Temporary network metering
Before a utility or plant commits to a permanent meter installation, the sensible first step is to measure the point temporarily and find out whether the data is worth having.
Metering feasibility before capital spend
A permanent flow meter is not just the instrument. It is a chamber or a spool piece, a shutdown, a permit, power, telemetry and ongoing calibration. Committing to that on the assumption that a measurement point is useful is expensive if the assumption is wrong.
A month of rental data answers three questions cheaply: is there enough flow variation here to be worth watching, is the pipe condition good enough to get a reliable permanent reading, and does the data actually change any decision.
Where temporary metering pays for itself
- Proposed district meter areas on a water network, before committing to chamber construction
- Process branch metering in a plant where the mass balance does not close and nobody knows which branch is lying
- Sub-metering feasibility in a multi-tenant building, to size the recovery against the installation cost
- Pre- and post-project measurement where a contract requires demonstrated savings and there was never a baseline meter
Planning a survey deployment
- Pick the measurement point for straight run first, access second. An convenient location with bad hydraulics produces data nobody can defend.
- Secure the sensors properly. A month is long enough for coupling gel to migrate and for a rail to shift. Clamp firmly and, on outdoor installs, protect the sensors and cable.
- Check the logging interval against the question. Fifteen minute intervals are fine for a demand profile. Detecting short pump cycles needs faster.
- Retrieve data before you demobilise. Download and check the file on site, not back at the office.
How long can I rent a meter for a temporary survey?
As long as you need. Weekly rates apply, with multi-week and monthly pricing available for survey work. The UF801-P logs unattended for up to two months on internal power.
Can temporary metering replace a permanent installation?
For a survey, yes. For ongoing operational monitoring or billing, no. Temporary metering is normally used to decide whether a permanent installation is justified.
What logging interval should I use?
Fifteen minutes suits a demand profile. If you need to capture short pump cycles or transients, log faster and accept the shorter deployment window.