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Utilities use AMI to improve operational efficiencies and save costs in the water business.
Fremont, CA: According to research, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is an integrated system of equipment, connectivity, & information management systems that enables utilities to gather consumer water use data in real-time remotely. AMI scans water meters using radio-frequency technology, eliminating the need for human meter readings.
The Operation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure
Meters, a meter interface unit (MIU), additional sensors, and remotely controlled variables are the four basic components of AMI, according to the US EPA.
Meters monitor the flow to a customer connection. The MIU gets a hardwired signal from the meter, converts it to a low value, stores it, and wirelessly transmits it to the information management system. Meters are frequently mechanical or solid-state devices.
These meters are frequently helpful with other sensor types such as pressure monitors, temperature sensors, sound sensors, and water quality monitors. Data is sent to the information management system and occasionally gets included in the utility's SCADA system.
The remotely controlled valves enable a utility to switch off or on water supply at a customer connection using an information management system. According to the EPA, AMI is also a monitoring component because it provides data and warnings that may reveal system contamination or tampering. Furthermore, the data collected by the meters get sent to the end-user or client to provide them with more information about their water consumption. With these data sets, utilities may also improve water conservation messages and highlight how customers compare to their neighbors.
Water Meter Types Commonly Used in AMI Applications
Smart Meters
Smart meters send measurements to utilities for processing, analysis, and transmission to customers for billing, energy feedback, and time-based prices.
Smart meters feature remote connect/disconnect, tamper detection, outage tracking, voltage monitoring, and bidirectional electricity metering.
Ultrasound meter
Ultrasonic flow meters detect the velocity of a fluid moving through a pipe using ultrasonic technology. Transit time technology determines the flow rate by measuring the time difference between upstream and downstream signals. The transmitter analyses signals from the transmitted sound wave frequency reflected by gas bubbles or particles.
