Measuring and testing – Instrument proving or calibrating – Volume of flow – speed of flow – volume rate of flow – or mass...
Patent
1998-09-17
2000-07-04
Noland, Thomas P.
Measuring and testing
Instrument proving or calibrating
Volume of flow, speed of flow, volume rate of flow, or mass...
73 127, 702100, G01F 2500
Patent
active
060821698
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a process for the detection and evaluation of the duration of a malfunction of a meter, particularly when said meter operates in the form of a so-called submarine meter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
It has been noted that in the course of the use of a water meter, the precision of the latter can decline because of wear even of the meter or from the deposit of solid particles such as sand, in particular during work on the pipes.
Most of the time, this decline is manifested in the incapability of the water meter to measure low flow rates and also gives rise to erroneous measurements of higher flow rates. This decline being difficult to detect, there results an erroneous measurement of water consumption. Moreover, the simple detection of the malfunction of a meter does not permit evaluating the duration of said malfunction and as a result to estimate the erroneous measurement of consumption.
Moreover, when the malfunction of the water meter is due to the deposit of solid particles, for example following work, said deposit can be naturally eliminated. Thus, the flow of water flowing through the meter will gradually entrain the solid particles, restoring the meter to its normal condition. Because of this, this type of malfunction can pass entirely undetected, the meter having lost and regained its normal operating characteristics without this having been detected.
This type of malfunctioning meter is called a submarine meter to the extent that its malfunction is practically undetectable and the indications given are less than those that are normal.
It is therefore desirable to overcome these draw-backs by providing a process for the detection of the malfunction of a water meter also permitting evaluation of the time during which said meter has operated as a submarine meter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The single drawing FIGURE illustrates the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To this end, the invention provides a process for the detection of the malfunction of a water meter and for evaluation of the duration of said malfunction, characterized in that it comprises: measuring the mean flow rate at each unit of volume detected following the preceding unit of volume, comparatively analyzing this mean flow rate at two limit flow rates which are a first flow rate corresponding to the minimum normal operating flow rate of the meter and a second flow rate corresponding to the minimum operating flow rate of the meter when the meter is functioning in a submarine mode, the computing, when a mean flow rate is detected greater than the first flow rate, of the ratio between the sum of the units of volumes counted between the first and the second flow rates and this said sum to which is added the sum of the units of volumes counted at flow rates higher than the second flow rate, starting a clock when this ratio is below a threshold of submarine operation and stopping said clock when the ratio is again greater than the submarine threshold.
When the mean flow rate calculated is detected to be below the minimum flow rate of normal operation of the meter, said mean flow rate is not taken into account because it does not reflect any significant event.
When the calculated mean flow rate is detected to be higher than the minimum flow rate of normal operation of the meter, there is then performed an analysis of detection of said operation of a meter operating in a submarine mode.
Thus, there are separately added the units of volume counted between the minimum normal operating flow rate of the meter and the minimum operating flow rate of the meter when the meter is in a submarine mode, and the units of volume counted at flow rates higher than the minimum flow rate of the meter when the meter is operating in a submarine mode.
There can thus be calculated the value of the ratio between the volumes counted between the two flow rates and the sum of the volumes counted between the two flow rates and the volumes counted above the minimum operating flow rate of the meter
REFERENCES:
patent: 4286471 (1981-09-01), Lee et al.
Noland Thomas P.
Societe Anonyme de Production de Procedes de Comptage de l'Eau e
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