Crude Oil Flow Meters Types | Better Crude Oil Flow Measurement

Crude Oil Flow Meter refers to a type of flow meter that can accurately monitor and measure the flow of crude oil. Crude oil is an industrial raw material with complex physical and chemical properties. In the process of production, storage, transportation and trade, it is greatly affected by factors such as temperature, pressure and environment. Storage, transportation and handover not in accordance with standard specifications will lead to increased measurement errors and affect product quality.

Therefore, the flow measurement of crude oil has always been the focus and difficulty of the oil and gas extraction industry.

After years of service experience, Sino-Inst offers multiple crude oil flow meters. Including mass flowmeters, positive displacement flowmeters, turbine flowmeters, etc.

RFQ Flow Meters

Featured crude oil flow meters

**Z-Series Straight Tube Micro Motion Coriolis Flow Meter**

**T-series Triangle Coriolis Mass Flowmeter**

Large diameter Oval Gear Marine Fuel Flow Meter — **Oval Gear-Marine Fuel Flow Meter**

High Temperature Oval Gear Flow Meter - heating oil flow meter- Bitumen - Paraffin — **High Temperature Oval Gear Flow Meter – Heating oil**

types of crude oil flow meters

In terms of the medium to be measured, the crude oil containing impurities needs flow measurement, and the flow measurement of the working conditions with impurities itself is a big problem. Choosing the right crude oil flow meter is even harder.

Based on years of service experience, the following 7 type flowmeters are the types of flowmeters that we believe can effectively measure the flow of crude oil.

In order to realize the accurate measurement of crude oil production, real-time automatic measurement of incoming crude oil quality is the fundamental method.

The mass flow meter has high precision, easy to use and easy maintenance, and long service life. Crude oil production can be directly measured. It is supplemented by a computer real-time monitoring and measurement software system based on it. and utilize network resources. It can also realize remote real-time monitoring of the flowmeter.

The mass flow meter measures the crude oil quality, crude oil volume, water content, temperature and other data on the liquid pipeline in real time. It is displayed on the metering post through the on-site display instrument.

At the same time, the on-site display instrument transmits the relevant data signals to the on-site data storage and remote transmission equipment (industrial computer).

For the crude oil mass flowmeter used for single well measurement, due to the presence of some chemical substances in the measured medium, the flowmeter will cause scaling on the wall of the mass flowmeter measurement pipe after a period of operation.

The composition of scale is very complex, mainly composed of asphalt, wax, sulfide, carbide, etc.
The scale on the inner wall of the measuring tube of the flowmeter will affect the accuracy of mass flow and density measurement, thereby affecting the normal measurement performance of the mass flowmeter and causing a relatively large measurement error.

To ensure the normal use of the mass flowmeter, the flowmeter must be cleaned and descaled regularly. Then re-calibrate to determine the new configuration parameters of the instrument before it can be put into use again.

Extended Reading: Mechanical oil flow meter

It is well known that the oval gear flowmeter is especially suitable for the flow measurement of the medium with high viscosity such as heavy oil, polyvinyl alcohol, resin, etc. The oval gear flowmeter has high measurement accuracy. It is suitable for the measurement of high viscosity medium flow (generally the viscosity of the liquid to be measured is 2-3000Mpa.s).

But not suitable for fluids containing solid particles. If the measured liquid medium contains gas, it will also cause measurement errors.

Usually, the accuracy of the oval gear flowmeter can reach 0.5, which is a relatively accurate flow meter.

However, if the flow rate of the measured medium is too small, the influence of the leakage error of the oval gear flowmeter will be prominent. Sufficient measurement accuracy can no longer be guaranteed.

Extended Reading: Industrial petrol flow meters Types

The working principle of the dual rotor flowmeter is done in the metering chamber. It is directly meshed by a pair of special toothed helical rotors. No relative slippage.

Although the pressure of the liquid acting on the two rotors is different. However, a pair of synchronizing gears installed on the two rotors always maintains an appropriate gap between the two rotors, ensuring that the rotors can rotate smoothly and synchronously.

Several cavities with known volumes are formed between the rotor and the casing. Under the action of the measured medium, the micro-pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the flowmeter drives the two helical rotors to rotate in opposite directions. The helical rotor can output 8 times the volume of the cavity per revolution.

Therefore, the number of revolutions of the rotor is proportional to the cumulative flow of the fluid. The rotational speed of the rotor is proportional to the instantaneous flow rate of the fluid. Therefore, the number of revolutions of the rotor can be transmitted to the counter through the transmission gear system to directly display the liquid flow.

At the same time, it can also be converted into an electrical pulse signal by adding an electromechanical conversion device. Then pass to the secondary instrument or computer for remote display and control.

The repeatability and stability of the dual-rotor flowmeter are in a linear state, which meets the requirements of crude oil export.

The dual-rotor flowmeter has been popularized and applied in various crude oil gathering and transportation stations and external transportation measurement rooms in oilfields. Undertook the measurement task of 4400t/d crude oil export, and its measurement data has been recognized by both sides of the trade.

Extended reading: Crude oil measurement, 80G radar level meter should be your first choice!

The target flowmeter adopts the latest force sensor as the measurement and sensitive transmission element. At the same time, the latest digital technology and microelectronic technology are applied. It is an intelligent flowmeter suitable for the measurement of fluids and gases with high viscosity, low Reynolds number and tiny particles.

The use of force sensors is the key to the true realization of high precision and high stability of this product.

The target flowmeter not only has the characteristics of traditional orifice plate, vortex flowmeter and other flowmeters without moving parts. At the same time, it has measurement accuracy comparable to that of positive displacement flowmeters. Coupled with its unique anti-interference, anti-impurity performance.

In addition to the target flowmeter can replace the conventional flowmeter and conventional fluid flow measurement. Especially in high viscosity, easy blocking, high temperature, high pressure, strong corrosion and other difficult flow measurement conditions have good application value.

At present, it has been widely used in flow measurement in various fields such as steel, oil, natural gas, electric power, papermaking, chemical industry, energy, food, environmental protection and so on.

Therefore, the target flowmeter is a good choice for measuring high viscosity crude oil.

As long as the Reynolds number fits within the measuring range of the target flowmeter, it can be measured. Viscosity changes do not need to be considered. In addition, it can be equipped with a temperature sensor for density correction, which can ensure good measurement accuracy.

Extended Reading: Petroleum Flow Meter

Turbine flowmeters can measure media such as special oils.

There are many varieties of oil, edible oil, peanut oil, diesel oil, gasoline, etc. are all oils. Turbine flowmeters measure the flow of liquids. However, it is not recommended to use it for measurement of too viscous liquids. Because the turbine flowmeter uses the principle of impeller rotation to measure the flow, and too viscous liquid will affect the rotation of the impeller.

Turbine flow meters can measure low temperature and non-viscous special oil. If the user’s working condition is measured on site, it is a special type of high temperature type oil. Nor can it be measured with a turbine flowmeter. The turbine flowmeter can only measure the working temperature when the ambient temperature on site is 120℃.

Therefore, the user chooses the turbine flowmeter to measure crude oil, and needs to choose according to the actual working conditions.

Magnetic Flow Meter is a flow meter that measures the flow of conductive fluids. Abbreviated as EMF, also called Electromagnetic flowmeters. It is a kind of Volumetric flow meter. A magnetic flow meter measures the velocity of conductive liquids moving through a pipe or conduit. In the wastewater treatment industry, Magnetic Flow Meter is the best flow meter choice.

The split-type electromagnetic flowmeter can also measure high-viscosity fluids. Based on the principle of electromagnetic flowmeter and other factors, this is theoretically true, but it also depends on the specific site.

In addition to measuring the flow of general conductive liquids, the split-type electromagnetic flowmeter can also measure liquid-solid two-phase flow, high-viscosity liquid flow and volume flow of salt, strong acid, and strong alkali liquids.

The differential pressure flow meter is measured by the working principle that there is a certain relationship between the pressure difference and the flow rate when the medium fluid flows through the throttling device. Differential pressure (DP) flow meters are the most widely used form of flow measurement products today. Including: integrated orifice flowmeter, average velocity tube flowmeter, venturi tube, wedge flowmeter, underwater flowmeter, orifice plate, orifice carrier assembly, nozzle flowmeter.

Differential pressure flowmeters always have unexpected advantages in measuring complex working conditions.

For example:
Wedge throttling device is a new type of throttling device developed by our company. , Its special structure, non-clogging, solid structure, long life, can be used to measure liquid, gas and steam.

It is especially suitable for flow measurement of fluids with low flow rate, high viscosity, dust or solid particles. Such as measuring crude oil, fuel oil, residual oil, coal tar, waste water, carbon black solution and other fluids.

Summary of Crude Oil Flow Measurement Options

Flowmeters are the most commonly used instruments in oil exploration enterprises. The selection of flowmeters used in many production sites in oil fields is not reasonable, and some have installation errors, resulting in excessive measurement errors, and some cannot meet the needs of production or crude oil transfer measurement.

Many forms of flowmeters can measure crude oil, but when choosing a model based on experience and simply considering the purchase cost, you may lose the opportunity to choose the most suitable meter.

For example, the flow range of the instrument does not match the actual flow, and the instrument with high precision is selected for places with low measurement requirements.

It can be seen that the correct selection and use of flow meters is not an easy task. To choose a crude oil flowmeter correctly and efficiently. The following five factors must be considered, namely: performance requirements, physical properties of crude oil, installation requirements, environmental conditions and costs.

Read more about: Flow Meter Selection Guide

When selecting a flowmeter, the performance requirements to consider include: instantaneous flow, cumulative flow, degree, repeatability, linearity, flow range and range, pressure loss, output signal characteristics and response time.

Different measurement purposes have different options in terms of flowmeter performance. Such as crude oil trade settlement measurement requirements are relatively high.

Continuous measurement process control usually requires good reliability and repeatability. Sometimes a wide range of degrees is also required, and the requirements for measurement degrees should be placed in a secondary position.

The oilfield production site does not require the flowmeter to have too high accuracy, but it has good adaptability to the physical properties and working conditions of crude oil.

The operation of the crude oil flowmeter is affected by factors such as crude oil temperature, oil delivery pressure, crude oil density, crude oil viscosity, and flow rate.

The physical properties of crude oil will change to some extent with the changes of temperature and pressure.

When crude oil is measured by a flow meter, the volume of crude oil will be affected by changes in temperature, pressure, viscosity and other factors.

Among them, temperature is one of the most influential parameters in flow meter measurement. Changes in temperature can cause changes in a series of parameters, which change the volume, density, viscosity of the crude oil and the gap between the flowmeter housing and internal components, thus resulting in changes in leakage flow.

If the temperature is lowered, the paraffin and coke in the crude oil adhere to the inner wall of the shell and parts. This changes the volume of the metering chamber of the flowmeter. It directly affects the measurement accuracy of the flowmeter.

Flow meters of different principles have very different installation requirements. For example, differential pressure and turbine flowmeters require a long upstream straight pipe section, and some flowmeters do not have this requirement or have lower requirements. Some flowmeters need to consider the installation location and medium flow direction, maintenance space, installation direction, etc.

The measurement performance of the flowmeter is greatly affected by the installation conditions, and the reason for the large error of the flowmeter. Part of it is caused by poor installation.

Factors to be considered in the installation are: the installation direction of the flowmeter, the flow direction of the crude oil, the upstream and downstream straight pipe sections, the valve position, vibration, electromagnetic interference and maintenance space.

The ambient conditions of the meter and its expected changes, including ambient temperature, humidity, safety, and electrical interference, should be considered in the flowmeter selection process. The electronics of the meter and some of the meter’s flow sensing portion are affected by changes in ambient temperature.

For example, the size of the flow meter housing changes, and the heat transfer through the meter housing changes the density and viscosity of the fluid. When affecting the display meter electronics, it will degrade measurement performance. Sometimes the conversion display part and the flow sensor are installed in different places to ensure that the electronic components are not affected by temperature.

High humidity will accelerate atmospheric corrosion and electrolytic corrosion and reduce electrical insulation, and low humidity is prone to static electricity. These can have an effect on the circuit part of the flowmeter and sometimes even cause a malfunction.

In terms of economy, it is not comprehensive to consider only the purchase cost of the instrument, and other costs should also be considered. Such as accessories purchase costs, installation costs, maintenance and flow meter verification costs, operating costs and spare parts costs. Trade settlement measurement should also compare the economic losses caused by measurement errors.

The operating cost of the flowmeter is mainly the energy consumption during operation. Some flowmeters are powered by dry batteries, and the cost of battery consumption is also considerable. Pumping costs are a hidden cost that is often overlooked.

The maintenance cost is the cost required to maintain the normal operation of the measurement system after the instrument is installed and put into use, mainly including maintenance labor and spare parts. Instruments with moving parts generally require more maintenance work, such as regular replacement of wear-resistant bearings, shafts, rotors, transmission gears, etc.

The selection of crude oil flowmeter should comprehensively consider the five factors of instrument performance, fluid characteristics, installation conditions, environmental conditions and economy.

Encounter the phenomenon that the physical properties of crude oil, especially the viscosity-temperature characteristics, are not very clear. Special units should be invited to do a complete set of crude oil tests and make a physical property report.

Consult with the flowmeter manufacturer or technical department about the adaptability of various flowmeters and the influence of physical property changes on the performance of the flowmeter. Choose a flowmeter that meets your needs.

flow measurement in oil and gas industry

petroleum flow meters for Oil and Gas Industry

Every day, a large amount of oil and gas are transported back and forth, refined, and then transported, as well as custody transfer. Difficult oil and gas flow measurement challenges such as corrosive media and harsh environments are our daily work. This requires mature and safe technology. Through instrument measurement and display monitoring, safe and reliable operation can be achieved.

Many types of flow meters are used to measure oil and gas flow. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages.

Frequently
Asked
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Help Center

Measuring oil flow is to measure the volume or mass flow of oil. According to the actual demand, and the actual parameters of the oil, the appropriate oil flow meter can be selected.

Extended reading: What Is Hydraulic Flow Meter?

Industrial oil flow meters measure the volume or mass of oil. Can realize the mutual conversion of volume and mass.

The main industrial oils are hydraulic oil. Gear Oil. Turbine oil. Compressor oil. Refrigeration oil. Transformer oil. Cylinder oil, heat treatment oil, heat transfer oil, etc. Of course, edible oil can also be produced in the industry. In addition, there are greases with lubricating oil as base oil and thickening agent.

Therefore, whether it is a company that uses, trades, or produces oil, it needs to accurately measure the oil flow.

There are many common oil flow meters, such as turbine flow meters, positive displacement flow meters, gear flow meters, mass flow meters, etc.

In the oil and gas industry, monitoring is required most of the time during transportation and processing. Including pressure, temperature, liquid level, flow, viscosity and more. And to achieve these functions are process meters.

Therefore, in the oil and gas industry, many meters are used. For example: thermometers, pressure gauges, flow meters, etc.

If the flowmeter is divided into 5 categories. Then the five commonly used flowmeters are:

Electromagnetic flowmeter
Differential pressure flowmeter
Turbine flowmeter
Ultrasonic flowmeter
Volumetric flowmeter (PD)

Different digital flow sensors include turbine, thermal mass, electromagnetic, ultrasonic, orifice plate, venturi. The different designs of the flowmeters have a variety of applications. With 4-20ma, RS485, or other output.

Then they all work differently. However, they can convert the flow signal into a digital display, or pulse, or 4-20mA signal.

Extended reading: Ultrasonic Flow Meters Types & Technical Guide

Sino-Inst is Manufacturer of Crude Oil Flow Meters. We supply more than 20 kinds of Crude Oil Flow Meters. 40% mass flowmeters,30% oval gear flow meters and other types of flowmeters.

Crude Oil Flow Meters are mainly used for flow measurement of high viscosity crude oil flow.

Crude Oil Flow Meters enable stable flow measurement without piping modifications. This greatly meets the measurement needs of many applications. Can be used from small to large tubes.

Sino-Inst’s Crude Oil Flow Meters, made in China, Having good Quality, With better price. Our flow measurement instruments are widely used in China, India, Pakistan, the US, and other countries.

The entire team at Sino-Inst’s has received excellent training, so we can ensure that every client’s needs are met. For assistance with your product requirements, whether it’s a Crude Oil Flow Meter, level sensor, or other device, give us a call.

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KimGuo11

Wu Peng, born in 1980, is a highly respected and accomplished male engineer with extensive experience in the field of automation. With over 20 years of industry experience, Wu has made significant contributions to both academia and engineering projects.

Throughout his career, Wu Peng has participated in numerous national and international engineering projects. Some of his most notable projects include the development of an intelligent control system for oil refineries, the design of a cutting-edge distributed control system for petrochemical plants, and the optimization of control algorithms for natural gas pipelines.

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