Jim ‘Slim’ Mimlitz, SCADAmetrics
Master Meter Inc (Mansfield, TX) manufactures a broad line of flow meters and AMI/AMR systems, serving the municipal water utility industry. Here at SCADAmetrics (Wildwood, MO), we manufacture flow metering instrumentation in support of this industry, with the stated mission of helping users extend such meters for enhanced SCADA interoperability and functionality.
Like many manufacturers of AWWA-style flow meters, Master Meter’s signaling options are focused upon their 3-wire, encoded protocol for interfacing with AMI/AMR endpoints. Master Meter’s encoded protocol is capable of transmitting 8-digit, fine-resolution totalization information — which SCADAmetrics instrumentation leverages to generate additional industrial signal and display options — thereby bridging the gap to solve the unique challenges facing the SCADA, Telemetry, and Building Automation spheres.
The purpose of this document is to provide a summary of several of the main SCADAmetrics devices and methods that we offer to extend the broad line of Master Meter flow meters.
Note 1: The examples illustrated within this article feature Master Meter’s ultrasonic Octave flow meter. However, all solutions are equally compatible with Master Meter’s Sonata meter, along with its electromechanical flow meters when outfitted with Master Meter’s AccuLinx or eLinx encoder registers.
Note 2: It is important to note that standard, cabled versions of the Master Meter registers are utilized in all of the illustrated examples below, as the integrated radio registers do not provide the encoded signal cable required by SCADAmetrics instrumentation. However, all illustrated solutions are compatible with Master Meter’s XTR MIU.
1. Concurrent Basic SCADA and AMI
The following illustrates how an Octave flow meter can provide basic SCADA signaling (4-20 milliamp, pulse-per-volume, flow switch), plus AMI signaling (3-wire encoder protocol). The Octave meter should be outfitted with dual-output communications option (Encoded + Open Drain Pulse). Excellent for custody-transfer pump and metering stations. Also excellent for utility-owned water meters at commercial and industrial buildings, where the building owner desires a meter reading into its BMS system, without requiring the installation of a new water meter, or without interfering with the utility’s AMI system. Design Basis: Model APK Analog-Pulse Kit:
2. Concurrent Basic SCADA, AMI, and Remote Display
The following illustrates how an Octave flow meter can provide basic SCADA signaling (4-20 milliamp, pulse-per-volume, flow switch), AMI signaling (3-wire encoder protocol), and a Remote Wall Display. Excellent for custody-transfer stations and commercial buildings. Design Basis: Model APK Analog-Pulse Kit and Model TMD TheMeterDisplay:
3. Advanced SCADA
The following illustrates how a Master Meter Octave flow meter can provide advanced SCADA signaling (Modbus, Allen-Bradley EtherNet/IP). Excellent for custody-transfer pumping and valve stations where revenue-grade accuracy is of paramount importance. Also excellent for military bases and educational facilities. Design Basis: Model EM.100 EtherMeter:
4. Concurrent Advanced SCADA and AMI
The following illustrates how an Octave flow meter can provide advanced SCADA signaling (Modbus, Allen-Bradley EtherNet/IP), while at the same time provide signaling to a connected AMI System. Excellent for custody-transfer metering, pumping, and valve stations where revenue-grade accuracy is of paramount importance for both the SCADA system and AMI system. Also excellent for commercial and industrial facilities who wish to internally track the utility-owned water meter. The inclusion of a model SDA or SDAW Duplexer (illustrated below) ensures concurrent AMI connectivity. Design Basis: Model EM.100 EtherMeter and Model SDA SCADA Duplexer for AMI:
5. Basic SCADA
The following illustrates how a Master Meter Octave flow meter can provide basic SCADA signaling (4-20 milliamp, pulse-per-volume, flow switch). Excellent for well and pumping stations, as well as commercial buildings. Design Basis: Model APK Analog/Pulse Kit:
6. Visual Batching, Visual Rate-of-Flow, plus Basic SCADA Outputs
The following illustrates how a Master Meter Octave flow meter can provide basic SCADA signaling (4-20 milliamp, pulse-per-volume, flow switch, meter fault alarm), along with an always-ON operator flow and batch display. Excellent for well and pumping stations. Design Basis: SCADAmetrics Model APK.PLUS Analog-Pulse Kit, Plus:
7. Visual Batching, Visual Rate-of-Flow, plus Basic SCADA Outputs, plus Concurrent AMI
The following illustrates how a Master Meter Octave flow meter can provide basic SCADA signaling (4-20 milliamp, pulse-per-volume, flow switch, meter fault alarm), along with an always-ON operator flow and batch display and concurrent AMI connectivity. Excellent for well and pumping stations. Design Basis: SCADAmetrics Model APK.PLUS Analog-Pulse Kit, Plus:
8. Dual-AMI Connectivity
The following illustrates how a Master Meter Octave/Sonata/ACCULINX/ELINX flow meter can provide AMI signaling to two separate systems. Excellent for custody-transfer stations, where both the water buyer and seller desire meter connectivity to their separate respective AMI systems. Design Basis: SCADAmetrics Model UDA Universal Duplexer for AMI:
9. Concurrent AMI Connectivity and Remote Visual Display
The following illustrates how a model TMD display can work with a Master Meter Octave/Sonata/ACCULINX/ELINX flow meter to provide AMI signaling to the water utility, while concurrently providing a visual remote display whose reading is a perfect match to the Master Meter register total. Furthermore, the TMD can also provide a rate-of-flow (gpm, lpm) display, as well. Excellent for utility-owned water meters at commercial and industrial buildings, where the building owner desires a meter reading without requiring entry to a vault or confined-space. Design Basis: SCADAmetrics Model TMD TheMeterDisplay:
10. Retrofit Basic SCADA Connectivity to AMI-Connected Meter
The following illustrates how a model EMP Signalizer can be applied to a Master Meter Octave/Sonata/ACCULINX/ELINX flow meter that is outfitted with an encoded output module to provide basic SCADA signaling, while preserving the existing AMI signaling to the water utility. The SCADA signaling is in the form of a pulse-per-volume output. Furthermore, if the Octave/Sonata/ELINX/ACCULINX register is programmed to transmit 8-digits resolution, then a 4-20 milliamp SCADA signal is also provided (requires Octave/Sonata setting ENCODER_UPDATE_PERIOD = 60s). Excellent for utility-owned water meters at commercial and industrial buildings, where the building owner desires a meter reading into its BMS system, without requiring the installation of a new water meter, or without interfering with the utility’s AMI system. Design Basis: SCADAmetrics Model EMP Signalizer:
11. Basic SCADA and Remote Display Added to AMI-Connected Meter
The following illustrates how a model EMP Signalizer and TMD TheMeterDisplay can be applied to a Master Meter Octave/Sonata/ELINX/ACCULINX flow meter that is outfitted with an encoded output module to provide basic SCADA signaling and a Remote Display, while preserving the existing AMI signaling to the water utility. The SCADA signaling is in the form of a pulse-per-volume output. Furthermore, if the Octave/Sonata/ACCULINX/ELINX register is programmed to transmit 8-digits resolution, then a 4-20 milliamp SCADA signal is also provided (requires Octave/Sonata setting ENCODER_UPDATE_PERIOD = 60s). Excellent for utility-owned water meters at commercial and industrial buildings, where the building owner desires a meter reading into its BMS system and a remote visual display, without requiring the installation of a new water meter, or without interfering with the utility’s AMI system. Design Basis: SCADAmetrics Model EMP Signalizer and Model TMD TheMeterDisplay:
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