Dear Sirs,

I am a flowmeter supplier in China. Yesterday, I got an inquiry from a customer. there were some words I don't understand. please help me.

he wrote 'flow Min.: 200 bwpd '
'Oper. Sp.Gr.: 4lb/ft3
about meter, 'calculated dP: 200"WC.
Isolation Valves: slimline DBBV 900#.

Could you please tell me what 'bwpd', '150WC' 'Isolation Valves: slimline DBBV 900#'means? And what does 'Oper. Sp.Gr' stand for?

Thank you in advance.
Cecilia

 

Dear Cecilia,

bwpd : Barrel Water Per Day
Oper. Sp.Gr : Operational Specific Gravity
calculated dP: Calculated Differential pressure
WC = Inch water Column.
DBBV = Double Block and Bleed Plug *Valve*

Regards
Aan

 

BWPD = Barrel Water Per Day.
Flow Min = Minimum Flow capacity.
Sp. Gr. = Specific Gravity.
dP 200" WC = Differential Pressure in inches of Water Column.
DBBV = Double Block and Bleed Valve.
With 900#, your customer might be telling about the Diameter.

M M Ahsan
ahsan_rpc AT yahoo DOT com

 

Hi there,

Oper. Sp.Gr = 4lb/ft3

This is the operating specific gravity or relative density of your client’s product that will be flowing through the flow meter once installed and in operation.

If you convert it into the metric standard this “4” will be equal to SG = 0,0641g/cm3 so this tells you the product will be a gas and not a liquid, since looking at the SG of air being “1’, this product looks like Hydrogen or something similar.

To explain further.

We always work with SG but it is exactly the same as density of a product. SG does not have any units of measure since it is only a ratio of a product’s density to that of air or water. Air and water are the reference points so to speak, so if the SG of a gas is 0,06 (density = 0,06g/cm3) that means it is with reference to air’s SG (Density =1g/cm3) and if the SG of a liquid is specified as 0.8 (density = 0,8g/cm3) that means it is with reference to clean water’s SG (density = 1g/cm3)

'flow Min.: 200 bwpd '
bwpd = Barrels of Water Per Day
The minimum flow will be 200 barrels of water per day
1 Barrel = 158,9 liters
159 x 200 = 31800 liters/day = 31,8 m3/day
So,
The minimum flow will be 31,8m3/day

about meter, 'calculated dP: 200"WC.
This refers to the restricting element like a orifice plate installed in the flow line to be measured. The "dp" refers to the differential pressure across the orifice plate during the minimum flow as specified above (200 bwpd)

"WC = inches water column and is a unit of measure for pressure. This is exactly the same as inches H2O so it can easily be converted into a unit of measure you want to work with. 1 inches H2O = 0,249Kpa

Isolation Valves: slimline DBBV 900#.

On the up and downstream side of the orifice plate you have the impulse lines that will go to the flow meter (DP transmitter). In order to isolate these impulse lines you need to have main isolation valves on them.

Slimline is most probably the make of the valves.

DBBV refers to the type of valve - Double Block and Bleed Valve.
900# refers to the pressure rating of the valve body in PSI (pounds per square inch). So 900PSI

Couple of things that does not make sense that you might want to ask your client.

Bwpd as a unit of measure is normally only used when we do water injection back into the wells so why specify the flow of gas in these units of measure?

Why the DBBV as isolation valves? You only need a couple of small ball valves unless the process pressure is in the region of 100Bar or more, but even then 600 lb rating are more than adequate.

 

Hi Sam,

Thanks for your explaination and time. They are so detailed. You are so kind.

Actually, I have only been working as a flow meter sales for 1 month, and I have no idea about it before. Flow meter is so complex!

This inquiry is from one of my india new customer. They want to use it in a steam injector well. I don't know why they specify the flow of gas in bwpd unit.

Best Regards
Cecilia

 

Hi, Sam,

Could you please explain two ab. in one valve technical specification, as follows,

1, minimum downstop

2, DP SIZING,

"DP MAX = 0.35MPa, DP SIZING = 0kPa"

thanks a lot.

 

Cecelia... you must also define "barrel!" For example:

o Barrel (US) = 31.5 Gallons (US)

o Barrel (Br) = 36.0 Gallons (Br)

o Barrel (oil) = 42.0 Gallons (US)

Regards, Phil Corso