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    Small Rotameter Correction Factors

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    trpsiva
    The document discusses correction factors used to adjust readings from small rotameters used for leak rate testing at conditions different than calibration. It finds that a square root correction factor is acceptable for pressures lower than calibration but underestimates at higher pressures. A vendor methodology accounts for viscosity and better estimates actual flow rates, increasing the total leak rate by 1.6% in one sample test. Rotameters should be calibrated slightly above intended test pressures.

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    Small Rotameter Correction Factors

    Uploaded by

    trpsiva
    389 views4 pages
    The document discusses correction factors used to adjust readings from small rotameters used for leak rate testing at conditions different than calibration. It finds that a square root correction factor is acceptable for pressures lower than calibration but underestimates at higher pressures. A vendor methodology accounts for viscosity and better estimates actual flow rates, increasing the total leak rate by 1.6% in one sample test. Rotameters should be calibrated slightly above intended test pressures.

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    The document discusses correction factors used to adjust readings from small rotameters used for leak rate testing at conditions different than calibration. It finds that a square root correction factor is acceptable for pressures lower than calibration but underestimates at higher pressures. A vendor methodology accounts for viscosity and better estimates actual flow rates, increasing the total leak rate by 1.6% in one sample test. Rotameters should be calibrated slightly above intended test pressures.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    389 views4 pages

    Small Rotameter Correction Factors

    Uploaded by

    trpsiva
    The document discusses correction factors used to adjust readings from small rotameters used for leak rate testing at conditions different than calibration. It finds that a square root correction factor is acceptable for pressures lower than calibration but underestimates at higher pressures. A vendor methodology accounts for viscosity and better estimates actual flow rates, increasing the total leak rate by 1.6% in one sample test. Rotameters should be calibrated slightly above intended test pressures.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
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    The document discusses correction factors for adjusting rotameter readings taken at conditions different than calibration conditions. It evaluates the accuracy of using a square root correction factor versus a vendor methodology for accounting for viscosity effects in small ball type rotameters.

    Four conclusions are made: 1) it is acceptable to use the square root correction factor for test pressures lower than calibration pressure; 2) calibration pressure should be increased slightly above test pressure; 3) rotameters should be calibrated at pressures above intended test pressure; 4) adjusting historical data using the vendor methodology increased the total leak rate by 1.6%.

    For ball floats 1/4 in. and smaller, viscosity factors should be considered as viscosity effects are influenced by tube size, taper, float material, and fluid density and viscosity.

    SMALL ROTAMETER CORRECTION FACTORS

    The square root correction factor used to correct the local leak rate test instrumentation for
    different discharge pressures is not applicable to all types of rotameter used for Type B and C
    testing.
    Many LLRT programs use small ball type rotameters to measure leak rates. The readings
    recorded from the rotameters are corrected if the test temperature and/or pressure is different
    from the rotameters calibrated temperature and pressure. The correction factor used at many
    facilities to compensate for test temperature and pressures are different from the rotameters
    calibrated temperature and pressure is the following equation:
    where:
    Cf = correction factor

    Pa Tc

    Pc Ta

    Cf

    Pa = pressure at rotameter discharge (psia)


    Pc = pressure at which rotameter was calibrated (61.,7 psia)
    Ta = temperature at rotameter discharge (oR)
    Tc = temperature at which rotameter was calibrated (534.69 oR)
    The above equation is commonly called the square root correction factor.
    For the rotameter vendor stated in Reference 1 that the square root correction factor was
    applicable to float sizes in. and larger. This factor alone cannot be used for ball floats in. and
    smaller. For ball float in. and smaller, viscosity factors should be considered.
    The rotameter vendor stated in Reference 1 that viscosity effects are influenced by a number of
    factors such as tube size, tube taper, float material, and metering fluid density and viscosity.
    These effects could be estimated using the curves supplied in Handbook 10A9010 (Reference 2).
    Additional literature, References (3) and (4), reinforced the rotameter vendors claim that small
    spherical floats used in 1/16 in., 1/8 in., and in. rotameter tubes were sensitive to viscosity
    effects.
    The rotameter vendor transmitted the methodology to account for the viscosity effects when the
    rotameter is used at conditions other than the calibrated conditions. The methodology is
    contained in Reference 1 and 2.
    As a validation of the rotameter vendors methodology, flow rates were recorded for two
    rotameters at 10 psig, 75 F and 100 psig, 75 F over the rotameter indicated flow range. These
    rotameters were calibrated at 47 psig and 75 F prior to recording the additional data. The test
    data is documented in References 5 through 8. The test data used to generate these actual flow
    rates was used to determine the calculated flow rates using the rotameter vendors methodology
    (References 1 and 2) and the square root correction methodology. The calculated flow rates
    were compared to the actual recorded flow rates. The results of this comparison are shown in
    Tables 1 and 2.

    TABLE 1
    HIGH RANGE ROTAMETER
    PRESSURE

    TEMPERATURE

    INDICATED

    ACTUAL FLOW

    SQUARE ROOT

    VENDOR METH.

    Actual-Sq Root

    Actual-Vendor

    (psig)
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0

    (F)
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0

    (SCFH)
    35.0
    32.0
    29.0
    25.0
    22.0
    18.0
    14.0
    10.0
    6.0
    2.0

    (SCFH)
    20.87247
    18,98055
    17.09351
    15.34753
    12.82164
    10.49394
    8.09657
    5.79004
    3.38337
    0.85582

    (SCFH)
    22.14
    20.25
    18.35
    16.45
    13.92
    11.39
    8.86
    6.33
    3.80
    1.27

    (SCFH)
    21.0093
    19.1220
    17.0656
    15.1021
    12.8061
    10.5347
    8.0007
    5.7519
    3.4347
    0.8616

    (%)
    -6
    -7
    -7
    -7
    -9
    -9
    -9
    -9
    -12
    -48

    (%)
    -1
    -1
    0
    2
    0
    0
    1
    1
    -2
    -1

    100.0
    100.0
    100.0
    100.0
    100.0
    100.0
    100.0
    100.0
    100.0
    100.0

    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0

    35.0
    32.0
    29.0
    26.0
    22.0
    18.0
    14.0
    10.0
    6.0
    2.0

    49.21126
    45.05236
    40.94929
    36.72782
    31.17991
    25.64006
    20.01940
    14.70330
    9.09202
    3.34604

    47.72
    43.63
    39.54
    35.45
    30.00
    24.54
    19.09
    13.63
    8.18
    2.73

    49.5562
    44.8423
    40.0969
    36.0308
    30.5958
    25.7692
    19.7040
    14.8740
    9.3494
    3.3071

    3
    3
    3
    3
    4
    4
    5
    7
    10
    18

    -1
    0
    2
    2
    2
    -1
    2
    -1
    -3
    1

    TABLE 2
    LOW RANGE ROTAMETER
    PRESSURE

    TEMPERATURE

    INDICATED

    ACTUAL FLOW

    SQUARE ROOT

    VENDOR METH.

    Actual-Sq Root

    Actual-Vendor

    (psig)
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0
    10.0

    (F)
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0

    (SCFH)
    2.15
    1.90
    1.70
    1.50
    1.30
    1.00
    0.70
    0.50
    0.30
    0.15

    (SCFH)
    1.18269
    1.02283
    0.88947
    0.76548
    0.63179
    0.46700
    0.30856
    0.20703
    0.12796
    0.07378

    (SCFH)
    1.36
    1.20
    1.08
    0.95
    0.82
    0.63
    0.44
    0.32
    0.19
    0.09

    (SCFH)
    1.1829
    1.0035
    0.89634
    0.7782
    0.66203
    0.51408
    0.32295
    0.20337
    0.13181
    0.06327

    (%)
    15
    -17
    -21
    -24
    -30
    -35
    -43
    -55
    -48
    -22

    (%)
    0
    2
    -1
    -2
    -5
    -10
    -5
    2
    -3
    14

    100.0
    100.0
    100.0
    100.0
    100.0
    100.0
    100.0
    100.0
    100.0
    100.0

    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0
    75.0

    2.15
    1.90
    1.70
    1.50
    1.30
    1.00
    0.70
    0.50
    0.30
    0.15

    3.18637
    2.83157
    2.56318
    2.28283
    1.99932
    1.60617
    1.15686
    0.83869
    0.54717
    0.29761

    2.93
    2.59
    2.32
    2.05
    1.77
    1.36
    0.95
    0.68
    0.41
    0.20

    3.16508
    2.97914
    2.53248
    2.24969
    1.98864
    1.57223
    1.13337
    0.79535
    0.54311
    0.28048

    8
    9
    9
    10
    11
    15
    18
    19
    25
    33

    1
    -5
    1
    1
    1
    2
    2
    5
    1
    6

    From this evaluation it can be concluded that the vendors methodology in References 1 and 2 is
    close to the actual measured flow rates at 10 psig and 100 psig. In Reference 1, the vendor
    stated that this methodology was a best estimate of the actual flow rates. The results in Tables 1
    and 2 validate this statement. Further, it can be concluded that the square root correction factor
    overestimates the actual flow rate when the test pressure is less than the calibrated pressure.
    The square root correction factor underestimates the actual flow rate when the test pressure is
    greater than the calibrated pressure.
    The following conclusions have been made as a result of this evaluation:
    1. It is acceptable to use the square root correction factor for test pressure lower than the
    calibrated pressure since the correction factor will conservatively overestimate the actual leak
    rate. This is based on the data in Tables 1 and 2.
    2. In general, the rotameter calibration pressure should be increased to a value slightly above
    test pressure, since most of the containment leakage rate testing occurs at pressures
    between 49 to 51 psig.
    3. Rotameters should be calibrated at pressures slightly higher than the intended test pressure.

    4. The containment leakage rate test data for a sample nuclear plant was adjusted using the
    rotameter vendors methodology in References 1 and 2, the results is an increase in the total
    MXPLR leak rate from 100.53 SCFH to 102.17 SCFH. This is a 1.6% change.
    References:
    1. Bailey-Fischer & Porter Company letter dated 12/11/97.
    2. Fischer & Porter Handbook 10A9010, Tri-Flat Variable-Area Flowmeters Low Flow Rate
    Indicators.
    3. Argonne National Laboratory letter ANL-RCV-3874, Need for Recalibration of Small
    Spherical Float Rotameters, dated 3/28/66.
    4. Spitzer, D.W., Flow Measurement.
    5. Bailey-Fischer & Porter Company letter 97W046914A, dated October 14, 1997.
    6. Bailey-Fischer & Porter Company letter 97W046914B, dated October 14, 1997.
    7. Bailey-Fischer & Porter Company letter 97W046915A, dated October 17, 1997.
    8. Bailey-Fischer & Porter Company letter 97W046915B, dated October 17, 1997.

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