What is K-factor in Coriolis meter?
The K-factor in a Coriolis flowmeter refers to the Pulse Scaling Factor (PSF), which defines the number of pulses output by the meter per unit of flow. Unlike traditional mechanical flowmeters, such as turbine meters, where the K-factor is a fixed value, the K-factor in Coriolis meters is adjustable.
The K-factor or PSF allows users to configure the number of pulses per unit of flow (e.g., pulses per barrel, pulse per liter) based on the specific needs of the application. The adjustable nature of the K-factor provides flexibility in measurement, allowing it to be set within the meter operational range, up to the maximum limit of the transmitter or field device to which the Coriolis meter is connected.
This ability to adjust the K-factor ensures that the Coriolis meter can provide highly accurate measurements, tailored to the particular flow conditions, system requirements, and engineering units of the process. The concept of the K-factor or PSF in Coriolis meters is similar to the K-factor used in mechanical meters, but with the added advantage of being adaptable, making Coriolis meters highly versatile in flow measurement applications.
In applications such as liquid hydrocarbon measurement, the PSF plays a crucial role in ensuring precise and customizable flow rate readings, as defined in standards like API MPMS Chapter 5.6, which governs the measurement of liquid hydrocarbons by Coriolis meters.