This electronic flyer highlights our capabilities and activities in the Metering Research Facility. Please sign our guestbook. For additional information, e-mail Terrence A. Grimley, or Michael W. Robertson Southwest Research Institute®.

Metering Research Facility 

High-Technology Natural Gas Flow Measuring Services

The Metering Research Facility at Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) is an internationally recognized center of excellence for natural gas flow measurement. As the only facility of its type in North America, the MRF is equipped to serve the measurement needs of the natural gas industry for:

  • Accuracy
  • Rangeability
  • Controllability
  • Traceability

Capabilities

The MRF is a world-class, high-accuracy and high-technology natural gas flow measurement facility for meter development, calibration and testing, simulating actual field operational conditions. The facility provides:

  • Flow meter design and development
  • Flow meter testing and calibration (traceable to U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology)
  • Flow meter station design, consultation, layout and optimization
  • Field meter diagnostics and troubleshooting
  • Gas sampling quality and gas consultation
  • Gas measurement personnel training

Flow Test Systems

The MRF has two separate flow test systems:

  • High Pressure Loop (HPL) for high pressure/volume metering applications (pipe diameter 2–20 inches, pressure 165–1,100 psig)
  • Low Pressure Loop (LPL) for low pressure/volume metering applications (pipe diameter 1–8 inches, pressure 20–190 psig)

The HPL and LPL are closed, recirculating flow loops. Both systems are at the same site and are operated from a single control center.

User Benefits

  • Replication of field conditions
  • Meter calibration accuracy better than 0.2 percent
  • Field condition "test bed" for proving meters
  • On-line analysis of test data
  • Quick turnaround of tests
  • Experts for on-site fuel flow measurement audits
  • Expert training on meter station design
  • Expert engineering, testing and analysis of all meter types and sizes
  • Cost savings
  • Traceability to national flow measurement standards
  • Experts for on-site meter station troubleshooting

Clients

  • Flow meter and valve manufacturers
  • Natural gas production and gathering companies
  • Natural gas transmission pipeline companies
  • Local natural gas distribution companies
  • Electric power industry (flow meter manufacturers and power plant operators)
  • Aerospace companies


Learn more about the MRF on our website: www.mrf.swri.org

This flyer was published in April 2007. For more information about the Metering Research Facility, contact Terrence A. Grimley, Principal Engineer, Phone (210) 522-2353, Fax (210) 681-9661, or Michael W. Robertson, Senior Engineer Technologist , Phone (210) 522-5922, Fax (210) 522-2369,
Mechanical Engineering Division, Southwest Research Institute, P.O. Drawer 28510, San Antonio, Texas 78228-0510.

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