8 Compound Water Meter

[Heike Fallago]

Combiningthe low-flow sensitivity of a T-10 disc-type meter with the high-flow capacity of a turbine-type water meter, the TRU/FLO is specially designed for extremely wide flow rate applications such as apartment buildings, hotels, and hospitals. Its patented hydraulic valve transfers flow smoothly between disc and turbine sections, minimizing loss of accuracy in the crossover range.

Compound meters combine two metering technologies in one innovative package. A positive displacement chamber measures low flow, while a turbine chamber records high flow. These meters are ideal for facilities that experience rapid and wide fluctuations in water demand, including hospitals, universities, residential complexes and manufacturing or processing facilities.

Recordall meters are ideally suited for any water application, performing with great accuracy over a wide flow range. The Recordall product offering includes Disc Series Meters, Turbo Series Meters, Compound Series Meters, Fire Series Meters, and Fire Series Assemblies.

Recordall Compound Series meters combine two metering technologies in one innovative package. A positive displacement chamber measures low flow, while a turbine chamber records high flow. These meters are an ideal choice for facilities that experience rapid and wide fluctuations in water demand, such as hospitals, universities, residential complexes and manufacturing or processing facilities.

Compound meters (sometimes referred to as high/low meters because they have high and low flow sides) are used in situations where large volumes of water need to be metered, but at other times slower flows must also be recorded.

Such a scenario could be a large, multi-unit apartment building or a hotel that must be able to meter high usage first thing in the morning, when many residents are showering at the same time, but also measure low flows in the middle of night to record the occasional toilet flush. A manufacturing plant that uses large volumes of water while the plant is in operation, and minimal usage at other times, is another example of a prime candidate for a compound meter.

Measuring water usage in applications across residential, commercial and industrial installations requires a variety of water meter types. Here is an overview of the different water meter types, how they are used, and how to choose the right one for your application.

Water meters measure the quantity and volume of water that passes through a pipe or outlet. The standard measurements used are gallons or cubic feet. With these metrics, you are able to record the cumulative volume of water passing through the meter.

PD water meters are mainly used in residential and small commercial settings. They are very accurate when the flow is low to medium. This type of mechanical water meter has a measuring element that is displaced in direct proportion to the volume of water that passes through. A magnet within the meter then drives the register to record the volume.

Velocity flow meters are used to measure the rate and speed of the water through the meter. These mechanical water meters convert the speed of the flow to volume to help determine consumption accordingly.

These water meters contain a blade that rotates at a known speed, not necessarily that of the water. This blade is rotated by water jets, an internal strainer grid within the meter prevents the jets from clogging. Effective at low water flow and small diameters, their primary use is for secondary billing in domestic, water monitoring, batch control and small industrial applications.

These meters are a low-cost option. They use a single port to create a jet of water. There is a direct single impact making the turbine rotate. The rotating turbine transmits its motion to a display mechanism used to measure the passing volume.

These meters have multiple ports surrounding an internal chamber with each port creating a jet of water that hits an impeller. Multi-jet meters retain accuracy at lower flow rates as the load is evenly placed across the rotor blade. Their design means they are ideal for large water users and industrial water installations. Since they record real-time data, you are able to get immediate information as to any change in water consumption.

Turbine-type meters are used in large pipe diameter situations ideally for lower flow rates with high volume. This type of water meter has blades on an internal rotor. These blades are angled to rotate using the fluid that moves around it clockwise or anticlockwise.

The speed of the blades is measured by attaching a magnet to them. This magnet connects with a piece of metal embedded in the meter at a relevant point to accurately judge the speed of the water. Impressively, these sensors work regardless of the direction of the fluid through the turbine flow meter.

Compound water meters are used to accurately capture measurements where rapid and wide fluctuations in water demands are present. These meters use turbine and positive displacement technologies to gauge these measurements.

With compound water meters, you take two sets of meter readings. There is a larger meter for high flow and a second, smaller meter, for the low flow. These readings are added together, and you can then bill the customer for the combined usage.

Also known as mag meters, electromagnetic water meters have no moving parts and measure volumetric flow with high accuracy. With no moving parts, maintenance and repair costs are reduced. These water meters use a magnetic field to produce and route liquid down a pipe. When the liquid flows through the magnetic field, it creates a voltage signal. The faster the flow of water, the greater the voltage which is translated into a reading.

Ultrasonic water meters use ultrasound to measure the speed of the fluid. This is a significant technological advancement allowing property owners and managers to accurately record information in real-time. As the information is so accurate, it helps avoid billing disputes. In addition, these meters have a long-life expectancy as they have no moving parts.

These meters are very accurate in the low flow range compared to mechanical water meters. They can be installed in any position, so this is very useful in retrofit situations where space is at a premium.

These types of water meters use wrap-around sensors which are installed outside the relevant pipe making them simple and inexpensive. You would usually use these for mining industries, sewage, or any application where there are solids present in the flow. Using a Doppler ultrasonic meter for clean liquids is not as accurate but it can give approximate readings, nonetheless.

Choosing the right water meter can make all the difference between effective and inadequate water management. Once you have differentiated which type of water flow meter is best for your application, you must also remember to take running and maintenance costs into consideration. Getting the right information from knowledgeable industry professionals is paramount and expert advice is essential.

If you are looking for a water meter for sub-metering applications that will give excellent accuracy, contact our team today. Our experts will help you choose the best water meter for your application.

The OMNI C features floating ball technology (FBT). This technology is key to its optimal measurement performance. FBT uses an impeller with a ball design. The impeller is weightless in the water line and can begin moving with very little water flow or force through the meters. As a result, OMNI C meters have an extended flow range with greater low-flow sensitivity. They also have the ability to capture extended high-flow rates, all with virtually no wear on the water meters.

Water metering is the practice of measuring water use. Water meters measure the volume of water used by residential and commercial building units that are supplied with water by a public water supply system. They are also used to determine flow through a particular portion of the system.

In most of the world water meters are calibrated in cubic metres (m3) or litres,[1] but in the United States and some other countries water meters are calibrated in cubic feet (ft3) or US gallons on a mechanical or electronic register. Modern meters typically can display rate-of-flow in addition to total volume.

There are two common approaches to flow measurement: displacement and velocity, each making use of a variety of technologies. Common displacement designs include oscillating piston and nutating disc meters. Velocity-based designs include single- and multi-jet meters and turbine meters.

There are also non-mechanical designs, for example, electromagnetic and ultrasonic meters, and meters designed for special uses. Most meters in a typical water distribution system are designed to measure cold potable water only. Specialty hot water meters are designed with materials that can withstand higher temperatures. Meters for reclaimed water have special lavender register covers to signify that the water should not be used for drinking.

Additionally, there are electromechanical meters, like prepaid water meters and automatic meter reading meters. The latter integrates an electronic measurement component and a LCD with a mechanical water meter. Mechanical water meters normally use a reed switch, hall or photoelectric coding register as the signal output. After processing by the microcontroller unit (MCU) in the electronic module, the data are transmitted to the LCD or output to an information management system.

Water meters are generally owned, read and maintained by a public water provider such as a city, rural water association or private water company. In some cases an owner of a mobile home park, apartment complex or commercial building may be billed by a utility based on the reading of one meter, with the costs shared among the tenants based on some sort of key (size of flat, number of inhabitants or by separately tracking the water consumption of each unit in what is called submetering).

3a8082e126