Official Blog of Sierra--Let's Talk Flow!
Top Blogs of 2020

Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
Even though 2020 has come and gone, we would like to take a minute to recognize our Top Blogs from 2020. As with most things in 2020, the theme of “get back to the basics” resonated with our readers. The winning blogs of 2020 all answered foundational questions like: “How does this work?” or “How […]
Read the StoryNew From Sierra, MEMS-based Thermal MFC’s Set the Long-Term Stability Bar – High!

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 […]
Read the StoryComplete Guide to Gas Mixing and Blending | Sierra Instruments

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 […]
Read the StoryTurning Science Fiction into Reality

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 […]
Read the StoryHow to Supercharge the SmartTrak Mass Flow Controller with Compod

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 […]
Read the StoryFlow Tip Video: Learn Why Ease-of-Use is Critical for Flow Meter Selection

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 […]
Read the StoryOvercoming Natural Gas Sampling Challenges in Oil & Gas Applications

Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
It is a fact that in order to comply with various government rules and regulations, oil and gas companies have to continually take natural gas samples to prove the gas composition and amount of gas flowing in their oil fields. The challenge comes in trying to actually take an adequate gas sample representative of the […]
Read the StoryDirect Mass Flow or Volumetric: The Thermal Flow Meter Technology Advantage!

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, […]
Read the StoryThe ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of Mass Flow Controllers

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. […]
Read the StoryPrimary Standard Gas Flow Calibration—The Only Guarantee of Accuracy

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 […]
Read the StoryHow to Achieve Precise Air-Fuel Ratio Control in Burner Control Applications

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 […]
Read the StoryMinute Flow Tip! Don’t Settle for “Good Enough”

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 […]
Read the StoryNew Video: Master Your Mass Flow Control Challenges

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 […]
Read the StoryProviding Precision Flow Control Solutions for Critical Biomolecular Research

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 […]
Read the StoryHow to Reduce Methane Emissions with Thermal Mass Flow Meters

Written By:
Glen, Account & Market Manager
The flare gas discussion is heating up again. According to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. oil production is at an all-time high, and so are the harmful methane emissions from leaks, flaring and venting. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell has proposed to update 30-year-old regulations in order to reduce the excess release of natural […]
Read the StoryThermal Mass Flow Meters Offer Oil & Gas Companies Lowest Cost of Ownership

Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that oil prices have hit a rock bottom $40 a barrel, the lowest since 2009. How does this affect the oil companies? Well, the consumer gets the benefit of the low pump price which does loosen discretionary spending, but the oil & gas companies are hurting-spending less money on capital investment […]
Read the StoryField-Adjust For Gas Composition Changes, Retain Accuracy, Save Time and Money

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
When gas composition changes, typical thermal meters must be sent back to the factory to be re-calibrated in order to maintain required accuracy levels. All of this is a costly, time-consuming endeavor. Imagine the time and money you can save by not having to send your meter back to the factory for calibration every time […]
Read the StoryIf gas composition changes, field-adjust to maintain flow meter accuracy?

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Changes in gas composition cut into productivity in the field, exactly when you need accuracy in flow meter measurement the most. But what if you could retain that precision, even when those changes occur? Now you can do just that with qMix Software. If your gas composition changes over time, you can now quickly field-adjust the QuadraTherm […]
Read the StoryUltra-High Pressure 5000 psig (345 barg) Gas Mass Flow Control…No Easy Task!

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 […]
Read the StoryBest Practices for Mass Flow Controller Selection & Installation

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 […]
Read the StoryChemical Engineering Magazine Article By Sierra’s Founder

Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
Sierra’s Founder, Dr. John G. Olin, looks at the Principles of Operation, Installation, Calibration and Best Applications for Thermal Mass Flow Meters… Read the full article in Chemical Engineering Magazine.
Read the StoryTalking Biogas Production In Europe

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Europe is quickly becoming a hotspot for the biogas industry, and Sierra and our local French distributor Alto Instruments took advantage of that fact by exhibiting at BiogazEurope in France. Attendees learned about the entire biomass process, from the bio side of things (mass) to the energy side (electricity). Some trending applications featured at the […]
Read the StorySmartTrak MFC Highlighed on NOVA TV Program

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 […]
Read the StoryPressure Regulation Can Be a Sticky Wicket with Flow Meters

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 […]
Read the StoryHow Biogas Generators Work with Air Flow Meters

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
For several years, Sierra has been working with the Santa Cruz Wastewater Treatment Facility near Monterey, Calif., to improve the rate of biogas cogeneration. Santa Cruz produces energy – enough to power 3,000 homes – by blending digester gas (a by-product of its sewage decontamination) with natural gas. This type of biomass helps create electricity using […]
Read the StoryFlowmeter Reliability and Service Win with Wastewater Biogas Plant

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
The old maxim – waste not, want not – has taken on a whole new meaning in places like the Santa Cruz Wastewater Treatment Facility, located near Monterey Bay in Northern California. At the plant, digester gas, a by-product of sewage decontamination, is captured and mixed with natural gas to form a type of biomass, one […]
Read the StoryGas Mixing & Blending: A Focus on Dilution

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, […]
Read the StoryGas Mixing & Blending: ‘Kwik Kalucations’ with K-Factors

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 […]
Read the StoryAccuracy in Gas Mixing & Blending

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 […]
Read the StoryGas Mixing & Blending: Mass or Volume?

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. […]
Read the StoryGas Mixing & Blending: Why Do It?

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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