Reliable Data for a Safe Drinking Water Supply

Because the previously installed electric flow meter could no longer withstand the high water pressure loads that occur during full-load operation and had been damaged, the drinking water supplier Fernwasserversorgung Elbaue-Ostharz GmbH needed a new metering system solution for a flow measurement point. To reliably ensure the drinking water supply to end customers in the region, large amounts of energy and high-performance pumping systems are required. Typically, several pumping stations are involved in this task, which can lead to high water pressures in the distribution network. While these pressures are necessary for transporting the water, they also place a considerable strain on the measurement technology used. A particular challenge was that the new measuring device was not allowed to come into contact with the medium. In addition to this requirement, compliance with the high hygiene standards in drinking water supply also played a decisive role in the selection of the measurement system. Furthermore, the limited space available at the measurement point had to be taken into account.

The solution was the KATflow 150 stationary ultrasonic flow meter, which offers a wide range of output options for integration into the customer’s network via an analog output and a Profibus interface. Since the customer had already had positive experiences with clamp-on flow measurement systems, the water utility decided to purchase the device.

Thanks to the non-invasive clamp-on technology, it was not necessary to interrupt the process, make any modifications, or open the pipeline. This completely eliminates the need for regular flushing to remove deposits from the measurement probes. In addition, the initial cost of the measurement system was significantly lower than that of comparable invasive measurement technology, and the personnel and logistical costs associated with commissioning were substantially reduced.

The installed measurement system now continuously delivers reliable data to the control room, enabling constant monitoring of the affected section of the network and ensuring rapid intervention in the event of a failure. The customer expressly praised the measurement accuracy of the ultrasonic flowmeter, which was substantiated by comparative data, so Katronic will also be consulted for future measurement tasks.