Technical Insights & Whitepapers

1. Measurement Principles

Electromagnetic flow meters operate on Faraday's Law of electromagnetic induction. They require medium conductivity ≥ 5 μS/cm, making them ideal for conductive liquids. The LGF series features PA66 aviation-grade composite lining for superior corrosion resistance.

Ultrasonic flow meters measure the time difference of acoustic signals traveling with and against the flow. No conductivity requirement — suitable for clean water and oils. Clamp-on installation requires no pipe cutting, ideal for retrofit projects.

Doppler radar flow meters emit microwave signals and receive surface reflections, calculating velocity via Doppler frequency shift. Non-contact measurement with zero maintenance — perfect for sewers, open channels, and harsh environments.

2. Accuracy & Application Scenarios

• Electromagnetic: ±0.5% (DN50-100) accuracy. Best for pressurized full pipes — urban water supply, wastewater treatment. Not suitable for non-conductive media or very low flow.
• Ultrasonic: ±0.5%~1.0% accuracy. Best for large diameter pipes (DN200+), hot-tap installation without shutdown. Affected by air bubbles and suspended solids.
• Doppler Radar: ±2%~5% accuracy. Ideal for open channels, sewers, irrigation canals. Unaffected by sediment, debris, or floating objects.

3. Cost & Maintenance

• Electromagnetic: Moderate equipment cost. Requires periodic electrode cleaning. CSSOC LGF series starts at ¥850.
• Ultrasonic: Higher equipment cost. Clamp-on installation is low-cost but has lower accuracy. Inline models require pipe cutting.
• Doppler Radar: Moderate equipment cost. Zero-contact, zero-maintenance. CSSOC HZ-KSLF series with solar power kit starts at ¥4,500.

What is DMA Zone Metering?

DMA (District Metered Area) is a water network management method that divides the distribution system into discrete metered zones. By monitoring inflow and consumption in each zone, water balance calculations precisely identify leakage areas. This is a core IWA-recommended technology for non-revenue water reduction.

Four-Step Deployment

1. Network Topology Analysis: Use GIS to define DMA boundaries. Target network endpoints, aging infrastructure, and high-leakage areas. Recommended 500–3,000 connections per DMA.
2. Key Equipment Selection:
   • Inlet: LGF-PA66 electromagnetic flow meters (DN50-DN300), Class 0.2 accuracy
   • Key nodes: EC32/EC60 RTU terminals with dual-mode 4G/NB-IoT
   • Pressure monitoring: 80GHz radar level sensors / pressure transmitters
3. Minimum Night Flow Analysis: Collect flow data during 2:00–4:00 AM low-demand period. Compare against baseline — abnormal deviations indicate leakage.
4. Precision Location & Repair: Use acoustic leak detectors to pinpoint leaks. Prioritize DMAs with the largest water losses.

ROI Analysis

For a typical mid-size city (500K population) implementing DMA:

• Leakage rate reduction: 25%–35% → 10%–15%
• Annual water savings: 5–10 million m³
• Payback period: 12–18 months
• Per-point deployment cost: ¥3,000–¥8,000

Four-Layer Architecture Model

CSSOC's urban drainage monitoring solution employs a "Perception—Transmission—Platform—Application" four-layer architecture for 24/7 full-parameter awareness of drainage network status.

Layer 1: Perception

• Flow: LGF electromagnetic (full pipes) + HZ-KSLF Doppler radar (open channels/partially filled)
• Level: 80GHz FMCW radar sensors (±2mm accuracy) + visual radar with AI image recognition
• Water Quality: Multi-parameter analyzers (COD, ammonia, turbidity, pH)
• Rainfall: Tipping bucket rain gauges, 0.5mm resolution

Layer 2: Transmission

• RTU: EC60 compact RTU, tri-mode 4G/NB-IoT/LoRa communication
• Edge Computing: Local preprocessing + store-and-forward during network outages
• Power: Grid + solar + battery hybrid, adaptable to manhole and outdoor conditions

Layer 3: Platform

• Data Lake: Time-series database supporting millions of concurrent sensor writes
• GIS Visualization: Single-pane-of-glass network asset view with real-time data overlay
• Alert Engine: Multi-threshold + AI trend prediction, 30 min–2 hour early warning

Layer 4: Application

• Urban flood early warning system
• Drainage pump station optimization
• Wastewater plant inflow load prediction
• Mobile inspection app