WATER / WASTEWATER 23


- Improve their decision making on deployment of resources to tackle water losses by enabling an accurate understanding of legitimate nighttime consumption and the net nighttime flow (NNF)


ABB’s AquaMaster4 with its built in data logger runs at high speed, giving the user total flexibility to download logged data frequently, every fifteen minutes if needed. The user can then investigate, in precise detail, flow and pressure activity during a period of interest, at even higher time resolution. Such high resolution data aids step testing, leakage detection and water network analysis.


Example of minimum night flow analysis


AquaMaster4 is built on ABB’s extensive expertise and detailed knowledge of EMF design, offering lower noise levels and advanced signal processing technology, improved zero stability and hence flow accuracy at low flowrates. With its longer battery life, AquaMaster4 can achieve flow turn down ranges to unprecedented performance levels of R = 1000 for mains power and R = 400 on battery power.


Measure pressure for the full picture


Effective pressure management is central to optimum water network performance. Cities around the world have higher water pressure and all the problems this can bring, while other parts suffer from low pressure. Reducing pressure to reduce leakage can be a solution for higher pressure areas. However, for lower pressure areas, it is not always possible or practical to do this. Effective pressure management starts with effective pressure visualization to enable the right choice to be made. This might include issues at the pumping station, running pumps at a controlled rate to balance water pressures.


When data from hydraulic (flow + pressure) measurement in a network is carefully understood and used, it can lead to significant improvements such as energy savings. In one application, a water utility achieved an energy cost saving of around $100k by effectively managing pressure in its network.


ABB’s AquaMaster4 pressure transducer is of the passive piezoresistive strain gauge type with internal temperature compensation resistors that seamlessly connect to the AquaMaster4 transmitter which can measure up to 40 bar pressure. With accuracy of <±0.1% of span + thermal errors, the IP68 rated pressure sensor is easy to install through a simple quick release fitting.


A key function within the AquaMaster4 transmitter is its ‘Pressure Height Offset (mm)’, which can be used to compensate for the mounting height of the pressure transducer relative to the pipeline height. This allows it to be used in higher altitude locations. A city such as Denver USA, for example, which is 1,600m above sea level, has a lower typical atmospheric pressure by nearly 0.2 bar. This can be compensated for by the AquaMaster4 to enable accurate pressure measurement.


• Background leakage, made up of leaks in plumbing, underground supply pipes, communications pipes and mains


Go electromagnetic for superior accuracy


While there are many electromagnetic flowmeters available on the market, many cannot register very low flowrates or produce an accurate reading of that flowrate.


When it comes to getting an exact picture of water loss in a network, the best data can be derived from measurements taken when demand is at its lowest, specifically nighttime flow. For this reason, MNF analysis is often used as the basis for many strategic and operational decisions.


Based on measurements taken when authorized consumption (i.e. flow rate) is at a minimum and pressure is at a maximum, MNF provides valuable flow data that can be used to derive an accurate estimation of the water being lost from a network.


From this data, water utilities can calculate a value for net night flow (NNF) to achieve an estimate of the www.abb.com/measurement volume of real losses during the


Author Contact Details


Alan Hunt, Electromagnetic Flow Product Manager UK&IE, ABB Measurement & Analytics • Howard Road, Eaton Socon, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 8EU, UK • Tel: 0870 600 6122 • Email: enquiries.mp.uk@gb.abb.com • Web: www.abb.com/measurement


WWW.ENVIROTECH-ONLINE.COM IET NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2021 MNF period, using the formula: NNF = MNF – legitimate night time consumption


The NNF is mostly composed of real losses from the distribution network and the service connection piping between the water mains and customer meter. However, it may also include leakage on the customer side of the meter and consumption either legitimately or through unauthorized connections.


For the NNF calculation to be accurate, it is vital to ensure that the flowmeter being used offers the turndown and accuracy needed to measure the required flow rates. If it cannot, then the legitimate nighttime data will be under registered, resulting not only in a figure that does not reflect true NNF conditions but also loss of revenue for that under registered flow.


AquaMaster4’s very low flow capability allows water utilities to:


- Accurately register flow data during night time to a level that would not be possible with other brands of electromagnetic flowmeters. Registering this data is hugely beneficial as utilities can increase their revenue by billing this legitimate consumption that they were not able to do before


As a digital flowmeter, the AquaMaster 4 also offers the added benefit of simplifying the gathering, sharing and analysis of both flow and pressure data. Historically, water utilities have deployed separate flowmeters and pressure transducers around networks. While this will provide data on network flow and pressure conditions, the separate deployment of instruments represents additional inputs that need to be gathered and managed by water companies, many of which lack the information infrastructures needed to process and analyze it.


With its integrated pressure and flow data logger, the AquaMaster4 provides the flexibility to download logged data, and investigate, in precise detail, flow and pressure activity during a period of interest. When combined with other benefits such as the ability to download and share this data through a smart device, the possibilities for improving network performance through enhanced pressure measurement are greatly expanded.


Summary


The absolute basics in optimum water network management lie in achieving the highest levels of flow and pressure measurement accuracy. In this way, true consumption can be properly understood and every available drop accounted and charged for.


With heavy investment needed to gear up the world’s water supplies to meet the ever growing demands being placed on them, flowmeters need to be at the frontline in ensuring that every last dollar is recovered to help cover the cost.


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