Abstract:
Addressing the inefficiency of domestic testing institutions in verifying electronic gas meters using the cumulative flow method, this study proposes a novel design scheme for a verification device employing the instantaneous flow method. The scheme incorporates a near-infrared acquisition interface, which is compiled according to the T/CMA-RQ standard “Optical Interface and Communication Protocol for Gas Meter Testing,” achieving uniformity in near-infrared communication protocols among various manufacturers. The reliability of measurement results using the instantaneous flow method is verified through assessments of its equivalence to the cumulative flow method and its efficiency. Additionally, a combination of multiple nozzles is utilized to enable the detection of all flow points within the G4 to G100 specifications. The stability of the flow field for small-flow nozzles is optimized by installing a butterfly valve between the large and small stagnation containers to create a partition. Furthermore, the instantaneous flow acquisition interface for the gas meter station is optimized. The overall device achieves a detection capability with a flow range of (0.016 to 160) m
3/h and an expanded uncertainty of 0.30% (
k = 2), filling the gap in domestic testing institutions that have not yet adopted the instantaneous flow method for verifying electronic gas meters.