US DOE awards grant to develop two-phase flowmeter for geothermal wells
Airflow Sciences Corporation in Livonia, MI (source: Airflow Sciences Corporation)
Carlo Cariaga
3 Feb 2026
Livonia, MI-based Airflow Sciences has been awarded a $1.15 million grant by the US DOE to develop a steam and liquid flowmeter for geothermal wells.
Airflow Sciences Corporation, a consulting company based in Livonia, Michigan, has been awarded a USD 1.15 million grant by the US Department of Energy to develop a flowmeter that will measure the flow of both vapor and liquid from geothermal wells in real time. With the grant, Airflow Sciences will be developing a full-scale prototype which will be tested at a geothermal site in the western United States.
Airflow Sciences also plans to equip the system with onboard data analysis and reporting tools, making it a complete package of measurement hardware and software, affordable enough to install at each well and designed for the unique needs of a geothermal plant.
The grant follows a previous USD 200k research award with which Airflow Sciences proved out the groundbreaking device. Both grants were awarded under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programme.
To generate electricity from geothermal sources, a mixture of steam and hot water is extracted from an underground reservoir to rotate a steam-powered turbine. Measuring the flow of both vapor and liquid simultaneously and in real time has long been a challenge for operators of geothermal plants. Plant operators only have limited data for making decisions about how much fluid to extract from each well.
A flow meter capable of measuring steam and hot water simultaneously would be a breakthrough for well management. By fine-tuning the flow from each well, operators can maximize steam flow and optimize power production. It would also keep wells from being overtaxed and extend the reservoir’s lifespan.
“Airflow Sciences is excited about the benefits our flow meter brings to the industry,” shares Robert Mudry, the company’s president. “At a time when electricity demand is higher than ever, this new product will help bring down the cost of the geothermal megawatt-hour and expand the availability of clean, reliable electricity in the United States and worldwide.”
Source: Email correspondence
