The Improved Innova-Mass® Model 241 Continues Sierra’s Tradition of Innovation:
Sierra Instruments, of Monterey, CA, is proud to announce it has taken proven vortex technology and elevated it to the next level. Sierra’s highly innovative and improved Innova-Mass® Model 241 Insertion Multiparameter Meter is a unique solution for mass flow of gases and steam in large pipes. Among its many innovations:
1. Patented “low mass” sensor and sophisticated digital signal processing (DSP). The low mass sensor makes it very sensitive to the vortices formed and less sensitive to heavy vibration while the DSP conditions and filters the signal.
2. Multiparameter: Measures three process variables (velocity, temperature and pressure- VTP) through one process connection. This allows for the real time calculation of true mass flow. Since everything is calibrated together, system accuracy is very high.
3. Insertion: Because VTP is directly measured, the Reynold’s number can be dynamically calculated and the flow profile effects in large pipes calculated in real time. This allows for reliable measurements in large pipes (up to 72”) where using an in line meter would be cost prohibitive.
4. Loop powered: Even with all the above powerful abilities, the Innova-Mass® is loop powered, with power in, programmable 4-20ma out and a superimposed HART signal riding on the same two wires.
Takes Proven Vortex Technology to the Next Level:
Vortex meters have been in use for many years. The typical device is a flanged in-line unit. Most vortex meters measure only one variable (the velocity of the flowing fluid). Effectively, this makes the typical vortex meter a volumetric unit. While mass flow can be calculated for a constant density fluid, it becomes much more problematic for gases and steam. The Innova-Mass® is a quantum improvement for the following reasons:
1. It is an insertion device. Insertion vortex meters have seen limited use (there are only 3-4 suppliers) because they are measuring the velocity at only a single point and are therefore greatly affected by flow profile. The Innova-Mass® Model 241 solves this inherent problem by measuring the Reynolds number in real time, calculating a dynamic flow profile and determining correction algorithms for the point velocity. This means a reliable insertion meter for very large pipes…pipes where an in line meter would likely be much too costly.
2. It measures temperature, velocity, and pressure at a single point through one process connection. There are a few vortex meters that measure velocity and temperature but only the Innova-Mass® measures all three.
Outstanding Operating Characteristics Over Conventional Vortex Meters
As with any measurement device, the accuracy and repeatability are important. Size and ease of installation also play a part. With Vortex meters in particular, you have the added concerns of vibration sensitivity and low flow performance. The Innova-Mass® excels in all of these areas.
Conventional systems have a temperature, pressure and flow sensor coupled to a flow computer to calculate a mass output. The total system accuracy and repeatability is affected by the individual components. Further, process variables may be measured at different points. The Innova-Mass® measures all three variables at the same point and is calibrated as a self-contained system. Better than +/- 1.0% of reading accuracy and +/- 0.2% repeatability is the norm.
A 72” spool piece weighs a ton…with a price to match. Innova-Mass® can be inserted into an existing pipe through a 2” NPT fitting (or various other process connections)
By their nature, Vortex meters are sensitive to the vibration on a pipe and cannot measure low flows. The Innova-Mass® low mass sensor is far less sensitive to the momentum heavy vibration can cause and, because it can calculate Re number, it can operate at a lower range than other vortex meters.
Proven Success In Difficult Applications:
Many large cities in the Northeastern US use central steam heating to heat buildings in the city center. Superheated steam is produced at a central facility, then piped to various buildings where it is used for heating water or for heating the building itself. Obviously, this steam is not free, so the various providers must find a means to measure its consumption and bill the users.
Since most of these steam systems have been in operation for many years (sometimes almost for a century) most cities in the Northeast used a legacy device called a shunt meter. This is essentially a turbine meter through which the steam is bypassed. This device has two major drawbacks: it is mechanical so the device wears out and it is volumetric so that additional temperature, pressure and flow computers must be installed to measure mass flow.
The Innova-Mass® provided a perfect solution. It was easily retrofitted into existing steam lines and it directly measured mass flow with no extra equipment and no moving parts. By replacing the old shunt meters, one major city saved approximately 35% annually in maintenance costs and saw a 25% increase in billable steam flow .
The Innova-Mass® 241 can Save You Money:
Sierra is hard at work in the geothermal steam fields of the west. For Caithness Energy Company, rugged, reliability matters. One emerging technology in energy-strapped California is using the natural geothermal reservoirs in certain areas of the state as a source of steam that is then used to generate electricity.With much success, Cathiness Energy Company has partnered with Sierra and installed Innova-Mass® for this rugged application to replace the failing and corroded differential pressure devices. This switch to Sierra has saved Cathiness countless dollars in maintenance costs, hours of employee time, and now they can measure up to 5 process parameters with one meter!
Robert Hutsell, the Director of Operations and Maintenance at Cathiness states, “The occurrence of scaling (dissolved solids) has virtually disappeared since we switched to the Innova-Mass®. System Reliability is up, and maintenance is down, which is exactly what we were trying to accomplish.”
Sierra’s Innova-Mass® Technology…
…provides Cathiness with the accurate, repeatable, and RUGGED mass flow technology to measure geothermal steam flow.
…saves Caithness up to $500.000 annually in maintenance costs.