Coriolis flowmeters are a relatively recent entrant into the market.
Although the
roots of today’s Coriolis flowmeters can be traced back to the 1950s, it
was not until 1977 that Micro Motion introduced a commercially viable
Coriolis flowmeter for industrial applications. Since that time, a number of other suppliers have entered the
market, including Endress+Hauser and KROHNE.
The principle underlying the
Coriolis flowmeter, however, dates back to 1835, when French
mathematician Gustave Coriolis
showed that an inertial force needs to be taken into account when
describing the motion of bodies in a rotating frame of reference. A hypothetical object thrown from the North Pole to the equator,
for example, appears to vary from its intended path due to the earth’s
rotation -- and this illustrates the Coriolis force.
Learn more
about New Technology Flowmeters:

Coriolis flowmeter design
Coriolis
flowmeters contain one or more vibrating tubes.
These tubes are usually bent, although straight-tube meters are also
available. The fluid to be
measured passes through the vibrating tubes.
It accelerates as it flows toward the maximum vibration point, and
slows down as it leaves that point. This
causes the tubes to twist. The
amount of twisting is directly proportional to mass flow.
Position sensors detect tube positions.
Coriolis suppliers have introduced a wide variety of models and
types of Coriolis flowmeters in the past 35+ years and differentiate themselves in a number of ways.
One is by the proprietary design of the bent tubes. Another is by the
different types of straight tube Coriolis flowmeters they offer.
Suppliers also compete by bringing out Coriolis flowmeters for
particular industries and applications, such as food & beverage and
pharmaceutical. Accuracy and
other performance specifications are other areas of supplier
differentiation.
While
Coriolis flowmeters are loved by many end users, price is often an issue.
Coriolis flowmeters are the most expensive meter made, in terms of
average selling price. The
average selling price of Coriolis flowmeters are between $5,000 and $6,000.
Some suppliers have introduced low-cost Coriolis flowmeters in the
$3,000 range. Performance
specifications for the lower-cost flowmeters are not at the same level as
those of the higher-priced meters. However,
these lower-cost meters can help satisfy the needs of users who want the
essential benefits of Coriolis technology but prefer not to pay the higher
price.
Coriolis flowmeters are used to measure both liquids and gases, but they do have some
limitations with gas flows. Coriolis meters have an easier time measuring liquids than gases
because liquids are denser than gases.
Advantages
and disadvantages of Coriolis flowmeters
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
High accuracy |
High initial
cost |
Approved for
custody transfer for liquid and gas applications |
Becomes
expensive and unwieldy in line sizes above four inches |
Now available
for line sizes above six inches |
Gas flow
measurement can be difficult due to low density of gas |
Can handle
sanitary applications |
Pressure drop
for bent-tube meters |
Excel in line
sizes of two inches and less |
Can have a
problem measuring liquids with entrained gas |
High
reliability, low maintenance |
|
Much new product
development ongoing |
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Flow Research previously published Coriolis studies in 2001, 2003, 2008,
2013, and 2016. For
further information on Coriolis meters and our detailed market reports, please
visit www.FlowCoriolis.com.
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