Silver Automation Instruments published a guide on October 27, 2026, to help engineers select oil flow meters for high-viscosity liquids, including heavy fuel oil, lubricants and resins.
Key Takeaways
- The guide compares oval gear, helical gear and Coriolis meters for thick liquids.
- Meter sizing must account for viscosity at operating temperature and the resulting pressure loss.
How the guide compares oil flow meters
The Nanjing-based instrumentation supplier says the guide is intended for engineers measuring liquids above 200 mPa·s. It covers applications ranging from marine fuel and bitumen to syrups, slurries and epoxy resins.
The guide describes different trade-offs among meter types. Positive displacement meters can maintain accuracy as thicker liquids reduce leakage around their gears, but they face higher pressure loss and a narrower usable flow range. Coriolis meters measure mass directly, though thick liquids increase pressure loss through their tubes.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Oval gear | The guide lists viscosity up to 2,000 mPa·s and accuracy of 0.5% or 0.2%. |
| Helical gear | The guide lists viscosity up to 3,500 cP and a maximum size of 14 inches. |
| Coriolis | Measures mass directly; listed accuracy ranges from ±0.1% to ±0.5% of flow. |
Sizing and availability
Silver Automation says a DN50 oval gear meter has a flow range of 8 to 24 m³/h on light oil, compared with 1.2 to 12 m³/h at a viscosity of 1,000 to 2,000 mPa·s. The example illustrates why a meter’s usable range needs to be checked against the liquid being measured.
Sales engineer Ellen Sheng said selection errors often arise when meters are sized by pipe diameter rather than viscosity at operating temperature. The guide includes a checklist covering viscosity, flow range, allowable pressure loss, process temperature and required output.
The full guide is available on the company’s website, and engineers can submit process data for free meter sizing. Silver Automation said it received 3,000 flow-meter inquiries from 130 countries between January 2025 and September 2026; 8% involved oils or liquids above 200 mPa·s.
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