What are the precautions for installing ultrasonic water meters

During the installation of ultrasonic water meters, ensuring the cleanliness of the pipes is the top priority. Newly installed pipes must be thoroughly flushed to remove impurities such as sand, silt, and hemp. If these impurities are not removed, they may interfere with the propagation of ultrasonic waves when water flows through, causing water meter failure or measurement errors. Therefore, the cleanliness of the pipe is directly related to the measurement accuracy of the ultrasonic water meter.

When choosing the installation location, the ultrasonic water meter should be installed on the straight section of the pipe and ensure that it is placed horizontally. This is because the working principle of the ultrasonic water meter depends on the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves in the fluid, and pipe accessories such as elbows and tees may change the flow state of the fluid, thereby affecting the propagation path of ultrasonic waves, thereby reducing the measurement accuracy. At the same time, the water meter should be kept away from equipment such as water pumps and valves to reduce the impact of water flow fluctuations on the measurement results. It is usually recommended that the distance between the water meter and these equipment be kept at more than 20 times the diameter of the pipe to ensure the reliability of the measurement.

During the installation process, attention should also be paid to the connection length of the water meter and the pipe spacing. When the distance between the two ends of the pipe exceeds the connection length of the water meter, the pipe spacing must be adjusted to meet the connection requirements of the water meter. Forced installation may cause the threaded end of the water meter connection to break or the pipe joint to be damaged. In addition, it is also crucial to ensure that the pipes at both ends of the water meter are on the same axis, which requires adjusting the position of the pipes to ensure the stability and measurement accuracy of the water meter.

The fixation of the upstream and downstream pipes should also not be ignored. The upstream and downstream water pipes need to be properly fixed to ensure that no part will be displaced by the thrust of the water flow when the water meter is removed or disconnected. This not only protects the water meter from damage, but also ensures the accuracy of the measurement.

There are also certain regulatory requirements for the length of the straight pipe section before and after the water meter. Generally speaking, a straight pipe section of more than 10 times the pipe diameter (10D) should be retained before the water meter, and a straight pipe section of more than 5 times the pipe diameter (5D) should be retained after the water meter. If there are accessories such as reducers, elbows or valves in the pipe before the meter, the length of the straight pipe section needs to be appropriately increased. This is to ensure that the water flow can maintain a stable state when passing through the water meter and reduce the impact of eddy currents and turbulence on the measurement.

When installing an ultrasonic water meter, special attention should be paid to preventing air from entering the water meter. If there is a possibility of air ingress, it is recommended to install an air bleed valve upstream of the water meter. The ingress of air will affect the propagation speed of the ultrasonic wave, resulting in a decrease in measurement accuracy. In addition, air may also cause corrosion and damage to the internal components of the water meter, thereby shortening the service life of the water meter.