TPi March 2018

products & developments Stainless steel water metering sensors

The sensors from CeramTec have been developed from specially engineered piezoceramic materials that can withstand pressures of up 100 bar. The enhanced thermal performance properties of the material support improved levels of thermal stability, enabling improved performance despite fluctuations in temperatures, with an upper threshold of 120°C. Charles Dowling, business development manager at CeramTec, commented, “By investing in our capability to develop materials which display higher levels of thermal stability, we have been able to deliver more accurate sensors for manufacturers of water meters. The improvements in the technology help to eliminate disparities between sensors, reducing zero flow offset and maximising measurement accuracy.” CeramTec UK Ltd – UK electroceramics@ceramtec.co.uk www.ceramtec.com

Advances in thermal stability have enabled CeramTec to optimise the performance of its range of 1 MHz stainless steel water metering sensors, boosting signal strength. Sensors are known to perform differently at various temperature ranges, affecting the overall quality of the meter reading. In applications such as water metering, an accurate reading is critical as it ensures that meters give the fairest possible reflection of water usage, and that customers are charged accordingly. CeramTec states that the improved thermal stability of its range of sensors means that the change in signal and frequency is of a more linear nature, allowing sensors to be calibrated by water meter manufacturers for maximum accuracy. The signal strength being a claimed 30 per cent greater than before results in a longer projected lifespan for water

meters. Increased sensitivity also means that overall power consump- tion is reduced, since the same signal level can be reached with a lower drive voltage. The improved time of flight measurement characteristics of the sen- sors help to deliver a greater degree of synchronicity with the rest of the meter. The aggressive nature of the environ- ments to which water meters are typically exposed requires a high level of durability.

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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL March 2018

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