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Flow Research

Name: Flow Research
Address: 27 Water Street Ste B-7, Wakefield, MA, 01880, US
Telephone: +17812453200
Price range: $

We create change in flow Flow Research conducts market research studies in a wide variety of areas that can be purchased by anyone interested in the topics.

We create these studies through interviews with suppliers, distributors, and end-users. We have a market study available on every type of flowmeter. Topics including Coriolis, magnetic, ultrasonic, vortex, positive displacement, and turbine flowmeters, as well as temperature sensors, temperature transmitters, infrared thermometers and thermal imagers, and pressure transmitters. We have published multiple editions of many of our studies.

08/03/2026

What is the Inside Diameter of Your Pipe?
The inside diameter of a pipe is often treated as an assumed rather than a measured length. It may be determined from pipe size, or the value used upon commissioning of the flowmeter. The reality is that the inside diameter of the flow passage can change over time after the flowmeter is installed and fully operational.
Not all pipes are perfectly round. When flowmeters are calibrated, they are calibrated on clean pipes with no sediment or buildup on the walls. Once flowmeters reach the field, they enter a new world where sediment and buildup can occur. This can occur in many ways. Many physical processes can alter the inside diameter of a pipe after it has been installed.
Scaling. When hard water is heated, minerals can precipitate and form hard, chalky deposits in pipes.
Corrosion. Corrosion in water pipes is the result of the interaction of water, oxygen, and other elements of a pipe’s environment.
Temperature Changes. Extreme temperature changes can cause minerals to precipitate and solidify, forming deposits on the inner surfaces of pipes.
Inside diameter is especially important for inline ultrasonic flowmeters, which use the distance from one side of the pipe to the other in their computation of flowrate. It is also important for clamp-on ultrasonic meters. Buildup in the pipe can contribute to the attenuation of the signal. It can also affect the calculation of the flowrate.
Of course, there are many other issues providing uncertainty in flow measurement. These include flow profile, cavitation, turbulence, repeatability, two-phase flow, and many more. All these issues need to be addressed, and this is what manufacturers do in their research and development efforts, using the math that is available to them. Having a rational value for the area of a circle may reduce one source of uncertainty.
Since the cross-sectional area of the flow passage is fundamental to most flowrate measurements, whether volumetric or mass, understanding how that area is determined is essential to understanding flow measurement itself. Having a rational value for calculating cross-sectional area is another step toward producing accurate and repeatable flow measurements.
Where is the Inside Diameter?
The cross-sectional area used in flow equations is often represented as though it were an infinitely thin mathematical plane. Actual flow measurement is different. Every flowmeter senses flow within a finite measuring region. The cross section is not an abstract geometric surface but the cross section of a three-dimensional flow passage having finite dimensions. Consequently, the cross-sectional area may vary with location, wall deposits, corrosion, manufacturing tolerances, and other physical conditions. The geometry used in flow measurement is therefore the geometry of physical objects, not ideal mathematical figures. https://lnkd.in/gVN_PgHW; video: https://lnkd.in/gGqZ2_Se

02/20/2026

Could a magnetic or vortex flowmeter ever have the accuracy of a Coriolis meter? In an article published in the January edition of Processing magazine, I argue that a key feature that underlies the accuracy of a flowmeter is the relation between the physical principle underlying its operation and the output value that represents flow. If there is a tight connection between the two, with few intervening variables, then the connection is said to be tightly coupled. Such is the case for many Coriolis flowmeters. If there are many intervening variables between the operating principle and the flowmeter output, and/or the intervening variables are imprecisely determined, then the connection is loosely coupled. In that case, flowmeter accuracy is not likely to be very high.

This could mean that, as of now, magnetic and vortex meters can’t be as accurate as Coriolis meters, at least when Coriolis meters are measuring liquids. (It is well known that Coriolis meters are less accurate when measuring gas rather than liquids due to the low density of gas.) The connection between the operating principle of a flowmeter and its output should be of interest to product managers and designers, as they try to design more accurate and reliable flowmeters. But it should also be of interest to end-users as they try to balance accuracy, reliability, repeatability, and overall performance with purchase price and lifecycle costs.

This question is not unique to magnetic and vortex meters; it can be raised for any kind of meter. That means the question is worth thinking through, no matter what type or types of flowmeters you are dealing with. Here is the article link: https://www.processingmagazine.com/process-control-automation/instrumentation/flow-measurement/article/55342221/the-key-features-that-underlie-flowmeter-accuracy. I welcome any comments.

In case you haven’t had a chance to review our latest study on Coriolis meters, which just came out in Q3 2025, here’s a link to that page: https://www.flowresearch.com/coriolis/.

To review our magnetic flowmeter study, which is about to be released, go to https://www.flowresearch.com/mag/.

Yours in flow,

Jesse Yoder

02/19/2026

I wrote an article on the history of vortex flowmeters that just came out today in Processing magazine. I went back to the 1960s and even before and traced the development of vortex meters from the beginning. This was more than just “desk research,” as I ended up talking to some of the principals who played a part in the development of vortex meters from 1969 to 2001, and also reviewed some of the patents on vortex meters taken out during that time. I also tell the real story behind the development of multivariable vortex flowmeters in 1996. Of course, a lot has happened in the past 20 years, but the events in the early years are not well known.

Here is the link: https://www.processingmagazine.com/process-control-automation/instrumentation/flow-measurement/article/55342176/vortex-flowmeters-from-the-beginning. I welcome any comments.

In case you haven’t had a chance to review our latest study on vortex meters, which just came out a few weeks ago, here’s a link to that page: https://www.flowresearch.com/vortex/

01/30/2026

New Vortex Flowmeter Study Published. I’m very excited to let you know that Flow Research’s vortex study is now shipping. This is our best vortex study ever, with a record amount of charts and segmentation. The study is called The World Market for Vortex Flowmeters, 8th Edition, and it was first published this week.

There is a lot of segmentation on multivariable vs. single variable vortex meters in this study. For example, we separate multivariable from single variable by fluid type. We also separate multivariable from single variable by industry. We include mounting types, bore types, volumetric vs. mass flow, communication protocols, line sizes, and much more. We have some surprising results on vortex flowmeter accuracy. All the data is worldwide and by region, and we also have market shares by region. This data doesn’t exist anywhere else.

We did a lot of sleuthing to find out what year vortex meters were introduced (do you know when?), and what company was the first to market with vortex (do you know who?). We also found out when all the major companies introduced vortex, and when the first multivariable vortex meter was introduced. Do you know who invented the multivariable vortex flowmeter and when it was invented? The history of vortex, like that of Coriolis, proved to be a very exciting subject.

This new study is described in more detail at https://lnkd.in/eBViDa8v. The study contains over 300 tables and charts. Let me know if you have any questions.

01/18/2026

I am pleased to let you know that Flow Research has created a new website that incorporates a Flow Knowledge Base. The address of this website is https://worldflow.com/wp/. The Flow Knowledge Base is intended as a publicly available source of information about flow and instrumentation. This site is not focused on sales, but on providing more in-depth information about the history, technology, and future of flow. We go into depth on Coriolis meters, the history of Coriolis, ultrasonic, vortex, and other meters, principles of operation, geometry, frontiers of research, and many other topics. One important feature is the first English translation of Gustave Coriolis’ 1835 manuscript on the relative motion of systems of bodies. This has implications for the Coriolis principle of operation, which we also discuss here.

The geometry section presents a new finite geometry that avoids many of the paradoxes of traditional geometry. The need for infinity only arises because we don’t specify the unit of measurement in advance. We have looked in depth at the history of Coriolis flowmeters, including the patents that precede Jim Smith’s famous 1978 patent. This explains how the term ‘Coriolis’ got attached to Coriolis meters. We researched the history of vortex flowmeters, and determined what company was first to market with vortex meters. For ultrasonic meters we include the principles of operation, history, and frontiers of research.

I hope you will be able to take a look at this new knowledge base. The website address is
https://worldflow.com/wp/.
Our goal with this new site is to document many of the fascinating aspects about flow and flowmeters. We look at flow from many different angles. This https://worldflow.com/wp site is intended as a complementary site to https://flowresearch.com, which describes our market studies. We plan to continue to build this site. We welcome any comments or suggestions. We would love to have you join us as we continue to document and research this Worldflow Knowledge Base.

01/11/2026

Why are patents important? Today, much of the discussion around flowmeters focuses on present innovations and future developments. Examples include communication protocols, the Internet of Things (IoT), the limits of accuracy and repeatability, lighter and more durable materials of construction, and artificial intelligence. These examples are all important, and they influence the direction of flowmeter technology in the future.

What is sometimes lost in this discussion of future trends is the significance of past events and their role in shaping present and future trends. In looking at the dominant flowmeter companies today, it is natural to wonder how they achieved their leadership roles. Examples of leading flowmeter technology companies include Emerson, Endress+Hauser, Yokogawa, KROHNE, and ABB. All these companies are leaders in one or more new technology flowmeters. While there are multiple reasons why these companies lead in different technologies, one major contributing factor is patents and the role they played in the development of these companies and their technologies.

In a December column posted in ControlGlobal, I list ten advantages that patents give to the companies that hold them. You can read the full column at https://www.controlglobal.com/measure/flow/article/55338142/emerson-abb-and-more-owe-market-dominance-to-flowmeter-patent-portfolios. To read the 15 monthly FlowPoint columns posted in Control since June 2024, go to https://www.controlglobal.com/home/contact/55090970/jesse-yoder

01/07/2026

What is mass? Mass may be defined as the amount of matter in an object. I define matter as a material object—anything that exists independently of perception and can be observed simultaneously by more than one person, such as desks, cars, or stars. These objects are made up of molecules, which in turn are made up of atoms. Atoms consist of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, with electrons bound to them. Protons in turn are made up of quarks, gluons, and other subatomic particles. The mass of a proton is almost entirely derived from the near light speed motion of its quarks and other subatomic particles. That is the ultimate origin of mass, with energy.

Volumetric flowmeters measure how much space the fluid occupies per unit time. Mass flowmeters measure how much matter passes per unit time. Equivalently, mass flow quantifies how many molecules, and of what type, pass a given point per unit time. Mass flow is measured by the following flowmeters: Coriolis, thermal, mass flow controllers, and multivariable. Of multivariable, the main flowmeters are vortex, differential pressure (DP) and ultrasonic.

In Coriolis flowmeters, the measured signal arises from the inertial resistance of flowing mass to oscillatory acceleration imposed by the measuring structure. The inertial resistance appears as a time (phase) difference between inlet and outlet motion, which is directly proportional to mass flowrate. While this phenomenon is usually described in terms of the Coriolis force, this is purely for mathematical convenience. The same phenomenon can be described in terms of inertial mass.

Thermal flowmeters require heat transfer from the sensor to the flowing fluid. There are two methods: constant current and temperature differential. Both methods make use of the principle that higher velocity flows result in greater cooling. Thermal flowmeters rely on specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, density, gas composition, and flow regime to accurately convert heat loss into accurate mass flow.

In differential pressure, vortex, and ultrasonic flowmeters, mass flow is obtained by first determining volumetric flow or velocity and then calculating density from pressure, temperature, and fluid-specific models. These models relate pressure and temperature to density based on assumptions about molecular behavior; multivariable flowmeters must therefore be configured for the particular gas or steam being measured in order to infer mass flow.

These distinctions highlight why different flowmeter technologies interact with mass in fundamentally different ways, depending on whether mass is sensed directly through inertia or inferred through models of fluid behavior. You can find out more about all these topics at https://flowresearch.com.

12/02/2025

Why are some flowmeters more accurate than others? Flowmeters come in many types — e.g., Coriolis, ultrasonic, vortex, magnetic, differential pressure, turbine, and variable area. Each one measures flow in a different way and each one comes with its own accuracy specification. But the deeper question that underlies all this is why some flowmeters are more accurate than others.

I believe the single most important factor is this:
Some flowmeters are more accurate than others because their operating principle is physically coupled to true mass or volumetric flow. Some technologies measure flow directly, with almost no assumptions. Others require inference, modeling, or secondary variables that introduce uncertainty because they cannot be measured with precision. What is “tight coupling” and why is it the key to understanding flowmeter accuracy?

A New Way to Think About Flowmeter Accuracy
Many flowmeter discussions focus on electrode materials, bluff body geometry, signal processing, Reynolds numbers, transducer signals, or installation effects. But beneath all of that lies a simpler, more fundamental truth:
Flowmeters differ in accuracy because they differ in how closely coupled the measurable signal is to actual flow.
Think of it as a spectrum:
• Tight coupling → higher accuracy
• Medium coupling → medium accuracy
• Loose coupling → lower accuracy
The concept of tight vs. loose coupling can be most easily seen by looking at examples.

Coriolis flowmeters have tight coupling. Coriolis meters measure mass directly via the deflection of a vibrating tube caused by inertial mass. ΔT is directly proportional to mass flow. There are few intervening variables.

Positive displacement meters have tight coupling. Each “fill and sweep” cycle displaces a known volume. There are almost no assumptions. They measure actual volume, although as mechanical meters they are subject to wear. Their accuracy can also be affected by variations in temperature and pressure.

Magnetic flowmeters have relatively tight coupling. Magnetic flowmeters measure velocity via Faraday’s Law; volumetric flow = velocity × pipe area. They require conductivity but have few secondary factors. They are very stable if the pipe is full and the diameter is known. Particulate matter such as sand can damage or erode the electrodes, and can cause uneven flow. Air bubbles can disrupt the conductivity of the meter.

Vortex meters are a medium in terms of coupling. Vortex shedding frequency is proportional to velocity; however, the velocity reading depends on Reynolds number, bluff-body shape, installation, vibration, and velocity profile. Temperature and pressure readings are required for mass flow measurement, introducing two more variables. Vortex meters just count the vortices without regard to their size, strength, and coherence. They have looser coupling than Coriolis meters because the accuracy of vortex meters depends on a variety of imprecisely determined conditions.

Thermal flowmeters have medium coupling. Heat transfer is proportional to mass flow, but the reading depends on fluid properties (specific heat, thermal conductivity). They are good for clean gases; less so for liquids or varied gas mixtures.

Variable area flowmeters have loose coupling. Float position is affected by viscosity, density, friction, and user interpretation. Manual reading introduces additional looseness.

This analysis can be performed for any flowmeter. I have picked a representative sample. In general, a tight physical coupling between a flowmeter occurs when the reading depends on few variables and these variables can be determined with a high degree of certainty. The coupling becomes looser as the flow reading depends on more variables and these variables cannot be measured precisely. Values such as temperature and pressure that are read “live” and that reflect current conditions are preferable to ones read off a table.

Calibration, a favorable flow profile, removing impurities from the fluid, and proper installation can all improve the performance of any meter. However, the principle of operation of certain meters such as vortex and thermal make it unlikely that these meters will achieve the accuracy of Coriolis and positive displacement meters.

11/25/2025

Looking ahead vs. looking behind. When you think about the flowmeter industry, it is natural to want to look ahead to see where the industry is going. If you look ahead, you might think about the future of smart instrumentation, self-diagnostics, lighter-weight materials, and artificial intelligence. Looking ahead is important and is part of strategic planning. On the other hand, it is also helpful to look behind us to see how we got to where we are today. This is where patents come in. Patents approved many years ago may influence what it is possible to plan for today.

What is a patent? A patent is an exclusive right granted by a government to an inventor, giving them the exclusive right to produce, use, and sell the invention for a limited time. A patent excludes others from copying or making use of this invention during this time. Patents are administered by different agencies in different countries.

In the United States, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) administers patents. The USPTO maintains an extremely helpful database going back many years in which it is possible to search for filed and approved patents. This information is vitally important when trying to determine who has filed a patent and when, and what the patent protects. This is vital information when determining whether to file a new patent, or for doing historical research. The USPTO grants design patents for 15 years and utility patents for 20 years.

The procedure is different in Europe. In October 1973, 39 member states established the European Patent Office (EPO) at the European Patent Convention. European patents are granted by the EPO, but they must be validated in individual member states. The German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) administers patents in Germany, while the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) is in charge of patents in the UK.

In Japan, patents are controlled by the Japan Patent Office (JPO). The JPO grants patents, including utility patents, for 20 years. The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) administers patents in the People’s Republic of China. The CNIPA grants design patents for 15 years and invention patents for 20 years.

Why is it important to look behind at past patent filings along with other important historical factors while at the same time looking ahead? Every flowmeter has its own principle of operation, sensing method, and transmitter type. Flowmeters look mature, but beneath the surface, manufacturers invest heavily in new materials, new geometries, signal-conditioning methods, and electronics. Patents protect these innovations and determine the competitive landscape.

The graphic below is from a patent granted in 1910 for a lemon squeezer.

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+17812453200

Website

http://www.FlowResearch.com/

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