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Energy Metering Audit Procedure
Abstract
This paper describes the recent audit of the
utility distribution meters in a petrochemical
plant. These meters measure the steam,
condensate, natural gas, water, nitrogen and air
flows to the different process units within the
plant. This audit started as an attempt to
resolve discrepancies between the 650 PSIG steam
distribution and supply meters.
Theoretically the sum of the 650 PSIG steam
flows to the units should have matched the total
of the steam supplied to the plant. However, in
this plant the monthly totals of the
distribution were consistently 15% - 25% lower
than the supply meter totals. The plant is
billed on the basis of the supply meters.
Therefore, these discrepancies represented a
significant utility cost, approximately $150,000
a year, that was arbitrarily allocated among the
different units.
The plant commissioned an audit of the 650 PSIG
distribution and supply meters. The purpose of
this audit was to:
1. Certify that there were no users not
monitored by the existing distribution
meters.
2. Verify the operability and accuracy of the
meters.
Hopefully, the results of the audit would allow
the plant to account for at least 90% of the
steam supplied. This accounting was necessary
for equitable distribution of utility costs and
accurate determination of unit production costs.
The project was eventually expanded to include
all utility streams. The audit of the following
utilities was funded and implemented due to
their relatively high unit costs:
650 PSIG steam,
200 PSIG steam,
natural gas, and nitrogen.
The audit of the other utilities is planned but
a schedule has not been established.
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Citation
Whitaker, W. S. (1987). Energy Metering Audit Procedure. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.eslwin.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /92486.