Coriolis Meter

Coriolis meters are true mass meters that measure the mass
rate of flow directly, as opposed to measuring volume flow.
From: Sensor Technology Handbook, 2005

Related terms:

Differential Pressure, Flow Measurement, Vortex Shedding, Ultrasonics,

Orifice Plate, Coriolis Effect, Flowmeter, Mass Flowrate, Measurer, Volumetrics

Instrumentation and Control Systems

John P. King, in
Fermentation and Biochemical Engineering Handbook (Third
Edition)
, 2014

13.0 Mass Flow Rate

A Coriolis meter utilizes a measurement technology which is capable of
directly measuring mass flow (instead of inferring mass flow from
volumetric flow and density). The Coriolis effect is the subtle correction to
the path of moving objects to compensate for the rotation of the earth.
This appears as a force exerted perpendicular to the direction of motion
and creates a counterclockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere and
a clockwise rotation in the Southern Hemisphere. This phenomenon is
used by the mass flow meter to create a vibration whose frequency is
proportional to the mass of the fluid flowing through the meter. This is
accomplished via the geometry of the meter (Fig. 20.10), specifically the
bends to which the fluid is subjected as it travels through the meter.

Figure 20.10. Schematic of Coriolis Meter flowpath.

(Courtesy of the Foxboro Co., Foxboro, Mass.)

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Linear and Special Meters

Paul J. LaNasa, E. Loy Upp, in
Fluid Flow Measurement (Third Edition), 2014

Coriolis Meters
These meters can be used on liquids and most gases. They directly
measure weight (mass). If the desired measure is volume, then some
correction for density at fluid base conditions must be made. Most
models of the meter offer both mass rate and density for liquids from one
device. Since these meters react to mass, they can be used (within limits)
for some mixtures of liquids and gases. They do not measure gas density
accurately. The manufacturer should be contacted for recommendation on
a meter’s limits with mixtures, since such an application presents special
problems. Special construction materials are provided to minimize
problems with hostile fluids (Figure 12-1).

Figure 12-1. Modern industrial Coriolis meter.

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Well-Site Equipment
David A. Simpson P.E., in Practical Onshore Gas Field Engineering,
2017

5.7.3.4 Coriolis meter

Proponents and manufactures of Coriolis meters claim that these meters
“directly measure density” and “directly measure mass flow.” Both claims
are utter nonsense. The device has a bent tube located within some very
sensitive sensors. The frequency of vibration of the tube in response to
excitation is said to be a direct measure of density. It is actually a direct
measure of vibration frequency. A slug of gas will change the vibration
frequency, but latency in the measurement of the frequency will cause
the indication to lag the change and for a time that can be as much as 2
minutes, the density used in the calculation will have no relationship
with actual density. There are other normal conditions (e.g., intermittent
road traffic and vibration frequencies imposed on the pipe by
compression, etc.) where a change unrelated to changing density can
change the vibration frequency.

To measure flow rate, the sensors look at the amount of displacement that
the tube experiences from the momentum of the flowing fluid. Compare
this displacement at the beginning of the tube to the displacement at the
end of the tube and the transit time of a given wave to determine a flow
rate. It is a direct measurement of pipe displacement, not of flow.

Coriolis meters do a good job of measuring liquid (I’ve had less success
using them in gases) and their uncertainty and latency are acceptable. My
biggest objection to them is the hype of the marketing material. They are
not magical, they are simply decent technology that does an acceptable
job and are kind of expensive.

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Well Test Description

Paul J. Nardone, in Well Testing Project Management, 2009

New Technology Liquid Metering Devices

Mass flow meters such as the Coriolis meter provide a more sophisticated
metering device. Sometimes configured in a distinctive U-tube shape, an
internal tube is set oscillating using an electric current supplied to coils at
either end of the tube. The flow of liquid through the tube sets up a
twisting force on the inner tube due to the naturally occurring Coriolis
Effect. Sensors fitted along the length of the tube detect and measure the
twisting force, which is a function of the mass flow rate; the processed
data provides production and fluid density data.

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Equipment Common to MPD Operations
Bill Rehm, Jim Hughes, in Managed Pressure Drilling, 2008

9.6 Coriolis Flowmeter

The flowmeter is an important part of flow measurement in some MPD
operations. Since the Coriolis meter is new to drilling operations, the
following description is included as part of the general background for
surface equipment.

The flowmeter discussed in Chapter 4 is the Emerson Micromotion

Coriolis Meter. The Coriolis meter depends on a flowing mass deflecting a
tube. Typically this is shown as a U-tube (Figure 9.19), and this is the
configuration shown in Chapter 4. The Coriolis meter is a very accurate
method of measuring drilling fluids since they contain drill cuttings that
tend to interfere with other types of flowmeters. The meter measures and
calculates:

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Advanced materials and sensors in well

logging, drilling, and completion
operations
Sercan Gul, ... Cenk Temizel, in
Sustainable Materials for Oil and Gas Applications, 2021

3.3.3.2.5 Coriolis U-tube mass flow rate meter

The Coriolis U-tube meter Fig. 3.16A also referred to as the Coriolis meter,
is widely used in the oil and gas industry to make mass flow rate
measurements. It works by measuring the phase difference of oscillating
flow tubes between the inlet and outlet of the instrument. Under no-flow
condition, the two tubes oscillate in phase Fig. 3.16C, and during flow,
they oscillate out of phase Fig. 3.16D typically in a sinusoidal fashion. The
phase difference is proportional to the mass flow rate through the tube.
Most commercial Coriolis meters use two identical tubes to make the
phase shift measurements more sensitive. The two tubes are typically
driven at their first natural frequency [68]. The phase difference is
registered by two pick-off sensors located at the inlet and the outlet of the
meter as shown in Fig. 3.16B and forms the basis of the final derived
reading.

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Principles of CSP performance
assessment
N. Janotte, ... L. Ramirez, in
The Performance of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Systems, 2017

2.1.1.3 Flow rate

In the majority of performance tests, the HTF mass flow rates required for
the enthalpy balance are calculated from volumetric flow rate
measurement data and HTF density information. The only instruments
directly measuring the mass flow rate are Coriolis meters, which are
typically limited to maximum operating temperatures of 350°C or 400°C
and which cause comparatively high pressure drops. An overview of the
functioning principles of the flow meters most commonly used in CSP
applications is given in (Fig. 2.2).

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Flow and Level Sensors

William Hennessy, in Sensor Technology Handbook, 2005

Mass Flowmeters
Mass-related processes such as chemical reactions, heat transfer, etc.
require more accurate flow measurements, and this has led to the
development of mass flow meters. A number of designs are available, but
the most common is the Coriolis meter, the operation of which is based
on the phenomenon called the Coriolis force. Coriolis meters are true
mass meters that measure the mass rate of flow directly, as opposed to
measuring volume flow. Since mass does not change, the meter is linear
without having to be adjusted for variations in liquid properties. Also,
there is no need to compensate for changing temperatures and pressure
conditions. This type of flowmeter is particularly useful for measuring
liquids with a viscosity that varies with velocity at given temperatures
and pressures.

Coriolis meters are available in various designs. One popular device

consists of a U-shaped flow tube enclosed in a sensor housing connected
to an electronics unit. The sensing unit can be installed directly into any
process, and the electronics unit can be located up to 500 feet from the
sensor. Inside the sensor housing, the U-shaped flow tube is vibrated at its
natural frequency by a magnetic device located at the bend of the tube.
This is similar to the vibration of a tuning fork, covering less than 0.1 in.
and completing a full cycle about 80 times/sec. As the liquid flows
through the tube, it is forced to take on the vertical movement of the
tube. This causes the liquid to exert a force on the tube, causing the tube
to twist. The amount of twist is directly proportional to the mass flow rate
of the liquid flowing through the tube. Magnetic sensors located on each
side of the flow tube measure the tube velocities, which change as the
tube twists. The sensors feed this information to the electronics unit,
where it is processed and converted to a voltage proportional to mass
flow rate. This flowmeter has a wide range of applications, from adhesives
and coatings to liquid nitrogen.

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Flow measurement
Alan S. Morris, Reza Langari, in
Measurement and Instrumentation (Third Edition), 2021

16.2.2 Coriolis flowmeter

As well as sometimes being known by the alternative name of inertial
flowmeter, the Coriolis flowmeter is often referred to simply as a mass
flowmeter because of its dominance in the mass flowmeter market.
However, this assumption that a mass flowmeter always refers to a
Coriolis meter is wrong since several other types of device are available to
measure mass flow, although it is true to say that they are much less
common than Coriolis meters.

Coriolis meters are primarily used to measure the mass flow rate of
liquids, although they have also been successfully used in some gas-flow
measurement applications. The flowmeter consists either of a pair of
parallel vibrating tubes or else as a single vibrating tube that is formed
into a configuration that has two parallel sections. The two vibrating
tubes (or the two parallel sections of a single tube) deflect according to
the mass flow rate of the measured fluid that is flowing inside. Tubes are
made of various materials, of which stainless steel is the most common.
They are also manufactured in different shapes such as B-shaped, D-
shaped, U-shaped, triangular-shaped, helix-shaped, and straight. These
alternative shapes are sketched in Fig. 16.2A, and a U-shaped tube is
shown in more detail in Fig. 16.2B. The tubes are anchored at two points.
An electromechanical drive unit, positioned midway between the two

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Equipment in Well Control Operations

Robert D. Grace, in
Blowout and Well Control Handbook (Second Edition), 2017

Flow Meters
One piece of equipment used to detect kicks earlier is a more precise flow
meter. The flow-line paddle meter has been around for many years, but it
only gives a relative flow volume. Smaller increases in flow are harder to
detect so flow meters that measure actual flow rate and density have
been developed. The most common one is the Coriolis meter and is based
on the principles of motion mechanics. When the drilling fluid enters the
meter, it is split between two flow tubes as shown in Fig. 1.28. During
operation, a drive coil stimulates the tubes to oscillate in opposition at the
natural resonant frequency. As the tubes oscillate, the voltage generated
from each pickoff coil creates a sine wave. This indicates the motion of
one tube relative to the other.

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