Kamstrup A/S

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. Both turbidity facilities and flow rate facilities may be integrated in a consumption meter, such as a heat meter or a water meter.

A method for detecting a constant envelope burst-mode radio frequency (RF) signal with a known periodic synchronization sequence (PSS) represented therein, e.g. to be for reading of data from utility meters. An incoming RF signal is transformed into a digital baseband signal (DBS), and the phase domain part is processed by: 1) applying a correlation algorithm to correlate the DBS with a synchronization pattern corresponding to the PSS. 2) filtering the resulting correlation signal for removing at least a DC component of the correlation signal. 3) down-sampling the filtered correlation signal (or the correlation signal) with a sampling time controlled by a clock aligned with amplitude peaks in the filtered correlation signal (or the correlation signal). 4) performing a decision algorithm on the down-sampled signal to determine if PSS is present in the incoming RF signal. Then, 5) generating an output signal indicating if the known PSS is present in the incoming RF signal, in response to a result of the decision algorithm. The steps 1)-5) serve to detect if an amplitude in the correlation signal indicates the presence of the known PSS. Preferably, a second decision algorithm serves to detect if periodicity in the correlation signal indicates the presence of the known PSS, and finally the results of the first and second decision algorithms can be combined, e.g. by a logic AND operation, to arrive at a sensitive and reliable PSS detection result.

Flow meter for an ultrasonic flow meter, comprising a flow tube with a through-going opening for passage of a fluid between an inlet and an outlet, comprising: a flow pipe of a first material, such as metal, extending between the inlet and the outlet, a liner of a second material, such as a polymer-based material, extending along an inner surface of the flow pipe between the inlet and the outlet, a housing providing a compartment for transducers and metering electronics wherein the housing is connected to the liner, by being mounted on an interface being an integrated part of the liner.

A method detects seismic events, in particular detects foreshocks for earthquake prediction. The events are detected by a plurality of sensors, wherein at least a part of a water pipe network on which the sensors are arranged is used for detection. An ultrasonic water meter to be connected to a water pipe network and an ultrasonic water meter system connected to a water pipe network are provided to detect seismic events.

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.

A wireless communication link management method includes sending data in a primary uplink data frame from the measuring device ( 7 ) to the data collection unit ( 5 ) via a primary channel. After sending, the measuring device provides a time-limited primary access opportunity (AO) for receiving a link management downlink frame. A primary signal quality is evaluated. A secondary uplink frame is sent from the measuring device via a secondary channel. A time-limited secondary access opportunity for receiving a link management downlink frame is provided. Secondary signal qualities are evaluated. One among the primary access opportunity and the secondary access opportunities is selected for sending a link management downlink frame from the data collection unit to the measuring device depending on the signal qualities. The associated channel is used as the primary channel for sending data in a primary uplink data frame from the measuring device to the data collection unit.

A stationary measuring device ( 7 ) measures or detects a value at a utility installation. The measuring device includes a low power wide area network (LPWAN) communication module configured to establish a wireless communication connection to a LPWAN for communicating data to a head-end-system (HES) ( 3 ) via the LPWAN. The LPWAN communication module is configured to: send a request for a first clock time from the measuring device to a time server; receive the first clock time from the time server in response to the request; receive a second clock time from a base station of the LPWAN; compare the first clock time and the second clock time with each other; and determine a current clock time based on the second clock time if the second clock time lies within a pre-determined range about the first clock time.

A battery-powered stationary measuring device ( 7 ), measuring or detecting a utility installation value, includes a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) connection module configured to establish a wireless communication connection to a LPWAN for communicating data to a head-end-system (HES) ( 3 ) and attempt to successfully establish a connection ( 9 ) to the LPWAN by selectively conducting one of the group comprising: an extended LPWAN search ( 225 ) and a limited LPWAN search ( 207 ); veto the extended LPWAN search as long as a savings threshold for a total number or amount of power budget savings has not been reached; increase ( 219 ) the total of power budget savings for unsuccessful limited LPWAN searches; and allow the extended LPWAN search if the total number or amount of power budget savings has reached the savings threshold. The total number or total amount of power budget savings is reduced ( 227 ) with each conducted extended LPWAN search.

Utility meter for measuring thermal energy delivered to a point of consumption by a fluid supplied via a supply flow and a return flow, including a flow meter unit for measuring a supply flow rate or return flow rate of the fluid; a pair of temperature sensing probes for measuring temperatures of the supply flow and the return flow, each of the temperature sensing probes including a resistive temperature device; and a calculator device configured for executing a measuring algorithm for determining an amount of thermal energy delivered to the point of consumption over le a period of time based on flow rates and temperatures received from the flow meter unit and temperature sensing probes, respectively; wherein the calculator device is configured to detect the type of resistive temperature device included in the temperature sensing probes and to adapt the measuring algorithm according to the type of resistive temperature device.

A modular ultrasonic flow meter including a substantially watertight meter housing connected; a measurement printed circuit board including a measurement circuit communicating with one or more ultrasonic transducers, arranged in the meter housing for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals; and a self-contained power supply. The ultrasonic flow meter further includes a control module comprising a module housing connected with a main printed circuit board including a central processing unit, a memory circuit and a communication circuit, and a power- and communication connection is provided between the main printed circuit board of the control module and the measurement printed circuit board whereby the self-contained power supply may power the main printed circuit board and the measurement printed circuit board.