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Sierra Instruments Published by P.I. Process Instrumentation


Feb 29, 2024
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager

We are thrilled to announce that our latest article on the significance of precise mass flow measurement and control in the food and beverage industry was published by P.I. Process Instrumentation. Written by our mass flow experts, this insightful piece delves into the critical role of accurate flow measurement and control in ensuring product quality, […]

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Increase Process Efficiency and Get Rock Solid Reliability


Aug 16, 2022
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager

New RedyIndustrial Thermal Mass Flow Meter & Controller for OEMs features a Water Resistant Housing. We’re very excited to announce the latest addition to Sierra’s MEMS mass flow meter and controller product line, the new RedyIndustrial. Engineers in the biopharmaceutical industry that require precise control of the gases used in bioreactors can rely on RedyIndustrial. […]

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RedySmart Mass Flow Controllers for OEMs in Biopharmaceutical and Vaccine Production


Apr 27, 2022
Jeff Gulla
Written By:
Jeff Gulla

For years, Sierra Instruments has developed proven gas flow measurement solutions for original equipment manufacturers. Learn how our RedySmart mass flow controllers have been used in the development of vaccines and pharmaceuticals to meet the rising demand on OEMs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Effects of COVID-19 on Biopharmaceuticals OEMS When the COVID-19 pandemic spread […]

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How Do Biopharm Mass Flow Controllers Optimize Bioreactor Performance?


Jun 18, 2021
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager

Our new bioreactor application tech note is worth the download. The new tech note focuses on how digital mass flow controllers optimize bioreactor performance and replace manual variable area (VA meters) with an integrated valve to control the gases in their bioprocesses to yield greater results. As you know, in today’s climate it is a […]

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How Do MEMS Mass Flow Controllers Work?


Mar 24, 2021
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

Not All MFC Sensor Technology is Created Equal Mass flow controllers offer precision gas flow control to many critical industries including biopharm, semicon, food & beverage, manufacturing, and R&D. As the technology demands increase in these sectors, so does the demand for precision gas flow control systems. The more accurate and repeatable the gas flow […]

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Why Mass Flow Controllers are Replacing VA Meters in Bioreactors


Aug 21, 2020
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager

Upgrading to A Gas Mass Flow Controller Provides Greater Reliability for your Bioreactor When it comes to efficient bioreactor performance, precision mass flow control gas is critical. It is essential that bioreactor manufacturers have reliable, repeatable, and flexible gas supply systems for their bioreactors.  Due to the ever-evolving demands and critical and complex nature in […]

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Introducing RedyCompact Mass Flow Meters and Regulators- New Video


Jun 02, 2020
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

Mechanical rotometers have been a staple for flow measurement since the early 1900s, giving engineers and scientists fast and economical gas flow measurement. Sierra introduces the next generation advancements in this technology with the RedyCompact™ mass flow meters and regulators, Watch Sierra’s NEW video to learn how this unique battery-powered digital mass flow meter, regulator […]

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Mass Flow Controllers Support Ventilator Testing


May 21, 2020
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager

Precision Mass Flow Control Validates Ventilator Accuracy It’s actually a life and death matter, and we take this very seriously. Accurate mass flow control is crucial in the process of validating the accuracy of oxygen flow for mechanical ventilators and respiratory medical equipment. Ventilators are designed to pump oxygen into a patient that is breathing […]

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New From Sierra, MEMS-based Thermal MFC’s Set the Long-Term Stability Bar – High!


Feb 07, 2020
Matthew Olin, President
Written By:
Matthew Olin, President

  We have been in the capillary thermal mass flow business for nearly 45 years, many have asked us why we recently introduced MEMS thermal mass flow controllers into our product offering.  Combining superior physics, high reliability, and unparalleled flexibility, our new Sierra MEMS-based RedySmart brand mass flow controllers complement our Sierra Capillary-based SmartTrak brand […]

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Understanding the Mass Flow Meter and Mass Flow Controller Flow Body – Why it Matters.


Dec 03, 2019
Matthew Olin, President
Written By:
Matthew Olin, President

When it comes to mass flow meters and controllers size matters. Not all flow meters are the same. It’s like choosing a car. All cars are designed to move you from point A to B. However, if you live high up in the mountains you might want a truck or a tougher built car to […]

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Core Technology Series: Major Components of Mass Flow Meters and Controllers


May 13, 2019
Matthew Olin, President
Written By:
Matthew Olin, President

Have you ever wanted to look inside a mass flow meter or gas controller to understand the mechanical components? This blog, as part of our ongoing core technology series based on excerpts from Sierra’s Founder and Chairman, Dr. John G. Olin’s, white paper entitled, “Capillary Tube Thermal Mass Flow Meters & Controllers – A User’s […]

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Core Technology Series: Capillary Tube Thermal Mass Flow Meters and Controllers


Apr 18, 2019
Matthew Olin, President
Written By:
Matthew Olin, President

Understanding Capillary Tube Thermal Mass Flow Meters & Controllers:   Flow meters and controllers are used every day in general purpose industrial and laboratory applications and in the semiconductor industry.  Have you ever wondered how capillary tube flow meters work?  or How to specify the perfect flow meter for your application? I am excited to present this ongoing core technology […]

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Complete Guide to Gas Mixing and Blending | Sierra Instruments


Feb 06, 2019
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director

Gas mixing sounds simple enough. You simply mix a number of pure gasses to create a new mixture. Unfortunately, it’s not usually as simple as it sounds. There are many variables and factors that play a role.  In this post, we’ll dissect this challenging application and discuss how to obtain perfect gas mixing and blending […]

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Video: Select The Right Mass Flow Controller For Your Application


May 18, 2018
Jim Oswald, Technical Support Manager
Written By:
Jim Oswald, Technical Support Manager

Which mass flow controller will work best for my application? Many times, we have had university professors and students contact us in tech support about which scientific flow meter they should get for their research. Sierra has two primary options for you to choose from: SmartTrak 100 SmartTrak 50 We are going to go over the […]

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Turning Science Fiction into Reality


Mar 09, 2018
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

Precision measurement of low flow in gas mixing applications Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on November 28, 2011. Due to its popularity and continued questions on this issue, we updated the post on March 9, 2018. Choosing the right flow controller for laboratory or biomedical research applications is essential to achieving success in […]

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Flow Meter Do’s and Don’ts with Ammonia


Feb 02, 2018
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on April 25, 2012. Due to its popularity and continued questions on this issue, we updated the post on 2/2/2018. We often have engineers and researchers ask us about the best way to measure and control ammonia. We’ve got a perfect product for the application, but there are […]

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Understanding 4-20mA Current Loop Communications


Oct 13, 2017
Kam Bansal, Dir. of Engineering
Written By:
Kam Bansal, Dir. of Engineering

Imagine this: You’ve got your flow meter with 4-20mA output setup. Confidently, you flip the switch, turning it on and then it happens–the readings are off. You’re not getting the output you need. Frustrated, you tinker with it, and still nothing. Now, you’re out of your depth. You need to get this thing working so […]

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How to Supercharge the SmartTrak Mass Flow Controller with Compod


Jun 12, 2017
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager

Streamline, simplify and save time and money by plugging the innovative Compod upgrade into the face of any SmartTrak 100 mass flow meter or controller. SmartTrak is not only a true multi-gas digital mass flow controller, it can control your process too. If you need more functionality to control a positive shutoff valve, have a pulse output, or […]

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Flow Tip Video: Learn Why Ease-of-Use is Critical for Flow Meter Selection


Apr 17, 2017
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

Many times scientists and researchers spend more time setting up equipment and instrumentation for their experiments than conducting actual experiments to gather important data. This holds true for flow meters and controllers to measure and control gases to experiments. Some flow meters are very cumbersome with no display, can only measure one gas, low value for price, and limited application flexibility.  And if you need application […]

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Minute Flow Tip: Volumetric Flow Versus Mass Flow Technology


Mar 28, 2017
Jim Oswald, Technical Support Manager
Written By:
Jim Oswald, Technical Support Manager

When engineers and systems integrators need to measure gas flow rate in an industrial process or scientific research, there are many types of technologies to choose from. This makes selecting the right gas flow meter a challenge. In addition to technology, engineers must consider many other parameters: price for value, cost of ownership, size of footprint, application flexibility, calibration method, accuracy with […]

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Direct Mass Flow or Volumetric: The Thermal Flow Meter Technology Advantage!


Nov 18, 2016
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager

In today’s world where everyone is watching the bottom line, you need high performance, cost-effective instrumentation—and capillary thermal mass flow meters and controllers have been proven to meet this criteria in a wide range of process applications. Thermal mass flow technology is an industry standard for mass flow control of gases because it measures flow directly, […]

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The ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of Mass Flow Controllers


Oct 31, 2016
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

Did you ever wish your mass flow controller could do it all? You’re not alone. End users ranging from machine builders to laboratory researchers are often faced with the challenge of needing flow measurement and control equipment for a wide variety of applications. Many customers call the SmartTrak 100 mass flow controller the “Swiss Army knife” of MFC’s. […]

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Primary Standard Gas Flow Calibration—The Only Guarantee of Accuracy


Sep 19, 2016
Jim Oswald, Technical Support Manager
Written By:
Jim Oswald, Technical Support Manager

At Sierra, we have a saying: “An instrument’s accuracy is only as good as its calibration.” The accuracy of your mass flow controller (MFC) is essential in assuring the efficiency, performance, and quality of your flow meter. In many cases, if your instrumentation is not calibrated, then a decline in performance is possible due to sensor drift from the factory […]

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Gas Mass Flow Control: Why Thermal Mass Flow Technology is Recommended for Best Accuracy


Aug 26, 2016
John, Chief Engineer
Written By:
John, Chief Engineer

It’s no secret. Price, but perhaps more importantly, performance, drive every new product acquisition you make. How important is measurement accuracy and control to your lab experiment or industrial process? It’s critical. If your flow readings are off or the flow is not controlled with precise accuracy your research is compromised, product quality suffers, and […]

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How to Achieve Precise Air-Fuel Ratio Control in Burner Control Applications


Aug 12, 2016
Kam Bansal, Dir. of Engineering
Written By:
Kam Bansal, Dir. of Engineering

Mass flow control is all around us. One common application for industrial mass flow control is air-fuel ratio control of burners in industrial heating processes for manufacturing and other industries. For burner control in manufacturing, precise mass flow control of the air-fuel ratio to the burner keeps melt temperatures constant which produces quality products including […]

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Minute Flow Tip! Don’t Settle for “Good Enough”


Jul 15, 2016
John, Chief Engineer
Written By:
John, Chief Engineer

There are so many options for selecting the best mass flow controller out there that is “good enough.” Why compromise when making an investment in a mass flow instrument? Discover the Swiss Army Knife of mass flow controllers in this Minute Flow Tip. The capillary thermal technology used in every SmartTrak mass flow controller measures […]

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New Video: Master Your Mass Flow Control Challenges


Jun 22, 2016
Matthew Olin, President
Written By:
Matthew Olin, President

For over 40 years, Sierra has pioneered the development of precision gas mass flow controllers. Today, our high-performance SmartTrak lineup, with over 100,000 successful installations, proves we’ve never let up. For Lab Researchers and Systems Integrators/OEMs, SmartTrak is often called the Swiss Army Knife of gas mass flow controllers. Find out why in our new video. The SmartTrak Advantage: A […]

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Providing Precision Flow Control Solutions for Critical Biomolecular Research


Apr 29, 2016
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director

When scientists at the University of Nottingham’s Centre for Biomolecular Sciences (CBS) in the United Kingdom needed instrumentation to control the flow of gases in their research, they turned to Litre Meter, a UK distributor for Sierra Instruments, and the SmartTrak 100 series mass flow meters and controllers. The working relationship between Litre Meter and the […]

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Perfect Beer Foam with Modern Flow Meters


Oct 23, 2015
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

We talk a lot about the use of flow meters in flare gas, waste water and sub-metering applications, but Sierra’s innovative flow meters are utilized by a wide variety of industries. You’ll find our flow measurement and control devices orbiting the earth, assisting with the creation of oceanic atmospheres in research facilities and even improving […]

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4 Ways to Make Flow Calibration Easy for You


Oct 16, 2015
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

Our flow experts here at Sierra are committed to ensuring your flow meter is accurately calibrated and returned quickly so downtime is kept to a minimum. Sierra’s latest flow meter service and calibration brochure, “Precision Delivered”, details that level of commitment, showcasing four key components of our approach to flow calibration service. Assuring your flow […]

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Get Our New Full Line Flow Meter Product Catalog / Selection Guide


Jun 30, 2015
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager

Find the Right Meter for Your Application—Instantly Let’s face it, specifying the best flow instrumentation for your application can be a daunting task. That’s why we created a new Full Line Flow Product Catalog with all Sierra’s products, key specifications, and application benefits in one, easy-to-use brochure. Quickly specify the right flow meter for your […]

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Sierra’s Precision Control Valves Offer Customers Proven Solution


Jun 01, 2015
Matthew Olin, President
Written By:
Matthew Olin, President

What took us so long! Since the ’80s Sierra has been a leader in designing and manufacturing electromagnetic control valves used in our flagship SmartTrak mass flow controllers and legacy 800 series. The catch is that in the past customers had to buy the mass flow controller to capitalize on our precision control valve. Now, after 30+ years […]

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Ultra-High Pressure 5000 psig (345 barg) Gas Mass Flow Control…No Easy Task!


Sep 22, 2014
Max Waterstone, Engineer
Written By:
Max Waterstone, Engineer

Overall, Sierra wants better accuracy and control of high pressure gas mass flows across industry in general, leading to better efficiency, and vastly reducing gas losses to save time and money for our customers.  But, how is it possible to accurately measure and control gas mass flow rates at pressures up to 5000 psig (345 barg)? This is […]

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How to Manage Your Flow Calibration Risk


Aug 08, 2014
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

Precision measurement instrumentation, like mass flow meters, are only as good as their calibration. No one knows this better than the facilities managers and process engineers who have to keep up with the yearly calibration of sometimes thousands of instruments. Because managing instrument calibration is such a time-consuming, but necessary reality of facilities management, industry […]

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Best Practices for Mass Flow Controller Manufacturing


May 29, 2014
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

In Part 1 of our mass flow controller best practices series, Best Practices for Mass Flow Controller Selection and Installation,  Sierra’s Chief Engineer John Smitherman compiled a comprehensive list of best practices for the selection, installation and operation of mass flow meters and controllers. With so many flow measurement products and technologies on the market, […]

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How to Save Time & Money by Calibrating Flow Meters Onsite


May 01, 2014
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director

If you have hundreds of mass flow controllers and meters or just a few in your lab, facility, or manufacturing process, how do you keep up with the demands of annual recalibration? Most flow meters and controllers need to be recalibrated yearly to meet stringent ISO quality standards. This requires technicians to remove the mass flow meters from the […]

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Best Practices for Mass Flow Controller Selection & Installation


Apr 07, 2014
John, Chief Engineer
Written By:
John, Chief Engineer

As scientists, facilities managers and manufacturing engineers, specifying equipment is a part of our daily work life. What product do I need? What’s the best price for the value? How do I install the product once I get it? The more information about best practice principles, the easier the job is of specifying and buying […]

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Ammonia Gas Flow Measurement Challenges & Solutions


Jan 20, 2014
Jim Oswald, Technical Support Manager
Written By:
Jim Oswald, Technical Support Manager

Measuring and controlling ammonia can be tricky. One mistake during the transition from gas to liquid and your instrumentation is ruined. In the video below, Glen Coblentz, Vice President of North American Sales, gives some tips for successful mass flow measurement and control of ammonia. It could mean the difference between success and a costly mistake! […]

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SmartTrak MFC Highlighed on NOVA TV Program


Jan 13, 2014
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager

It’s alive! No, I’m not talking about Dr. Frankenstein’s monster. But you’d be surprised by what researchers have discovered in the area of therapeutic hypothermia, or using hydrogen sulfide to slow the body’s demand for oxygen. A recent episode of NOVA, “Making Stuff Colder,” highlights research being conducted by Mark Roth, a biochemist for the […]

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Innovation @ Sierra


Dec 16, 2013
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

We recently had the honor of hosting Flow Control Magazine Publisher Mike Christian, who made the trip to Sierra headquarters in Monterey, Calif., to present our 10th Flow Control Innovation Award in person. Pictured right is me, Mike and our President, Matthew Olin holding the crystal award.  We are standing in the lobby of corporate […]

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Voice of the Customer: Flow Meter Solution for Air Pollutant Measurement


Nov 15, 2013
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

We’re always looking for solutions here at Sierra-ones that always give customers precise, accurate data. It’s what drove Dr. John G. Olin to found Sierra in 1973, with a goal of providing the marketplace with accurate flow meter measurement. It’s what drives our engineering team to continue to advance flow meter design. It’s also what […]

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How to Measure Air Flow Rate–Not As Easy As it Appears


Oct 04, 2013
Morgan Zealear, Engineer
Written By:
Morgan Zealear, Engineer

If we look at what is considered low flow measurement of air mass flow rate,  those applications ranging from 0 to 10 sccm up to 0 to 1000 slpm ranges, there is a right way and a wrong way to measure. It’s an inherent problem many of our customers face before they find the right […]

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4 Things to Look for in an Online Industrial Flow Meter Store


Aug 16, 2013
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

As the e-commerce business model grows to include the mass flow meter market, there are some online players that have emerged. Over the last decade, companies like Instrumart, Omega, and others have entered the light and heavy industrial e-commerce game. Tech savvy 30-somethings are coming of age and embracing online buying as the norm rather […]

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Biogas Energy Production: Why Accurate Flow Measurement Is Critical


Jul 25, 2013
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

The buzz around biogas continues to grow and with good reason. Efforts to find renewable sources of energy are in full swing, and harnessing energy from landfill gas or digester gas into biogas is a promising solution to the problem of high oil prices. In the July 2013 issue of Biomass Products & Technology, Sierra’s […]

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Technical Resources: Power Supply and Cabling Options


May 22, 2013
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

Believe it or not, many times selecting the correct power supply and cable for your product is the most challeging part of specifying and installation. To make these decisions easy, we have the Technical Resources: Power Supply and Cabling guide to help you choose the best power supply and cable for your meter or controller. This guide […]

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New Video: Best Cabling Wiring Connections, Power Options


May 09, 2013
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

Interestingly enough, our technical support team gets more questions about the compatibility between our power supplies and cabling options than any other installation question. This, as you know, is an important step to getting your MFC up and running-and providing you with accurate air flowmeter measurements—in no time. In recent weeks our, Technical Support Supervisor, Jim Oswald, has walked […]

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New Video: MFC – How to Set Up, Mount & Leak Test


Apr 26, 2013
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

Jim Oswald, our technical support guru, has had some great responses from our new videos. He gets call all day about mass flow control installation questions, so we hope these step-by-step videos can help you set up quickly and get to your work at hand. Our last technical support video walked you through the unpacking process […]

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New Video: Unpacking, Labels & Quick Installation


Apr 18, 2013
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

We are excited to support our customer service team with the technical support resources to give you easy access to product set-up, installation, and troubleshooting information.  You’ve made the right choice in selecting one of our Mass Flow Controllers—designed to control the flow of air, and all inert gases and mixtures. Let Sierra’s Technical Support […]

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New Video: Best Practices for Leak Testing Inlet & Outlet Fittings for Your MFC


Apr 05, 2013
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

Have questions about your mass flow controller or flow meter? We’ve got answers. We’re excited to unveil a brand new series of “how-to” videos answering your most frequently asked questions about mass flow controllers and flow meters on Sierra Instruments’ YouTube Channel and in our video section on our website. It is industry best practice to always leak […]

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Impossible, Right? MFC Next Day Shipment!


Mar 20, 2013
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

Buyers of high-performance mass flow controllers or any flow instrumentation for that matter, have come to expect long product delivery lead times as an industry standard. It is accepted that many high-performance flow instruments need to be customized and calibrated for a specific application. And this takes time. Sometimes lead times are up to 4-6 weeks. But, for practical business […]

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Under Pressure, Part 6: Size Matters with Flowmeters and Pressure Regulators


Oct 04, 2012
Morgan Zealear, Engineer
Written By:
Morgan Zealear, Engineer

In this final post on pressure regulation and flow meters, I’d like to present a case study. A customer was convinced that our unit intermittently lost control for given flow rates. It turns out that as they increased flow rate, the outlet pressure of the regulator (inlet to the mass flow controller) was drooping below […]

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Under Pressure, Part 5: Flowmeters on the Ragged Edge of Pressure Drop


Oct 02, 2012
Morgan Zealear, Engineer
Written By:
Morgan Zealear, Engineer

Think about it. It’s pretty much impossible to make a controlled pressure drop without burning up some energy as heat. Therefore, the outlet pressure and flow rate cannot be linearly proportional at 1:1, but rather, must have some positive loss of X:1, where X is greater than 1. So, for a given regulator setpoint, the outlet pressure […]

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Under Pressure, Part 4: More on Pressure Regulator Droop and Flowmeters


Sep 27, 2012
Morgan Zealear, Engineer
Written By:
Morgan Zealear, Engineer

If my previous post on droop, the least apparent pressure regulation issue, wasn’t enough of the low down for you, let me share some more about this common issue that arises with flowmeters. Droop is the difference between the outlet pressure at low inlet pressures and at high inlet pressures along the ‘operating range’ of the […]

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Under Pressure, Part 3: How to Avoid ‘Droop’ (Hysteresis) with Flowmeters


Sep 25, 2012
Morgan Zealear, Engineer
Written By:
Morgan Zealear, Engineer

If you’ve been reading my series on pressure regulation, you know my goal is to help you achieve the best possible gas mass flow control with your flowmeter. Previously, I’ve discussed undersizing and seat-drop lock. Now I want to move onto something that can really get you down – “droop.” Regulators may exhibit hysteresis, also known as droop. Droop is […]

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Under Pressure, Part 2: Don’t Run a Flowmeter Regulator into the Mud!


Sep 20, 2012
Morgan Zealear, Engineer
Written By:
Morgan Zealear, Engineer

Proper line regulation, be it supply pressure regulation, or back pressure regulation, is fundamentally key to a properly tuned flow system process. All instruments operate most accurately under steady-state conditions, so awareness of regulator behavior and proper tuning will save you time and money on avoiding waste during transient conditions. In my continuing tutorial on mass flow […]

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Pressure Regulation Can Be a Sticky Wicket with Flow Meters


Sep 17, 2012
Morgan Zealear, Engineer
Written By:
Morgan Zealear, Engineer

In the world of mass flow control, it sometimes surprises me how often issues with mass flowmeters can be attributed to improper sizing of pressure regulators. But given all the intangibles with mass flow, I do get it. So, if you are building a flow system that requires precision gas mass flow control, this is the […]

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Precise PVD with Mass Flow Meters


Aug 03, 2012
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

Developers and manufacturers of solar photovoltaic installations have seen a dramatic increase in business in recent years. If you’re part of this industry, you know that solar energy now generates power in more than 100 countries and continues to be the fastest growing type of electricity generation in the world. Due to the growing demand, manufacturing […]

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Buy Flow & Level Switches Instantly Online


Jul 24, 2012
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director

Sierra’s InnovaSwitch™ flow and level switches represent the state-of-the-art in gaseous and liquid flow switching or liquid level control.  The InnovaSwitch is easy to install and adjust, giving reliable, low maintenance performance in the most demanding applications.  Now, our InnovaSwitch can be specified and purchased online for the ultimate in convienence. Learn more…  

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SmartTrak® 140 Ultra-Low ΔP Mass Flow Controllers


Jul 12, 2012
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director

Get Incredible 4.5 psid (310 mBard) at Flows up to 500 slpm. When you need precision gas mass flow control of expensive process gases, where minimal pressure drop is a key consideration for cost savings and efficiency, the SmartTrak® 140 flow meter controls up to 500 slpm with an ultra-low ΔP of 4.5 psid (310 […]

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Assess Your Flow Meter Options with Simple Selection Charts


Jul 02, 2012
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

There are many mass flowmeter and mass flow controller options available. As you sort through the wide variety of styles, sizes and prices, you may be wondering which flow meter is the right fit for your application. In reality, more than one may meet your flow range needs. Now what? Let me introduce you to […]

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Economic OEM Mass Flow Controller for PVD Applications


Jun 01, 2012
Mark Blackbourn, Engineer
Written By:
Mark Blackbourn, Engineer

Those of you who work in the solar energy and semiconductor industry will be familiar with physical vapor deposition (PVD) or sputtering that is commonly used for creating films of material on a substrate in the solar energy and semiconductor industry. In the PVD process, a negatively charged electrode is slowly disintegrated by molecular bombardment. […]

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Buy a Customized Mass Flow Controller Online!


Apr 09, 2012
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

After reading Kam’s last post about how Sierra’s OEM and Custom Solutions Group can help you customize a flowmeter for your application, I got inspired to share a way you can custom configure our mass flow controllers and actually buy the flow meter online. Lets say you need a SmartTrak 100 digital air flow sensor for […]

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Customize Your Flow Meters


Apr 04, 2012
Kam Bansal, Dir. of Engineering
Written By:
Kam Bansal, Dir. of Engineering

Did you know Sierra has a special team called OEM & Custom Solutions Group?  This team of engineers and technicians is dedicated to meeting the need for custom products. By utilizing nearly 40 years of  flow meter design experience, we modify any existing product to meet original equipment manufacturer (OEM), private label or general customer special […]

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Choosing a Flow Meter as Tough as Corrosive Gas


Mar 23, 2012
Matthew Olin, President
Written By:
Matthew Olin, President

One of the interesting trends we have seen in the Bio/Pharm and general scientific research markets is the many people who want to measure and control corrosive gases. This has always been a tough application, but there are a few ways that we can help you be successful. The ideal flowmeter is the SideTrak 840, built […]

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Riding the Waves of Climate Change, Part 3: Only Durable, Reliable Flowmeters Survive


Mar 21, 2012
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

This month I’ve been blogging about field researcher David Mucciarone, a Stanford University science and engineering associate. He’s part of a team that’s changing the way research about global warming is done, moving from discrete sampling to continuous, real-time monitoring. A key component of that shift is the flow meter in his chromatography-based flow-through sampling […]

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Riding the Waves of Climate Change, Part 2: Flowmeter Precision is Essential


Mar 05, 2012
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

Recently, I wrote about how Stanford researcher David Mucciarone is helping redefine the way climate-change research is conducted  Riding Waves of Climate Change, Part 1. In making a break from traditional discrete sampling, which provides only a tiny snapshot of water conditions, Mucciarone has created his own chromatography-based, flow-through device that can sample a variety […]

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Riding the Waves of Climate Change, Part 1: Flowmeters Help Change the Way Research is Done


Feb 28, 2012
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

Back in December, I shared how the Sierra Smart-Trak flowmeter traveled to Antarctica in 2006 with Stanford University researcher David Mucciarone. As a critical component of his data collection efforts, the flow meter helped him measure the breakdown of inorganic carbon during the Antarctic summer bloom. This important R&D work directly correlated with studies on global […]

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Wireless Flow Metering: More Than Just No Wires


Feb 10, 2012
Kam Bansal, Dir. of Engineering
Written By:
Kam Bansal, Dir. of Engineering

In my last post, I described having your meters connected to a wired network, and the “remote” console wirelessly communicating with said meters. This time, I want to expand on this with introducing wireless meters into the mix. So, you now have 6 meters communicating on a wired network; and their data is being introspected by […]

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Part 2: Capillary Thermal Flow Meters vs. Differential Pressure Devices


Jan 26, 2012
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director

In my last post (Part 1: Capillary Thermal Flow Meters vs. Differential Pressure Devices), I talked about volumetric flow and how it must be temperature and pressure corrected to obtain mass flow. Wouldn’t the world be a simpler place if we could simply measure mass flow directly? In fact, we do! Capillary thermal is likely the most […]

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Part 1: Capillary Thermal Flow Meters vs. Differential Pressure Devices


Jan 24, 2012
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director

The most common technology in use today for measuring flow is differential pressure “dP or ΔP” (orifice plates, pitot tubes, venturis and the like).  Indeed, that was the only flow measurement method I was taught in engineering school.  Well, things have come a long way in the 28 years since I picked up my degree. […]

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For Complex Applications, Have Your Mass Flow Controller Adjusted Remotely


Jan 12, 2012
Paul de Waal, Managing Dir., Sierra Europe
Written By:
Paul de Waal, Managing Dir., Sierra Europe

The days of simple analog mass flow meters with no variables but a zero pot are gone. Now you can get great flexibility with advanced digital mass flow controller technology like our Smart-Trak 100. But, because of this virtue, the flow meter also has many communication variables. We try to keep it simple by minimizing the need […]

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How to Achieve Vapor Mass Flow Control with a Thermal Mass Flow Controller


Jan 09, 2012
Mark Blackbourn, Engineer
Written By:
Mark Blackbourn, Engineer

I often get asked to describe the most challenging flow meter applications that Sierra has successfully handled. One that comes to mind is how we used a capillary thermal mass flow controller (designed to measure gas) to accurately control a liquid used in the semiconductor industry at extremely low pressure differentials of about 10 Torr. […]

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Breaking the Ice: Antarctica Researcher Meets Sierra’s ‘Smart’ Mass Flow Meter


Dec 13, 2011
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director

Working here along California’s Central Coast in Monterey, I don’t often get to experience a White Christmas or snowball fights or even the excitement of schussing down the slopes (unless I travel 4 hours to Lake Tahoe, Northern California). So, it’s really tough for me to imagine the frigid, barren conditions of the coldest place […]

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Are You a Mango? Three Big Advantages of Buying Flow Meters Online


Nov 21, 2011
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

If you’ve ever been up late at night – perhaps even on a weekend – trying to figure out how to get a gas mass or ultrasonic flow meter STAT, you’re a mango. A Frank Mango, to be precise. CEO & founder of Petroleum Habitats, an R&D start-up, Frank Mango needed a mass flowmeter, and […]

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Three Easy Steps to Leak Testing with a Gas Mass Flow Meter


Nov 15, 2011
Mark Blackbourn, Engineer
Written By:
Mark Blackbourn, Engineer

Leak detection can be easy, but in the “good old days” (which some of us may still be living in today), leaks were time-consuming to find and fix. Let’s compare how to find a leak the hard way, and then I’ll show you how easy it can be to automate the process with a mass flow meter. Detecting a Gas […]

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Precision Gas Flow Control is Key to R&D Instrumentation


Nov 11, 2011
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager

If you’re a scientific researcher, few things are as important as your ability to accurately control experimental research variables. Data – more specifically, precise data – is king! When you need gas flow rate measurement and control instrumentation, the ability to derive statistically sound and repeatable data is the key driver. Over the past several […]

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Gas Mixing & Blending: A Focus on Dilution


Oct 21, 2011
Paul de Waal, Managing Dir., Sierra Europe
Written By:
Paul de Waal, Managing Dir., Sierra Europe

Dilution is a special application in the world of gas mixing.  Basically, you are diluting a concentration of gas in an already existing gas mixture. Let’s say you have a gas mixture of 10% Ar/90% N2 and you really need 5 Ar/95% N2 for your application. The solution is to add more N2 to the the mix, […]

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Gas Mixing & Blending: ‘Kwik Kalucations’ with K-Factors


Oct 18, 2011
Paul de Waal, Managing Dir., Sierra Europe
Written By:
Paul de Waal, Managing Dir., Sierra Europe

‘Kwik Kalucations’ with K-factors make gas mixing with a single gas mass flow meter simple. If you’re looking to improve flexibility and save money when it comes to gas mixing and blending applications, consider applying a “K-Factor.” A dimensionless numerical relation of a specific gas vs. air or nitrogen, a gas K-factor never changes. If K-factors will work in […]

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Accuracy in Gas Mixing & Blending


Sep 13, 2011
Paul de Waal, Managing Dir., Sierra Europe
Written By:
Paul de Waal, Managing Dir., Sierra Europe

In my last post, I discussed the important question of Mass or Volume flow measurement.   Today, I will discuss accuracy and the need to size your mass flow controller properly to assure the highest quality gas mixing and blending. Mass flow controllers are devices that have an accuracy of % of full scale (%FS).  That means […]

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Wireless Networks for the Digital Flow Meter, Part 1


Sep 06, 2011
Kam Bansal, Dir. of Engineering
Written By:
Kam Bansal, Dir. of Engineering

Last time I wrote about unified communications, which is the ability to use discrete communications protocols within a protocol network. This time I want to expand on the physical aspects of the network as it relates to flowmeters, including mass air, oxygen, pipe, water and other types. Let’s assume you’ve just purchased another five flow […]

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Gas Mixing & Blending: Mass or Volume?


Jul 29, 2011
Paul de Waal, Managing Dir., Sierra Europe
Written By:
Paul de Waal, Managing Dir., Sierra Europe

Mass or Volume: Important question! In my first blog post on gas mixing and blending, we saw that combustion is an important gas mix application. Combustion or burning is a chemical process, a reaction between molecules. To quantify the gas used we should count these gas molecules and not the space between these gas molecules. […]

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Digital, Unified Communication for Flow Meters


May 05, 2011
Kam Bansal, Dir. of Engineering
Written By:
Kam Bansal, Dir. of Engineering

You’ve purchased your new flow meters and installed them. They’re all running and providing high quality flow data. You’ve decided, rightly so, that you need to connect the meters together so you can get information from a centralized console and possibly even adjust these meters from that same console. The days of walking to each […]

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Gas Mixing & Blending: Why Do It?


Apr 27, 2011
Paul de Waal, Managing Dir., Sierra Europe
Written By:
Paul de Waal, Managing Dir., Sierra Europe

Gas Mixing & Blending: Who, what and why? I am passionate about helping my customers obtain perfect gas mixing and blending!  I have been helping customers do this for over 25-years.  In this six part blog,  I want to discuss many of my experiences and aspects of gas mixing related to thermal mass flow controller technology. I want this blog to be […]

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