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Flow measurement begins with a properly operating flowmeter; however, measurement procedures and correct flow calculations equally contribute to good overall system performance. Guidelines for liquid hydrocarbon measurement are detailed in the American Petroleum Institute's (API's)Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards (MPMS), a comprehensive, ongoing publication in which chapters are periodically revised and then released. Commonly referenced standards include: Chap. 4 "Proving Systems," Chap. 5 "Metering," Chap. Liquid flowmeters can be classified in two general areas: * A positive displacement meter that continuously divides the flowing stream into known volumetric segments, isolating the segments momentarily and returning it to the flowing stream while counting the number of displacements * An inference meter that "infers" flow by measuring some dynamic property of the flowing stream Typical inference meters are turbine meters that infer flow by monitoring impeller speed, orifice meters that monitor pressure differential, and the Coriolis meter, which senses the Coriolis force on vibrating tubes to infer flow rate. Certain basic installation requirements are needed for proper operation of a positive displacement meter or a turbine meter.
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