Working and Parts of Domestic Gas Meter

A gas meter is a specialized flow meter, used to measure the volume of fuel
gases such as natural gas and propane. Gas meters are used at residential,
commercial, and industrial buildings that consume fuel gas supplied by a gas
utility. Gases are more difficult to measure than liquids, as measured volumes
are highly affected by temperature and pressure. Gas meters measure a
defined volume, regardless of the pressurized quantity or quality of the gas
flowing through the meter. Temperature, pressure and heating value
compensation must be made to measure actual amount and value of gas
moving through a meter.

Diaphragm/bellows Meters
These are the most common type of gas meter, seen in almost all residential and small commercial
installations. Within the meter there are two or more chambers formed by movable diaphragms. With
the gas flow directed by internal valves, the chambers alternately fill and expel gas, producing a near
continuous flow through the meter. As the diaphragms expand and contract, levers connected to cranks
convert the linear motion of the diaphragms into rotary motion of a crank shaft which serves as the
primary flow element. This shaft can drive an odometer-like counter mechanism or it can produce
electrical pulses for a flow computer. Diaphragm gas meters are positive displacement meters.

Basic Instrumentation Mechanism in Gas Meter

Process
Medium
NaturalGas

Primary
Sensing
Element

Variable
Conversion
Element

Variable
Manipulation
Element

Data
Transmission
Element

Data
Presentation
Element

Diaphgram

Levers

Crank Shaft

Gear Syatem

Dial Meter

Observer

Characteristics of Measurement Systems

Static characteristics
The performance criteria for the measurement of quantities that remain constant, or vary only quite
slowly.
Dynamic characteristics
The relationship between the system input and output when the measured quantity (measured) is
varying rapidly.
In practice, the characteristics of the one group may well influence the characteristics of the other. In
order to access overall instrument performance, however, the two groups of characteristics are
normally studied separately and then a semi-quantitative superposition is carried out.

Static Characteristics
1. Accuracy
This is the closeness with which the measuring instrument can measure the true value of the measured
under stated conditions of use, i.e. its ability to tell the truth.
The accuracy of an instrument is quantified by the difference of its readings and the one given by the
ultimate or primary standard.
Accuracy depends on inherent limitations of instrument and shortcomings in measurement process.
2. Precision
Precision is defined as the ability of instrument to reproduce a certain set of readings within given
accuracy.
Precision describes an instruments degree of random variations in its output when measuring a
constant quantity.
Precision depends upon repeatability.
3. Repeatability
Repeatability is defined as ability of instrument to reproduce a group of measurements of same
measured quantity, made by same observer, using same instrument, under same conditions.
Precision is often confused with accuracy. High precision does not imply anything about measurement
accuracy.

4. Accuracy Precision
Accuracy represents degree of correctness of the measured value w.r.t. true value. Accuracy of
instrument depends on systematic errors. Precision represents degree of repeatability of several
independent measurements of desired input at the same reference conditions Precision of instruments
depends on factors that cause random or accidental errors.
5. Resolution (Discrimination)
It is the minimum change or smallest increment in the measured value that can be detected with
certainty by the instrument.
It can be least count of instrument.
6. Dead Space
Threshold Dead space/ Threshold is defined as the range of different input values over which there is
no change in output value.
7. Tolerance
Tolerance is a term that is closely related to accuracy and defines the maximum error that is to be
expected in some value. Tolerance describes the maximum deviation of a manufactured component
from some specified value
8. Range
The range of an instrument defines the minimum and maximum values of a quantity that the instrument
is designed to measure.
9. Linearity
This is the closeness to a straight line of the relationship between the true process variable and the
measurement. i.e. deviation of transducer output curve from a specified straight line.
Linearity is usually reported as non-linearity, which is the maximum of the deviation between the
calibration curve and a straight line positioned so that the maximum deviation is minimized.
10. Sensitivity of measurement
The sensitivity of measurement is a measure of the change in instrument output that occurs when the
quantity being measured changes by a given amount.
11. Reliability
Reliability is the probability that a device will adequately perform (as specified) for a period of time
under specified operating conditions. Some sensors are required for safety or product quality, and
therefore, they should be very reliable.
12. Instrument Drift
It is defined as the variation of output for a given input caused due to change in sensitivity of the
instrument due to certain interfering inputs like temperature changes, component instabilities, etc.

Prime sources occur as chemical structural changes and changing mechanical stresses.
Drift is a complex phenomenon for which the observed effects are that the sensitivity and offset values
vary.

13. Hysteresis
Careful observation of the output/input relationship of a block will sometimes reveal different results
as the signals vary in direction of the movement. Mechanical systems will often show a small
difference in length as the direction of the applied force is reversed. The same effect arises as a
magnetic field is reversed in a magnetic material. This characteristic is called hysteresis.
Hysteresis is defined as the magnitude of error caused in the output for a given value of input, when
this value is approached from opposite directions; i.e. from ascending order & then descending order.
Causes are backlash, elastic deformations, magnetic characteristics, frictional effects (mainly).
Hysteresis can be eliminated by taking readings in both direction and then taking its arithmetic mean.
14. Backlash
It is defined as the maximum distance or angle through which any part of mechanical system may be
moved in one direction without causing motion of next part. Can be minimized if components are
made to very close tolerances.

Dynamic Characteristics

1) Speed of response:
It is defined as the rapidity with which a measurement system responds to changes in the measured
quantity.
2) Measuring lag:
Every system requires its own time to respond to the changes in input. This time is called as lag. It is
the retardation or delay in the response of a measurement system to changes in the measured quantity.
The measuring lags are of two types:
a) Retardation type:
In this case the response of the measurement system begins immediately after the change in measured
quantity has occurred. As soon as there is a changes in the measured quantity, the measurement system
begins to respond.
b) Time delay lag:
In this case the response of the measurement system begins after a dead time after the application of
the input. Fidelity: It is defined as the degree to which a measurement system indicates changes in the
measured quantity without dynamic error.
3) Fidelity:
It is defined as the degree to which a measurement system is capable of faithfully reproducing the
changes in input, without any dynamic error.
4) Dynamic error:
It is the difference between the true value of the quantity changing with time & the value indicated by
the measurement system if no static error is assumed. It is also called measurement error.

SPECIFICATION SHEET