Commercial Water Meter Installation

A velocity water meter is a type of meter that measures the flow rate of the water by having water passing through the meter and taking the rate and speed of the flow to determine the volume and, therefore, the consumption. There are a variety of types of velocity water meters, depending on the positioning of the water meter as well as the volume and rate of water flow that it will measure. Typical velocity water meters include:

• Single and multiple jet water meters
• Turbine flow meters
• Compound water meters

An electromagnetic flow meter measures the flow of water using the principles of electromagnetic induction to measure the flow rate of a conductive fluid – such as water. A magnetic field is generated by electromagnets surrounding the flow tube. When a conductive fluid flows through the tube, it acts as the conductor and a voltage is induced across the fluid. Electrodes mounted in the flow tube measure this voltage, which is then converted into a flow rate by the meters’ electronics. They have several advantages for commercial water meter monitoring:

• No moving parts – meaning low maintenance requirements and they’re not susceptible to wear and tear from debris in the fluid.
• Accuracy – they are extremely accurate at measuring water flow rates.
• Wide range of applications – able to measure a wide range of different fluids, from water, wastewater, slurry and chemicals.
• Bidirectional flow measurement – electromagnetic flow meters can measure flow in both directions.
• Minimal pressure loss – with no obstructions in the flow path, this type of water meter will cause minimal pressure loss.

A highly technological solution to water flow measurement is the ultrasonic water meter. They use ultrasound to measure the speed of the fluid.

Typically, an ultrasonic water meter consists of ultrasonic transducers mounted on opposite sides of the pipe. One transducer sends ultrasonic waves through the water to the other transducer. The time it takes for the waves to travel from one transducer to the other is measured and used to calculate the velocity of the water.

Ultrasonic water meters have several advantages for commercial businesses. As they have no moving parts in the flow path, they have low maintenance requirements and a long life expectancy. They are extremely accurate – avoiding billing disputes - and can measure flow in both directions as well as a wide range of different liquids. A significant benefit of the ultrasonic water meter for businesses is that they record accurate information in real-time.

The transit time ultrasonic flow meter can be installed in any position, which is great for situations where space is at a premium, and the Doppler ultrasonic flow meters have wrap-around sensors that can be installed outside the relevant pipe – making them simple and cheaper – and they can measure liquids that may have solids within the flow – such as mining operations or sewage.