The Changing Face of

Precision Flow
Measurement

Flowmeter Selection
Process
Tendency to stay with whats worked in past
Gathering information often difficult
Not an Exact Science

Usually more than one answer

Potential LARGE gains

Reduced CAPEX

Reduced OPEX

Flow Technology Selection

Process
Application/Purpose of Measurement
Actions: Review purpose of measurement, key
performance criteria, environmental
considerations, approvals

Purpose of Measurement

Performance
Actions: Complete Spec Sheet, Size Flowmeters
for application, complete Installed Performance
analysis

Installed vs Reference Performance

Cost/Economics
Actions: Consider schedule, price, cost to Install,
operating costs (Reliability, Maintenance, Energy, etc.)

Price/Installed Cost/Life-Cycle Cost

Select Flowmeter

Precision Flow Market

$3.7 Billion
Market

FY07 Precision Flow Market $Millions

Average CAGR: 6.3%

dP

Coriolis
Mag

Turbine
PD

Ultrasonic
Thermal Mass
Vortex

Technology CAGRs (07-12)

Why Coriolis Direct Mass

Measurement

Coriolis meters have been the fastest growing flow measurement

technologies over the past decade.
Growth has been driven by a unique ability to measure mass
directly
Better control of Chemical reactions (based on molecular ratios)
Better Mass balance
Reduced Process Variability especially in compressible fluids (Gas)

40.9 gal.

42.0 gal.

20 F
342 lbs.

60 F
342 lbs.

The same amount of fluid (342 lb)

looks like 2.7% difference with
volumetric measurement (42.0
vs. 40.9 gallons)

Slide 5

Theory of Operation
The Coriolis effect is an inertia force.
In 1835, Gustave-Gaspard de Coriolis showed that this inertia
force must be taken into consideration if the simple Newtons Law
of Motion of bodies are to be used in a rotating frame of reference.

Gasparde de Coriolis

Coriolis Effect: The original path is deflected

westward by the rotation of the planet

Slide 6

Theory of Operation Mass

Flow
In a Coriolis meter, the inertial force is provided by vibrating the flow
tubes. The tube twist or angle of deflection from the vibration plane
is measured and converted into a mass flow measurement.
Most implementations use a pair of counter-vibrating tubes to cancel
the effect of external vibrations, but many geometries exist.
Flow
Axis

Flow Tubes

Flow
Vibration
Vibration

Twist

Micro Motion Confidential

Page 7

Slide 7

Theory of Operations Mass

Flow

Process fluid enters the sensor and flow is split with half the
flow through each tube. The sensor flow tubes are vibrated
in opposition to each other by energizing a drive coil. Tubes
are oscillated at their natural frequency.
Magnet and coil assemblies, called pick-offs, are mounted
on the flow tubes. As each coil moves through the uniform
magnetic field of the adjacent magnet it creates a voltage
in the form of a sine wave.

Slide 8

Theory of Operations Mass

Flow

During a no flow condition, there is no Coriolis effect and the

sine waves are in phase with each other.
When fluid is moving through the sensor's tubes, Coriolis
forces are induced causing the flow tubes to twist in
opposition to each other. The time difference between the
sine waves is measured and is called Delta-T which is
directly proportional to the mass flow rate.

Slide 9

Theory of Operations Mass

Flow
We also measure temperature why?

Compensates for the effect of temperature on tube rigidity (%

change in rigidity per 100C).

Three wire platinum RTD measures

process temperature

Accurate to +/- 1.0oC

Available as additional process variable

RTD

Micro Motion Confidential

Page 10

Slide 10

Theory of Operation Density

Density measurement is based on the natural frequency of

the system including the flow tubes and the process fluid.
As the mass increases, the natural frequency of the system
decreases.
As the mass decreases, the natural frequency of the system
increases.

Slide 11

Theory of Operation Density

The density of the process
fluid can be derived from the

frequency of oscillation of the sensor. This frequency signal

is taken from one or both pickoff coils.
The volume of the fluid contained in the flow tubes remains
constant, so the only way mass can change is if density also
changes. Because of this relationship between mass and
density, the natural frequency of the flow tubes indicates not
only the mass of the fluid contained, but also the density.

Slide 12

Theory of Operation Density

Density calibration is performed at the factory on air and

water.

Tube period of air (K1) 10484

Tube period of water (K2) 10966
Tube Period = 10817
Density = 0.6871 g/cm3
Density of air (D1) 0.0010
Density of water (D2) 0.9982
Temperature coefficient 4.39

The transmitter automatically performs

a calculation based upon the data points
stored in its memory during calibration.

Field calibrations can also be performed

using air, water, or alternate fluids
depending on the density span desired.
Slide 13

Why Coriolis Summary

Multivariable Measurements
Mass Flow, Volume Flow, Density, Temperature, % Solids,
Concentration
Measures liquids, Gases, and Slurries
Insensitive to fluid properties
Pressure, Temperature, Density, or Viscosity
Calibration on water transfers to all other fluids including gases
Easy to Install and Maintain
Measures independent of flow profile, no Straight run required
No Moving Parts
Bi-directional
High Accuracy
+/- 0.05% of rate Liquid Mass Flow
+/- 0.10% of rate Liquid Volume Flow
+/- 0.35% of rate Gas Flow
+/- 0.0002 g/cc Liquid Density
High turndown, >100:1 possible
Batch accuracies to 0.10%
Slide 14

In-Situ Meter Verification

Calibration
Micro Motion Super Service Centers only reliable facility for
calibrating (or re-calibrating) meters!
Typically, customers will request factory cal for master
meters or cal carts

Validation
Primary flow standards such as provers, flow labs, and
master meters
Required for regulatory, agency, or contractual
agreements (AGA, API, OLNL, Country Specific Custody
Transfer requirements )

Verification
Most customers need to verify not validate or calibrate
Secondary comparison such as cal carts, catch & weigh,
etc.
Driven by Standard Operating Procedures and Quality
Assurance
Troubleshooting

Easily Verify Meter Performance and

Health
Can I tell if my Coriolis meter has changed?
Can I detect when the meter is being coated?
How often do I need to recalibrate my meter?
Characteristics that alter meter performance

Erosion

Cracking

Pitting

Coating

We calibrate manually by taking meters out of the

process, and it is a pain. It is an all-day deal and we pay
$2k to 3k per meter per year for this. --- Oil & Gas
Customer

Using Verification in the Field

Meter Verification Process
Okay
Not Okay
Trigger limits are tunable
Damage
Begins
Factory
Calibration

Erosion

Cracking

Customer advised
Not Okay due to
measurement change

Pitting

Coating

Sample of Verification Report

Micro Motion
Coriolis Flow and Density Leaders
Unparalleled Value
31 years of flow and density measurement experience
Over 600,000 installations
1700 dedicated flow and density specialists

Product Breadth
Widest range of flow and density measurement
solutions

Technology Leadership
Continuous innovation driven by customer needs
Committed to providing the highest performing
measurement devices available

Questions ???

Slide 20