Official Blog of Sierra--Let's Talk Flow!
Stay 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 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 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 StoryFlow Energy Management: 3 Killer Apps To Lower Energy Costs

Written By:
Scott Rouse, Product Line Director
More and more, buzz words like “flow energy” or “flow energy management” have become prevalent as companies grapple to control costs, reduce energy use, and comply with government regulations—all while trying to increase profitability. But what are flow energy and flow energy management? Why should you care? In this three-part series, we will: Explore what […]
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 StoryUnderstand Your Flow Profile for Real-World Flow Meter Accuracy

Written By:
John, Chief Engineer
As explained in my last post on flow conditioning, distorted flow profile is a common problem in “real world” flowmeter applications. In some cases, customers can live with a distorted flow profile because they are using flow meters for a relative measurement of flow, rather than an absolute measurement of flow. In cases where the customer is looking […]
Read the StoryUnderstanding Flow Profile in the Real World

Written By:
John, Chief Engineer
From my experience in the field, I have seen widespread misunderstanding of the physical phenomenon of “flow profile.” Since our industrial flow meters actually measure flow at one point, an understanding of flow profile is critical. The average user imagines that the flow in a pipe is uniform. This is a flawed thought, and never […]
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