SPL, Inc.

Feasibility Study of Purchasing Coriolis Meters

over the Traditional Turbine Meter

SPL, Inc.

Feasibility Study of Purchasing Coriolis Meters

over the Traditional Turbine Meter

November 8, 2013

by
Austin Brown

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.

Introduction

2. Method

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a. History of Equipment
b. How Coriolis and Turbine meters work

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5

c.
d.
e.
f.

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9
9
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Advantages of Coriolis Meter

Disadvantages of Coriolis Meter
Accuracy of each meter
Cost of each meter

3. Data Analysis

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4. Recommendations

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Introduction

For the past several years there has been an ongoing discussion about which flow meter is
the most accurate and cost effective meter, the Coriolis meter or the Turbine meter. Flow
measuring technologies are roughly divided into two categories; traditional technologies and
new-type technologies. As a response for market demand for more accurate, cost effective flow
measuring, the use of the new-type technologies is becoming more and more common, at the
expense of traditional technologies. This study will show why the Coriolis flow meter, a new
technology, is considered the best, most accurate and most cost efficient meter on the market.

Method

History of Equipment
A mass flow meter is a device that measures mass flow rate of fluid and gas traveling
through a pipeline and or well source. There are several types of meters on the market but two
stand out as the most preferred in the oil and gas market today, the new technology, the Coriolis
meter and the old technology, the Turbine meter. The mathematical expression for the Coriolis
force first appeared in an 1835 paper written by the French scientist Gaspard-Gustave Coriolis.
The Coriolis Effect is the earths gravitational pull while the earth spins which affect the density
of the fluids in the pipeline. Over the years this Coriolis principle evolved to a practical
application of the Coriolis Effect in a mass flow meter, an instrument that measures the mass
flow rate and density of a fluid flowing through a pipeline and well source. The second type of
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flow meter on the market is the Turbine meter. While Greeks and Romans had their own way of
measuring flow rate, it wasnt until WWII that the turbine meter became widely used in the oil
and gas field. They were used on military aircraft to measure fuel consumption. Soon after this,
they began to be used in the flow of hydrocarbons.

How Coriolis and Turbine Meters Work

There are two basic configurations of Coriolis meters; the curved tube flow meter and the
straight tube flow meter. The Coriolis Effect, as shown in Figure 1. a curved pipeline and well
source flow meter, is generated by vibrating a pipeline and well source with flow in a direction
perpendicular to the flow. The flowing fluid momentum exerts a force that counters the
vibrations. The Coriolis force generates a distortion in the pipe on top of the fundamental pipe
vibrations. This distortion is directly proportional to the mass flow rate of the fluid moving
through the pipe. Special sensors measure the pipe total movements, picking off the Coriolis
distortion from which the mass flow rate is calculated. Here is a simple experiment that will help
you understand the Coriolis Effect.

1.

Go and find a garden hose.

2. Set the flow rate to full.

3. Now make a generous loop in the hose and hold it loosely.
4. Get an assistant to take the bottom of the loop in two hands and raise it till the loop is
horizontal.
5. Ask your assistant to let go of the loop. The loop will now swing back vertical.

This experiment will show that the amount of twist is a function of the flow rate and the amount
of twist is also a function of the velocity at which the pipeline and well source moves
perpendicular to the flow.1

Figure 1.

Coriolis mass flow meter.

The operating principle of the turbine meter, as seen in Figure 2., is when fluid enters the
meter it first passes through an inlet flow straightener that reduces its turbulent flow pattern.
Fluid then passes through the turbine, causing the turbine to rotate at a speed proportional to
fluid velocity. As each turbine blade passes through the magnetic field generated by the meters
magnetic pick-up, an AC voltage pulse is generated. These pulses provide an output frequency
that is proportional to volumetric flow.
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Figure 2.

Turbine flow meter

Advantages of Coriolis Meter

Coriolis is one of the fastest growing technologies in the oil and gas market. Newer
designs have enabled Coriolis to measure gases that are extremely light, heavy, dirty, clean,
sweet, sour, hot or cold, and in a two phase state. Other than the vibrating sensor flow tube,
Coriolis meters have no moving parts therefore requiring minimal maintenance. Also, Coriolis
meters require no straight runs or flow conditioning which will reduce the cost of installation.
Additionally, periodic maintenance costs were much reduced due to the reliability of the Coriolis
meters because they have no moving parts. The turbine meter measure volumetric flow and the
Coriolis meter measures a mass flow rate. By measuring the mass flow rate, the Coriolis meter
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is not subjected to changes in temperature and pressure and enables the highest flow
measurement accuracy possible. Because the Coriolis meter causes a laterally vibrating pipeline
and well source to distort, a direct measurement of mass flow can be obtained. Furthermore, a
direct measure of the density of the fluid is obtained therefore causing the measurement to be
very accurate.

Unlike the Coriolis meter the Turbine meter measures fluid using volumetric flow rate.
The turbine meter assumes the volumetric flow rate equals the average stream velocity and the
average stream velocity equals the rotor angular velocity. Also, the Turbine meter has moving
parts with the meter unlike the Coriolis meter. There are rotors, a series of blades, which are
fixed to a hub causing rotation in the fluid stream. Also the bearings are important in the design
of a turbine meter. They need to be highly polished to reduce frictional drag inside the meter.
These moving parts are subject to breakage but can be replaced by a skilled worker. These
turbine meters are also subject to obstruction in the line. If there is obstruction in the line the
bladed rotor can substantially decrease effective flow through the rotor. Once again, a skilled
technician would need to be called out to service the meter. Other important factors in good
measurement is good rotor blade angle, rotor stability velocity swirl, rotor bearing friction,
viscous drag on the rotor, and fluid density. Turbine meters can provide accurate flow
measurement if operated and installed properly, usually by a skilled engineer.

Disadvantages of Coriolis Meter

There are a few disadvantages to installing a Coriolis meter. First, the meter is much
heavier than the traditional Turbine meter therefore taking two skilled field technicians to install
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a Coriolis onto a pipeline. Second, the Coriolis meter has no moving parts therefore it cannot be
repair, only replaced entirely. The turbine meter is much lighter and can be installed by one field
technician. However, the Turbine meter does have moving parts and may need to be repaired on
a periodic basis but does not need to be entirely replaced when not functioning.

Accuracy of each Meter

There are many opinions about the accuracy of each type of meter. Some feel the
Coriolis meter is considered the most accurate flow meter in the market providing the best
quality flow measurement. Figure 3 shows what inside the Coriolis looks like when there is no
flow in the pipeline.

Figure 3. Coriolis with no flow

The Coriolis Effect is generated by vibrating a tube with flow in a direction perpendicular to the
flow. The flowing fluid momentum exerts a force that counters the vibrations. This distortion is
directly proportional to the mass flow rate of the fluid through the pipe. Special sensors measure

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the pipe total movements, picking up the Coriolis distortion from which the mass flow rate is
calculated. See Figure 4.

Figure 4. Coriolis with flow

In a turbine meter, fluid passes through the turbine, causing the turbine to rotate at a
speed proportional to fluid velocity. As each turbine passes through the magnetic field an AC
voltage pulse is generated. These pulses provide an output frequency that is proportional to
columetric flow. See Figure 5.

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Figure 5. A Turbine meter with pulse counter.

Cost of each Meter

The Coriolis and Turbine meters vary greatly in cost. A 2 MicroMotion 600 lb. Coriolis
meter costs $12,000 with a 5 year warranty. While a 2 Turbine meter costs $1,350 with a 1 year
warranty but can be repaired and all moving parts replaced. This difference in cost is substantial
but the advantages of using a Coriolis Meter justifies the purchasing of the Coriolis meter.

Data Analysis
During this feasibility study, 10 engineers were surveyed. The survey asked the
engineers which meter, Coriolis or Turbine, would they pick to install on a liquid petroleum
pipeline or a Central Distribution Point. 7 out of 10 engineers picked the Coriolis meter to install
on the pipeline due to the unparallel precision and pinpoint accuracy. This is shown in Chart 1
below.
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Chart 1. Engineers Surveyed

Recommendations
Although both type of meters have advantages and disadvantages, it is clear the
Corliolis Meter is the recommendation of this committee as the perferred meter. The cost of the
Coriolis Meter is much greater than the Turbine Meter however, there are many other factors that
make the Coriolis the meter of choice. The Coriolis meter has the reputation of having the most
accurate mass flow rate as well as providing the density of the fluid on the market today. This
meter provides its users with a premium product that promotes efficiency. The interview with
the engineers also supported the recommendation of buying the Coriolis Meter over the Turbine
meter as they thought the accuracy of the measurement was extremely important and in the long
run the Coriolis Meter will be more efficient and cost effective. The Coriolis direct mass flow
technology allows the user to control the measurement more accurately, especially under
changing conditions of the hydrocarbon stream which significantly reduces fuel costs, equipment
costs, and maintenance costs.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

www.precim.com/coriolis-technology
www.eng-tips.com/faqs.cfm
www.blancett.com/1100_TFM
www.blancett.com/FAQS.php
www.emersonprocess.com/micromotion/coriolis-flow-density-meter
www.precim.com/our -advantages
www.emerconprocess/com/solutions/oilgas
www.blancett.com/FAQs.php
Ray Kalivoda, 1977, Fundamentals of Liquid Turbine Meters, Technical Paper 103B,
FMC Smith Meter, Inc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/mass_flow_meter
http://www.eng-tips.com/faqs.cfm?fid=1002

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