required 0.5% 2 3 3 3.5 3.5
0% 4 6 6 7 7