Talk:gasometer

RFV
Rfv-sense: instrument used to measure the flow of gas. Sounds reasonable, but it's not the word's usual meaning. Ƿidsiþ 10:37, 13 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Searching b.g.c. for "through a gasometer" finds a few cites that I think might be in this sense:
 * http://books.google.com/books?id=Rm3mAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA187&dq=gasometer
 * http://books.google.com/books?id=t_URAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA177&dq=gasometer
 * http://books.google.com/books?id=GwNpEjkRSxwC&pg=PA85&dq=gasometer
 * http://books.google.com/books?id=_3k2AQAAIAAJ&pg=PA9&dq=gasometer
 * What do you think?
 * —Ruakh TALK 05:27, 17 September 2013 (UTC)


 * I think that the classic gasometer gas storage vessel which collapses like a telescope as it empties is so named because one can directly observe how much gas is in it from its height. It follows that the flowmeter meaning probably preceded the gas storage meaning as is indicated by definition #1. Spinning Spark  16:00, 17 September 2013 (UTC)
 * has a discussion of the function of the gasholder device and the etymology. DCDuring TALK 02:12, 30 November 2013 (UTC)
 * AFAICT, gasholder/gasometer devices can be used to measure a volume of gas that flows in a given period at a given pressure. This yields a flow rate. Such devices are used to calibrate gas-flow meters that operate on other principles. The logic for a gas pipeline, a gas-producing factory, a lab, pulmonary testing are all the same. In some cases the function of maintaining pressure in conditions of unbalanced demand and supply is more important that the function of measuring a volume of gas accumulated in a period. Thus in gas distribution the word gasholder seems to be more common. If the sole function is the measuring a volume of gas to be used in a gas-flow-rate calculation, the term gasometer seems to be used. Even in a gas-distribution context the calibrating device seems to be a prover, which is defined as a special type of gasometer. DCDuring TALK 05:04, 30 November 2013 (UTC)


 * Most of the Google Books hits for "through a gasometer" actually seem to use the "tank" sense. However, I've merged the third sense into the first sense to the extent that I thought was justified by the citations. - -sche (discuss) 19:52, 6 January 2014 (UTC)