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RATIFICACIÓN DE
DOCUMENTOS EUROPEOS
FEBRERO 1996

HOJA DE ANUNCIO

En cumplimiento del punto 11.2.6.4 de las Reglas Internas de CEN/CENELEC Parte 2, se ha otorgado el rango de norma
española al Documento Europeo siguiente:

Documento Fecha de
Europeo Título Disponibilidad

EN ISO 7278-1:1995 Hidrocarburos líquidos. Medición dinámica. Sistemas de calibración de 1995-10-04

medidores volumétricos. Parte 1: principios generales (ISO 7278-1:1987)
(Ratificada por AENOR en febrero de 1996.)

Este anuncio causará efecto a partir del primer día del mes siguiente al de su publicación en la revista UNE. La
correspondiente versión oficial de este documento se encuentra disponible en la sede de AENOR, Calle Génova 6,
28004 MADRID.

________
..1995.. Derechos de reproducción reservados a los Miembros de CEN.

1/1
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 7278-1: 1987 (E)

Liquid hydrocarbons - Dynamit measurement -

Proving Systems for volumetric meters -

Part 1:
General principles

0 Introduction for all liquids and flow rates, provided that the master meter
is proved against acceptable proving Systems under condi-
This document is the first part of an International Standard on tions which simulate those under which it will operate.
proving Systems for meters used in dynamic measurement of Sometimes, a meter is used as a means of standardization
liquid hydrocarbons. Future Parts of ISO 7278 will provide more of transfer; this equipment is generally known as a “master
detailed descriptions of pipe provers, tank provers and pulse meter”.
interpolation techniques; these Parts are in preparation. Parts
covering other aspects or types of proving Systems may be 3.2 Provers tan be used either connected (fixed or mobile) to
added as the need arises. the metering Station or in a central proving Station to which the
meters or the measures tan be taken to be proved.
The purpose of proving a meter is to determine its relative error
or its meter factor as a function of flow rate and other
Parameters such as temperature, pressure and viscosity. 3.3 In Order to limit the maximum uncertainty to + 0,Ol %
when using a pulse generator for proving, at least
The purpose of determining the relative error is to find out 10 000 pulses shall be obtained from the meter per proving run.
whether the meter is working within prescribed or specially ac- This number of pulses tan be reduced by pulse-interpolation
cepted limits of error, whereas the meter factor is used to cor- techniques which allow either the use of meters with fewer
rect any error in the indication of a meter by calculation. pulses per unit volume or reduction of the prover volume.

1 Scope and field of application 4 General considerations

This part of ISO 7278 provides general principles for proving 4.1 A meter should be proved at the expected operating or
Systems for meters used in dynamic measurement of liquid prescribed or agreed rates of flow, under the pressure and
hydrocarbons. temperature at which it will operate and on the liquid which it
will measure. In situations where it is not feasible to prove the
meter on the liquid to be metered, the meter should be proved
2 Reference on a liquid having a density, viscosity and, if possible,
temperature as close as possible to those of the liquid to be
ISO 4124, Liquid h ydrocarbons - D ynamic measuremen t- measured. A meter that is used to measure several different
Statistical con trol of volumetric me tering s ys tems. 1) liquids shall be proved on each such liquid. Similar liquids may
be used if a simple, known relationship exists between the
relative error, flow rate and viscosity, provided that the uncer-
3 Types of prover tainty of measurement remains within acceptable limits. In any
event, calibration should take place at a flow rate equivalent to
31. The following types of proving Systems are in use: that at which the meter will be used.

a) tank prover Systems; A meter shall be proved in different circumstances as follows:

b) pipe provers, bidirectional and unidirectional. Pipe a) Initial proving. This shall be carried out on the perma-
provers with precision tubes as described in 6.7 are available nent location or in a central Station where the expected con-
for special applications; ditions of Operation tan be reproduced. The initial proving
makes it possible to determine the relationship between the
c) master meters. Indirect procedure of volume com- relative error (or meter factor) and different Parameters such
parison which Causes additio nal uncertainties tan be used as viscosity or temperature. ’

1) At present at the Stage of draft.

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b) Occasional or periodical proving. If a simple relationship In the first, a meter tan be proved to establish its Performance
between the relative error (or meter factor) and influencing by adjustment of its registration, if necessary, to give a meter
Parameters tan be determined, the meters shail be reproved factor of 1,000 0 so that its indicated volume will be the volume
periodically using a prover either on the site or in a central- of liquid actually delivered (gross volume within desired
ised Station. Otherwise, the meter shall be reproved on the tolerantes). This is the normal practice for a meter operating on
site whenever significant changes in the influencing par- intermittent deliveries, such as a tank truck meter or a loading
ameters, such as viscosity or temperature, occur. Regular rack meter at a terminal or bulk plant.
provings are also needed to follow effects of mechanical
changes. In the second, a meter tan be proved to determine its meter
factor or, if possible, a simple relationship between its meter
factor and influencing Parameters such as viscosity or
4.2 Many petroleum liquids of high vapour pressures are
temperature so that this factor or this relationship tan be
measured by meter-. If liquid evaporation during normal opera-
applied to the indicated volume to compute the gross volume
tion or proving could occur and affect measurement, the prov-
delivered through the meter. This is the normal practice in the
ing System should provide means to avoid evaporation.
case of continuous or long-duration measurement.

4.3 The proving of a meter is like a laboratory test: when 4.7 When a meter is being proved for adjustment, a
properly done, it provides a high degree of repeatability, which
preliminary unrecorded run shall be made, as necessary, to
is necessary for measurement accuracy. There are as many
equalise temperatures, displace vapours or gases and wet the
details of the meter, its piping and the proving Systems, which
interior of the prover. Subsequent recorded proving test runs
tan contribute to measurement uncertainty, as there are in
shall be made in the required range of flow rates and the
determining physical properties of the measured liquid. Fur-
registration adjusted as necessary.
thermore, the proving System shall be maintained in good oper-
ating condition. Thorough inspection of provers and their
Esch calibration Point for the same flow should be repeated at
ancillary equipment should be made with sufficient frequency
least twice and preferably three times. Further repeats may be
to ensure reproducibility of proving results. lt is essential that
necessary, if specified. See ISO 4124.
meter Performance data be observed, recorded and studied and
that calculations be correct (sec ISO 4124).
4.8 When a meter is being proved to determine the meter
The accuracy and repeatability of the proving tan be affected factor at one or several flow rates, the procedure shall be
by Observation errors in determining the opening meter reading esssentially as specified in 4.7, except that no changes shall be
or the closing meter reading, the test volume passing through made to the meter registration adjusting device between runs.
or delivered to the prover and in reading temperature and Proof runs shall be made and recorded until the specified
pressure, and by implicit errors in computation in the process of number of consecutive runs at the same flow rate agree within
correcting a measurement to Standard conditions. an acceptable repeatability, at which Point the average of these
two runs shall be accepted as the established meter correction
factor for this flow rate.
4.4 Meter proving tan be classif ied according to procedure,
as described below.
4.9 If the registration of a meter, during proving, is not
changing in accordance with adjustments made to the register
a) The standing Start-and-stop procedure uses registers
adjusting device, or if four individual unadjusted proving runs
(counters) from which the opening and closing readings are
are made without any two successive runs checking within an
obtained at no-flow conditions. Qpening and closing of
acceptable repeatability, all phases of the proving Operation
valves shall be performed rapidly.
shall be examined for the Cause of the discrepancy. If the Cause
b) The running Start-and-stop procedure involves obtain- is not found, the meter and its register mechanisms shali be
ing the opening and closing meter readings of the proof inspected for electronie or mechanical defects, repaired and
proved before being returned to Service.
while the meter is in Operation. This is accomplished by the
use of auxiliary or secondary registers of high discrimination
which tan be started and stopped while the meter and 4.10 The practical limit of accuracy in any observed value
primary register continue to operate. such as the volume in the reference vessel during a meter proof
is one part in 10 000. For this reason, meter factors shall be
rounded to four decimal places, not more and not less, for
4.5 Every meter proof shall be made with the same register example 1,001 6.
equipment as is used in regular Operation or with additional
synchronised auxiliary registers for the running Start-and-stop
procedure L4.4 b)]. Inclusion of special auxiliary equipment 4.11 The results of calculation tan be adversely affected by
such as the following is permitted: density selector, the use of abbreviated tables, the unstandardized rounding
temperature compensator, and quantity-predetermining of factors and/or intermediate calculations. The observed and
register. If employed, the auxiliary equipment shall be set and computed data for all test runs made in obtaining a meter factor
operative when making the proof runs. Time between proving or other expression of meter Performance shall be reported on a
runs shall be kept to a minimum. suitable meter proving report form. The completed form, when
signed by the interested Parties or by the legal authority, shall
constitute approval, understanding and acceptance of the
4.6 There arc two general objectives to meter proving which meter proof, unless otherwise limited to witnessing only by a
usually depend on the type 0%Service. notation on the report.

2
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ISO 7278-1: 1987 (E)

4.12 Most of the procedures specified above have been for 5.5 In some types of open prover tanks, a top Spray is used
the proving of a Single meter. If the meter to be proved is part during the emptying of the prover to saturate the air drawn into
of a battery of meters handling a common stream, it is the prover with the vapour of the test liquid to reduce evapora-
necessary either to divert the stream from the selected meter to tion of the test liquid during a subsequent proof run. Where
be proved through the prover or remove the meter to a central this is done, the Spray shall be turned on Prior to each emptying
proving Station. of the prover and closed off Prior to zeroing the liquid Ievel.

5.6 There are certain variations inherent in the foregoing

general procedure, arising primarily from design differentes
5 Tank prover Systems with respect to the method of establishing the starting liquid or
Zero level at the beginning of the proof run.

5.1 As far as possible, the use of all United supplementary

bodies/matters inside the Standard gauge shall be avoided, and 6 On-line pipe prover Systems
in no case shall the gauge be adjusted to a given value by this
means. The prover should be recalibrated after any changes to
components within the calibrated volume section such as 6.1 In proving with pipe provers, checking of equipment Prior
gauge glasses, thermometer weil or Spray lines. The tank to proving shall include inspection of all valves to ensure
prover should be designed in Order to avoid any Variation in its against internal leakage, and of the attachment sf accessories
metrological characteristics and also to reduce clingage of used for proving and energizing electrical circuits. Ther-
liquid to the Walls. The prover tank shall be inspected fre- mometers and pressure gauges shall be checked periodically.
quently for internal corrosion and for accumulation of sedi-
ment, rust, valve lubricant and other foreign material. Gauge 6.2 The entire liquid stream from the meter or battery of
scales shall be inspected frequently and the prover recalibrated meters to be proved shall be diverted to flow through the pipe
if there is indication of gauge scale movements. prover. In some permanently installed pipe proving Systems,
flow through the meter and the prover is continuous. Flow shall
always be maintained through the meter and prover sections
5.2 Proving with open prover tanks consists of a comparison
until stable conditions of temperature are reached. Zent con-
of the Change in volume of liquid indicated on the register and
nections shall be checked to ensure that the meter and prover
of the known volume in the tank prover. The liquid shall be
sections are completely purged and that no pockets of air or
passed through the meter under actual or simulated operating
vapour remain in the System.
conditions of temperature, pressure, rate of flow, density and
viscosity, into the prover, where its volume shall be determined
from the gauge scales. The meter factor is the ratio between 6,3 A trial proving run is frequently conducted as a final
the actual volume measured with the prover reduced (or con- check before starting the recorded meter proving. This is a
verted) to the conditions of temperature of the liquid during good practice and is recommended for those provers where it
proving (i.e. flowing through the meter) and the Change in tan be readily accomplished. The trial run shall include check-
volume indicated on the meter register. ing of the electronie or other register. Observation of the
readings from the trial run will often indicate equipment mal--
adjustment not otherwise apparent.
5.3 After a preliminary filling and draining of the prover tank,
the lower level of the test liquid shall be recorded. The meter to
be proved shall then be stopped and the opening meter reading 6.4 Operations necessary to conduct proving runs -kill vary
recorded. The proof run shall then be started by directing the with the installations and tan range from completely manual to
liquid from the meter into the prover, maintaining the flow rate fully automatic. The essential step will consist of operating a
and meter pressure to simulate operating conditions. During valve or combination of valves, that Causes the metered stream
the filling of the prover, the temperature of the metered stream to move the movable element (Piston, sphere, . . .) through the
near the meter shall be determined and recorded frequently calibrated section of the prover. The proving counter register
enough to ensure an accurate average temperature of liquid as shall be recorded Prior to the Start of every run or, if so equip-
it Passes through the meter. Flow shall be continued into the ped, it may be reset to Zero. The switching Operation shall be
prover until the liquid reaches a suitable reading level. (Liquid completed weli before the movable element enters the
levels in gauge glasses shall be determined by reading the calibrated section of the prover. In automatic Systems, a push-
bottom of the meniscus with transparent liquids, or the top of button normally initiates a complete meter proof cycle and the
the meniscus with opaque liquids.) Flow shall then be stopped timing of the operations is a matter of adjustment of the valve
and the volume delivered to the prover promptly observed on and the proper sequencing of the control System.
the top gauge glass scale and recorded. The closing meter
reading shall then be observed and recorded, after which the 6.5 ln unidirectional provers, a provi ng run shall consist of
meter tan be returned to Service. Prover tank temperatures one trip of the movable element through the calibrated sections.
shall be taken, recorded and averaged, and the meter factor for
the proof run calculated.
6.6 In bidirectional provers, a proving run shall consist of a
round-trip of the movable element, i.e. the sum of two con-
5.4 Meter registration adjustments, if called for, tan be made secutive trips through the calibrated section. The Standard
as required and subsequent proof runs tan be made by volume is that which is defined by the total of the two opera-
repeating the proof run procedure just described. tions.
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ISO 7278-1: 1987 (E)

6.7 A precision bot-e tube prover is composed of a movable b) Variations in pressure and temperature
element moving in a smooth bore tube with a precise device
giving the Position of the movable element either at the ends of Mathematical corrections tan be applied for changes in
the precision bore section or at intermediate positions. The per- physical dimensions of the meter, provided that the Change
formante of this type of prover is critically dependent on the due to other effects (mechanical tolerante, blade angle,
mechanical precision of the tube bore and movable element etc.) is negligible at the operating and proving conditions.
Position detecting System, the measurement accuracy and
stability of temperature and pressure, tightness of the moving c) Curve drift
Parts and the ratio between the diameter of the tube and the
actual displacement of the movable element.
The Overall reliability of the metering System shall not be af-
fected between two consecutive provings, considering :
NOTE - The term “tube” differentiates from the pipe prover.
- Iong-term drift of the metering System;
6.8 Upon completion of each proving run, the data shall be
recorded, the initial proving counter reading again determined - metered liquid quality.
or reset to zero and additional proving runs made as required.
The data for each direction shall also be recorded for bidirec-
tional provers. Runs should be made to check the repeatability 7.3 The central proving Station need not be connected to the
of the Systems. A meter proving report shall be prepared upon metering location and may be remote from it. Every care shall
which to record the data and calculate the resulting meter be taken during handling and transportation of the meter.
factor or relative error. See ISQ 4124.

7.4 For turbine meters, special care shall be taken in the in-
7 Centralized prover Systems stallation to avoid misalignment. In any case, the straightener,
or equivalent, should be kept attached to the meter for trans-
portation and proving.
7.1 A central Station generally composed of the following
Parts :

a) pipe circuit in wh ich product flow is caused bY a 7.5 The results from a large number of tests on a range of
variable-Speed pump; meters of one type tan be used statistically to predict the
Overall reproducibility of the meter, taking into account all the
b) bench for setting up meters for calibration; Parameters and the curve drift due to Operation and transpor-
tation.
Cl pipe prover or tank prover;
The statistical analysis of a suff icient nu mber of tests will aid
d) System for adjusting the static pressure of the circuit; judgement in determining

e) storage tanks for draining and filling the circuits with a) the Optimum proving frequency;
products of differe nt viscosities;
b) the need for maintenance.
f) instruments for the measurement of influencing para-
meters, such as viscosity or temperature.

8 Master meter Systems

7.2 The meters shall be selected so that the influence of the
following Parameters is either negligible under operating condi-
tions or accurately evaluated. 8.1 The master meter method of proving meters requires the
selection of a meter with better Performance characteristics
a) Variations in flow rate and viscosity than the meter to be proved. The master meter tan be one of a
battery of parallel meters, a mobile meter or a meter at a test
Several tests shall be carried out correspondi w to different Station used specifically for proving meters.
flow rates and viscosities covering the limits of Operation.
The master meter shall be reliable, consistent in its Performance
The resulting meter factors should be plotted in a three- and maintained in the best operating condition. If used in
dimensional space and smoothed with a mathematical func- mobile Service, the master meter shall be adequately protected
tion. against darnage in transportation or from mishandling in in-
stallation. The master meter shall be frequently proved against
Qther methods tan be used, particularly the method based an acceptable proving System at as many flow rates as may be
on the Reynolds number: the meter factors are associated required and under conditions which simulate those under
with the corresponding value sf the flow rate divided by the which it will operate.
kinematic viscosity (corrected at a given temperature : 15 OC
is recommended). Its consistency established, it shall be maintained within the I
desired tolerantes, compatible with the quality of measurement
The resulting Points tan be smoothed by a Single curve. desired.

4
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ISO 7278-1: 1987 (E)

In proving the master meter, a record of all data shall be kept so With the running Start-and-stop method, the registers or
that necessary corrections tan subsequently be applied when counters shall be electrically started and stopped simul-
using the master meter to prove meters. If the pressure and taneously.
temperature conditions are different from those existing during
the proof of the master, the results of the meter proving shall 8.3 lf a block valve had to be closed to divert the product
be corrected as far as necessary. It should also be stated that a through a master meter, then the block valve should be of a
master meter is a secondary device and does not give as high suitable design or provided with means to verify that no pro-
an accuracy as a primary measuring device such as a pipe duct is passing by leakage through the block valve.
prover and a tank prover.

8.2 The master meter shall be connected in series with and in 9 Bibliography
close proximity to the meter to be proved and care shall be
ISO 2714, Liquid h ydrocarbons - Volumetric measurement by
taken to avoid any interaction between the two meters. The displacement meter Systems other than dispensing Pumps.
two meters shall be operated at the desired flow rate for an
interval sufficient for at least 10 000 times the minimum incre- ISO 27 15, Liquid h ydrocarbons - Vofumetric measuremen t by
ment to be passed through the meter. turbine meter Systems.

With the standing start-and-stop method, flow shall be stop- ISO 4267-2, Petroleum and liquid Petroleum products -
ped and both opening meter readings recorded. To Start the Dynamit measurement - Part 2: Calcula tion 0 f oil quan tities. 1)
proof run, flow shall be started through the ~VVOmeters
simultaneously by using a valve on the downstream side of the ISO 7270, Liquid h ydrocarbons - Dynamit measurement -
meters to give the desired flow rate. Pressures and tempera- Proving Systems for volumetric meters
tures shall be observed and recorded during the proving. When
sufficient time has elapsed to provide a satisfactory meter - Part 2: Pipe provers, l)
proof, the flow should be stopped by closing the same valve
and the meter readings recorded. - Part 3: Pulse in terpolation techniques.

1) At present at the Stage of draft.

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