Pressure Has Always Been a Hidden Challenge in Coriolis Measurement
Coriolis flow meters are widely recognized as one of the most accurate technologies for measuring mass flow and density. However, in high-pressure applications, process pressure can influence the mechanical characteristics of the sensor and introduce measurement uncertainty if it is not properly compensated for. High-pressure environments such as natural gas transmission, carbon capture and storage (CCS), LNG facilities, and refining operations increasingly depend on accurate flow measurement.
Today, we’re introducing Micro Motion™ Dynamic Internal Pressure—a patent-pending capability that fundamentally changes how pressure compensation can be achieved in Coriolis flow measurement.
What Is Dynamic Internal Pressure?
Micro Motion Dynamic Internal Pressure is a software-enabled feature available on select Micro Motion ELITE™ Coriolis flow sensors when paired with a Micro Motion 5700 Config I/O Transmitter. The technology derives an internal pressure indication directly from the Coriolis sensor tubes themselves, without requiring additional hardware. This internally derived pressure can then be used for automatic pressure compensation or additional diagnostic insight.
Unlike conventional approaches that depend exclusively on external pressure measurements, Dynamic Internal Pressure leverages the natural behavior of the sensor to determine pressure inside the meter itself.
How It Works
Pressure affects the stiffness and vibrational characteristics of Coriolis sensor tubes. Dynamic Internal Pressure analyzes these changes using multiple vibrational modes within the sensor. By simultaneously monitoring two vibration modes and evaluating the relationship between their frequencies, the meter can determine internal pressure directly from the sensor’s dynamic response.
This creates a powerful measurement principle:
Pressure → Structural Change → Frequency Shifts → Internal Pressure Calculation
Because the pressure indication is derived from the same physical system affected by pressure-induced measurement errors, it can provide highly relevant input for pressure compensation.
Four Ways Dynamic Internal Pressure Delivers Value
- Automatic Pressure Compensation
Dynamic Internal Pressure continuously calculates process pressure and can automatically compensate for pressure-related measurement effects in real time. This eliminates the need for manual pressure inputs and reduces the risk of configuration errors.
- Pressure Insight at the Meter
Instead of relying solely on upstream or downstream pressure measurements, operators gain additional visibility into pressure conditions directly where measurement occurs. This creates a more representative view of actual process conditions inside the flow meter.
- Built-In Verification and Diagnostics
Dynamic Internal Pressure provides an independent pressure value that can be compared with external pressure instruments. This comparison can help identify configuration issues, scaling errors, frozen signals, or communication failures before they impact operations.
- Simplicity Without Additional Hardware
Dynamic Internal Pressure delivers these capabilities without any additional hardware. The result is a simple, lower-maintenance measurement architecture that can improve safety while reducing installation complexity.
Ideal Applications
Dynamic Internal Pressure is particularly valuable in applications where pressure effects can significantly influence measurement accuracy or where simplifying instrumentation is a priority. Examples include:
- Internal allocation and process balancing
- Midstream natural gas pipelines
- Carbon capture and storage (CCS)
- LNG transport and storage
- High-pressure refining processes
- Storage and transfer systems
For custody-transfer applications, external pressure measurement remains the primary source for pressure compensation. In these environments, Dynamic Internal Pressure serves as a valuable verification and diagnostic tool that continuously validates pressure compensation inputs. In many non-custody applications, however, Dynamic Internal Pressure can be used as the pressure source for automatic compensation.
Proven Through Independent Testing
Independent elevated-pressure testing conducted at the TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory (NEL) evaluated Dynamic Internal Pressure against conventional external pressure compensation methods. Results demonstrated that Dynamic Internal Pressure-based compensation produced corrected performance comparable to traditional external pressure compensation under elevated-pressure operating conditions.
A New Era of Pressure-Aware Flow Measurement
As industries continue pushing toward higher pressures, tighter accuracy requirements, and simpler instrumentation architectures, the ability to derive pressure directly from the Coriolis sensor opens new possibilities for flow measurement.
Micro Motion Dynamic Internal Pressure provides automatic pressure compensation, real-time pressure indication, and enhanced diagnostic insight—all without requiring additional hardware. The result is improved measurement confidence, simplified operation, and a new level of visibility into pressure-dependent measurement performance.
Ready to Learn More?
Download the white paper, explore the technical details, and discover how Dynamic Internal Pressure can help improve measurement confidence in high-pressure applications.
