Oil Flow Meter
Oil Flow Meter
Oil flow measurement spans an enormous range of applications — from custody transfer of crude oil at pipeline custody points to lube oil monitoring on individual machines. The right meter technology depends heavily on the type of oil, the accuracy requirement, the pipe size, and whether you need mass flow, volume flow, or both.
For most oil flow applications where accuracy and reliability are the priority, Coriolis flow meters are the best choice. They measure mass flow and density directly, work across a wide range of viscosities, and aren't affected by changes in oil temperature or composition. For applications where cost is the primary driver and accuracy requirements are modest, turbine meters are a simpler option.
Why Coriolis for oil measurement?
Coriolis meters measure mass flow by detecting the Coriolis force on a vibrating tube — a measurement that's independent of fluid density, viscosity, temperature, and pressure. This matters for oil because viscosity changes significantly with temperature. A volumetric meter calibrated at one temperature reads incorrectly at another. A Coriolis meter doesn't care — it measures mass flow directly and also outputs density and temperature, allowing accurate volume correction to standard conditions.
Our Coriolis meters achieve ±0.1%, ±0.2%, or ±0.5% of reading accuracy (selectable) — suitable for custody transfer, batch control, and production accounting applications where accuracy directly affects revenue or cost.
Common oil flow meter applications
• Crude oil production metering — measure wellsite production for allocation and royalty accounting
• Fuel oil metering — measure fuel oil delivery to boilers, furnaces, and generators
• Lubricant dispensing — batch control on lube oil blending and filling lines
• Hydraulic fluid — measure flow in hydraulic systems for leak detection and performance monitoring
• Transformer oil — measure insulating oil fill and maintenance quantities
• Asphalt and bitumen — measure high-temperature, high-viscosity paving materials (Coriolis handles viscosities up to 10,000+ cP)
• Chemical and process oils — measure heat transfer fluids, process oils, and specialty lubricants
What to look for when selecting an oil flow meter
Viscosity is the key parameter that separates suitable meter technologies. Coriolis meters handle viscosities from near-water up to 10,000+ cP without calibration changes. Turbine meters work well for low-viscosity oils (under 100 cP) but lose accuracy as viscosity increases.
Temperature rating matters for hot oils. Fuel oil and asphalt are handled at elevated temperatures. Confirm the meter's temperature rating covers your maximum operating temperature, including any startup or upset conditions.
Hazardous area classification — if the oil application is in a classified area (which many are), confirm the meter carries appropriate ratings for your area class.
For asphalt, bitumen, and other high-temperature, high-viscosity applications, the Coriolis meter is the only practical choice. Contact us to discuss high-temperature configurations.
|
Application |
Recommended Meter |
Why |
|
Crude oil, fuel oil, lubricants |
Coriolis Flow Meter |
Mass flow + density, viscosity-independent, ±0.1% accuracy |
|
Low-viscosity oils, cost-sensitive |
Turbine Flow Meter |
Economical for clean, low-viscosity oils under 100 cP |
|
Asphalt, bitumen, high-viscosity |
Coriolis Flow Meter |
Only technology that handles extreme viscosity reliably |
|
Large oil pipelines, 6"+ |
Coriolis (large bore) or Insertion MAG |
Contact factory for large diameter oil metering |
In stock and ready to ship
Coriolis flow meters for oil applications ship from Salinas, CA. Available in 3/8" to 10" with accuracy options of ±0.1%, ±0.2%, and ±0.5%. Explosion-proof ratings available. Contact us with your pipe size, oil type, viscosity, and temperature range.
Call us at (831) 244-8080 to talk through your application, or go straight to the product page to configure and order.