PDVSA

ENGINEERING DESIGN MANUAL

VOLUME 9–I

ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION

PDVSA N° TITLE

K–302 FLOW INSTRUMENTATION

1 JAN.01 GENERAL REVISION 4 Y. K. A. A. E. C.

0 AUG.94 FOR APPROVAL 32 L.T. E.J. A.N.

REV. DATE DESCRIPTION PAG. REV. APPD. APPD.

APPD.BY Alexis Arévalo DATE JAN. 01 APPD.BY Enrique Carmona DATE JAN.01

E PDVSA, 1983 SPECIALISTS

 ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION PDVSA K–302

PDVSA
REVISION DATE

FLOW INSTRUMENTATION 1 JAN.01

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1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose (Modification)
The purpose of this engineering specification is to provide designers and vendors
with requirements for the design, specification, installation and commissioning of
flow instrumentation. All guidelines of the introduction specification PDVSA
K–300 shall also be explicitly followed.
Since PDVSA has decided to adopt the PIP (Process Industry Practices)
document: PCCFL001 “ Flow Measurement Criteria” as an integral part of the
Engineering Design Manual (MID), the requirements in this document are
additions or modifications to the PCCFL001 and the section/paragraph numbers
and the associated headings used in this document correspond to the ones used
in PCCFL001.

1.2 Scope (Addition)

Restriction flow elements and flow switches are included in this specification.
Gas or liquid hydrocarbon flow measurement systems for custody transfer or fiscal
purposes shall comply with special design, specification, installation, calibration
and commissioning requirements stated on API and regulations defined by
Venezuelan Government Energy Office: Ministerio de Energía y Minas.

2 REFERENCES
2.1 Petróleos de Venezuela Specifications (PDVSA) (Addition)
PDVSA K–300 Introduction to PDVSA Instrumentation
PDVSA K–369 Instrumentation QA/QC

2.2 (Addition)
ISO 5168 ”Measurement of Fluid Flow Evaluation of Uncertainties” shall be
considered as an integral part of this Practice.

4 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
4.1.1 (Modification)

b. Calculation for sizing of concentric, square–edged orifice meters shall conform

to ISO 5167.
c. Nozzle, venturi, and other differential pressure device calculations shall
conform to ISO 5167.
 ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION PDVSA K–302

PDVSA
REVISION DATE

FLOW INSTRUMENTATION 1 JAN.01

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4.1.2 (Modification)
Orifice bore required dimension shall be calculated to the nearest 1 mm (1/16
inch), and differential pressure ranges in 25 mm H2O (1 inch H2O), increments.
Whenever possible, differential pressure calibration ranges of 1250, 2500, 3750
and 5000 mm H2O (50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 inches H2O), are preferred.

4.1.4 (Modification)
The instrument ranges and scales shall be according to plant criteria unless
otherwise specified in the project specification.

4.1.5 (Modification)
Each flow metering application shall be reviewed carefully and the required
measurement uncertainties shall be classified as listed below during the design
stage.
Note that listed uncertainties correspond to the combined expanded uncertainty
for 95% confidence level of the total measurement equation, as defined in NIST
technical note 1297, Guidelines for Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty of
NIST Measurement Results.
Total measurement equation corresponds to all the elements of the measurement
system that contribute error terms: flow elements, flow, pressure, temperature
and analytical sensors, transmitters and receivers, calibration procedures and
calculations, manual compensations, etc. Refer to ISO/TR 5168, Measurement
of Fluid Flow – Evaluation of Uncertainties, and API MPMS, Ch. 14, Sc.3, Part 1
General Equations and Uncertainty Guidelines, for further clarification of these
terms and methods of calculation of uncertainties.
Measurement classification Uncertainties
1 LESS THAN 1.0%
2 BETWEEN 1% AND 2.0%
3 > 2.0%

All measurements of fluids for custody transfer or fiscal purpose shall be class 1,
exceptions require PDVSA approval (i.e.: very inexpensive raw materials).
All other measurements are class 3 except those identified as class 1 or 2 by
project specifications in order to perform efficiency calculations of process plant
or rotating equipment, leak detection or mass balance calculations.

4.2.4 (Modification)
Any piping element which modifies flow profile shall be located a minimum of 5
nominal pipe diameters downstream of the meter.
 ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION PDVSA K–302

PDVSA
REVISION DATE

FLOW INSTRUMENTATION 1 JAN.01

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4.2.5 (Modification)
The use of flow straighteners shall conform to ISO 5167, section 6.3.

4.3 (Modification)
Winterproofing is not required in Venezuela.

4.6.1 (Modify last sentence)

Square root operation may be performed either in the smart transmitter or the DCS
when using the digital mode.

4.7 (Addition) Flow Switches

4.7.1 Flow switching shall be effected by means of a dedicated flow measuring device
with analog or pulse signal, processed in a central control room receiver, where
the switching signal is generated electronically.

4.7.2 Alternatively, flow switching may be effected as follows (previous PDVSA

approval):
S By means of paddle or thermal type direct flow switches.
S As a secondary function of a local flow indicator/totalizer.
S As a secondary functional configuration of a smart type flow transmitter.
4.7.3 Flow switching specification and design shall follow project or site specific
practices and specifications.

4.7.4 The maximum number of independent switching contacts actuated by one flow
switch or meter shall be two.

4.7.5 For safety applications flow switches shall be dedicated. Installations sharing one
flow element with dual sensors –one for indication, one for safety– and separately
cased transmitter electronics require PDVSA approval. For additional
information, refer to PDVSA K–336, Safety Instrumented Systems.

5 SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
5.1.1 (Addition)
Ring type joint orifice flanges shall be used only in ratings Class 900 and up, in
accordance with ANSI B16.36.
5.1.4 (Modification)
Orifice plates shall be fabricated according to ISO 5167.
 ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION PDVSA K–302

PDVSA
REVISION DATE

FLOW INSTRUMENTATION 1 JAN.01

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5.1.14 (Modification)
Meter tube pipe and orifice flange internal dimensional tolerances shall be in
accordance with ISO 5167.
5.1.15 (Addition)
Table 2 only applies for class 3 measurements and requires PDVSA approval.
5.2.2 (Modification)
Tap connections shall be installed according to ISO 5167.
5.2.3 (Modification)
Minimum straight run pipe length requirements shall conform to ISO 5167.
5.3.1 (Modification)
Classical venturis shall be fabricated according to ISO 5167.

5.5 (Addition)
The use of integral orifice requires PDVSA approval.
5.8.6 (Addition)
Most petroleum hydrocarbons have insufficient conductivity to be measured with
a magnetic flowmeter. Therefore, use in petroleum industry applications is limited
to certain water, acids, emulsions, and other conductive liquids.
5.13.5 (Modification)
Scales for purge meters shall read according to plant criteria unless otherwise
specified in the project specification.

6 (Addition)QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL

Refer to PDVSA Specification K–369