Coriolis Meter ( Elite) Piping Support Adequacy

Hi

We purchase Elite coriolis meters for piping leak detection purpose. The meter is installed according to the above photo link

1. Is the pipe support sufficient for the meter

2. If the is pipe stress or displacement, can this effect be zerorised during meter calibration 

3. Is there guidance of max allowable nozzle load onto coriolis meter flange

4. Is there examples of successfully completed Elite flow meter in “flag” position?

We have minimal space to route the pipe and placed the support, thus this design was chosen

Thanking you in advance for your inputs

Regards, James 

  • Hi James,

    Thank you for your questions regarding our ELITE Series Coriolis meters. Please see below for our responses:

    1. The meter does not require external supports, as the flanges will support the meter in any orientation.
    2. This is a rare situation, but in a case in which the mounting stress could cause a zero offset, the meter can be zero calibrated in the field.
    3. Please see the attached presentation for our guidelines on maximum allowable flange loads.
    4. Yes, installing the meter in a flag position with the process fluid (liquids) flowing upwards is one of our best practices. This position allows for optimal drainability and cleanability of the meter. For gases, we recommend the flow to be downwards. Please see this white paper regarding Coriolis meters for leak detection: https://www.flowcontrolnetwork.com/ext/resources/files/assets/whitepapers/FC-0611-MicroMotion_LeakDetection.pdf

    For more information, please see our ELITE Series Installation Manual here: https://www.emerson.com/documents/automation/installation-manual-elite-meters-en-64354.pdf

    For any additional questions, please contact us at Flow.support@emerson.com.

    Best regards,

    Ayuko Morikawa

     Max flange loads updated 2017.pptx

  • In reply to Ayuko Morikawa:

    Hi Ayuko,

    Thank you for your valuable reply.

    We understand that meter's support through pipe flange is acceptable.

    Based on our pipe flex check, the piping configuration will yield some displacement on Coriolis meter flange during operating condition (i.e. up to 2.5mm at top flange and 0.5mm at bottom joint from zero flow condition). The stress on meter flange is less than the allowable stress limit that you shared. Below schematic illustrates the displacement in 1D (pardon me for the poor hand dwg)



    Will the displacement affect the meter's performace?

    To achieve zero displacement on coriolis meter flanges, independent welded support is needed next to meter flange joints. Is this necessary?

    Looking forward to your reply and thanking you in advance for your further advice

  • I’d also add to use the zero verification tool, if by chance you have a model transmitter
     
  • In reply to Tom O'Banion:

    Sorry, model 5700 transmitter. FYI, our meters are very forgiving of installation vagaries.
  • In reply to Mea05key:

    Hi James,
    My apologies for the delayed response. Regarding your questions above, I have spoken with our Technical Support team and it seems that they are already assisting you. They are truly our Coriolis experts and will be able to answer any additional questions you have about your piping configuration. Thank you again for your questions regarding our ELITE Coriolis meters.

    Thank you,
    Ayuko
  • In reply to Ayuko Morikawa:

    Thank you very much for sharing this information. I have been looking for this information.

    I remember that about 15 years ago it was specified in your manuals that no external loads should be applied as this could affect the measuring performance, i.e. the meter zero.

    Other manufacturers have clamed that their meter's are not affected by external loads whatsoever. Which is kind of hard to believe and not credible in my opinion.

    I appreciate this openness. Still I miss two things

    1. A specification of the maximum error in flow and density reading when your specified maximum loads  and torques are applied to the meter.

    2. Is it safe to use the meters when they are operated at the maximum design pressure and temperature when at the same time the maximum loads are applied?
      This is not a hypothetical question since pipe line espansion and therefore pipe loads acting on the meter are highest at high process temperatures. This is what a pipe line designer needs to consider when designing  pipe as per ANSI B31.x or EN13480 standards.
  • In reply to Roland Roth:

    Hi Roland,

    In short, yes - every Coriolis meter may be affected by the mounting stresses applied by its installation, but the effect on measurement can be minimized in two ways. 1) sensor geometry: meters with large u-shapes allow the measurement portion of the sensor to expand/contract and vibrate virtually independent of the flange loads (in stark contrast to a straight-tube sensors which have nowhere to go). and 2) proper zeroing of the sensor: this is applicable for correcting ANY difference between the lab calibration conditions and the field measurement conditions - including process temperature, pressure, orientation, mounting stresses, and ambient conditions. Coriolis meters are generally calibrated at low pressure and at "room temperature". Zeroing the sensor in the lab establishes a baseline for the natural mechanical noise in the flow signals AT the lab conditions. When you mount the meter in the field, and then raise (or lower) the fluid temperature and pressure, the amount of mechanical noise at zero can be amplified (or reduced) by the unique way that each sensor is constructed and how it responds to those changes (including minor things such as the location of pickoff magnets or amount of weld materials).

    Now to address your questions:

    1) High flange loads (within the limits above) will only affect the meter's zero readings. In other words, the minor amount of noise at zero flow is completely negated by the true Coriolis forces that occur at typical flow rates - hence our "flat-spec" accuracy that applies to all flow rates above a minimum threshold (for a sensor with 0.1% mass flow spec, the affect of zero only applies at flow rates less than [zero stability/0.001]). Also keep in mind that zero is applied as an offset, not an additional (+/-) uncertainty, but it is not possible to predict this offset from the factory to the field.

    2) Good piping design should not add significant additional stress to in-line components (i.e. relief points and flexible supports should be sufficient to prevent high directional forces). Regarding pressure deratings at elevated temperature: Micro Motion manufacturers and tests every Coriolis meter in accordance with ASME B31.3, which requires hydro testing to at least 1.5x it's maximum pressure rating for at least 10 minutes (some sensors also meet B31.1). Micro Motion publishes a Technical Data Sheet to accompany each sensor family to demonstrate the derating of each sensor/flange combination over temperature (the maximum pressure rating at any temperature is the lower of either the sensor tubes or the flange selected). The allowable flange loads mentioned above are well below any yield or fatigue point for these sensors, and hence will no affect on these derated values, even at maximum flange loading.

    Feel free to reach out to our free tech support line with any further questions: 1-800-522-6277 (flow.support@emerson.com).

    Thanks for you interest in Emerson Flow Solutions.