How to choose a gas meter – The cost of energy resources is steadily rising and is unlikely to fall in the near future. The efficient owner makes every effort to use them as efficiently as possible. Metering devices will aid him in this endeavor. They should be installed in all private residences, as well as in apartments, in accordance with legislative changes.
We will explain how to select a gas meter and introduce you to models of devices used in domestic settings. Here you will learn how to select a flow meter that records the supply of main gas to the consumer based on various criteria. Based on our recommendations, you can select the best model and location for installation.
Why do I need a gas meter?
Some traditional gas customers pay according to the standards because the cost of the meter with installation is prohibitively expensive.
They do have such a right, but it is extremely costly economically. What is causing this?
To begin with, the board is initially overpriced. It is determined by the maximum gas consumption, which in reality is extremely rare, if not non-existent.
Payment in accordance with the standards takes into account the greatest number of gas consumption options available to everyone living in an apartment or house. The sums obtained are not insignificant if there are two, three, or even more tenants.
Furthermore, the state is interested in the fact that consumed resources are recorded by metering devices; thus, current legislation provides for increasing coefficients that increase the gas payment in accordance with the standards. This coefficient gradually increases over several years until it reaches a maximum.
Whereas installation of the meter entails only payment for the actual amount of gas consumed. In practice, it differs significantly from what is calculated by standards. As a result, the board has been significantly reduced.
The real difference in payment enables you to quickly recoup the purchase price and installation of the meter, and to reap significant benefits as a result.
Installing a meter provides an additional benefit for those who have self-contained gas heating. They can use their heating equipment regardless of when the heating season begins or ends.
Consumers who do not have metering devices are automatically disconnected from the gas supply after the heating season ends until the next heating season begins. This issue is resolved by using a counter.
You must first select and purchase a device before contacting gas workers with an application for installation and sealing of a gas flow meter. And this isn’t easy because there are now a plethora of them on the market. All gas consumption meters are classified into the following groups based on their operation principle:
Metering device types
Gas metering equipment comes in a variety of configurations. There are several types of such devices, each with its own operating principle. Let’s take a closer look at each.
Option # 1 – Rotary
It is a chamber metering device that uses eight-shaped rotors as converting elements.
The device is made up of housing, counting, and transmission mechanisms. Two identically sized rotating rotors in the shape of a figure eight are housed within the casing. One of them is linked to the mechanisms of transmission and counting.
The casing has a gas inlet at the top and a gas outlet at the bottom. When the latter enters the body, a pressure difference occurs, causing the rotors to spin.
They do this synchronously, which is the responsibility of the gears fixed in the end boxes. During rotation, the rotors’ side surfaces make contact with each other, which is required for the counting process.
The volume of gas displaced by one rotor in half its revolution is equal to the volume of gas bounded by the inside of the housing and the surface of the rotor in a vertical position. Four such volumes are forced out of the housing for each complete revolution of two rotors. As a result, the flow rate through the gas meter is easily accounted for.
The benefits of such devices include a wide measurement range and a high throughput. Furthermore, they are quite compact.
Furthermore, the devices are long-lasting, non-volatile, and resistant to short-term overloads. The amount of noise they make is considered average; it is almost imperceptible. The short verification period is one of the flaws worth mentioning. He’s only five years old.
Option # 2 – diaphragm or membrane
It’s a chamber-type counter that’s used to track small gas flows. The device’s body is divided into two sections. The gas inlet and outlet pipes are located at the top.
Both body fragments are securely fastened together. Special gaskets are installed between them, and a paste-like sealant is applied. A diaphragm measuring mechanism is also housed within the case.
It has two chambers that look like blacksmith furs. Each of these chambers is linked to a common valve spool mechanism by levers and cranks. It is crossed by gas supply lines.
The number of cameras can vary, and the accuracy and class of the measuring device are affected by this. A shaft connects the spool mechanism to a counting device attached to the housing.
When gas enters the device, it is displaced from the bellows alternately. This causes the diaphragm walls to alternately move. When one chamber is full, the spool mechanism activates and the gas is released.
This cycle is repeated a number of times. It is accompanied by diaphragmatic movement. This movement activates a counting mechanism that counts the amount of gas that has left the chamber in a given unit of time.
Membrane counters are known for their high measurement accuracy. Because of the simplicity of the design, they have a significant operational resource of at least 20 years. Such devices are extremely simple to maintain and cost-effective.
Masking the membrane counter, on the other hand, is extremely difficult if necessary. Another drawback is the relatively high cost of equipment. For diaphragm-type devices, the verification period is ten years.
Option # 3 – Turbine Meter
The device received its name from the presence of a small turbine within it, the wheel of which rotates under the pressure of the gas flow entering the device.
The structure of the equipment is a pipe fragment with flanges.
Starting with the inlet pipe, the following mechanisms are installed sequentially in the device case: a jet rectifier and a turbine proper with rotation bearings and a shaft.
Lubrication of the bearings is required for smooth operation; thus, a pump assembly is mounted on the meter housing. Oil is supplied to the rotating elements via special tubes with its assistance.
The measuring device’s operation is quite straightforward. The number of revolutions of a rotating turbine is transmitted to a special counting mechanism located outside the gas cavity via a reduction gear.
Additional detectors for measuring pulses, temperature, or pressure can be added to turbine meters. Furthermore, the measurement process can be automated to three levels. The lack of automation assumes that the user reads the instrument independently.
Semi-automatic measurements imply that the control is handled by a computer, but manual correction of indicators, settings, and so on is possible. Full measurement automation assumes that the measuring device’s readings arrive at the computing device, which processes and transmits them to the metering center.
The benefits of turbine meters include non-volatility, a dependable design, and ease of maintenance. The device can work with gas that has not been purified to the highest degree. The noise level emitted by the device is considered low. Turbine meters are available in a variety of sizes from manufacturers.
The equipment’s drawbacks should include measurement errors. When the device operates continuously, the error is minimal; however, when the device operates in pulsed mode, the measurement distortion increases significantly. The verification period is eight years.
The main gas meter can be checked without removing the device from its original location. The featured article goes into great detail about how such testing is carried out.
To obtain the most accurate meter readings that account for gas consumption, devices that target a specific type of consumer are now being produced:
Criteria for choosing the optimal counter
After you’ve become acquainted with the various types of gas meters, you can decide which one to install in your home. However, in addition to the type of device, there are several important parameters to consider when making a decision. We’ll go over each one individually.
Device throughput
Throughput is defined as the maximum amount of gas mixture that equipment can measure in a given unit of time. This is usually one hour of work. This figure must be compared to the maximum amount of gas consumed in the home or apartment.
To do so, you must first compute the total gas flow.
To do so, add the average consumption of all devices that use it.
Finding the technical documentation for each device and taking the desired value from there will make this much easier. The maximum gas volume consumed must be specified in the equipment certificate by the manufacturer.
The total consumption is calculated for all gas appliances in the apartment, even if some of them are used infrequently, according to the owner.
Furthermore, if you intend to buy and install additional gas equipment, its consumption must be added to the total. You won’t have to buy and install a new counter later on.
In order to determine the maximum gas flow, select a flowmeter with a throughput greater than the obtained value. If you read the device’s label correctly, this will be very simple. It’s a letter G surrounded by numbers.
So, a meter labeled G1.6 has a throughput of 1.6-2.5 cubic meters per hour, G2.5 has a throughput of 2.5-4 cubic meters per hour, G4 has a throughput of 4 to 6 cubic meters, G6 has a throughput of 6 to 10, and G10 has a throughput of 10 to 16 cubic meters per hour. A suitable measuring device is chosen based on this marking.
Instrument Design Features
The design features of gas meters are determined by the variety of installation sites. The first thing you should look at is the direction of the gas movement. It can be served either left or right handed.
The devices are classified as left or right based on this. Because it is physically impossible to install left-hand equipment on the right side and vice versa, the meter’s connection diagram must be clearly presented.
An arrow on the instrument body must show the direction of gas movement. It must be followed to the letter.
Another critical consideration is the thread diameter of the device’s connecting pipe. It must be the exact same size as the gas supply pipe and the pipe on which the meter will be mounted. The pipe diameter for apartment buildings is common at 1/2 inches.
These sizes can differ in buildings erected on a project-by-project basis. The most common diameters found are 1/2, 3/4, and 1 inch supply pipes. Cap nuts are chosen for mounting the unit depending on the thread diameter. They must precisely fit the dimensions of the installation.
It is also important that the threaded joints’ interaxal distances coincide; however, they vary. This distance ranges between 110 and 250 mm for top-mounted devices mounted on a horizontal pipe.
When mounted where there are more than two users, high throughput devices may have an interaxial gap of more than 250 mm.
The presence or absence of a temperature corrector
A standard gas meter can work in temperatures ranging from -40 to +40 degrees Celsius. However, the precision of his measurements under such circumstances can raise questions.
This is due to the fact that as the temperature rises and falls, the gas mixture expands and contracts. The system’s function and pressure are important. As a consequence, only normal pressure and a temperature of 20 ° C can be used to discuss the proper function of the measuring system.
It goes without saying that such situations do not always exist. Especially if the gas meter is mounted on the street, which is not illegal. Gas services will experience significant losses during the cold season, as the actual amount of gas consumed rises while the meter’s consumption remains virtually unchanged.
Consumers have already suffered economic losses due to increased gas consumption during the hot season, despite the fact that the actual amount of gas supplied has not changed. A special system known as a thermal corrector is used to prevent this. Changes in temperature and pressure have little effect on gas consumption.
As a consequence, under every case, the meter’s measurements are the most precise. You should be aware that gas meters with a temperature corrector are considerably more costly than normal meters. As a consequence, they can only be used in cases where complicated operational environments are expected.
In a city apartment kitchen, for example, where a constant comfortable temperature is maintained, this system would be obviously unnecessary. Although it is justified and required to install such equipment on the street,
The importance of the date of manufacture
The new federal law controls metering system verification on a daily basis. Furthermore, the first is carried out at the factory as soon as the product is released. The device’s technical passport includes information about it.
As a consequence, the next periodic verification date is determined from the date specified in the records. As a result, when purchasing a new product, you should read the technical documentation carefully and confirm the date of the first verification.
It is not unusual for a device to “stay” in a warehouse for two, three, or even five years before being available for sale. As a consequence, the calibration interval is naturally shortened by this time. And it turns out that the newly built meter is already being checked or replaced. For an inattentive owner, this can be a very unwelcome surprise.
The date of the first calibration of the measuring system must be specified in the contract with the gas service. Gas staff are required to keep a close eye on the timing of verifications, but they are not required to alert consumers.
As a result, if a customer meets the deadline for testing his flow meter due to inattention, lack of information, or some other excuse, he will be given an invoice measured according to the requirements.
The calibration intervals for various types of gas meters vary significantly. In any case, it is less than the device’s lifetime.
The equipment is dismantled and sent to a specialized workshop for verification, where experts can inspect it and issue a conclusion about whether it can be used again.
A special label must be made in the device’s technical passport if it is considered fit for use.
Place of the installation
You can install a gas meter in your apartment or house yourself, but it is preferable to leave this important task to gas service professionals. They will competently evaluate the system’s operating conditions and suggest device models that are acceptable for a specific apartment.
However, if you want to do it yourself, you should keep the following points in mind when selecting a device:
- The amount of gas that residents use at their full capacity. It is determined by the model’s bandwidth requirements. It is determined by taking into account all gas appliances that are in use.
- The meter’s current position. You must make a decision right away to decide the meter’s design features.
- Noise measurement devices. It is recommended that you buy the model with the least amount of noise.
- Interval between studies. The more time it takes, the easier.
- The model’s service life and dependability.
Warning. Regardless of how hard sellers want to market it, you should not buy a meter with a temperature corrector for an apartment. This is a squander of funds.
In fact, selecting a gas meter for a private residence is nearly identical to selecting a system for an apartment. However, there is a small difference. Gas meters must be installed on the street, not on the premises, according to building codes.
The owner of a gasified private property should be mindful of the following guidelines for meter positioning in relation to equipment and structures:
Many private home owners who are linked to the main gas do do just that. The counter was placed on the sidewalk. In this situation, only equipment with a temperature corrector should be used; otherwise, gas payment issues can arise.
Furthermore, the equipment case must be protected; otherwise, adverse weather conditions would easily disable the meter. The simplest method is to buy a special installation cabinet that looks like a box for automatic machines. It is simple to use, and the computer is located in a secure location.
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