Investigations on the limits of uncertainty of gas density measurements with vibrating tube densimeters

The aim of this work was to examine the scope and limitations of gas density measurements with vibrating tube densimeters, especially their limits of measurement uncertainty. For this purpose, equipment was designed with glass and stainless steel vibrating tubes. The stability and sensitivity of the equipment were tested by measuring empty tubes (vacuum); the reproducibility of gas density measurements was examined with argon and methane. A calibration equation was derived from measurements with evacuated tubes, liquid water, argon and methane by means of the Wagner equation optimization method. With the gases helium, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, butane, tetrafluoromethane and sulphur hexafluoride the uncertainty of gas density measurements was tested. The measurements were performed in the range 30- C in the pressure range 0-2.7 MPa. The uncertainty of gas density measurements with vibrating tubes is in the range of hundredths of kg ; the sensitivity of the equipment to density changes is higher by at least one order of magnitude. The primary reason for the great difference between the sensitivity and the uncertainty of measurements is the inadequate pressure stability of the vibrating tubes. In order to perform gas density measurements of higher quality (for example for scientific purposes) it would be necessary to increase the stability of the vibrating tubes at changing pressure loads by modifying their construction and/or materials.