Key issues relating to collaboration and the dissemination of information and technology were discussed at the third Flow Measurement Institute Conference, which took place in July at Coventry University.
“The importance of strengthening ties between industry and academia was one of the key challenges that kept coming up,” says Control Systems and Software developer, Gordon Lindsay. “In particular there was a lot of discussion about the importance of encouraging individuals from different organisations to meet, share ideas and showcase cutting-edge research.”
Gordon, who spoke on coriolis flow metering technology in extreme ambient temperature environments, was one of four NEL attendees at the Conference. In addition to the National Measurement Institute and academic delegates, a wide cross section of industrial representatives attended. The plenary speakers included Dr Simon Bittleston, VP Research at Schlumberger.
“The conference also looked at how flow measurement technology could be developed to have a wider application across industry,” Gordon adds, highlighting talks on prism signal processing as an example of this. “There was a lot of interesting discussion on how to use established technology in a new way, for example, using computerised analysis techniques to get additional data out of traditional meter technology.”
The event, which was open to everyone with research interests in flow measurement, was as popular as it has been in previous years and covered a wide range of technical topics, including enhanced data capture and analysis and advanced calibration techniques and methodologies.
“A new element at this year’s conference was a panel discussion at which industry experts fielded questions relating to the future of flow measurement,” Gordon explains. “This added an excellent element of participation to the proceedings.”