Flow computer

A flow computer is an electronic computational device which implements the required algorithms to turn the raw data received from flow meters to which it is connected into volumes at base conditions.

A flow computer also audits changes that have been made to any of the parameters required to turn the raw flow meter data into volumes. It records events and alarms related to the flow meter (for example, loss of flow, loss of required electrical signals from measurement transducers, or transition of these electrical signals near their upper or lower range). It will keep a running tally of the volume for each flow meter it monitors and perform a gauge off of this volume on an hourly, daily or monthly basis. The flow data is made available externally through an electronic interface so that other computers can download the information for the purposes of supervision, accounting or auditing.

Many types of flow meter equipment implement flow computers intrinsically. Many different types of RTUs that can be used as flow computers are available, most notably from Fisher/Rosemount, Bristol-Babcock, Emerson, Yokagawa, Control Microsystems and Omni.

See also

API MPMS Chapter 21 -- This standard addresses the ability to audit and verify the information produced by a flow computer, and defines the data which a flow computer should retain, the items which should be audited if modified, the reports which the system will be capable of producing and the methodologies to follow.

Algorithms one can expect to see implemented in a typical flow computer are AGA Report No. 3, AGA Report No. 7, AGA Report No. 8. Other algorithms specific to particular types or manufacturers of flow meters may also be implemented.