Official Blog of Sierra--Let's Talk Flow!
Getting The Most Out of Your Steam Flow Measurement with Vortex Mass Flow Meters.

Written By:
Scott Smitherman
Three tips for maximizing your vortex shedding meter’s efficiency. As far as steam flow measurement goes, vortex mass flow meters have become the flow technology of choice for most facilities and plants looking to incur significant savings on energy, maintenance, and processing costs. Vortex flow meters are perfect for measuring saturated and supersaturated steam in […]
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 […]
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