Jim ‘Slim’ Mimlitz, SCADAmetrics
Telemetry, SCADA, and Building Automation System Integrators have wrestled for decades with totalization errors associated with pulse-output flow meters.
The EtherMeter was designed to eliminate these errors. We call the result: Revenue-Grade-Accurate Flow Metering.
By leveraging absolute-encoder AMR technology — which is offered as a low-cost option by all of the major AWWA-type water meter manufacturers — the EtherMeter ensures that the connected automation system is collecting meter totalization data that is an exact match to the reading on the meter itself. And because there is zero totalization error, the numbers presented in the automation system can be used with confidence for EPA reports, revenue billing, and other record keeping where error-free accuracy is required.
Prior to the EtherMeter’s revenue-grade SCADA metering solution, utilities were often forced to resort to manual meter reads to fill out their official SCADA/Telemetry reports. And because many flow meters are installed at remote locations and/or within confined spaces, manual reading can occur at considerable cost and inconvenience.
The photos below illustrate a typical SCADA flow metering application within a Rural Water District pumping station that was originally commissioned in May 2012. Had this station been equipped with pulse-counting instrumentation rather than an EtherMeter, by the time of this writing — after 435,210,100 gallons having passed through the station — there would most likely be a significant difference between the SCADA system meter reading and the reading displayed on the meter.
With the EtherMeter-based solution, it is noteworthy — and illustrated in the photos — that the SCADA System has access to the exact reading as displayed on the meter register.
Triplex Pumping Station – Jersey County Rural Water District (IL). Three (3) 60 HP Pumps and One (1) Sensus 6 Inch Omni-T2 Flow Meter. (Click to Zoom)
Sensus 6 Inch Omni-T2 Flow Meter. The Sensus Omni-series meters offer both encoder and pulse signaling. It is important to note that the EtherMeter is reading totalization and flow rate from the encoder signal and ignoring the pulse signal. (Click to Zoom.)
Telemetry/SCADA Control Panel. Note the EtherMeter Installed Within the Panel. Available Communication Methods Between the EtherMeter and the PLC: Modbus/RTU, Modbus/ASCII, Modbus/TCP, DF1, and EtherNet/IP. Available Communication Ports on the EtherMeter: 10-BaseT Ethernet, RS-485, RS-232. (Click to Zoom.)
Closeup of the Sensus Meter Register. Note the Reading: 435210100 Gallons. (Click to Zoom.)
Closeup of the EtherMeter. Note the Exact Match to the Meter Register: 435210100 Gallons. (Click to Zoom.)
The EtherMeter Also Calculates and Reports Accurate Rate-of-Flow Data: In this instance, +742.350 GPM (Click to Zoom.)