Itron Global Sarl

Itron International, LLC

Stephane Vago

Vincent Mosser

Gregory Pastor

Patrice Carré

Arnaud Darras

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

An example pressure-sensing device includes a pipe or conduit having upstream and downstream connectors for respective upstream and downstream transducers to measure fluid (e.g., water) flow. The conduit may be made at least in part of a resiliently deformable material. A deformable electrode of a capacitor may be mounted in contact with a dry-side surface of an area of the resiliently deformable material. The wet-side surface of the area may define part of a pathway for a flow of the fluid. In operation, the area of the resiliently deformable material changes a location and/or a shape of the deformable electrode in response to changes in fluid pressure. A fixed electrode of the capacitor is separated by a dielectric material (e.g., air or an insulator) from the deformable electrode, and a circuit determines a pressure of the fluid based at least in part on a capacitance between the deformable electrode and the fixed electrode.

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Pont de L Isere, France

Stephane Vago