Flow meter diagnostics

A method to adaptively learn a baseline differential pressure characteristic of a meter in an installation, the method comprising:

• (a) measuring differential pressure (dP) across a rotary gas flow meter over a period of time;
• (b) for each dP measurement, determining a flow rate through the meter;
• (c) comparing the measured dP information to a threshold differential pressure that is greater than an initial baseline dP characteristic at the determined flow rate;
• (d) monitoring the performance of the meter based on the comparison;
• and
• (e) generating at least one baseline dP characteristic based on the measured differential pressure and determined flow rate information.

A computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier and containing instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform operations to automatically learn a baseline dP characteristic for a meter installed to measure a gas being transported in a gas line, the operations comprising:

• selecting a predetermined baseline dP characteristic for a rotary gas meter;
• determining a differential pressure across the meter at each of a plurality of measured flow rates;
• determining at each measured flow rate whether any of the determined differential pressures exceeds the selected baseline dP characteristic by more than a threshold value;
• and
• storing the determined differential pressure at each of the plurality of measured flow rates to define a second baseline dP characteristic.