MASS FLOWMETER TECHNOLOGY

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED PHASE I EFFORT IS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF USING RECENTLY DEVELOPED, COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE MASS FLOW MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY (BASED ON THE CORIOLIS PRINCIPLE) FOR OPEN SEA RE-FUELING OPERATIONS. MASS FLOW RATE MEASUREMENT OF FUELS BASED UPON THE CORIOLIS PRINCIPLE ARE SUPERIOR TO TRADITIONAL VOLUMETRIC TECHNOLOGIES BECAUSE A DIRECT NON-INVASIVE MEASUREMENT OF MASS FLOW IS OBTAINED INDEPENDENT OF THE FUEL'S PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROPERTIES. THE PROPOSED PHASE I EFFORT WILL EVALUATE THE SUITABILITY OF A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CORIOLIS MASS FLOWMETER FOR OPEN SEA RE-FUELING FROM THE STANDPOINT OF OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE, ENVIRONMENTAL RUGGEDNESS AND EXPLOSION PROTECTION.