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Research Facilities Fluid Flow Measurement and Research Facilities |
Research Facilities Fluid Flow Measurement and Research Facilities Our flow measurement facilities are used to establish, maintain, and disseminate flow rate measurements, standards, and data for the wide range of conditions needed by U.S. industry and government agencies. Industry requests include flow meter calibrations, special tests, round-robin testing programs to establish realistic traceability chains in the form of flow measurement assurance programs, data-generation programs for industrial groups and trade associations, and use of testbeds for carrying out industrial research programs focused on flow measurement topics. The metering research facilities combine primary calibration techniques with the capability to conduct detailed surveys of fluid flows that affect flow meter performance. These capabilities include computational fluid dynamics (CFD) as well as laser Doppler velocimetry techniques used mainly in water flow facilities. CFD techniques include commercially available codes as well as specialized codes tailored to specific conditions. Capabilities: Fluid flow facilities enable a range of fluid and flow conditions in a wide range of pipe sizes. Water: maximum flow rate of 38,000 liters per minute up to 0.4 meter diameter with temperature near ambient and pressure up to 1.01 megapascal. Hydrocarbon liquids having densities of 0.6 to 0.8 grams per cubic centimeter and kinematic viscosities of 1 to 30 centistokes: maximum flow rate of 1,600 liters per minute in tubes and pipes up to 50 millimeters in diameter with temperature near ambient and pressure up to 1.01 megapascal. Air: maximum flow rate of 85 cubic meters per minute in pipes up to 250 millimeters in diameter with temperature near ambient and pressure up to 3.55 megapascals. Gas flows having variable composition and temperature: the component gases of auto exhaust with flows totaling 2.8 cubic meters per minute in 50-millimeter pipes and temperatures to 400 degrees Celsius. Application: These facilities are used to establish and maintain the national standards for fluid flow rate measurement systems to achieve orderliness in the marketplace, to produce satisfactory measurements for optimizing productivity in continuous industrial processes, and to monitor environmental quality. These facilities also are used to generate critical databases needed to initiate or update the national standards on generic fluid-metering topics. These standards are used for accurate custody transfer of fluid resources or products in the domestic and international marketplace or for studying critical industrial processes. Potential users are industries involved in the custody transfer of fluid resources and products, the chemical and petrochemical industries, the power and energy-generation industries, the auto industries, and government agencies such as National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Availability: The
facilities are available upon request to U.S. industry, other government
agencies, and academia for collaborative research projects, including
calibrations of flow-meters or other pipeline elements. Contact: Pedro I. Espina Liquid-Nitrogen Flow Measurements The liquid-nitrogen flow measurement facility serves as the national calibration facility for cryogenic flow measurement devices. The facility incorporates a dynamic gravimetric method to measure liquid nitrogen. Well-instrumented for monitoring temperature, pressure, and time, the facility also is capable of determining volumetric flow rates. The facility is located indoors and is not subject to environmental changes. Capabilties: The facility has a flow rate range of approximately 1 kilogram per second to 10 kilograms per second. The pressure can vary from 0.4 megapascal to 0.76 megapascal at temperatures between 80 kelvin and 90 kelvin. In this closed-loop flow facility, we can establish and maintain stable flow conditions for extended test periods. For volumetric flow measurements, the density is determined by making pressure and temperature measurements and calculating density from an equation of state. Applications: The nitrogen flow facility is used primarily as a calibration facility for cryogenic flow meters. However, it also can be used for developmental testing and evaluation. We are able to vary the system parameters and evaluate flow meter sensitivity to variables other than flow rate. Because they can accurately measure fluid properties as well as flow rate, the facility also can be used to evaluate pressure and temperature sensors associated with the flow meters. Availability: Collaborative
or proprietary programs for this test facility can be arranged. The facility
must be operated by NIST staff. Contact: Michael Lewis
Date
created:
September 28, 2001 |