On field characterisation of static domestic gas flowmeters

Different solutions to the metering of natural gas consumption can be adopted according to whether the distribution is domestic or industrial. In the domestic field, almost all the flow meters used by natural gas distribution companies are conventional diaphragm meters, whereas greater flow rates justify metrologically better performing measurement systems. The requirement for new safety and remote-reading related functions and the availability of new technologies is now encouraging the use of static innovative flow meters. In the present study, after a short analysis of metering principles and of static ultrasonic flow meter characteristics, the authors report the results of the field tests carried out on two different types of static ultrasonic flow meter for 2 years.