Maximizing Revenue Using Abb'S Aquamaster Flowmeters

Application description AD/FLOW/004-EN
Making every drop count in water charging applications

Maximizing revenue using ABBs AquaMaster flowmeters
Improving revenue recovery

by reducing unaccounted for
water and matching charging
against actual consumption
Extracting maximum revenue from water supplied to

customers is critical to the profitability of any water supplier.
Water that is either lost or stolen from water networks can
result in extensive financial losses for water companies,
representing a vast fund of unrealized capital that could be
used for investment in improving infrastructure.
A World Bank study has estimated that over 32 billion cubic
meters of treated water is lost every year through leakage.
The study also reveals that operators are missing out on over
US$14 billion of revenue for water that is being delivered
to customers but is not being invoiced for due to theft,
corruption or inadequate metering. With even a 50 percent
reduction in leakage thought to be sufficient to save enough
water and money to supply an additional 100 million people,
the need for efficient metering, both for leakage and revenue
purposes, is clear.
The application
For water network operators, being able to more closely
charge for the water they supply gives an incentive to install
the framework needed to measure water consumption.
The resulting increase in revenue also provides the funding
needed for further improvement of the infrastructure, which in
turn increases the amount of water available for supply and
generates additional revenues.
However, particularly in countries where water pricing has
either been very low or non-existent, introducing a realistic
system of charging for water can be difficult. Factors such as
lack of customer co-operation and an unwillingness to accept
higher prices can severely impact the progress of revenue
management programmes.
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The challenge
with moving parts subject to wear and tear, these and other
mechanical-type meters can quickly suffer reduced accuracy,
leading to either under or over-registration of flows. Propeller
meters also tend to work best with specific pipe sizes and
flow ranges. Furthermore, the need for mechanical meters to
be periodically tested, recalibrated and repaired means that
they have to be removed, requiring users either to replace
the meter with a temporary device or cease measurement
altogether until the meter is refitted back into the line.
Using the principle of electromagnetic induction, electromagnetic

flowmeters offer a number of advantages over other flowmeter types for
revenue applications. These include greatly enhanced accuracy, reliability
and reduced maintenance, with no mechanical parts that can fail.
The challenge
As mentioned earlier, some of the biggest obstacles to
revenue collection are theft, corruption and inefficient or
inaccurate measurement of supplies. Added to these are
other factors such as the type of application, the location
where the measurement will be made and the price and
complexity of the technology involved.
The suitability of the measurement technology selected also
needs to be considered. Various types of measurement
techniques can be used for open channel systems, including
constriction methods such as weirs or flumes. In closed
pipe systems, where a flowmeter can most easily be
deployed, there are also various options available, with each
measurement technique offering its own set of advantages
and drawbacks. These options include orifice, mechanical,
ultrasonic and electromagnetic technologies.
Orifice plates fitted on open pump discharges present a
relatively inexpensive solution by measuring the amount of
water flowing through a specifically sized opening. An orifice
plate will deliver a relatively accurate measurement, provided
that the orifice opening is accurately machined to the right
size, as even a slight variation can have a significant impact
on performance.
Mechanical propeller flowmeters are also a popular choice
for water measurement applications. However, like any meter
Ultrasonic flowmeters, including portable clamp-on types,

are another option. They use ultrasonic beams to assess
the velocity of the fluid, which can then be used to derive a
flow measurement. Aside from their higher cost, ultrasonic
flowmeters suffer various drawbacks. Transit time meters
in particular can struggle to handle flows with high levels
of particulate matter, requiring a strainer to be fitted. Both
transit time and Doppler meters can also be affected by
velocity profile distortions, requiring from 10 to 40 upstream
diameters, depending on the severity of the disturbance. The
turndown of ultrasonic meters is also limited within an ideal
range of 20:1 to 40:1. Ultrasonic meters can also be difficult
to install and set up, especially where high accuracy
is required.
The accuracy of flowmeters can be affected not just by design
but also by their susceptibility to tampering. Particularly
where metering is conducted at the point of use, users have
been known to make adjustments to achieve more favorable
readings which enable them to either pay less or use
more water.
A solution
Electromagnetic flowmeters offer an ideal solution for revenue
management applications. Compared to other flowmeter
types, electromagnetic flowmeters offer greatly enhanced
accuracy and repeatability throughout their operational life,
with uncertainty of 1% reading or better. With no moving
parts, they do not suffer from problems with wear and tear,
minimizing maintenance, and require no upstream strainers to
filter sediment.
The ability of electromagnetic flowmeters to better handle
distorted velocity profiles also means that the amount of
piping upstream and downstream of the meter is minimized,
which can greatly reduce the time and cost of installation.
AD/FLOW/004-EN | Making every drop count in water charging applications | Maximising revenue using ABBs AquaMaster flowmeters
What can ABB offer?
Prevention against tampering is afforded by the AquaMasters

fully potted design, which enables the operator to easily
identify if a meter has been interfered with.
As the latest generation product, the AquaMaster 3 offers a
choice of mains and battery power options, plus an all-new
renewable power version which can draw power from either
solar or wind-powered energy sources.
A simple DC (6-21V) connection can be hooked up to sources
as small as a 5W solar panel or 60W equivalent wind supply.
When coupled with its use of super capacitor energy storage
technology, this feature totally eliminates the need for either
mains or battery power, ideal for highly remote locations.
Where the battery is utilized, the SuperCap enables the
battery to be replaced without loss of logger contents.
With renewable, battery and mains power options, plus GSM

communications technology, ABBs AquaMaster 3 electromagnetic
flowmeter offers the ideal solution for accurate measurement in revenue
metering applications.
ABBs AquaMaster 3 electromagnetic flowmeter provides

an ideal solution for revenue metering applications. With an
accuracy of 0.5 percent, the AquaMaster 3 delivers precise
measurement of both high and low flows. Available in sizes
from 10mm (3/8) to 600mm (24), the AquaMaster 3 offers
improved measurement accuracy for revenue measurement
applications, enabling payback on the cost of a meter to be
achieved within just one month.
Exchanging a mechanical DN150 (6) mechanical meter
with an accuracy of 2 percent with an AquaMaster 3, for
example, would yield an additional revenue for the operator
of over US$4,700. Further increases in revenue can also be
derived from the AquaMasters extended flow range, which
enables a greater range of maximum and minimum flows to
be measured. Taking the above example, the AquaMasters
ability to measure previously unrecordable minimal night
flow rates means that the operator could almost double their
annual revenue to over US$9,000.
Specifically designed to meet the water industrys stringent
demands for enhanced metering capability, the AquaMaster
enables ever more efficient and cost-effective operation and
compliance with increasing legislative requirements.
Installing the AquaMaster 3 is made simple by its use of

ABBs fit and flow intelligent installation technology.
With this technology, all aspects of an installation are stored
within the sensor, including the site settings, calibration
factors and any serial numbers usually required during
installation, maintenance or replacement. When connected to
a transmitter, all of this information is automatically uploaded
from the sensor, greatly simplifying the installation and
commissioning process.
ABBs AquaMaster 3 electromagnetic flowmeters include
GSM-SMS radio technology, enabling up-to-date information
to be remotely collected from anywhere around the world.
Providing immediate access to a host of flow data, GSMenabled AquaMasters eliminate the time, cost and potential
errors traditionally associated with the manual collection of
flowmeter information.
Using the same technology as a mobile telephone, the
AquaMaster can be contacted using a PC or laptop or
through a mobile telephone via SMS messaging.
As a further assurance of a robust metering regime and
lifelong accuracy, ABB also offers users its CalMaster2 in-situ
verification service for the AquaMaster 3. Performed by an
ABB service engineer, this service verifies a meters current
operational status and also predicts any potential future
faults. Users are issued with traditional calibration verification
certificate complete with an uncertainty statement.
Making every drop count in water charging applications | Maximising revenue using ABBs AquaMaster flowmeters | AD/FLOW/004-EN
UK
ABB Limited
Oldends Lane
Stonehouse
Gloucestershire GL10 3TA
Tel: +44 1453 826 661
Fax: +44 1453 829 671
USA
ABB Inc.
125 E. County Line Road
Warminster, PA 18974-4995
Tel: +1 215 674 6000
Fax: +1 215 674 7183
China
ABB Engineering (Shanghai) Ltd.
No.5, Lane 369, Chuangye Road
Kangqiao Town, Nanhui District
Shanghai, 201319, P.R. China
Tel: +86(0) 21 61056666
Fax: +86(0) 21 61056677
Notes:
We reserve the right to make technical
changes or modify the contents of this
document without prior notice. With
regard to purchase orders, the agreed
particulars shall prevail. ABB does not
accept any responsibility whatsoever
for potential errors or possible lack of
information in this document.
We reserve all rights in this document
and in the subject matter and
illustrations contained therein.
Any reproduction, disclosure to third
parties or utilization of its contents
in whole or in parts is forbidden
without prior written consent of ABB.
Copyright 2012 ABB

All rights reserved
www.abb.com/measurement
Power and productivity

for a better world TM
AD/FLOW/004-EN 2012
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Application description AD/FLOW/004-EN

Making every drop count in water charging applications

Improving revenue recovery

Extracting maximum revenue from water supplied to

Power and productivity

Using the principle of electromagnetic induction, electromagnetic

Ultrasonic flowmeters, including portable clamp-on types,

What can ABB offer?

Prevention against tampering is afforded by the AquaMasters

With renewable, battery and mains power options, plus GSM

ABBs AquaMaster 3 electromagnetic flowmeter provides

Installing the AquaMaster 3 is made simple by its use of

Copyright 2012 ABB

Power and productivity

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