Ultrasonic water meters use ultrasonic waves to measure water consumption. Because the transmission speed of ultrasonic waves can be affected by the speed of water flow. The water flow speed is calculated to determine water consumption by recording the ultrasonic transmission time. Ultrasonic water meters have high measurement accuracy and a large measuring range, and are the most comprehensive and practical water meters.
We must first define ultrasonic waves to grasp how ultrasonic water meters work.
Ultrasonic waves are defined as mechanical sound waves with frequencies above 20 kHz, beyond the range of human hearing.
Ultrasonic waves propagate through water and other media, with their speed influenced by both the medium’s properties and its flow velocity.
Ultrasonic waves are suitable for water measurement, resulting from comprehensive consideration of the physical properties, measurement principles, and engineering applicability of ultrasound.
Ultrasonic waves can accurately transmit and receive signals. From the beginning of transmission, ultrasonic signals must experience at least 2 reflections in the water pipe before they are emitted to the receiver. The accurate directionality of ultrasonic waves meets this requirement.
Light waves: require transparent pipes and are severely scattered in water, making it difficult to receive signals.
Ordinary sound waves: low frequency (20Hz~20kHz), easily interfered by environmental noise, affecting measurement results.
Ultrasonic water meter currently has two main metering methods: Transit Time Method and Doppler Effect Method.
The transit time method is the most commonly used ultrasonic water meter measurement method, and the Doppler effect method is suitable for the industrial field with poor water quality.
By applying an alternating electrical signal above 20 kHz to the transducer/sensor, the ultrasonic transducer can generate tiny high-frequency mechanical vibrations, which are converted into ultrasonic waves.
Compared with mechanical water meters, ultrasonic water meters have 11 main advantages:
Combined with electronic technology (high frequency clocks, precision timing circuits), tiny time differences can be measured very accurately, with accuracy down to the nanosecond (ns) level, thus accurately calculating velocity and flow rate.
The sensitivity of ultrasonic water meters is much higher than that of mechanical water meters, especially in measuring small flows (even drips). The ultrasonic water meter can measure a starting flow rate of 1 liter/hour, while the mechanical meter’s starting flow can only be 6-7 liters. This capability significantly reduces water loss caused by unmeasured low flows.
With no mechanical components, ultrasonic water meters avoid wear-related lifespan reduction. Because of wear and tear, the service life of mechanical water meters in different countries is set at about 6-8 years.
Mechanical water meters degrade as impellers and gears wear, whereas ultrasonic models maintain precision with no moving parts to deteriorate.
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The pipeline of the ultrasonic water meter is unobstructed, and it is not easy to be blocked or stuck by impurities such as sand and rust in the water, and the environment with poor water quality can also be measured.
The structure of the ultrasonic water meter pipe is simple, and the resistance of the water flow through the measuring pipe section is small, unlike the pressure loss caused by the rotation of the impeller caused by the mechanical water meter.
Ultrasonic water meters with DN15 caliber, for example, can be effectively measured from 0.001 m³/h/ h-5 m³/h. The mechanical water meter can only measure the flow in the range of 0.004m³/h – 3m³/h.
It can generally store up to 2 years of historical consumption data, instantaneous flow, water temperature, and other information, and support advanced functions such as water leakage detection and water consumption pattern analysis. Ultrasonic water meters can also be customized according to customer requirements to store longer historical data.
Can detect reverse flow, air pipe, battery low voltage, sensor failure, water temperature, water pressure, data, and other abnormal states and issue alarms.
By comparing the transit time of upstream and downstream ultrasonic signals, the direction of water flow can be judged, and the forward and reverse flow can be measured respectively.
Mechanical water meters can usually only be installed horizontally or vertically. The ultrasonic water meter can be installed in the horizontal/vertical/inclined direction without affecting the measurement accuracy. However, it is still necessary to follow the manufacturer’s installation guidelines to ensure optimal performance.
Some mechanical water meters are magnets with wheel gear rotation, which can receive external magnetic field interference. The working principle of the ultrasonic water meter is different, and it is not interfered with by the external magnetic field, and the use of strong magnets to interfere with the mechanical water meter count is avoided.
There are many differences between ultrasonic water meters and mechanical water meters, and the following are the most important 3 differences:
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