ASTM D1071-83(1998)

Standard Test Methods for Volumetric Measurement of Gaseous Fuel Samples

SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the volumetric measuring of gaseous fuel samples, including liquefied petroleum gases, in the gaseous state at normal temperatures and pressures. The apparatus selected covers a sufficient variety of types so that one or more of the methods prescribed may be employed for laboratory, control, reference, or in fact any purpose where it is desired to know the quantity of gaseous fuel or fuel samples under consideration. The various types of apparatus are listed in Table 1.
1.2This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Nov-1998
• Technical Committee: D03 - Gaseous Fuels
• Drafting Committee: D03.01 - Collection and Measurement of Gaseous Samples

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D1071-83(1998)e1 - Standard Test Methods for Volumetric Measurement of Gaseous Fuel Samples
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1998

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D1071–83 (Reapproved 1998)
Standard Test Methods for
Volumetric Measurement of Gaseous Fuel Samples
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1071; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (ε) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
TABLE 1 Apparatus for Measuring Gaseous Fuel Samples
1. Scope
Capacity and
1.1 These test methods cover the volumetric measuring of
Calibration
Range of Operating
Procedure
gaseous fuel samples, including liquefied petroleum gases, in
Apparatus Condi-
Covered in
the gaseous state at normal temperatures and pressures. The tions Covered in
Section No.
Section No.
apparatus selected covers a sufficient variety of types so that
Containers
one or more of the methods prescribed may be used for
Cubic-foot bottle, immersion type of 512
laboratory,control,reference,orinfactanypurposewhereitis
moving-tank type
desired to know the quantity of gaseous fuel or fuel samples
Portable cubic-foot standard 512
(Stillman-type)
under consideration. The various types of apparatus are listed
Fractional cubic-foot bottle 5 12
in Table 1.
Burets, flasks, and so forth, for chem- 612
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the ical and physical analysis
Calibrated gasometers (gas meter 7 13-16
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
provers)
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Gas meters, displacement type:
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- Liquid-sealed relating-drum meters 8 17-22
Diaphragm- or bellows-type meters, 923
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
equipped with observation index
Rotary displacement meters 10 24
2. Terminology Terminology and Units of Measurement
Gas meters, rate-of-flow type:
Porous plug and capillary flowmeters 11 25
2.1 Abbreviations:Units of Measurement—All measure-
Float (variable-area, constant-head) 11 25
ments shall be expressed in inch-pound units (that is: foot,
flowmeters
pound(mass),second,anddegreesFahrenheit);ormetricunits Orifice, flow nozzle, and venturi-type 11 25
flowmeters
(that is: metre, kilogram, second, and degrees Celsius).
2.2 Standard Conditions, at which gaseous fuel samples
shall be measured, or to which such measurements shall be
2.3.1 Standard Cubic Foot of Gas is that quantity of gas
referred, are as follows:
which will fill a space of 1.000 ft when under the standard
2.2.1 Inch-pound Units:
conditions (2.2.1).
(1) A temperature of 60.0°F,
2.3.2 Standard Cubic Metre of Gas is that quantity of gas
(2) A pressure of 14.73 psia.
which will fill a space of 1.000 m when under the standard
(3) Free of water vapor or a condition of complete water-
conditions (2.2.2).
vapor saturation as specified per individual contract between
2.4 Temperature Term for Volume Reductions—For the
interested parties.
purpose of referring a volume of gaseous fuel from one
2.2.2 SI Units:
temperature to another temperature (that is, in applying
(1) A temperature of 288.15K (15°C).
Charles’ law), the temperature terms shall be obtained by
(2) A pressure of 101.325 kPa (absolute).
adding 459.67 to each temperature in degrees Fahrenheit for
(3) Free of water vapor or a condition of complete water-
the inch-pound units or 273.15 to each temperature in degrees
vapor saturation as specified per individual contract between
Celsius for the SI units.
interested parties.
2.5 At the present state of the art, metric gas provers and
2.3 Standard Volume:
meters are not routinely available in the United States.
Throughout the remainder of this procedure, the inch-pound
1 units are used. Those having access to metric metering equip-
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-3 on
ment are encouraged to apply the standard conditions ex-
Gaseous Fuels and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D03.01 on
Collection and Measurement of Gaseous Samples.
pressed in 2.2.2.
Current edition approved March 25, 1983. Published May 1983. Originally
published as D1071–54T. Last previous edition D1071–78a. NOTE 1—The SI conditions given here represent a “hard” metrication,
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D1071–83 (1998)
in that the reference temperature and the reference pressure have been
changed. Thus, amounts of gas given in metric units should always be
referredtotheSIstandardconditionsandtheamountsgivenininch-pound
units should always be referred to the inch-pound standard conditions.
3. Significance and Use
3.1 The knowledge of the volume of samples used in a test
is necessary for meaningful results. Validity of the volume
measurement equipment and procedures must be assured for
accurate results.
4. Apparatus
4.1 The various types of apparatus used for the measure-
ment of gaseous fuel samples may be grouped in three classes,
as shown in Table 1. References to the portions of these
methods covering the capacity and range of operating condi-
tions, and the calibration, of each type are given in Table 1.
CAPACITY OFAPPARATUS AND RANGE OF
OPERATING CONDITIONS
5. Cubic-Foot Bottles, Standards, and So Forth
5.1 The capacities of cubic-foot bottles, standards, and so
FIG. 2 One-Tenth Cubic Foot Bottle, Transfer Tank, and Bubble-
forth, are indicated by their names. A portable cubic-foot Type Saturator for Testing Laboratory Wet Gas Meters
standardoftheStillmantypeisshowninFig.1andafractional
cubic-foot bottle is shown in Fig. 2. The temperatures and
always be low, and probably nonuniform, and in any given
pressures at which these types of apparatus are used must be
instance will be affected by the test being made and the
very close to those existing in the room in which they are
connections used.
located. Since these containers are generally used as standards
forthetestingofothergas-measuringdevices,therateatwhich
6. Burets, Flasks, and So Forth
they may be operated is of little or no importance. It will
6.1 Thecapacitiesofburets,flasks,andsoforth,willdepend
upon their function in the equipment and service in which they
are to be used. The range of temperatures and pressures under
which they may be used, which will be affected by their
function, will depend upon the material of construction and
may be relatively high (for example, 1000°F and 10 000 psi)
if suitable materials are used.
7. Calibrated Gasometers
7.1 Thestockcapacitiesofcalibratedgasometers(gasmeter
provers) are 2, 5, and 10 ft . The temperature and pressure at
which they can be operated must be close to the ambient
temperature and within a few inches of water column of
atmospheric pressure.The equivalent rates of flow that may be
attained, conveniently, are as follows:
3 3
Size, ft Equivalent Rate, ft of air/h
2 990
5 2250
10 5000
NOTE 2—Gasometers having volumetric capacities up to several thou-
sand cubic feet have been made for special purposes. Their use is limited
to temperatures close to the ambient temperature, although some may be
operated as pressures slightly higher than mentioned above. These large
gasometers can hardly be classed as equipment for measuring gaseous
samples, and are mentioned only for the sake of completeness.
8. Liquid-Sealed Rotating-Drum Meters
8.1 The drum capacities of commercial stock sizes of
FIG. 1 Stillman-Type Portable Cubic-Foot Standard liquid-sealed rotating-drum meters range from ⁄20 (or litre) to
D1071–83 (1998)
3 3
7.0 ft per revolution. A 0.1-ft per revolution meter is shown 9. Diaphragm-Type Test Meters
inFig.3.Theoperatingcapacities,definedasthevolumeofgas
9.1 The displacement capacities of commercial stock sizes
having a specific gravity of 0.64 that will pass through the
of diaphragm-type test meters range from about 0.05 to 2.5 ft
meter in 1 h with a pressure drop of 0.3-in. water column
per revolution (of the tangent arm or operating cycle). The
across the meter, range from 5 to 1200 ft /h. Liquid-sealed
operating capacities, defined as the volume of gas having a
rotating-drum meters may be calibrated for use at any rate for
specific gravity of 0.64 that a meter will pass with a pressure
which the pressure drop across the meter does not blow the
drop of 0.5 in. of water column across the meter, range from
meter seal. However, if the meter is to be used for metering
about 20 to 1800 ft /h. Usually these meters can be operated at
differing rates of flow, a calibration curve should be obtained,
rates in excess of their rated capacities, at least for short
as described in Section 20, or the meter should be fitted with a
periods. A meter having a capacity of 1 ft per revolution is
rate compensating chamber (see Appendix X1).
shown in Fig. 4.
8.2 The temperature at which these meters may be operated
9.2 Thetemperaturerangeunderwhichthesemetersmaybe
will depend almost entirely upon the character of the sealing
operated will depend largely upon the diaphragm material. For
liquid. If water is the sealing liquid, the temperature must be
leather diaphragms, 0 to 130°F is probably a safe operating
above the freezing point and below that at which evaporation
range. At very low temperatures, the diaphragms are likely to
will affect the accuracy of the meter indications (about 120°F).
become very stiff and cause an excessive pressure drop across
Outside of these limits some other liquid will be required.
the meter.At higher temperatures, the diaphragms may dry out
8.3 While the cases of most meters of this type may
rapidly or even become scorched causing embrittlement and
withstand pressures of about 2-in. Hg column above or below
leaks.
atmospheric pressure, it is recommended that the maximum
operating pressure to which they are subjected should not 9.3 Thepressurerange(linepressure)towhichthesemeters
exceed 1-in. Hg or 13 in. of water column. For higher
maybesubjectedsafelywilldependuponthecasematerialand
pressures, the meter case must be proportionally heavier or the design. For the lighter sheet metal (tin case) meters, the line
meter enclosed in a suitable pressure chamber. For pressures
pressure should not be more than 3- or 4-in. Hg column above
more than 1-in. Hg (13 in. of water) below atmospheric or below atmospheric pressure. For use under higher or lower
pressure,notonlymustaheaviercaseorapressurechamberbe
line pressures, other types of meter cases are available, such as
used,butasealingfluidhavingaverylowvaporpressuremust
cast aluminum alloy, cast iron, or pressed steel.
be used in place of water.
NOTE 3—The diaphragm-type test meter and the diaphragm-type con-
sumers meter are similar in most respects. The principal difference is the
type of index or counter. The test meter index has a main hand indicating
1ft perrevolutionovera3-in.orlargerdial,withadditionalsmallerdials
giving readings to 999 before repeating. On the index of consumers
meters, aside from the test hand, the first dial indicates 1000 ft per
revolution of its hand so that the smallest volume read is 100 ft . The
maximumreadingforaconsumersmeterindexmaybe99900or999900.
Anotherminordifferenceisthatthemaximumratedcapacityforthelarger
consumers meters may be 17000 ft /h.
FIG. 3 Liquid-Sealed Rotating-Drum Gas Meter of 0.1 ft per FIG. 4 Iron-Case Diaphragm-Type Gas Meter with Large
Revolution Size Observation Index
D1071–83 (1998)
10. Rotary Displacement Meters provided the temperature of the entire system is maintained
constant. This requires that the test should be made in a room
10.1 Rotary displacement gas meters are mentioned here
in which the temperature can be maintained constant and
only to have a complete coverage of meters for gas, since
uniform within less than 0.5°F. Moreover, to diminish the
meters of this type are of relatively large capacity, beyond that
cooling effects of evaporation from the surfaces of the bottle
of sample measurement (Note 4).The rated capacities of stock
andbell,thesealingfluidshouldbealight,low-vaporpressure
sizes range from about 4000 to about 1000000 ft /h. They
oil. Other observations forming a part of this calibration are
may be used at somewhat higher temperatures than other
those of the time intervals required for raising the bottle and
displacement meters, probably 400 to 500°F and are available
bell from their respective tanks and the intervals they are held
for use under line pressures up to about 125 psi.
up for drainage to take place before pressure readings are
NOTE 4—It is of course possible to use a very small meter of this type
made. From these times, corrections are determined for the
as a test or “sample” meter. See Bean, H. S., Benesh, M. E., andWhiting,
volumes of undrained liquid.
F. C., “Testing Large-Capacity Rotary Gas Meters,” Journal of Research,
12.3 Burets,flasks,andsoforth,areconsideredapartofthe
Nat. Bureau Standards, JRNBA, Vol 37, No. 3, Sept. 1946, p. 183.
analytical apparatus in which they are used, and methods of
(Research Paper RP1741).
calibrating them therefore are not covered here.
11. Rate-of-Flow Meters
NOTE 6—An outline of such methods is given in National Bureau of
11.1 Rate-of-flowmeters,asthenameimplies,indicaterates
Standards Circular C434 NBSCA, “Testing of Glass Volumetric Appara-
of flow, and volumes are obtained only for a definite time
tus,” by E. L. Peffer and Grace C. Mulligan.
interval. They are especially useful in those situations where
13. Calibration of Secondary or Working Standards
theflowissteady,butarenotsuitedforuseinthemeasurement
(Provers), General Considerations
of specified quantities nor on flows that are subject to wide or
more or less rapid variations of either rate or pressure. In the
13.1 Gas meter provers of 2-, 5-, and 10-ft capacity
smaller sizes, they may be particularly useful for both regulat-
customarily are calibrated by comparison with a cubic-foot
ing and measuring continuous samples of a gaseous fuel.
bottle or standard as described in Sections 14 and 15. The
11.2 Nodefinitelimitscanbesettotherangeofrateofflow
procedureconsistsofmeasuringairoutoforintotheproverby
to which these meters may be applied, nor to the range of
means of the standard, 1 ft at a time, noting the reading of the
temperatures and pressures under which they may be operated.
prover scale at the start and finish of each transfer. Some
Where meters of this type are desired, it will usually be
general considerations to be observed are given in 13.2 and
possible to design one to meet the particular service require-
13.3.
ments. Of particular interest for continuous sampling and
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