Abstract: A fluid consumption meter (2) is arranged to measure a flow rate of a fluid and has a control device (14) with a sound detection module (26) arranged to detect a sound in said fluid. The control device (14) is configured such that during activation of the sound detection module (26) at least one further module (20, 22, 24) of the consumption meter (2) not required for sound detection is in a deactivated state. A method is provided for detecting sound in a piping system.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter (2) includes a flow channel (4), at least one ultrasonic transducer (16,18) located in the flow channel or on a wall (5) of the flow channel (4) and a processing unit (14) connected to this at least one ultrasonic transducer (16,18). The processing unit (14) is configured such that the processing unit controls the at least one ultrasonic transducer (16,18). The processing unit (14) includes an analyzing module (36) that is configured such that analyzing module (36) evaluates a state of a medium in-side the flow channel (4) by analyzing a ringdown behavior-damping of the signal of the at least one ultrasonic transducer (16,18). A method for evaluating the state of a medium inside an ultrasonic flow meter (2) is provided.

Abstract: A system and a method for identifying a leak indication in a utility distribution system is described. A pipe network for supplying a utility to a multitude of service connections includes a plurality of acoustic sensors mounted at the service connections. The acoustic sensors are preferably integrated in ultrasonic flow meters. The method comprises the steps of obtaining information about a time of change of a fluid pressure and then establishing a first noise indicator from the noise measured by the acoustic sensors before said time of change, establishing a second noise indicator from the noise measured after said time of change; and then correlating one or more first noise indicators and second noise indicators with the fluid pressure to identify service connections subject to leak indications. A leak detection system based on a mathematical cross correlation of noise indicators and fluid pressure in a fluid pipe system is also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preventing frost damage to one or more flow meters installed in a fluid distribution network containing a fluid, wherein each flow meter is configured to measure a temperature, preferably an air temperature, and to wirelessly transmit the measured temperature, such as via a mobile or a fixed wireless reading system to a processing unit. The method comprises: 1) during a period continuously monitoring (M_TMP) the temperatures measured by the plurality of flow meters over a period of time, 2) performing a data analysis (P_DA) on the temperatures of the plurality of flow meters from the period, 3) based on the data analysis, identifying (I_FDC) one or more ones of the plurality of flow meters as frost damage candidates in a future frost period, and 4) transmitting (T_WS) a warning signal indicative of the frost damage candidates or initiating frost protection measures to protect the frost damage candidates.

Abstract: Fluid consumption meter comprising a noise detection module for leak detection measurements and a control device comprising a bi-directional communication unit. The control comprises a time synchronization module for time synchronization of leak detection measurements with an external device via the bi-directional communication unit with a time synchronization error of less than 1000 micro seconds. The control device is arranged to receive a leak detection control signal from an external device and to start the leak detection measurements at a point in time specified the received leak detection control signal.

Abstract: The method serves the purpose of the acoustic leak detection in a district heating supply network (3), in which a heat transfer medium is circulated between a combined heat and power plant (1) and points of use (5). The points of use (5) have heat meters (10), which operate with ultrasonic flow meters, which operate with ultrasonic flow meters, which can be operated in a leak detection mode for the acoustic leak detection, whereby the acoustic signals detected in the leak detection mode are filtered to eliminate extraneous noises, in particular pump noises.

Abstract: A method determines a fluid pressure at a fluid flow meter installed in a pipe network that is supplied with fluid at a varying and/or variable input pressure. The method includes recording input pressure information for a determination of a difference between input pressures in a first considered time-window and second considered time-window, aggregating statistical data of a plurality of fluid flow events and/or fluid volume consumption events during the first considered time-window and the second considered time-window, providing the aggregated statistical data to a head-end system (HES) that has access to the input pressure information and determining, by the head-end system, a fluid pressure at the fluid flow meter based on a change in the aggregated statistical data between the first considered time-window and the second considered time-window, and the difference between the input pressures in the first considered time-window and the second considered time-window.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for setting up an acoustic leak detection system in a fluid distribution network characterized by the following steps: placing at least one first acoustic sensor (10) in the network placing at least one acoustic signal generator (26) in the network at a location distanced to the at least one first acoustic sensor (10) along a pipe (4), generating an acoustic signal by the acoustic signal generator (26) evaluating whether the at least one first acoustic sensor (10) detects said generated acoustic signal, and in case that said generated acoustic signal is not detected by said at least one first acoustic sensor (10), placing at least one second acoustic sensor (24) in the network at a location less distant along the pipe from the location of the signal generator (26) than said at least one first acoustic sensor (10).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preventing frost damage to one or more flow meters installed in a fluid distribution network containing a fluid, wherein each flow meter is configured to measure a temperature, preferably an air temperature, and to wirelessly transmit the measured temperature, such as via a mobile or a fixed wireless reading system to a processing unit. The method comprises: 1) during a period continuously monitoring (M_TMP) the temperatures measured by the plurality of flow meters over a period of time, 2) performing a data analysis (P_DA) on the temperatures of the plurality of flow meters from the period, 3) based on the data analysis, identifying (I_FDC) one or more ones of the plurality of flow meters as frost damage candidates in a future frost period, and 4) transmitting (T_WS) a warning signal indicative of the frost damage candidates or initiating frost protection measures to protect the frost damage candidates.

Abstract: A fluid consumption meter (50) configured to measure a flow rate of a fluid and with a noise detection module (40) for leak detection. Also having a control device with a bi-directional communication unit (60) and being configured to receive a leak detection control signal from an external device (100), to set the fluid consumption meter (50) into a leak detection mode upon reception of the leak detection control signal, and to start a noise measurement for leak detection in said leak detection mode and to transmit data from said noise detection module, an to a leak detection system.

Abstract: A method for acoustic leakage detection in a fluid pipe network (1) uses at least one ultrasonic flow meter (13) installed at a pipe (15, 17). The pipe connects a consumer site (3) to the fluid pipe network. The method includes detecting at least one sound wave traveling along the pipe and/or along fluid within the pipe from a sound source to the at least one ultrasonic flow meter, determining the traveling direction of at least one of the at least one sound wave, interpreting a sound wave of the at least one sound wave as a leakage sound candidate if the determined traveling direction of said sound wave is towards the consumer site, and interpreting a sound wave of the at least one sound wave as a background noise if the determined traveling direction of said sound wave is away from the consumer site.

Abstract: A method for locating a leak (19) in a water supply network with a water source (11) and one or more water consumption meters (21, 22) on the consumer side. The method includes calculating a length of the pipe (17) between the consumption meter (21) and the leak (19) location based on a temporal temperature curve and a quantity of water flowing through the at least one consumption meter (21).

Abstract: A turbidity measurement device for measuring turbidity of a fluid flowing in a flow tube. A first transducer transmits ultrasonic signals through the fluid in the turbidity measurement section so as to provide a first ultrasonic standing wave between the first and second section ends. A receiver transducer receives the ultrasonic scattered response from particles in the fluid flowing through the turbidity measurement section. A control circuit operates the transducers and generates a signal indicative of the turbidity of the fluid in response to signals received from the receiver transducer. Preferably, the device may comprise a second transducer for generating a second ultrasonic standing wave with the same frequency, and further the two transducers may be used to generate a measure of flow rate by means of known ultrasonic techniques. This flow rate may be used in the calculation of a measure of turbidity.

Abstract: A fluid consumption meter (2) is arranged to measure a flow rate of a fluid and has a control device (14) with a sound detection module (26) arranged to detect a sound in said fluid. The control device (14) is configured such that during activation of the sound detection module (26) at least one further module (20, 22, 24) of the consumption meter (2) not required for sound detection is in a deactivated state. A method is provided for detecting sound in a piping system.

Abstract: A turbidity measurement device for measuring turbidity of a fluid flowing in a flow tube. A first transducer transmits ultrasonic signals through the fluid in the turbidity measurement section so as to provide a first ultrasonic standing wave between the first and second section ends. A receiver transducer receives the ultrasonic scattered response from particles in the fluid flowing through the turbidity measurement section. A control circuit operates the transducers and generates a signal indicative of the turbidity of the fluid in response to signals received from the receiver transducer. Preferably, the device may comprise a second transducer for generating a second ultrasonic standing wave with the same frequency, and further the two transducers may be used to generate a measure of flow rate by means of known ultrasonic techniques. This flow rate may be used in the calculation of a measure of turbidity.

Abstract: A turbidity measurement device for measuring turbidity of a fluid flowing in a flow tube. A first transducer transmits ultrasonic signals through the fluid in the turbidity measurement section so as to provide a first ultrasonic standing wave between the first and second section ends. A receiver transducer receives the ultrasonic scattered response from particles in the fluid flowing through the turbidity measurement section. A control circuit operates the transducers and generates a signal indicative of the turbidity of the fluid in response to signals received from the receiver transducer. Preferably, the device may comprise a second transducer for generating a second ultrasonic standing wave with the same frequency, and further the two transducers may be used to generate a measure of flow rate by means of known ultrasonic techniques. This flow rate may be used in the calculation of a measure of turbidity.

Abstract: A turbidity measurement device for measuring turbidity of a fluid flowing in a flow tube. A first transducer transmits ultrasonic signals through the fluid in the turbidity measurement section so as to provide a first ultrasonic standing wave between the first and second section ends. A receiver transducer receives the ultrasonic scattered response from particles in the fluid flowing through the turbidity measurement section. A control circuit operates the transducers and generates a signal indicative of the turbidity of the fluid in response to signals received from the receiver transducer. Preferably, the device may comprise a second transducer for generating a second ultrasonic standing wave with the same frequency, and further the two transducers may be used to generate a measure of flow rate by means of known ultrasonic techniques. This flow rate may be used in the calculation of a measure of turbidity.