The Changing Face of Precision Flow Measurement

Flowmeter Selection Process• Tendency to stay with what’s 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 ProcessApplication/Purpose of Measurement

Performance

Cost/Economics

Select Flowmeter

Purpose of Measurement

Installed vs Reference Performance

Price/Installed Cost/Life-Cycle Cost

Actions: Review purpose of measurement, key performance criteria, environmental considerations, approvals

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

analysis

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

FY

07 P

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Mar

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$Mil

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Technology CAGRs (’07-’12)

Coriolis

$3.7 Billion Market

Ultrasonic

Precision Flow Market

Thermal Mass

Vortex

Mag

dP

Turbine

PD

Average CAGR: 6.3%

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)

Slide 5

The same amount of fluid (342 lb) looks like 2.7% difference with volumetric measurement (42.0 vs. 40.9 gallons)

40.9 gal. 42.0 gal.

20° F342 lbs.

60° F342 lbs.

Theory of Operation

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• 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 Newton’s 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

Theory of Operation – Mass Flow

Slide 7

• 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.

Vibration

Flow

Flow

Axis

Twist

Vibration

Flow Tubes

Micro Motion ConfidentialPage 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 100°C).

Slide 10

Three wire platinum RTD measures process temperature

Accurate to +/- 1.0oC

Available as additional process variable

RTD

Micro Motion ConfidentialPage 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– 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

Tube Period = 10817Density = 0.6871 g/cm3

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

• 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

In-Situ Meter Verification

Easily Verify Meter Performance and Health

“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

• “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?”

Erosion Cracking Pitting Coating

Characteristics that alter meter performance

-0.06

-0.04

-0.02

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0 20 40 60 80 100

Measurement Number

Str

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Mea

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Using Verification in the Field

Factory Calibration

Customer advised “Not Okay” due to

measurement change

Meter Verification Process

Okay

Not Okay

Damage Begins

Erosion

Cracking

Pitting

Coating

Trigger limits are tunable

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 ???

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