Valve-Controlled Ultrasonic Water Meters

I. Definition and Core Components

• Ultrasonic Measurement Module: Adopts time-difference or Doppler principle to calculate flow by measuring ultrasonic propagation time difference in fluids, with no mechanical moving parts.
• Electric Valve Control System: Embeds solenoid valves, ball valves, or butterfly valves driven by motors, enabling remote on/off control or flow regulation.
• Intelligent Controller: Integrates signal processing, data storage, and communication modules (e.g., NB-IoT, LoRa) to support remote reading, anomaly alarm, etc.

II. Key Technical Features

1. Non-Mechanical Design for High Accuracy
   • Accuracy reaches ±0.5%–±1% (at normal flow range), with a turndown ratio (Q3:Q1) exceeding 200:1, capable of capturing flows as low as 1L/h with long-term stability.
2. Smart Valve Control & Remote Management
   • Supports remote valve operation (e.g., shutoff for overdue payment, fault repair) and timed control (e.g., segmented water supply), fitting smart water management systems.
3. Low Power Consumption & Wide Temperature Adaptability
   • Standby power <100μW, lithium battery life up to 6–10 years; temperature classes range from T50 (0.1–50°C) to T90 (0.1–90°C), suitable for cold/hot water scenarios.
4. Interference Resistance & Compatibility
   • Immune to magnetic fields but requires protection against fluid bubbles (>1mm) or particulate impurities (needs filters), ideal for clean water sources.

III. Application Scenarios

• Trade Settlement & Precision Metering: Used by water utilities and industrial consumers for high-accuracy metering and billing.
• Intelligent Water Management: Paired with IoT platforms for real-time flow monitoring, leakage warning, and tiered pricing.
• Special Working Conditions: High-rise building water supply, air conditioning systems (vibration-resistant), and household metering (sensitive to low flows).

IV. Advantages and Limitations

• Advantages:
  • No mechanical parts, low maintenance cost, service life ≥10 years;
  • Supports bidirectional flow measurement (forward/reverse identification) for complex pipe networks;
  • Traceable data meets water informatization management requirements.
• Limitations:
  • 2–3 times higher cost than mechanical water meters;
  • Strict installation requirements (straight pipe sections, vibration avoidance);
  • Requires pre-treatment for turbid water or excessive bubbles.