Glossary · Sensors and measurement
Coriolis flowmeter
Also known as: Coriolis meter, Coriolis mass flowmeter
German: Coriolis-Durchflussmesser
In process instrumentation, a Coriolis flowmeter is a flowmeter with one or more vibrating measuring tubes that measures mass flow from the phase shift caused by Coriolis forces, and density from the resonance frequency of the tubes.
- Sensors
- Process industry
In one sentence
A Coriolis flowmeter measures mass flow and density directly with vibrating tubes and suits liquids and gases with changing properties.
Example
A Coriolis flowmeter in the filling line of a paint plant measures each batch by mass and reports density as a quality value.
How it applies
- Engineering: Size the meter for flow range, permitted pressure drop and medium. Straight inlet runs are generally not required, but the installation must avoid gas accumulation for liquids and should be free of strong pipe stress.
- Commissioning: A zero-point adjustment under no-flow conditions with filled tubes is typically part of commissioning.
- Maintenance: Many devices offer internal verification of the tube condition. This supports, but does not automatically replace, a calibration required by quality or legal metrology rules.
- Documentation: Record the zero-point adjustment, the configured outputs (mass, volume, density) and the units. Operators must be able to tell which value the control system displays.
Coriolis flowmeter vs. magnetic flowmeter
A Coriolis flowmeter measures mass flow and works with non-conductive media. A Magnetic flowmeter measures volume flow, has no pressure drop from internals and needs an electrically conductive liquid.