Measure Today. Ensure Tomorrow.

Measure Today. Ensure Tomorrow.

Ultrasonic Water Meter

– The Future for Residential Water Metering

Agenda

Mechanical Water MetersTypesPerformance LimitationsEffects of WearUltrasonic Water MetersBenefitsTechnologyApplicationsQuestions and Answers

Mechanical Water Meters Include:

Positive Displacement TechnologyOscillating PistonNutating DiscVelocity TechnologyMulti JetSingle Jet

Nutating Disc Water Meter

Picture from Omega Flow and Level Handbook

Oscillating Piston Water Meter

Picture from Omega Flow and Level Handbook

Single Jet Water Meter

Multi Jet Water Meter

Benefits of Mechanical Meters

Proven Technology Widely Accepted and Trusted in the Industry Technology has Evolved and Improved Over more than 100 Years Several Types Can Be Rebuilt ‐ Extending their Useful Life

Disadvantages of Mechanical Meters

Moving parts – Wear and Tear Regular re-calibration is required (5years) Maintenance Is RequiredProne to Tamping, i.e., magnetic tampering on register Particulates in Water Can Cause Problems Calcium in Water Can Cause Problems Significant Pressure Loss Correct Sizing is Very Important

Inherent Low Flow Performance Limitations Accuracy Relies on Close Tolerances that are Subject to Wear Accuracy Degrading Over Time

The

following slides are for Low Flow analysis

¾” Mechanical Meter Accuracy at Low Flow

Source: Apparent Losses Caused By Meter Inaccuracies at Ultralow Flows, Richards et.al, AWWA Journal, June 2010

Poor Low Flow Performance!

Implications for Water Conservation

•

You Can’t Count What You Can’t Measure

• Even the Best AMI System Can’t Detect

Leaks Below

a Meter’s Lowest Flow Sensitivity

• A Leak of 0.05 GPM (1/20th GPM) amounts

to 39

Teaspoons, or about 0.8 Cups per Minute

• This is Not Just a “Drip” Every Few Minutes

Slow Leak, Big Loss

0.05 GPM is

2,160 Gallons

over 30 Days,

or

25,920

Gallons

per Year from

ONE

meter

• Across 10,000 Meters, this could amount

to

259,200,000

Gallons

per Year (795 Acre Feet)

• How Many Meters Have Leaks at or

Below 0.05

GPM?

WE DON’T REALLY KNOW BECAUSE

THE MECHANICAL

METERS CANNOT

MEASURE THESE

FLOWS – EVEN WHEN NEW!

What We Are Sure

•

AWWA

States That 16% of a Meter’s

Usage Occurs at Low Flows (Less Than 1 GPM)• Mechanical Meters Measure Only A Small Percentage of Flow Below 1/4 GPM – Even When New• [Unmeasured Flow] Results in Significant Revenue Loss for the Utility

Source: Apparent Losses Caused By Meter Inaccuracies at

Ultralow Flows

, Richards et.al, AWWA Journal, June 2010

Sources of Non‐Revenue Water

AWWA Standard Water Balance

Apparent Losses From Meters

Based on test studies of anonymous

water utilities

, typical average customer

meter under registration is about 5 to 6 percent.

Graph Source:

Apparent Losses Caused By

Meter Inaccuracies

at Ultralow Flows

, Richards

et.al, AWWA

Journal, June 2010

Apparent Losses From Meters

Based on test studies of anonymous

water utilities

, typical average customer

meter under registration is about 5 to 6 percent.

Graph Source:

Apparent Losses Caused By

Meter Inaccuracies

at Ultralow Flows

, Richards

et.al, AWWA

Journal, June 2010

Agenda

Mechanical Water MetersTypesPerformance LimitationsEffects of WearUltrasonic Water MetersBenefitsTechnologyApplicationsQuestions and Answers

How Does Ultrasonic Water Meter Work

This technology is similar to the following:

- Based on Transit-time Technology

The boat traveling against flow takes longer time to reach to its opposite bank than the one travels along the flow.

Travel time difference is directly related to river flow velocity.

D

Q ~

Tup-Tdn

Each transducer sends a sound pulse towards the other.

The pulse traveling downstream takes less time than the one travelling upstream.

The travel time difference of the two pulses are proportional to the

flowrate

:

To measure flow in a pipe, a pair of ultrasonic transducers are installed:

V > 0

With

flow, red pulse travels faster than green pulse, thus, takes less time to complete the trip

.

The travel time difference is proportional to

flowrare

For Small Size Pipe:

Reflector-Based Sensor for High Sensitivity

Patented Sensor design boosts system

performance:

Convex reflector surface reduces

risk

of particle deposition.Internal design absorbs multi-mode reflection.

Pure/strong signal is obtained. Guarantees increased accuracy and stability.

ULTRASONIC COLD WATER METER

No moving parts to wear and tear

.Maintenance-free. No annual calibration required.Tamper-proof design.

Smart DigitalNSF61-G approvedCutting-Edge TechnologyDesigned for the Future

Idea for

submetering

ULTRASONIC COLD WATER METER

No moving parts to wear and tear

.Maintenance-free. No annual calibration required.Tamper-proof design.

Smart DigitalNSF61-G approvedCutting-Edge TechnologyDesigned for the Future

Idea for residential metering

Leakage Detection In Residential Property

Each domestic meter is able to detect small water leakage.

When leakage is detected, water meter sends alarm to data center promptly.

Spire’s Ultrasonic Water Meter is designed for this!

Count each drop

More ADVANTAGES …

Wide dynamic range

Pipe burst detection and alarm

A lifetime of accuracy so the tenant pays for what they consumes.

T

Low pressure drop. Saves pumping cost.

Smart interface ready for automatic meter reading (AMR/AMI)

Comparison – ¾” Meter Accuracy at Low Flow

Graph Source: Apparent Losses Caused By Meter Inaccuracies at Ultralow Flows, Richards et.al, AWWA Journal, June 2010

Ultrasonic Water Meter Offers High Accuracy Over Wide Range, Even at Low Flow!

Comparison – ¾” Meter Accuracy at Full Range

Comparison – ¾” Linearity

Comparison – Dynamic Range

Mechanical (AMCO C700)

Ultrasonic (Spire 280W-D)

¾”

120

2001”100200

In fact, ultrasonic water meter has much larger dynamic range than shown in its spec.

Comparison – Longevity

Ultrasonic Water Meter Is Accurate Even 20 Years Later!

LEAKAGE DETECTION

Ultrasonic Water Meter Can Detect Small Leakage!

“Reduction of apparent losses caused by

meter inaccuracies

at low flows can result in substantial increases in revenue for a utility.”“Additionally, increased meter accuracy will allow for more equitable billing of customers.”

Utah Water Research Laboratory Study

Richards

, Johnson and

Barfuss

; Utah Water Research

Laboratory

Ultrasonic Technology Offers

a Win‐Win

for Utilities, Consumers, and the Environment. They Can Reduce Apparent Losses From Meters, Allowing Utilities to Bill for More of the Water Actually Delivered They Can Help Eliminate the Smallest Leaks They Can Pay for Themselves in a Few Years They Deliver More Information Than Ever Before Environmentally Friendly Composition

Conservation and Revenue

Ultrasonic Technology Offers

a Win‐Win

for Utilities, Consumers, and the Environment. They Can Reduce Apparent Losses From Meters, Allowing Utilities to Bill for More of the Water Actually Delivered They Can Help Eliminate the Smallest Leaks They Can Pay for Themselves in a Few Years They Deliver More Information Than Ever Before Environmentally Friendly Composition

Conservation and Revenue

Ultrasonic Water Meter Has Built-in AMR/AMI Feature. Easy for AMR/AMI Integration.

AMR/AMI Ready

Mechanical Meters Are Still a Viable Solution

–

They Have Served Us Well for Over 100 YearsNew Technologies Available Today Offer Compelling Financial and Ecological BenefitsThey Compliment AMI System Deployments but Offer Many Benefits Independent of AMIUtilities Should Explore and Understand the Potential of These Meter Technologies

Conclusions

Agenda

Mechanical Water MetersTypesPerformance LimitationsEffects of WearUltrasonic Water MetersBenefitsTechnologyApplicationsQuestions and Answers

THANK YOU!

… A

Global Leader in Flow & Energy Management

Solutions …

Massachusetts, USA www.SpireMT.com