Official Blog of Sierra--Let's Talk Flow!
The Challenges of Measuring Flare Gas

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
The associated gas generated from oil production has received a lot of attention recently. In many areas, the lack of gas collection infrastructure requires this gas to be flared off. Many jurisdictions now require flare gas monitoring in order to reduce emissions and to allocate taxes, fines, and other fees. Choosing the best tools for […]
Read the StoryStay On Top of Methane Metering and Emissions Regulations

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
As climate concerns continue to dominate the national (and global) conversation, tightening state and federal regulations on methane emissions can pose challenges to new and existing oil and gas producers. While many may be familiar with New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), which regulate emissions at new wells, it’s important to know the EPA is moving […]
Read the StoryFive Ways QuadraTherm Flow Meter Technology Makes You And Your Process Smarter

Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
For engineers and facility managers looking at their production operations to improve process efficiency, reduce costs, and find ways to meet sustainability and environmental governance regulations, selecting the right thermal mass flow meter with accurate flow measurement is critical. Utilizing a flow meter that lacks the capabilities to accurately measure your gas flow in your […]
Read the StoryDrySense Sensor Technology Is the Key to Thermal Flow Meter Accuracy

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Why Are Dry Sensors Critical for Flowmeter Lifetime Sensor Warranty, Accuracy, and In-Situ Validation? When it comes to flow meters, what matters to plant managers and engineers alike is if their meter is measuring flow accurately and reliably. They want to know they can depend on the data their meter is providing. However, the answer […]
Read the StoryAvoid Common Flow Meter Installation Mistakes to Optimize Flow Meter Performance

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
In our last blog, we discussed how plant and operation managers are searching for ways to manage the flow energy in their facility to cut costs and increase their process efficiency. After the purchase decision is made, correct installation and calibration are the next steps to maintaining the equipment over the lifetime of the product […]
Read the StoryThermal Mass Flow Meters Increase Boiler Efficiency in Co-generation Applications

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Did you know most chemical plants use electricity derived from an on-site natural gas power plant or co-generation plant burning waste gas streams? In large boilers, power plants bring together air and fuel (natural gas, waste gas, oil or coal) for combustion, which creates heat. The heat boils the water, creating steam. The steam runs […]
Read the Story3 Tips for Avoiding Costly Mistakes in Water Measurement

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Whether you are running a large municipal water facility or one of the over 37,000 rural water utilities in the United States, water usage rates and costs drive your decisions. For any water system, it’s critical to answer key questions like: What’s your water usage and/or production? How much water are you distributing or allocating? […]
Read the StorySteam Flow Energy Measurement

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
From facilities management to district heating applications, accurate steam flow energy measurement is a critical flow measurement needed to incur substantial savings on energy and maintenance costs. However, steam flow energy measurement is also the most difficult flow measurement to make due to the unknown factors of what type of steam is being produced, various […]
Read the StoryBringing Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings to Veteran’s Facilities

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
As the infrastructure of our Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities age and government-driven energy efficiency mandates rise, VA facilities’ engineers are faced with a decision to upgrade existing equipment or replace older equipment in order to improve energy efficiency. Dealing with the upgrade or replace decision is a big one. Replacing older equipment is costly, but in the […]
Read the StoryTune Your Boiler: Watch Video for 3 Tips to Improve Energy Efficiency

Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Improving energy efficiency in facilities, campuses and hospitals is top of mind for most facilities managers and engineers. Government regulations like Boiler MACT and other energy efficiency mandates for government buildings like VA hospitals have put the pressure on facilities engineers to take a hard look at their equipment to optimize for energy efficiency. Optimizing energy efficiency comes in the form of both […]
Read the StoryThe Perfect Biogas Flow Measurement Solution | Sierra Instruments

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Solving the Biogas Flow Measurement Conundrum In recent years, concern about climate change has increased interest in alternative energy sources, specifically in biogas energy. Biogas energy can be extracted from landfills. Digester gas produced at wastewater treatment plants is another common form of biogas. So why is it so popular? In a word, economy. This […]
Read the StoryTame Your Energy Hog with Accurate Compressed Air Measurement

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
How do you tame the compressed air energy hog in your facility? As most facilities managers can attest to, the electricity used to produce compressed air can be one of the most expensive energy costs in your facility. Questions arise such as: How can I verify my compressed air capacity? How do I balance distribution and allocation […]
Read the StoryHow a Vortex Flow Meter Works

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Vortex flow meters are increasingly becoming the flow technology of choice for gas, liquid, and steam flow measurement. Vortex flow meters are ideal for measuring saturated and supersaturated steam in large facilities to improve steam production efficiency and allocation. Volumetric water flow and high flow gas measurements are also strong applications for vortex flow meters. […]
Read the StoryACHEMA 2018: An Eye On the Future

Written By:
Maurtis, Managing Director, Sierra Europe
The spirit of ACHEMA 2018 can be summed up in three words: reimagine, capitalize, and prepare for the future. ACHEMA was all about seizing the potential opportunities that Industry 4.0 or IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) can bring to the chemical and process industries. Industry 4.0 is the current trend of automation and data exchange in […]
Read the StoryFlow Energy Management Part 3: Three Successful Flow Energy Management Case Studies

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
As we’ve discovered in Part 1 and Part 2 of this Flow Energy Management series, determining the best flow meter technology for flow energy management of gas, liquid and steam applications depends on specific measurement goals, fluid, flow rate, turndown requirements, fluid temperature, and flow pressure. In part 3 of this series, let’s consider three […]
Read the StoryPart 2-Flow Energy Management Applications-Installation Tips & Tricks

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
In part 1 of our Flow Energy Management series, we identified the 3 Killer Flow Energy Management Applications that will reduce energy costs: compressed air & natural gas measurement, steam production, distribution, and allocation, and water/BTU measurement. And we identified the best flow meters for each of these applications: thermal mass flow meters for gas, vortex […]
Read the StoryReducing the Likelihood of Fluid Hammers In Steam Applications

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Many of us have heard the sound of pipes banging as we turn a faucet on or off. This sound is the water in the pipe being forced to stop or suddenly change direction and is called “water hammer.” Did you know that water hammer is not just limited to water pipes? In fact, water […]
Read the StoryUnderstanding the iSeries Totalizer for Gas Mass Flow Rate

Written By:
Kam Bansal, Dir. of Engineering
Do you have questions about the iSeries flow meter Totalizer App that comes standard with every QuadraTherm 640i/780i Thermal Mass Flow Meter or want to learn more about gas mass flow rate? We get many support questions regarding the app, generally covering the same few points, so let’s spend a few minutes and discuss how to use and understand […]
Read the StorySierra’s Top Flow Blogs of 2017

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
Another year has come and gone, and it certainly was a big one for Sierra and our customers! Let’s look back at the news and top content that we shared with you in 2017. Most Popular Blog Posts from 2017 We love sharing our news and providing useful flow meter information with you through our Let’s Talk […]
Read the StoryStriving For Perfection: Flow Energy Partnership Improves Geothermal Energy Production

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Since the early twentieth century, geothermal energy has been used to produce electricity. In the 1980’s and 90’s, rapid expansion in the demand for geothermal energy put pressure on suppliers to reduce costs and increase efficiencies. Now geothermal energy production is becoming a common practice around the globe. One of the largest energy companies in […]
Read the StoryHow an Ultrasonic Flow Meter Works

Written By:
John, Chief Engineer
An ultrasonic flow meter utilizes ultrasound to measure the velocity of a fluid and is used in a variety of fluid applications. Ultrasonic flowmeters are ideal for water and other liquids. Clamp-on ultrasonic flow meters achieve high accuracy at low and high flows, save time with no pipe cutting or process shutdown, and are not affected […]
Read the StoryHow Does a Water Flow Meter Work?

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
A water flow meter is a device that measures the amount of water flowing through a pipe. There are several water flow meter technologies to choose from depending on the water measurement application, maintenance requirements, and budgetary terms. Each of these types of water flow meters has a unique principle of operation, specific application benefits, and overall cost-of-ownership. The question […]
Read the StoryUnderstanding 4-20mA Current Loop Communications

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 […]
Read the StoryHow Does a Flow Meter Work?

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
A flow meter works by measuring the amount of a gas, liquid or steam that passes through or around the flow meter sensors. While flow meter sensors work in many different ways, the end goal is the same: Deliver the most accurate and repeatable flow measurements for the specific application, whether for general research, process […]
Read the StoryPreventable Mistakes with Vortex Flow Meters

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Vortex flow meter technology is an ideal technology for many applications particularly saturated and supersaturated steam, volumetric water applications as well as flow energy management (natural gas, compressed air, steam, water) in facilities and large campuses. In some of these applications, vortex installations can be tricky and take flow expertise for the most successful installations. Kam Bansal, […]
Read the StoryNow Measure All Flow Energy In Your Facility — One Solution — Three Metering Technologies

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
Facilities managers at large facilities often have the challenging task of managing all the flow energy in their facility with the mandate from upper management to save money on energy costs. To accomplish this goal, it’s critical to get accurate flow measurement data of the flow energy in your facility such as: natural gas, compressed air, steam, chilled […]
Read the StoryMaking Ultrasonic Liquid Flow Meter Installation Easier

Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Ultrasonic transit-time flow meter technology is becoming one of the most adopted technologies for accurate liquid and energy/BTU measurement. Although a major benefit of the technology is that it is non-invasive and can be clamped to the outside of the pipe, an inherent challenge with ultrasonic clamp on liquid flow meters is finding the best […]
Read the StoryIntroducing Our New InnovaSonic 207i Ultrasonic Liquid Flow Meter

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
For Liquid Flow Metering, Optimized for Thermal Energy/ BTU Sierra is proud to announce the new InnovaSonic 207i ultrasonic liquid flow meter with thermal energy/BTU capability. Designed, built and calibrated by Sierra in Monterey, California for non-intrusive liquid flow metering, and optimized for thermal energy/BTU measurement, the 207i transit-time ultrasonic flow meter is the ideal turnkey solution for […]
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 StorySierra’s Biggest Stories from 2016

Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
2017 is here and this year will bring many new exciting developments at Sierra, but before launching completely into the new year, let’s take a look back at our top stories of 2016. New at Sierra in 2016 We’re always looking for new ways to communicate and interact with our customers and industry. Find out about three […]
Read the StoryFlare Gas Measurement Innovation: Retain Flow Metering Accuracy Even if Gas Composition Changes

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
It’s a fact oil wells almost always produce natural gas along with the petroleum. Nine times out of ten, the excess gas (typically hydrocarbons) is flared off or simply vented as-is during upset conditions in the process. The environmental impacts of “flaring” this excess gas into our atmosphere has resulted in government regulations like 40 CFR […]
Read the StorySensor Probe Insertion/Retractor Simplifies Installation of Steam Flow Meters in Hot Tapping Applications

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Accurately measuring fluid flows like steam in large ducts or pipes is a challenging application. Large ducts and pipes often have swirl or turbulent flow which makes accurate flow measurement difficult. Not to mention, installation of steam flow meters can be extremely challenging since in many cases you will need to shut off the steam flow to install […]
Read the StoryThe First Vortex Flow Meter with Apps Wins Innovation Award!

Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
Thank you to the readers of industry publication, Flow Control Magazine, who voted for Sierra’s InnovaMass 240i/241i iSeries multivariable and volumetric vortex flow meters in Flow Control’s 2016 Innovation Awards. Sierra was awarded an honorable mention. Sierra’s tradition and spirit of innovation spanning over 40 years drives everything we do, we are happy that the readers of Flow Control […]
Read the StoryReducing Costs of Steam Flow Measurement

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
Traditionally, steam flow has been measured with a differential pressure device. This is typically an orifice plate. However, such devices are inherently volumetric flow measurements. As we have discussed in previous blog posts, changes in pressure and temperature will change the mass flow rate of steam. Even a “small” change of 10% in steam pressure […]
Read the StoryTuning Your Boiler for EPA Boiler MACT Compliance

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
The EPA’s Boiler MACT (Maximum Achievable Control Technology) regulations are heating up. Boiler MACT is an EPA rule to limit hazardous air pollutants (HAP) from commercial and industrial boilers and process heaters. Originally published in 2011 as a mandate driven by the Clean Air Act, the rules are Area Source Boiler MACT 40 CFR 63, subpart JJJJJJ for smaller […]
Read the StoryMinute Flow Tip Video: Steam Measurement in Large Pipes—Hot Tapping

Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
Learn more about the product featured in this video: InnovaMass 241i Insertion Vortex Flow Meter Need more information on measuring steam? Learn more about maximizing steam productivity and reducing the overall cost of ownership for additional energy savings when measuring steam. A new “Minute Flow Tip” will be posted to our YouTube channel every month. […]
Read the StoryVideo Series Highlights One-Minute Flow Measurement Tips

Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
At Sierra, we get very excited about flow measurement and control as you can imagine, and sometimes we want to spread the information we have quickly without a whole lot of fuss. That’s the spirit behind our video series called “Minute Flow Tips.” In just a minute or so, we discuss a specific flow application […]
Read the StoryFor Vortex Flow Meters, Accuracy Matters in Steam Energy Flow Measurement

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
The heat is on. Most facilities managers are in the hot seat to account for all of the flow energy, going in and out of their facility which is no easy task. This mandate is no different for steam flowmeter measurement. Vortex flow meters continue to be the industry standard selection for accurate steam flow […]
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 StoryIt Has Apps! Our New Vortex Flow Meter Empowers You

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
Sierra’s next generation InnovaMass “iSeries” features a new hyper-fast microprocessor, robust software apps, and an automated state-of-the-art manufacturing and flow calibration facility to assure the highest level of quality and delivery. It Has Apps! The InnovaMass iSeries features flow management apps driven by our new Raptor II OS that will empower your process and save you time and money. ValidCal […]
Read the StoryThe New Vortex iSeries has Arrived!

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
InnovaMass. Reinvented. I am proud to announce on behalf of our entire development team, our completely re-designed, next generation InnovaMass 240i and 241i vortex volumetric flow and multivariable mass flow meter product line. Learn more… The all new iSeries InnovaMass 240i inline and 241i insertion vortex flow meters are manufactured at our brand new assembly and calibration facility in […]
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 StoryGet Our New Full Line Flow Meter Product Catalog / Selection Guide

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 […]
Read the StoryEverything You Need to Know About Sub-Metering Natural Gas

Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
We’ve written quite a bit about the benefits of using thermal flow meters to sub-meter natural gas in large facilities. So much so, that we’ve decided to create one post that can be your go-to resource for finding information on the topic. Here you’ll find links to easily digestible content like infographics and SlideShare presentations, […]
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 StoryTake Charge of Your Facility’s Water Usage…

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Water is a precious resource! Now, more than ever, businesses and facilities must take charge of their water usage to help with water conservation and lower water bills. Water conservation begins with knowing exactly how much water you are using in your process or facility. When you know how much water you are using, you can adjust […]
Read the StoryMethods & Pitfalls of In-Situ Calibration Validation of Thermal Flowmeters

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
Driven by the need to meet quality standards like ISO 9001, reliability engineers for mid-to-large-sized facilities and campuses know the time consuming reality of assuring their flow meters are properly maintained and “in cal”. A unique and highly marketed benefit of Thermal Mass Flow Meter technology is “in-situ” or “in place” flow meter calibration. This certainly sounds like […]
Read the StoryThe Truth About In-Situ Calibration Validation of Thermal Flowmeters

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
In-situ calibration validation is one of the great benefits of thermal mass flow technology. This video reviews in-situ calibration validation and details how thermal sensor stability is the only way a calibration validation is actually valid! Get the truth about in-situ calibration so you can make informed decisions. Watch the video now! For a more detailed […]
Read the StoryThe Secret to Slashing Your Facility’s Natural Gas Bills

Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Psst. We’ve got a secret. One that could save you money. How much, you ask? Thousands. That’s right. You could be saving thousands on your facility’s natural gas bill. Traditional diaphragm flow meters used for natural gas measurement can’t account for changes in gas composition, resulting in a utility bill that can be less than […]
Read the Story4 Keys to Great Portable Ultrasonic Flow Metering

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
The liquid measurement market is an extremely large market with many varied measurement requirements. To get the best bang for your buck, a portable ultrasonic flow meter is a practical solution. With a portable ultrasonic flow meter, you can use one liquid flow meter in several locations throughout your flow process. There are many portable […]
Read the StoryHow to Install Vortex Steam Flow Meters!

Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
A few weeks back Glen Coblentz, Vice President of North American sales, spent three days in New York City. Unfortunately, he was not able to enjoy the sites of NYC. Instead, he was working 45-feet underground in 120 F degree heat in New York City’s steam tunnels. For over five hours, Glen worked with Sierra Representative, North East Technical, commissioning […]
Read the StoryNEW Video Animation: How Do Thermal Mass Flowmeters Work?

Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
As if your were actor Dennis Quaid in the popular 1987 movie Innerspace, journey inside the pipe to learn the operational principle of thermal mass flow technology and see, from a molecules perspective, why thermal flow meters have become extremely popular due to high accuracy, no moving parts, negligible pressure drop, sensitive direct mass flow measurement with high […]
Read the StoryPart 3: Accurately Measuring Flare Gas — Managing Gas Mix Changes, Retaining Accuracy, Reducing Cost of Ownership

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
In my last post, I compared the pros and cons of the various flow meters available for measurement of flare gas. Ultimately, all but one has limitations that will impede your ability to accurately measure excess burn off from the hydraulic fracturing process. In this week’s post, I’ll share a new generation thermal mass flow […]
Read the StoryPart 2: Accurately Measuring Flare Gas — Innovations Promise More Economical Choices

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
In my last post on flare gas flow measurement, I shared how the rise in hydraulic fracturing has led to more stringent state and national mandates to regulate the measurement of waste and excess gases that are produced as a result of this process. If you’re affiliated with an oil or gas company, you know […]
Read the StoryPart 1: Accurately Measuring Flare Gas — Challenges, Solutions, and Opportunities

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
If your company is involved with hydraulic fracturing to increase oil and gas production, you’re familiar with the fact that state and national regulations are becoming increasingly stringent. In particular, flare gas now requires the installation of mass flow measurement instruments to measure waste and excess gases burned off as a result of the hydraulic […]
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 StoryInnovation @ Sierra

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 […]
Read the StoryIn Search of the Perfect Sensor: Thermal Flow Meter History & Trends

Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
What do you do when you have an entrepreneurial bent and a revolutionary idea for flow meter advancement? You start your own company, of course. That’s exactly what our founder, John G. Olin, Ph.D., did in 1973 when he founded Sierra Instruments in Minnesota subsequently moving it west to California. It’s that entrepreneurial spirit, as well […]
Read the StoryPart 2: Challenges with Submetering Natural Gas

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
I previously shared a post on how mid-to-large size facilities can save money by taking the initiative to submeter natural gas usage, titled Part 1: Challenges with Submetering Natural Gas. The traditional diaphragm meters used by utility companies rely on fixed compensation variables that can lead to inaccuracies and overcharging. While this can affect residential customers, it […]
Read the StoryPart 1: Challenges with Submetering Natural Gas

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
In an article for Gases & Instrumentation magazine, I explored energy management as it relates to the natural gas industry. Natural gas exists in abundance in this country, with production expected to increase 44 percent by 2040. With such unprecedented growth in production of this natural resource, utility companies must focus on providing the most accurate gas […]
Read the StoryPart 2: Emerging Trends of Thermal Flow Meters

Written By:
Jesse Yoder
Last week in the first part of my guest post, I shared some of the reasons why the Coriolis flow meter has cornered such a large part of the flowmeter measurement market. Accuracy is the main reason why this type of flowmeter has been so commonly used in industrial applications up to this point. But […]
Read the StoryPart 1: Emerging Trends of Thermal Flowmeters

Written By:
Jesse Yoder
In this guest post, I’ll be comparing the Coriolis and Thermal flowmeter markets, an interesting undertaking when you consider some of the facts. Both technologies were introduced about the same time, in the mid-1970s. But the worldwide Coriolis meter market has grown to exceed $1 billion, while the Thermal flowmeter market is valued at less […]
Read the StoryTotalize Multiple Gases Independently: Watch Video!

Written By:
Brian Estep, Software Engineer
The need to measure, totalize, and monetize gas flow is not going away. In fact, the requirement to accurately totalize and monetize gas is becoming even more critical with our boom in natural gas and other industrial processes. Almost all mass flow meter companies have the ability to totalize one gas being measured. This is pretty standard […]
Read the StoryBreak from the Shackles-Mid-to-Large Size Facilities Verify Utility Company Billing

Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
As we have all been hearing in the news, natural gas is becoming a very valuable and abundant natural resource. Almost all of this increase is due to the projected growth in shale gas production which will grow to 16.7 trillion cubic feet in 2040. Now comes the big question: how are utility companies going […]
Read the StoryPart 3: Biogas Flow Meter Measurement-The Solution

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
In recent weeks, I’ve shared some exciting advancements in the biogas industry in regards to renewable energy management. From harnessing biogas energy from landfills to the digester gas produced at wastewater treatment plants, one thing is paramount: Adjusting for changing gas composition is critical to obtaining accurate flow meter measurement for optimal biogas energy collection. […]
Read the StoryPart 2: Biogas Mass Flow Measurement–The Challenge

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
In my previous posts, I shared the focus on the growing need for renewable energy sources in the United States, with biogas becoming a hot commodity. Common sources include harnessing biogas from landfills, as well as digester gas produced at wastewater treatment plants. One of the major flow measurement challenges in biogas applications is the fact […]
Read the Story4 Things to Look for in an Online Industrial Flow Meter Store

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 […]
Read the StoryBiogas Flow Meter Measurement: The Flooded Market

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
In my recently published article in Biomass Products & Technology , Precise Biogas Flow Measurement: Overcoming the Challenges of Changing Gas Composition, I highlight the nationwide search for alternative energy sources. In the article, I note that this search has led to increased interest in sources of biogas energy specifically. Many flow meter companies have jumped into […]
Read the StoryFor Improved Accuracy in Industrial Applications: Clean & Test Your Mass Air Flow Sensor

Written By:
Freynold Usi, Software Engineer
In today’s dirty heavy industrial applications, engineers and operators are often faced with an inherent challenge which affects mass flow accuracy: How do I know if the sensor of my mass flow meter is clean? and How do I clean the sensor without shutting down the system? Because accurate mass flow readings are often critical for running an efficient […]
Read the StoryBluetooth Wireless Portable Liquid Flow Measurement Made Possible

Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
As you might have guessed, Sierra has a passion for flow measurement and we are always striving for ways to improve our flow meters and processes to give you the best accuracy possible for your application. Today, we are pleased to announce the release of our new InnovaSonic 210 Portable with Bluetooth Wireless Android Tablet […]
Read the StoryArticle Highlights Advancements in Flow Meter Accuracy

Written By:
Maryadine Washington, Mar-Com Manager
Thanks Flow Control magazine for the great coverage and helping to spread the word to our customers about new technology to improve flow measurement accuracy, which always improves plant efficiency and saves customers money in the long run. John G. Olin, PhD, founder of Sierra Instruments and inventor of a number of flow industry firsts, […]
Read the StoryPart 3: Cold Weather and Mass Air Flow Meter Gas Temperature (Gas Properties)

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
In Parts One and Two of this series, we looked at the effects of ambient temperature on mass air flow meters such as Sierra’s FastFlo™ 620S and our new QuadraTherm™ Model 640i. As discussed, cold weather has few physical effects on an air flow meter, but can degrade accuracy due to stem conduction, unless accounted for, […]
Read the StoryPart 2: Cold Weather and Mass Air Flow Meter Accuracy (Stem Conduction)

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
In Part One, we looked at the effects of cold weather on mass air flow meters like Sierra’s Steel-Mass® Model 640S and our new QuadraTherm™ Model 640i. As discussed, cold weather typically doesn’t cause any physical damage to the flow meter, but it can affect the meter accuracy. Let’s look at how. Flowmeters That Are […]
Read the StoryCold Weather and Your Mass Flow Sensor

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Baby It’s Cold Outside Sierra is a global company, so we sell our mass air flow sensors into some pretty extreme cold weather environments. Indeed, we are seeing more and more applications in the far North, where immersible thermal flow meters like Sierra’s Steel-Mass® Model 640S and our new QuadraTherm™ Model 640i are used in […]
Read the StoryFlare Gas Metering Solutions

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Waste gases must be flared in numerous industries ranging from oil refineries and well drilling operations (like shale gas fracking) to wastewater treatment plants and landfills. Due to government regulations, flares are subject to stringent regulations requiring accurate measurement. Requirements to monitor the flow rate and consumption of flare gas involves measurement at points within a […]
Read the StoryFit for the King: Flow Meters & CO2 at Budweiser

Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
When the King of Beers calls, we listen. As the #1 imported beer in China, Budweiser needed better control of its carbon dioxide (CO2) gas mass flow measurement at its Fujian Province plant. After trying several other, non-direct mass flow measurement technologies, engineers chose Sierra’s immersible SteelMass® 640S thermal mass flow meter. The reason behind their choice was that […]
Read the StoryQuadraTherm Flowmeter Puts New Spin on Fiberglass [Case Study]

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
What a waste! That’s what I thought when I learned how much material is rejected and how much gas is consumed during the fiberglass insulation manufacturing process. The biggest losses occur during the melting, spinning and subsequent cooling of silica, a key ingredient in fiberglass. For those who work in this industry, it’s a never-ending […]
Read the StoryNew QuadraTherm Flow Meter: iTherm Expanding Gas Library

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
The iTherm gas library stores proprietary gas packets, which are analogous to the DNA of a specific gas. It stores all the parameters needed to instantly calculate the thermodynamic and transport properties of every gas or gas mixture versus temperature and pressure. Currently, the library has mapped 18 gases and mixtures, and it continues to grow […]
Read the StoryNew QuadaTherm Flow Sensor: with iTherm, It Learns!

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
With iTherm, It Learns… QuadraTherm’s four-sensor technology provides the critical inputs for iTherm’s living, learning algorithm set and gas library to accurately manage changes in gas and pipe selection, gas temperature, gas pressure, and outside temperature. Our revolutionary thermal mass flow meter with iTherm solves the First Law of Thermodynamics (for Thermal Dispersion Technology) in a fraction […]
Read the StoryNew QuadraTherm Thermal Flow Sensor Makes It Possible!

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
Patented QuadraTherm’s Four-Sensor Design A major thermal sensor breakthrough for Sierra occurred with QuadraTherm, as two new temperature sensors (T2 and T4—see figure below) were added to the existing two-sensor design (T3 temperature & T1 DrySense velocity) used in previous flowmeter models. The two additional sensors perform real-time correction for the heat lost to the outside environment due […]
Read the StoryNew QuadraTherm 640i / 780i: Accuracy Never Before Possible!

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
Innovative QuadraTherm Four-Sensor Design Traditional thermal sensors have two sensors—one temperature sensor and one velocity sensor, each in a separate probe sheath. QuadraTherm (the term “Quad” meaning “four”) introduces four sensors—three precision platinum temperature sensors and one patented DrySense mass velocity sensor. Performance improvements never before possible are gained as the QuadraTherm Technology isolates forced […]
Read the StoryNew QuadraTherm 640i / 780i: Introducing The World’s Most Accurate Thermal Mass Flow Meters

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
From Sierra’s beginning over forty years ago, we have been driven by the vision of supplying industrial customers with the world’s most accurate thermal mass flow meter. And, we knew it was a “sensor” game. The development of an industrialized metal-sheathed sensor in the early 80s was Sierra’s first big step, but we didn’t stop there. Many successful innovations […]
Read the StoryBuy Flow & Level Switches Instantly Online

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…
Read the StoryOut in the Cold: Mass Vortex Flowmeter Conquers Cryogenic Fluid

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
Cryogenic fluids are key in a variety of industries with very low temperature applications, including medical, large-scale frozen food processing and electric power transmission. However, these fluids must be handled – and measured – with great care, which can be a challenge if you’re using a traditional turbine meter or other tools to assess various fluid […]
Read the StoryBuy Insertion Thermal Mass Flow Meters Online; Next Day Delivery

Written By:
Erica Giannini, Marketing Manager
Thermal Mass Flow Meters Increase Boiler & Heater Efficiency The BoilerTrak™ 620s-BT is in stock and available to buy online and ready to fulfill urgent delivery requirements. BoilerTrak was designed to provide an economical and easy to install solution for precise natural gas measurement to heaters and boilers to increase efficiency. The instrument is also suited for compliance […]
Read the StoryStop Getting Steamed (Part 2): Easy Vortex Flowmeter Retrofit

Written By:
John, Chief Engineer
In my last post, I outlined problems you may be facing if you need to measure superheated steam accurately, and I promised to share a success story about our Innova-Mass multivariable vortex flow meter. A district energy provider for a Midwest city had hot air problems. Their old shunt meters were wearing out and leading […]
Read the StoryUltrasonic Flow Meter Reduces Water Company’s Drain [Case Study]

Written By:
John, Chief Engineer
The Carmel Riviera Mutual Water Company believed it was losing big. Historical estimates indicated that more than 30% of this small, independent water company’s production was going down the drain through leaks, waste, evaporation and other types of loss. The company budgeted almost $60,000 per year in initiatives to reduce these leaks, including labor and materials […]
Read the StoryStop Getting Steamed (part 1): Vortex Flow Meters Make Cents

Written By:
John, Chief Engineer
If you’re a provider of superheated steam – commonly used to heat water and buildings in large cities in the northeastern United States – then you may be watching your revenue go up in smoke. As you know, steam is not free. Normally, it’s produced at a central facility and piped to customers. Like all other forms […]
Read the StoryPart 2: For Steam Flow, Mass Vortex Flow Meters Are Ideal!

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
In my last post, I discussed the problem of density errors creeping into steam flow measurements. When steam is superheated, you can determine density by the steam tables. But, as the vapor cools in a pipe, things aren’t so simple. I said the answer to the conundrum is actually “blowing in the wind” – that a […]
Read the StoryFor Steam Flow, Mass Vortex Flow Meters Are Ideal!

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
I want to discuss a special form of gas flow measurement – water vapor – otherwise known as steam flow. Traditionally, steam has been measured with orifice plates. The steam was typically saturated or had a known superheat, so the density could be obtained from the steam tables. However, steam naturally cools as it goes down the […]
Read the StoryCustomize Your Flow Meters

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 […]
Read the StoryWireless Flow Metering: More Than Just No Wires

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 […]
Read the StoryNatural Gas Measurement: 3 Reasons Thermal Mass Flow Meters Are Ideal

Written By:
John, Chief Engineer
When it comes to metering natural gas, you’ve got several flow meter options. However, thermal mass flow meters offer three distinct advantages over more traditional flow meters: No moving parts. As you can probably guess, moving parts can cause problems over time due to wear, lubrication and coating sensitivity. For example, turbine meters offer excellent […]
Read the StoryA Thermal Mass Flow Meter in Outer Space

Written By:
Matthew Olin, President
North America’s #1 selling thermal mass flow meter offering (Flow Research, Yoder), our heavy-industrial thermal mass flow meters are designed for the most demanding industrial gas mass or air flow measurement applications. Early developments in the evolution of mass flow meters in the 1950’s were largely driven by the need for highly accurate gas mass flow […]
Read the StoryMeasure Natural Gas Energy Accurately with Thermal Flowmeters

Written By:
John, Chief Engineer
It is well known that thermal mass flow meters are effected by gas composition. Because thermal mass flow meters are effected by gas composition, many customers are concerned about how composition changes effect overall system accuracy. Through many years of experience with gas mixtures, we have seen that in many cases, a thermal mass flow […]
Read the StoryUpgrades to Food Processing Boilers Worth Their Salt: a Steam Flowmeter Case Study

Written By:
John, Chief Engineer
When the operations staff at a large food processing plant wanted to reduce utility costs and better analyze boiler performance, they chose to retrofit their 35-year-old boilers with new electronic controls, as well as several of our Innova-Mass® Model 241 immersible multivariable mass vortex flow meters to accurately measure steam discharge. Previously run by old pneumatic […]
Read the StoryIndustrial Thermal Mass Flow, The Heat is On…

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
One of the more interesting stories I have been told about Sierra is the genesis of the company’s flagship product, our model 640S Steel -Mass ® Immersible Thermal Mass Flow Meter. In the mid 60’s, our founder, Dr. John Olin, was working on his PhD at Stanford. One aspect of his research involved studying the fluid […]
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