Feature sponsored by Test & measurement S
ince their introduction in the 1980s, Coriolis mass flowmeters have become one of the most versatile and reliable means of measuring the flow of liquids or gases. Recognised for their
ability to measure multiple attributes over sustained periods with high repeatability and very little maintenance, they have steadily established a reputation for accuracy, versatility and durability that has led to their use in a growing range of industries. Coriolis meters work by measuring the mass flow rate and density and temperature of a fluid as it flows through a vibrating tube. By also measuring density, the meters enable additional calculations about the substance’s concentration. By measuring mass flow, density,
concentration and temperature, a single Coriolis meter can do the work of multiple instruments, eliminating the cost of purchasing separate devices and minimising the requirement for spare parts and overall maintenance. This combination of measurements can be highly useful in many applications. In oil extraction, for example, the combined measurements available using a Coriolis meter can help determine how much water is coming out of the ground with the oil, providing a useful indicator of overall production efficiency.” The working principles of Coriolis meters offer several distinct advantages. With no moving parts that come in direct contact with the measured substance, whether gas or liquid, they require little maintenance or upkeep. Once calibrated at the factory, they also tend to remain calibrated throughout their lifecycle. In addition, because Coriolis is the only principle capable of measuring mass flow of gas and liquids without any calculation, results are independent of changes in temperature or pressure. The use of Coriolis flowmeters also allows for density measurement, making them a true multi-variable metering solution for filling operations in chemical, food and other such process industries. Today’s Coriolis flowmeters are highly accurate. Accuracies of the new ABB
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The many benefits of Coriolis flowmeters have led them to be regarded as the gold standard in flow measurement across an expanding variety of industrial applications. Here, David Bowers, Process & DP Flow, Spirit IT product manager UK&IE for ABB Measurement & Analytics, explains the key advantages they offer over other flowmeter types and looks at the top five applications where Coriolis flowmeters are delivering the best results.
CoriolisMaster flowmeter models, for example, range from 0.1 to 0.4 per cent of measured value for liquids and 0.5 to one per cent of reading for gases. High accuracies make Coriolis flowmeters obvious candidates for a wide range of applications – these are explored in the following section.
FIVE APPLICATIONS FOR CORIOLIS FLOWMETERS Chemical
The chemical industry is a major adopter of Coriolis technology, with safety being the number one reason. When dosing chemicals such as acids or alkalines to get a reaction, it can be dangerous to under or over fill the chemical. In some cases, overdosing can also impact a company’s profits. Alongside accuracy, the durability and flexibility of Coriolis flowmeters are another reason why this technology is popular in the sector. For example, certain aggressive chemicals could potentially rupture the primary measurement tube. However, Coriolis flowmeters have a secondary containment that will hold a fluid to a precise pressure for a certain period. In addition, if the wetted materials are suitable for the chemical being dosed, a Coriolis flowmeter can be used to measure multiple chemicals without production disruptions caused by having to switch between different set ups.
The high accuracy of Coriolis flowmeters also makes them an ideal solution for allocation applications where quantities of chemicals are sold to third parties. By eliminating any deviations in the measurement, Coriolis flowmeters can help to ensure that quantities sold exactly match what has been ordered.
Oil and Gas
Safety and financial factors are major drivers for the use of measurement equipment in the oil and gas industry. Accurate results are needed for safety reasons, and with operators now extracting oil and gas at deeper locations, the associated higher pressure has implications on measurement technologies. From a financial perspective, in custody transfer applications where supplies of oil and gas need to change hands, relevant taxes need to be paid to the authorities. A failure to do so can result in fines and, in some cases, imprisonment. And in many cases, with several parties including governments and upstream operators owning a percentage of an oil or gas field, accurate measurement is required to ensure all parties receive the revenues they are entitled to. With accuracy being of paramount importance, the oil and gas industry takes measurement to a different level. For this reason, the cost of the measurement device is rarely an influencing factor, with the industry choosing the best instruments for the job. Because of this, Coriolis flowmeters have tended to be widely adopted in oil and gas applications. As well as using Coriolis flowmeters to measure flows of gases and liquids, the industry also cross references Coriolis readings against separate temperature, pressure and flowmeter devices and follows ISO guidance to ensure the actual readings are as accurate as they can be. A flow computer is then used to check these measurements and provide a record to the concerned businesses. Operators even have a redundant line so testing can be replicated if needed. Oil and gas will always have mixed mediums in them because natural resources will have entrained water or particles in them when first
MEASUREMENT REALLY MATTERS
March 2023 Instrumentation Monthly
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