Smart Gas Meter

Cubic Solution: From Ultrasonic Transducer, Ultrasonic Gas Flow Sensor Module to Complete Smart Gas Meters

With the rapid development of technologies, IoT has become one of the most important technologies of the 21st century. Based the Internet of Things (IoT) , it will be easy to connect physical objects embedded with sensors and software for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data over the internet. With this great progress of the Times, the Internet of Things (loT) enable gas metering technology to constantly renovate to a more intelligent era. Benefit from IoT, more innovations on water, electric, oil and gas utilities allow the energy utility companies to bring the energy service to a more modern level.One of the key industry, gas industry, also gradually starts to combine IoT seamless communication technologies to realize smarter gas metering technology, which collects and transmits massive data more accurately and safely, and also provides effective support for urban data mining and data analysis. Ultrasonic technology parallelly has contributed to the trend of intelligent gas metering solution development.With the great advantages of high accuracy, high stability and good anti-contamination performance, ultrasonic loT smart gas meters have gradually become the mainstream trend in AMI, AMR and IC prepaid applications and will become indispensable links in the gas industry.

AMI smart gas meter solutions
AMR smart gas meter solutions
IC card prepayment gas meter solutions

AMI smart gas meter solutions

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) solution is an integrated system of smart meters, communications networks, and data management systems that enables two-way communication between utilities and customers. More and more Governments agencies and utilities are turning toward advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems as part of larger "smart grid" initiatives. Cubic has provided a wide range of remote communication gas meter solutions based on comprehensive technologies integration.

AMR smart gas meter solutions

Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) is the technology of automatically collecting consumption, diagnostic, and status data from gas meter or energy metering devices (gas, electric) and transferring that data to a central database for billing, troubleshooting, and analyzing. This technology solution mainly saves utility providers the expense of periodic trips to each physical location to read a meter. Cubic's comprehensive gas service solutions could be equipped with -diverse functions of the AMR technology.

IC card prepayment gas meter solutions

Based on advanced IC card technologies, the gas operation mode "pay before using gas" becomes maturely possible. The smart operation mode involves IC card smart gas meters and the supporting charging management system.To acclimate the trend of IC card intelligent gas meter, Cubic has already had complete solutions of IC card intelligent gas meter control and to realize gas prepayment operation mode through connecting to comprehensive Gas Management Platform.

Ultrasonic Gas Meter Module and Smart Gas Meters for Residential Application

With more than 10 years' experience in ultrasonic gas flow sensor technology, Cubic could offer the solutions from the “Sensor Core”-gas meter module to complete smart gas meters.

V-Shape Design

Fairing structure design for more stable gas flow.
Anti-contamination feature, benefit for higher accuracy.

Stable Gas Flow

Stable flow field distribution. Smaller gas chamber.
Design for multiple times rectification.

Higher Accuracy

Class 1.5 accuracy level.
Intelligent software algorithm for different gases.

Low Power Consumption

Low operation & maintenance cost. Longer lifespan.
Support more than 10 years operation capability.

Anti-contamination

No contamination in airflow.
Transducers are not being directly impacted.

Low Pressure Loss

Absence of obstructing objects.
Stable gas flow within flow path.

Commercial Smart Gas Meter

Cubic has also been able to integrate wireless communication technologies of GPRS and NB-IoT into self-developed ultrasonic gas meters as an overall solution.As a professional smart gas metering manufacturer,Cubic could offer complete ultrasonic gas meters for commercial applications covering G6, G10, G16, G25, G40 to G65 types.

Wireless Communication

NB-IoT & GPRS optional.
Read data, recharge and control valve remotely.

Stable Measurement

No magnetic induction elements.
No moving parts and mechanical wear.

Temperature & Pressure Compensation

Built-in temperature and pressure compensation.
Achieve high accuracy.

Easy Installation

Compact size.
Light weight.

Functions Highlight

In order to solve the complex commercial application of gas meters, in the basis of the benefit of built-in temperature and pressure compensation intelligent software algorithms, Cubic ultrasonic smart gas meters could realize high measurement sensitivity and accuracy for air and different gas compositions. Besides, more functions, such as gas leakage check alarm, opening front cover detection, reverse gas flow alarm, low battery alarm, low balance reminding, overdraw consumption service, disconnection of communication alarm, etc. could be integrated into the gas meter as comprehensive solutions.

Ultrasonic Technology

Cubic has dedicated R&D on ultrasonic technology since 2008 and has made innovations in the fields of ultrasonic gas flow sensor module core technologies with patents from both hardware and software aspects, including the breakthroughs on generic technologies of ultrasonic transducers, time measurement chips, time difference auto-calculation methods and simultaneous sensing of flow-and-content. In response to the special requirements of ultra-wide range ratio, wide temperature range, anti-contamination ability, and pulsating airflow measurement required by domestic and commercial gas meters, Cubic has also developed ultrasonic gas meters with smart algorithms for gas density measurement and realize accurate measurement in different gases. Besides, Cubic has designed an L-shaped ultrasonic gas chamber channel through computational fluid dynamics simulation to further improve anti-contamination performance and reduce industrialized costs, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of ultrasonic gas meters.

Ultrasonic Transducer Technology

Ultrasonic Transducer Technology

In order to further improve the performance of the ultrasonic gas meter module and reduce the cost, Cubic determined the optimal detector material and structure size through finite element simulation analysis of the diameter and thickness of different piezoelectric ceramics and substrates, and so on.
The corresponding process plan is set to realize the independent production of high-sensitivity ultrasonic transducers for gas meter application.
Ultrasonic Gas Flow Sensor Technology for Fuel Gas

Ultrasonic Gas Flow Sensor Technology for Fuel Gas

Cubic ultrasonic gas meter measures the velocity of sonic waves downstream and up-stream.The time of flight (TOF) is related to the gas composition of the fuel gas and the TOF difference between downstream and upstream is related to gas medium speed, so the gas type and also the gas flow rate can be calculated through the advanced algorithm.
Why Ultrasonic for Smart Gas Meter

Why Ultrasonic for Smart Gas Meter

Thanks to full electronic design with no moving parts, ultrasonic gas meter technology has no issue of mechanical wear which leads to degradation of accuracy and has the advantage of anti-contamination.
Therefore, long-term stability and accuracy can be guaranteed for ultrasonic gas meter solutions and there is no need for periodical maintenance.

About Cubic

Found in 2003, Cubic is a gas sensor company with a comprehensive gas sensor technology platform for measurement from gas composition to gas flow. Cubic has core gas sensor technologies based on NDIR, UVDOAS, NDUV, lasers scattering, Laser Raman and Ultrasonic.In 2008, Cubic had developed the ultrasonic oxygen sensor and flow sensor for oxygen concentrators and ventilators.In 2010, Cubic began to carry out a forward layout in the field of ultrasonic gas meters. Significant breakthroughs in ultrasonic signal processing ensure Cubic to be an industry-leading ultrasonic metering expert. Besides, supply chain integration advantage drives Cubic to be a one-stop supplier for smart gas meters, isolation ball valves, commercial gas regulators, software management systems, etc.In 2022, the newly built industrial park with an area around 33500m² and the production lines for ultrasonic gas meter business will be put into production in Jiashan, which is about 60km driving from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.