A mechanical water meter, also known as an analog water meter, is a metering device that measures the volume of water flow through a mechanical device. It is widely used in household, commercial, industrial and agricultural water systems. It converts the volume of water flow into readable cumulative flow data through the action of water flow on internal rotating parts (such as turbine, impeller or piston).
Mechanical Water Meter Types
By Working Principle
According to different working principles, mechanical water meters can be divided into velocity type and volumetric type water meters.
Velocity Water Meters
Velocity meters calculate flow by measuring the velocity of water flow. Its core component is turbine or impeller. The water flow drives the turbine to rotate, and the speed of the turbine is proportional to the flow rate. Single jet water meter and multi jet water meter are two common velocity water.
- Single Jet Water Meter: Water flows into the turbine through a nozzle, impacting the edge of the turbine to make it rotate. Suitable for medium flow.
- Multi-Jet Water Meter: Water flows into the turbine through multiple nozzles, and multiple nozzles act simultaneously to improve measurement accuracy and reduce wear. Suitable for high flow or high precision occasions.
Medidores Volumétricos de Água
Volumetric water meters, also known as positive displacement water meters. It calculates the total water consumption by measuring the volume of water passing through the metering chamber per unit time.Volumetric water meters generally provide higher measurement accuracy than other types of water meters, especially at low flow rates. Common volumetric water meters include:
- Rotary Piston Water Meter: Water flows through a rotating piston, and each rotation represents a certain volume of water.
- Disc Type Water Meter: Water flow drives the disc-shaped component to swing, and the number of swings is proportional to the flow rate
Rotary Piston Vs Disc Type Water Meter
| Features | Disc Type Water Meter | Rotary Piston Type Water Meter |
| Structure | Relatively simple | More complex |
| Accuracy | Medium | High |
| Applicable Scenarios | Low flow, domestic water | Small flow, high-precision measurement |
| Installation Method | Usually installed horizontally | Can be installed horizontally, tilted or vertically |
| Maintenance Cost | Low | High |
| Impurity Resistance | Weak | Strong |
Comprehensive guide about volumetric water meters: https://www.bmagmeter.com/positive-displacement-water-meter/
Classification by Structure
Mechanical water meters can also be divided into dry dial water meters and wet dial water meters according to their structure.
- The counter of the dry dial water meter is not immersed in water, and the sensor and the counter are connected by magnetic transmission or gear transmission. This design avoids water corrosion on the counter and is suitable for occasions with poor water quality or long-term stable operation.
- The counter of the wet dial water meter is immersed in water, the glass cover bears water pressure, and the sensor and the counter are connected by gear transmission. This design is simple, but the change of water quality after long-term use will affect the clarity of the reading.
Classification by Installation Method
Mechanical water meters can also be divided into horizontal water meters and vertical water meters according to the installation method.
- Horizontal water meter: This is the most common installation method, suitable for most household and commercial water systems.
- Vertical water meter: Although less common, vertical water meters are also used in some special cases (such as pipeline layout restrictions).
While some horizontal water meters can be mounted vertically, this will reduce measurement accuracy. For example: a Class R160 meter in horizontal position will drop to Class R80 when vertically installed. You need to verify the accuracy class printed on the meter dial. “R200-H R80-V” H means horizontal, V means vertical.
Benefits of Mechanical Water Meter
High accuracy and reliability
Mechanical water meter usually adopts simple mechanical structure, such as impeller, gear, etc. These parts are relatively stable in design. In addition, it is precisely manufactured and calibrated, and its error rate is usually within ±2%~5%, so it can provide reliable measurement results in most cases. Especially in the environment of clean water source, the measurement accuracy of mechanical water meter is high, and mechanical water meter meets the accuracy requirements of most application scenarios.
Low cost of purchase, installation and maintenance
Non-intelligent ordinary mechanical water meter has relatively low manufacturing cost, installation and maintenance costs are also low. Since it does not require external power supply, mechanical water meter is an affordable choice in project with a limited budget.
Flexible and convenient installation and maintenance
The structure of mechanical water meter is simple and easy to disassemble and repair, so it is very convenient to maintain and install. In addition, mechanical water meter can be installed in horizontal or vertical direction, and the installation method is flexible, suitable for different types of pipeline systems.
Modern mechanical water meters have intelligent functions.
Although traditional mechanical water meters do not support remote monitoring, the development of modern technology has enabled mechanical water meters to achieve remote monitoring and data collection by adding sensors or combining with IoT technology.
Wide range of applications
Mechanical water meters are highly adaptable and suitable for various types of water use scenarios, from home, commercial, to large-scale industrial scenarios. And ordinary non-intelligent mechanical water meters can be used without power supply, which makes them advantageous in areas with unstable or no power supply.
Durable and long life
The mechanical water meter has a simple structure, strong wear resistance of components, and its material can cope with harsh environments such as high temperature, low temperature, and humidity, so its service life is relatively long. Under normal use conditions, the service life of the water meter can reach decades. The durability of the mechanical water meter makes it low maintenance cost in long-term use and suitable for long-term operation scenarios.
