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The effect of surge flows on residential water meters
Author(s) -
Weller Ryan P.,
Barfuss Steven L.,
Johnson Michael C.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
awwa water science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2577-8161
DOI - 10.1002/aws2.1117
Subject(s) - surge , environmental science , volumetric flow rate , flow measurement , flow (mathematics) , piston (optics) , ultrasonic flow meter , meteorology , marine engineering , hydrology (agriculture) , mechanics , geology , geotechnical engineering , engineering , physics , wavefront , optics
This study evaluates how various types of 5/8 × 3/4 in. residential water meters respond to flow rates above the maximum rated flow rate per AWWA standards. Accuracy and pressure loss tests were conducted on a gravimetric test bench at flow rates of up to two and a half times the maximum rated flow rate. The results of this study show that the ultrasonic meters decreased significantly in accuracy for tests above 35 gpm. The nutating disk (ND) and oscillating piston (OP) meters were found to be accurate through nearly all surge flow rates tested, up to at least 65 gpm. The electromagnetic meters were found to be accurate up to 55 gpm. Comparing accuracy tests performed before and after surge flows showed that some ND and OP meters decreased in accuracy at flow rates below 2 gpm. The electronic meters had similar accuracy before and after surge flows.