Correlation of the leakage flow rate with pressure changes in a clearance-sealed piston prover

Leakage flow rate is one of the most important contributions to the measurement uncertainty when measuring small gas flow rates with a clearance-sealed piston prover. Our previous study has shown that the systematic effects related to the change of the gas viscosity can be successfully corrected, whereas the effects related to the reproducibility of the leakage flow rate are poorly understood. This paper focuses on the interpretation and correction of the reproducibility related effects by analysing experimentally identified variations of the leakage flow rate and the gas pressure in the inclined piston prover. Small changes of the leakage flow in the inclined piston prover indicate that the position of the piston relative to the cylinder remains approximately the same. The obtained relationship between the leakage flow rate and the gas pressure below the piston led to the pressure-based correction of the leakage flow rate.