To date, gas is considered the easiest to use mineral raw materials. Many people use this type of fuel daily in everyday household tasks like cooking, heating rooms and heating water. In this case, it is necessary to somehow control the gas flow. For these purposes, a special measuring device was created. The principle of operation of gas meters may differ depending on the design features of specific models, as well as the underlying mechanism.
General description and device
Such a device is connected to the main pipe supplying a private house or apartment. The connection can be either street or located inside the building itself. A gaseous substance enters through the counter, and he, in turn, counts the passing volumes. The display for the user displays only the final information in the form of the number of cubic meters consumed. The principle of operation of a gas meter may differ depending on the mechanism for calculating the passing gas. Appearance of devices will also be different. For example, mechanical counters may not have their own display to display information, but use a special counter with red divisions that indicate certain fractions of a cubic meter.
The design of the gas flow meter involves three main elements. The first of them is a completely sealed enclosure in which all other components are located. Others include the transmitter itself and the meter. How the device will act on the last of these elements depends on the principle of converting the flow. An example is a mechanical device in which various physical properties of gases are used to move the reading lever. If we are talking about an electronic device, then information is obtained due to the conversion of the flow into electrical pulses.
The main types of products
As a rule, a general classification of all meters into two types according to their purpose is carried out - domestic and industrial. Separation occurs according to one criterion, taken as a basis. We consider how much the device is capable of passing gas in one hour of operation. Moreover, the principle of operation inside and the arrangement of gas meters of both types in some cases may be completely identical.
- Appliances. The most common among them are products with a capacity of not more than 12 cubic meters per hour. The measurement principles in such devices can be based on the membrane, diaphragm and rotational methods.
- Industrial appliances. This category includes all devices that can pass more than 12 cubic meters per hour. If this indicator does not exceed 200 cubic meters for a given time period, then rotational measurement methods are used. In more powerful models, the principles of turbine and vortex mechanisms already apply.
Models of gas meters
The required type of device is selected for reasons of maximum volume consumed. The cost of products with different bandwidths can vary greatly. Each city has its own gas distribution company. Most often, its representatives strongly recommend the use of certain specific models. This approach simplifies the life of both the gas consumer and the service personnel in these enterprises. The fact is that the company's specialists are trained to test and repair the very models that are recommended for purchase by the end user. Spare parts are always available at the warehouse, and staff will be able to provide more qualified support in the event of a device breakdown.
Also on the hotline, companies can tell you the appropriate principle of the gas meter for the existing infrastructure in the house. You should go to buy in any hardware or construction store in the city. It is also allowed in modern realities to buy through the Internet from trusted suppliers, because any special performance checks at a regular outlet are still not carried out.
Characteristics of gas meters
In addition to bandwidth, there are several important parameters for such devices. They do not depend on the principle of operation and device of the gas meter and are considered uniform for all such products. A list of other features is presented below.
- The number of devices supported simultaneously. In some cases, it is required to keep records not only of the gas stove, but also, for example, of a heating boiler using this fuel.
- The distance between the axles. Actual for all models with top connection. For devices with two gas devices, it is 11, 20 or 25 cm. If three sources of consumption are controlled, the distance can be 20 or 25 cm.
- Thread diameter. Depends on the same parameter for the pipe. In private homes, as a rule, the diameter of the highway is greater than in apartments.
- Intertesting interval. The maximum period after which specialist inspection of the device is required.
Electronic gas meters
Most suitable for measurement in apartments where central heating and hot water are provided. Most models have low bandwidth, which in this case will be sufficient in such conditions. Small-sized options like the Grand 1.6 product can measure flows of not more than 1.6 cubic meters per hour. This is considered the optimal value when connecting the device to a gas stove.
The principle of operation of electronic gas meters is that the measurement is carried out by an indirect method. In this case, the flow rate has a direct effect on the frequency of automatic oscillations generated by the built-in jet generator.
Membrane Gas Meters
As a household appliance is one of the most common options. They are also called diaphragm. The principle of operation of the membrane gas meter consists in filling two measuring chambers in turn. A special membrane is located between the compartments. It is from this fact that the name of such devices comes from.
The volume of each camera is strictly fixed. The failed valves at the inlet and outlet operate in asynchronous mode, that is, they release and let gas in alternately. The rotation of the drive of the calculating device is due to the lever that converts the membrane vibrations. Further, the flow rate is displayed on an external display.
Smart gas meters
This category belongs to electronic species and is considered the most modern. A block with a diaphragm acts as the main element for measurement. A special electronic adder calculates the total amount of gas consumed by any device in the whole house.
The principle of operation of smart gas meters as flow meters is no different from conventional electronic devices. Nevertheless, smart versions are capable of providing more accurate data, and their additional functionality is expressed in the ability to notify the owner of a house or apartment about a leak or violation of a stable supply.
Gas meter "Grand-4"
The device uses a standard set of structural components for its category. The body is made of metal. Inside are a piezoelectric element, an analog-to-digital converter, a lithium battery, a liquid crystal indicator and other parts. All connections are designed with protection against short circuit or sparking. The established standards also prescribe the suppression of danger from explosions of the second group.
The principle of operation of the Grand-4 gas meter is based on measuring the oscillation frequency of a gas jet. The piezoelectric element in the generator converts the received data into an electrical pulse signal. The total value is proportional to the total volume of incoming gas. Already after that, the pulse signal using the analog-to-digital Converter is displayed in the form of numerical indicators on the display of the device.
Gas meter "Betar SGBM-1.6"
Another universally recommended by companies and installed in apartments model. The counter is designed for the main load in the form of a gas stove with four rings. The operating temperature is from -10 to 50 degrees Celsius, and the permissible humidity can be no more than 95 percent. The reading device is made in the form of a liquid crystal indicator. Measurement accuracy reaches thousandths of a cubic meter. The principle of operation of the Betar SGBM-1.6 gas meter is based on a change in the frequency of acoustic vibrations of the gas strictly proportional to its flow rate. A certain flow passes through the jet unit of the sensor, and the meter takes into account the number of pulses generated in this process.
The instructions also note that when exposed to external electromagnetic interference, a short-term malfunction may occur in the indication of the flow rate. This problem itself is resolved after 10 seconds. A source of interference, for example, may be the operation of a piezo lighter. The principle of operation of gas meters with electronic readers allows for the likelihood of such an impact. It is worth noting that this is not a sign of marriage of the device.