UTILIZING A GASEOUS RADIOTRACER FOR ULTRASONIC FLOWMETER CALIBRATION USING THE CROSS-CORRELATION METHODOLOGY

Resumo

In different sectors of industry, fluids are transported by pipelines, and these are facilities that work continuously. One of the major problems in a pipeline operation is guaranteeing the safety of the transportation of flammable materials, and this is done using calibrated flowmeters installed throughout the pipeline. Typically, this measurement is done using certified equipment, but calibrating these flowmeters is not an easy task because they must be disconnected from the pipeline and transported to the reference laboratory. This operation, in turn, is exceedingly expensive and necessitates the use of certified processes and highly qualified personnel. Furthermore, alterations to the pipeline's configuration may result in leaks, and once a leak happens, the entire line cannot be operated. The employment of non-invasive nuclear procedures, such as radiotracer technologies, is a more appealing alternative, and accurate flow rate measurements can be made without interfering with the pipeline's regular operation. The method has been tested on a commercial-scale natural gas pumping facility.