Itron Global Sarl

Itron International, LLC

Patrice Carré

Vincent Mosser

Gregory Pastor

Stephane Vago

Herve Dury

A capacitive electrical conductivity sensor is integrated into a water meter. The sensor is used to determine water conductivity, which may be used to determine water quality. A model of a capacitor, a flow of water, and a plastic conduit used to conduct the flow of water passing through a water meter is defined. The model may include a circuit having a constant phase element (CPE) connected to a resistor Rand a capacitor Cin parallel. An input signal may be applied to the actual capacitor (not the model) over a range of frequencies. Current flow associated with several frequencies may be used to identify values of Qand alpha of the CPE of the model. A value for the resistor Ris identified using values obtained from measurements. A conductivity of the flow of water may be derived using input values comprising R, and the values of Qand alpha of the CPE of the model.

Capacitive electrical conductivity sensor integrated in a water meter

Techniques for operating a static fluid meter are described herein. In an example, a sampling interval is identified. The sampling interval is a period of time within which an electromagnetic or acoustic device measures or samples a rate of the fluid flow. The sampling interval may be approximately 1 second long; however, the interval may be longer or shorter depending on the design requirements of a particular system. A random number is generated and/or received. A sampling time within the sampling interval may be determined based at least in part on the random number. By sampling at a different and randomly determined location within each of a series of sampling intervals a more accurate fluid measurement may be obtained.

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Ecully, France

Patrice Carré