RMGA Meter Reading and Measurement 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the unit of measurement displayed on a residential natural gas meter in the United States?
- Therms
- Cubic feet (CCF or MCF) (Correct answer)
- Pounds per square inch
- BTUs
Correct answer: Cubic feet (CCF or MCF)
Residential gas meters in the US typically display consumption in cubic feet, billed in hundred cubic feet (CCF) or thousand cubic feet (MCF).
Question 2: What device is installed on a gas meter to measure the volume of gas passing through it?
- Turbine flowmeter only
- Diaphragm meter (for residential), turbine or rotary meter (for commercial/industrial) (Correct answer)
- Orifice plate only
- Venturi meter only
Correct answer: Diaphragm meter (for residential), turbine or rotary meter (for commercial/industrial)
Residential customers typically use diaphragm (bellows) meters, while larger commercial and industrial customers use turbine or rotary displacement meters.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a meter index correction factor (or meter multiplier)?
- To adjust for altitude differences in gas energy content
- To convert raw meter dial readings into actual gas volume consumed (Correct answer)
- To calibrate the pressure regulator on the meter set
- To account for seasonal temperature variations in billing
Correct answer: To convert raw meter dial readings into actual gas volume consumed
The meter multiplier converts the meter's index reading into actual cubic feet or other billing units when the meter register does not display the full volume directly.
Question 4: What is an Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system?
- A manual clipboard-based system for recording meter reads
- A technology that allows meter data to be collected remotely without a meter reader walking the route (Correct answer)
- A pressure test system for new meter installations
- An alarm system that notifies customers of high gas usage
Correct answer: A technology that allows meter data to be collected remotely without a meter reader walking the route
AMR systems use radio frequency or other communication technologies to collect meter data remotely, improving efficiency and reducing billing errors.
Question 5: What causes a 'fast meter' in natural gas measurement?
- Excessive inlet pressure
- A meter that records more gas than actually passes through it, resulting in over-billing (Correct answer)
- A meter with worn bearings that rotates too slowly
- Incorrect odorant concentration in the gas
Correct answer: A meter that records more gas than actually passes through it, resulting in over-billing
A fast meter records higher volumes than actually flow through it, causing the customer to be billed for more gas than was used.
Question 6: Why must a gas meter be installed in a level, upright position?
- To ensure proper diaphragm movement and accurate measurement (Correct answer)
- To allow rainwater to drain from the meter body
- To improve wireless AMR signal transmission
- To meet aesthetic requirements for residential installations
Correct answer: To ensure proper diaphragm movement and accurate measurement
Diaphragm meters must be installed upright and level to ensure the diaphragm chambers move correctly and displacement volumes are accurately measured.
RMGA Meter Reading and Measurement 1
What is the unit of measurement displayed on a residential natural gas meter in the United States?