A flowmeter including a sensor passage disposed with a sensor chip for measuring a flow rate and an orifice passage as a bypass passage placed with respect to the sensor passage is provided. The orifice passage has a passage diameter which is smaller than a passage diameter of an inflow passage, a distribution orifice is placed on an inlet side of the sensor passage, and the orifice passage and the distribution orifice are configured such that changing trends in an effective sectional area becomes same in a graph including a vertical axis indicating the effective sectional area and a lateral axis indicating a fluid pressure of a fluid.

A prediction method for predicting freezing of a liquid flowing in a pipe of a liquid meter includes steps of: acquiring measurements of air temperature in the liquid meter; evaluating an air temperature prediction parameter and then, from the air temperature prediction parameter, evaluating a liquid temperature prediction parameter; using the liquid temperature prediction parameter to estimate a duration-to-freezing between a present instant and an instant at which the liquid risks freezing; and generating an alarm if the duration-to-freezing is less than a predetermined time threshold.

A system for controlling water delivery in to and out from a structure. A plurality of sensors disposed within the structure determine one or both of a water leak from a water delivery system within the structure and a temperature. A transmitter associated with each one of the plurality of sensors transmits a signal to a controller, the signal indicates a water leak from the water delivery system or a temperature below a predetermined value. A plurality of valves within the structure control the flow of water in to the structure, out from the structure, and within the structure. The controller receives the signal and responsive thereto opens or closes one or more valves to stop water delivery into the structure, to drain water out from the structure, or to control water delivery within the structure.

A system for controlling water delivery in to and out from a structure. A plurality of sensors disposed within the structure determine one or both of a water leak from a water delivery system within the structure and a temperature. A transmitter associated with each one of the plurality of sensors transmits a signal to a controller, the signal indicates a water leak from the water delivery system or a temperature below a predetermined value. A plurality of valves within the structure control the flow of water in to the structure, out from the structure, and within the structure. The controller receives the signal and responsive thereto opens or closes one or more valves to stop water delivery into the structure, to drain water out from the structure, or to control water delivery within the structure.

The flow measuring system comprises a measuring transducer having a tube arrangement to convey a flowing fluid, an exciter arrangement for forced mechanical oscillations of the tube arrangement, and a sensor arrangement for registering mechanical oscillations of the tube arrangement. The measuring system further comprises a measuring and operating electronics electrically coupled with the exciter arrangement and the sensor arrangement. The measuring system has two driver circuits and two measurement transmitter circuits. The tube arrangement includes two flow dividers and four connected tubes adapted to be flowed through by the measured substance. The exciter arrangement includes two oscillation exciters, and the sensor arrangement includes four oscillation sensors. The first measurement transmitter circuit processes measurement signals from two oscillation sensors and outputs such to the second measurement transmitter circuit The second measurement transmitter circuit processes oscillation measurement signals of the other two oscillation sensors and ascertains total flow measured values.

The flow measuring system comprises a measuring transducer having a tube arrangement to convey a flowing fluid, an exciter arrangement for forced mechanical oscillations of the tube arrangement, and a sensor arrangement for registering mechanical oscillations of the tube arrangement. The measuring system further comprises a measuring and operating electronics electrically coupled with the exciter arrangement and the sensor arrangement. The measuring system has two driver circuits and two measurement transmitter circuits. The tube arrangement includes two flow dividers and four connected tubes adapted to be flowed through by the measured substance. The exciter arrangement includes two oscillation exciters, and the sensor arrangement includes four oscillation sensors. The first measurement transmitter circuit processes measurement signals from two oscillation sensors and outputs such to the second measurement transmitter circuit The second measurement transmitter circuit processes oscillation measurement signals of the other two oscillation sensors and ascertains total flow measured values.

A gas injector apparatus and method for use with a tracer gas airflow measurement system that allows for large, continuous tracer gas flow rates while avoiding operation at very cold temperatures that will damage equipment. The controlled and variable heating of high pressure tracer gas flow before a gas regulator allows all points in the system to remain above freezing, and within a safe temperature range. The system has a tracer gas source and a heater that heats the gas isobarically at high pressure (>100 psi) and the hot gas is expanded across a pressure regulator to a lower working pressure to 30 psi. The gas flow is modulated using a mass flow controller with a high turndown ratio and injected into a bulk fluid flow with an injector.

A gas injector apparatus and method for use with a tracer gas airflow measurement system that allows for large, continuous tracer gas flow rates while avoiding operation at very cold temperatures that will damage equipment. The controlled and variable heating of high pressure tracer gas flow before a gas regulator allows all points in the system to remain above freezing, and within a safe temperature range. The system has a tracer gas source and a heater that heats the gas isobarically at high pressure (>100 psi) and the hot gas is expanded across a pressure regulator to a lower working pressure to 30 psi. The gas flow is modulated using a mass flow controller with a high turndown ratio and injected into a bulk fluid flow with an injector.

The present invention provides a method for preventing frost damage to one or more flow meters installed in a fluid distribution network containing a fluid, wherein each flow meter is configured to measure a temperature, preferably an air temperature, and to wirelessly transmit the measured temperature, such as via a mobile or a fixed wireless reading system to a processing unit. The method comprises: 1) during a period continuously monitoring (M_TMP) the temperatures measured by the plurality of flow meters over a period of time, 2) performing a data analysis (P_DA) on the temperatures of the plurality of flow meters from the period, 3) based on the data analysis, identifying (I_FDC) one or more ones of the plurality of flow meters as frost damage candidates in a future frost period, and 4) transmitting (T_WS) a warning signal indicative of the frost damage candidates or initiating frost protection measures to protect the frost damage candidates. It has been found that it is possible to monitor temperatures in a no-frost period to identify a frost damage candidate, e.g. if a flow meter is positioned in a pit and the lid is removed thereby causing the risk of a frost damage of the flow meter.

The present invention provides a method for preventing frost damage to one or more flow meters installed in a fluid distribution network containing a fluid, wherein each flow meter is configured to measure a temperature, preferably an air temperature, and to wirelessly transmit the measured temperature, such as via a mobile or a fixed wireless reading system to a processing unit. The method comprises: 1) during a period continuously monitoring (M_TMP) the temperatures measured by the plurality of flow meters over a period of time, 2) performing a data analysis (P_DA) on the temperatures of the plurality of flow meters from the period, 3) based on the data analysis, identifying (I_FDC) one or more ones of the plurality of flow meters as frost damage candidates in a future frost period, and 4) transmitting (T_WS) a warning signal indicative of the frost damage candidates or initiating frost protection measures to protect the frost damage candidates. It has been found that it is possible to monitor temperatures in a no-frost period to identify a frost damage candidate, e.g. if a flow meter is positioned in a pit and the lid is removed thereby causing the risk of a frost damage of the flow meter.