Coriolis / Ultrasonic Meter Sizing Calculator

Coriolis meters measure mass flow directly by detecting tube oscillation frequency changes caused by the Coriolis effect. They offer high accuracy (typically +/-0.1% for liquid, +/-0.35% for gas) and high turndown (100:1). Ultrasonic meters measure volumetric flow by timing ultrasonic pulses traveling with and against the flow. They are non-intrusive, offer wide rangeability (20:1 to 50:1 with multi-path designs), and are preferred for large line sizes (6 inch and above).

Use Coriolis meters for: liquid custody transfer (crude oil, NGL, condensate), small to medium line sizes (up to 12 inches), applications requiring direct mass measurement, and high-accuracy bi-directional flow. Use ultrasonic meters for: gas custody transfer in large pipelines (6 to 48 inches), applications where minimal pressure drop is critical, wet gas or dirty gas service, and when non-intrusive measurement is preferred.

Per AGA Report No. 9, ultrasonic meters typically require 10 pipe diameters of straight run upstream and 5 diameters downstream without a flow conditioner. With an approved flow conditioner (tube bundle or CPA 50E), the requirement reduces to approximately 5D upstream and 3D downstream. Multi-path meters (4+ paths) are less sensitive to flow profile disturbances than single or dual-path designs.