•    provision of metrological support to the Lithuanian energy sector in the field of fluid flow measurements, establishment and maintenance of state flow standards and ensuring measurement traceability to national and international standards; test of thermal equipment and gas appliances carried out with the aim to determine its conformity to the requirements of Lithuanian and European normative documents;

•    research of influence of liquid physical properties and flow disturbances on the metrological characteristics of referen­ce and working volume and flow rate meters, operating under different principals; proving the reliability of metrological characteristics of meters calibrated by fluids-substitutes for measuring real flow of technical and nutritional liquids;

•    research, testing and conformity assessment of measuring devices of liquid fuel, water, heat and gas, as well as gas appliances and water heating boilers, heated with gaseous, liquid and solid fuel (including biofuel).

 

•    calibration of measuring instruments and facilities designed for their calibration/verification, tests and conformity assessment of measuring instruments and water heating boilers and gas appliances. In the field of water and heat meters the Laboratory is accredified, identification No 1621;

•    testing and conformity assessment of gas appliances and water heating boilers, heated with gaseous, liquid and solid fuel, including biofuel; in the field of gas appliances the Laboratory has been notified and granted the identification No 1621;

•    for testing and conformity assessments of water heating boilers the Laboratory meets the requirements of LST EN 305-1:2000.

 

Calibration and measuring capabilities of the Laboratory, confirmed and announced by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIMP) 

Quantity	Measuring  range	Measuring     conditions	Expanded                uncertainty ±%	Type of  reference facility
Gas volume and flow rate	0,016–6000 m3/h *0,005–9700 m3/h	Air, 20 ± 2oC,  atmospheric pressure	0,13– 0,30	Facility with bell type prover, critical nozzles and reference meters
Gas flow velocity	0,20–60 m/s  * 0,05– 0,2– 60 m/s	Air, 20 ± 2oC, atmospheric pressure	7,0–1,0  *50–7,0–1,0 ** 12–2,5 –0,30	Pitot tube, nozzles, laser  and ultrasonic anemometer
Water volume and flow rate	5–500 dm3 0,4–30 m3/h  *5–1500 dm3  *0,01–100 m3/h	Water, 20 ± 5oC, pressure 0,45 MPa	0,08  0,12	Facility with balances and flow diverter
Volume of oil products	500–5000 dm3 1–120 m3/h	Exxsol D80,  20 ± 2oC,             pressure 0,45 MPa,  viscosityd≤ 20 MPa·s	0,12  ** 0,08	Facility with reference tanks (vessels) at  ”start - stop” regime

 

 * – Extensions of already accredited fields, but not presented for BIPM;       ** – Planned to submit for accreditation

 

 

 

Young researchers of the Laboratory (from left): PhD Candidates I. Briliūtė, A. Bertašienė and E. Maslauskas, Master students M. Kulokas and A. Bončkus, postgraduates of KTU T. Vonžodas and A. Grigula

 

 

 

The Laboratory possesses the following aerodynamic and hydrodynamic facilities, equipped with contemporary measuring equipment and calculation technique:   

•    4 aerodynamic and 2 hydrodynamic facilities, which ensure the highest accuracy when measuring air (gas) velocity, air (gas), water and liquid fuel volume and flow rate and heat amount in Lithuania;

•    8 facilities to investigate and test liquid and gas meters;

•    facility to investigate the efficiency of heat equipment and emissions.

All facilities are in good conformity with international requirements and may be applied for scientific research and assessment of conformity requirements. The Laboratory can also construct and manufacture the required equipment.

 

 

LDA testing in the Laboratory hydrodynamic facility with the participation of manufacturer German ILA GmbH representative M.Dues

 

 

 

 

Transitional regime phenomena influence research in the field of low velocities were continued aiming at ensuring reliable reproduction of air velocity values within the range 0.05–0.20 m/s and validate new calibration and measurement possibilities of standard in data base of International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). 

A facility was constructed and investigated, in which sonic nozzles connected to measurement channel are used to achieve stable velocity values, which ensure stable air mass flow rate at critical flow regime.

Results of theoretical and experimental research of impact of flow pulsations on errors of turbine meters were generalized in the field of air (gas) volume and flow rate measurement, which enabled to determine error variations. These activities, financed by the Lithuanian State Science and Studies Fund, were developed in cooperation with Ukrainian researchers. A facility was constructed and installed to perform analysis of inaccuracy causes, which often occur in the natural gas supply pipelines. The equipment was assembled for SC Panevėžio Energija to deal with the situation, conditioned by compressor evoked pulsations.

 

 

Most of attention was devoted to:

•    the impact of hydrodynamic disturbances, evoked by barriers, abrupt cross-section changes and flow pulsations, on the measurement accuracy of most often used meters;

•    to estimate the impact of water vapour at increased flow temperature, by reproducing volume and flow rate values;

•    application of Laser-Doppler anemometer to measure water flow characteristics;

•    generalization of the impact of oil product viscosity.

One of the most significant accomplishments – commissioning of Laser-Doppler anemometer (LDA) and its testing for measuring water flow velocity and its distribution. Composition of LDA submitted by German company ILA GmbH is analogous to the one already used in the laboratory to measure LDA air flow characteristics of the same company, however higher capacity laser is used. Pilot experiments revealed that LDA enables to accurately measure velocity distributions in pipe’s cross-section and sensitively reacts to deformations of velocity profile. This confirms a provision to use velocity-area method to calibrate big water meters on the sites of their exploitation.

 

Another important activity of the Laboratory – research of water volume measurement at enhanced water temperature, which were compared at international level in accordance with EURAMET project No 877 when flow rates are at 6–25 dm3/h, whereas water temperature – 50oC. Research revealed that laboratory equipment and measuring methods are of relevant level so that it would be possible to perform research and tests in accordance with requirements of Directive 2004/22/EC.

Generalized impact of oil products viscosity on metrological characteristics of positive displacement meters is based on theoretical provisions and comparisons with the results, obtained after performing meter testing at the Netherlands national measurement institute laboratory in three flows of different viscosity oil products. In 2008 activities for improving the standard were initiated aiming at reducing the uncertainty of volume values provided by standard. 

Conformity assessment activity

In 2008 the Laboratory initiated the activities important for Lithuanian manufacturers and related to:

•    research of water and heat meters and conformity assessments (the notified field);

•    research and testing of water heating boilers fired by wood fuel, in accordance with requirements of standard LST EN 305-1:2000.

The first certificates of electromagnetic water meter type examination were issued for SC Axis Industries and water heating boilers were tested at Lithuanian SC Astra and Kalvis and even 10 boilers of Danish manufacturers fired by wood pellets. Such certificates are validated in European countries.

 

 

 

 

Laboratory implementing functions of state standard laboratory in 2008 participated in annual meetings of EURAMET and COOMET technical committees Flows in Berlin and Bratislava, where proposals were suggested to harmonize conditions of air velocity unit reproduction and 5 working themes were excluded aiming at becoming participant at international projects in accordance with European metrology research programme.  

Bilateral measurement comparison with NMi (The Netherlands) is attributed to fully completed international comparisons in 2008, within measuring range 200–2200 dm3/min using oil products – diesel, fuel oil and petrol. 

Laboratory standard measurement possibilities correlated well with reference values, which were submitted by national laboratories, which organized the comparisons. This shows that correlation of important energy resources flow measurement is guaranteed at international level.   

Moreover, the Laboratory completed the cycle of comparisons among Lithuanian laboratories, included into water and gas meter verifications, aiming at ensuring that their services guarantee the accounting accuracy of important resources.   

 

 

B belongs to one of the three different strands of the European Community Initiative, part-financed from the European Regional Development Fund. Strand B of the INTERREG Initiative supports translational co-operation to enhance balanced and sustainable development of the European territory. The Baltic Sea Region is one of the 13 European INTERREG III B co-operation areas. The European countries consortium, which encompasses the laboratory as well, won the competition and will participate in implementing this project.

 

Characteristics of Lithuanian and international comparisons for 2008 

 

Project status	Reference laboratory	Fluid,  measuring size	Measuring range	Number of countries/ laboratories
EUROMET (M.FF-K3) 514, completed	NMI The Netherlands	Air, velocity	0.2–4.5 m/s	9/9
EURAMET 1006, completed at LEI	CMI Czech Republic	Air, velocity	1000–10 000 m3/h	14/16
EURAMET 877, completed at LEI	SP Sweden	Water 50 oC, volume	0.006–0.025 m3/h	Is continued
COOMET M.FF.-S2 406/UA/07, approved	PTB Germany	Water, volume	0.06–100 m3/h	7/7
EURAMET, approved	INMRI Italy	Air, velocity	2–50 m/s	Under adjustment
EURAMET 1046, approved	CMI Czech Republic	Water, volume	1–10 m3/h	12/13
COOMET 412/UA/07, approved	SE Ivano-FrankovskSM Ukraine	Air, volume	4–160 m3/h	4/4
VMT.S.009 (VS-2), completed	LEI	Water, volume	0.03–10 m3/h	1/14
VMT/LNAB (DS-2)	LEI	Air, volume	0.016–100	1/5
LNAB, completed at LEI	KMC	Temperature	0–70 oC	1/8

 

 

Perspective activities 

 

Taking into account sudden changes of economy and science demands, the laboratory accelerates the activities directed towards measurements of low velocities and volumes, in the nearest future orienting towards the issue of micro-flows measurement. The first positive results are evidenced by research of air velocity range 0.05 m/s measurement possibilities; comparisons of hot water amount measurements at flow rate 6–25 dm3/h, in accordance with EURAMET project No 877; join to the activity of newly developed subcommittee Microflows, which belongs to EURAMET technical committee Flows; submission of initial research results at the first European conference Microfluidics 2008 in Italy.

Personnel

All possible conditions are provided in the Laboratory to perform scientific research and aim for scientific degree. The tasks solved at the Laboratory are widely applied in practice not only in Lithuania but also in foreign countries.  

In 2008 28 employees worked at the Laboratory: 11 research associates, 5 doctors and 1 Doctor Habilitus and 3 PhD Candidates; 12 engineers, 2 of them Master students; 1 technician and 4 high quality skilled workers.

Conclusions

Results of scientific and applied works of 2008 may be generalized in the following way:

 

•    7 articles published in reviewed journals, 2 of which with ISI index, 6 papers were presented at conference of important works, 8 papers at international and 9 at Lithuanian conferences;

•    Group of researchers (Dr. Habil. A. Pedišius, Dr. J. Tonkonogij, Dr. G. Zygmantas and Dr. N. Pedišius) received Lithuanian science award of year 2008;

•    Over 200 calibration and 3000 verifications and tests were carried out in main areas of activity, among them foreign countries – Latvian and Danish contractors;

•    Activities were carried in accordance with the following important agreements with State metrology service – to maintain and improve state standard level; to investigate manufactured products of Lithuanian SC Axis Industries, Astra and Kalvis and estimate their conformity to the requirements; with the Lithuanian State Science and Studies Fund to prepare recommendation regarding natural gas accounting accuracy;

•    Technical expertises of inspection bodies and new measurement devices supplied to Lithuanian market were carried out, it was participated in the working group estimating studies programs of Lithuanian universities and colleges in the field of energy;

•    Over 250 thousand Litas were applied for the improvement of experimental equipment and purchase of the new one.