The installed and legalized common-house heat meter in an apartment building determines the amount of heat used. House registration devices do not reduce energy consumption, but allow you to pay for the actual amount spent. The USSR inherited a payment scheme per square meters, which included expenses for the transportation of energy carriers, losses, leaks and profits of a heating point.
Varieties of heat metering devices
The principle of operation of registration nodes is almost the same for all types.
Device functions:
- a flow meter installed in the supply circuit and a temperature meter supply information to a computing electronic device;
- the processor calculates the amount of supplied heat energy and displays the total on the monitor.
The functions of the general house heat meter include the transmission of information via GSM mobile communication or via the Internet to the duty supplier of the energy carrier.
Tachometer counter
Used in residential buildings, small public buildings. The device operates on heating mains of small diameter and is designed to account for energy resources in a small volume. The device does not connect to the mains, operates reliably and is inexpensive.
Depending on the type of moving element, tachometric meters are divided into types:
- single-jet, where the entire flow of the liquid passes through the impeller;
- multi-jet, in which the water jet is divided into 2-3 flows in front of the blade compartment.
The device of the second structure is popular because it reduces the formation of nonlinear waves and increases the clarity of the readings.
Depending on the interaction with the liquid, there are counting mechanisms:
- dry-running;
- wet.
The first type works longer due to the absence of adverse factors and is used to measure hot water. The passing flow turns the blades, and the counter receives information about the number of impeller turns. The indicator in the form of a roller scales the readings using a mechanical gearbox and displays the result on the scoreboard.
In dry-running devices, the blades and the counting module interact with the use of a magnetic field.
Vortex counter
The second most popular measuring device is installed on the straight line section of the highway. Acts on the principle of the appearance of vortices behind an obstacle in the path of the water flow. A vortex general house heat meter is installed on a horizontal or vertical pipe, the length of which does not matter.
The device must be installed on a line with a diameter of 20 - 300 mm. The flow chamber contains a triangle-shaped prism, a magnet and an electrode. The energy consumption is taken into account due to its movement along the vortex path, the fluid pressure affects the value of the readings.
A filter must be installed in front of the general house heat meter to purify water from accidentally trapped impurities - so the device will show the exact value and will last longer.
The vortex meter does not react to the presence of rust elements in the liquid, but is sensitive to impurities, additives and dirt.
Electromagnetic counter
The flowmeter works on the principle of the generation of an electric current in the coolant when it is moved in a magnetic field - the feature of electromagnetic induction is used. The flow rate of the electrically conductive carrier, the average velocity and voltage of the medium are interrelated, and different potentials arise at the cathode and anode.
Electromagnetic devices calculate:
- the amount of heat power and energy based on information about the volume of the energy carrier and its consumption;
- temperature on the return and forward section of the pipeline with registration of the change in the heat capacity of the liquid with a decrease in the indicator at the outlet and inlet.
Electromagnetic meters are sensitive to operating conditions and installation method, since small currents appear. Poor joining of wires causes resistance in the contacts and the error of indicators increases. Despite the sensitivity, electrical appliances are stable, they are installed in single-circuit and double-circuit heating systems.
Regular maintenance and repairs are required, over time, the meter inside is covered with deposits, which distorts the amount of heat consumed. A filter is placed in front of the recorder so that rust and impurities do not make you pay for extra energy.
Ultrasonic meter
The principle lies in the speed of passage of the ultrasonic wave from the emitter to the special receiver of the signal. The value depends on the rate of flow of the coolant. On the pipeline, the source and receiver of the wave are installed opposite each other. The transit time between the elements is directly proportional to the speed of the water. ODPU of thermal energy measures the consumption of the energy carrier in the pipe according to the signal flow time.
The meter based on an ultrasonic water flow meter has a low resistance to the coolant. Works in a purified liquid, therefore requires filters in front of the tie-in section. If there are impurities in the water or bubbles appear, the readings are read with a large error. Ultrasonic meters deteriorate from a layer of scale inside the device.
The devices are installed in their own houses, apartments or rebuilt high-rise buildings, where new communications have been laid or old ones have been replaced. In other cases, heat meters will malfunction or show false information.
Ultrasonic meters more often than other types fail due to poor water quality in city heating mains.
The order of registration and installation of the device
Residents are responsible for installing common heat meters in an apartment building in accordance with the law. A general meeting is assembled, a decision is made and a work contractor is selected. Installation regulations are covered in the Civil and Housing Code and government regulations. The degree of responsibility, payment procedure and other nuances are indicated.
The device will have to be installed, but before that work is carried out:
- energy study and inspection of the building and heating system;
- elimination of leaks and other problems discovered during the audit;
- insulation of the walls of the house.
In new buildings (no more than 15-20 years), the installation of a heat meter will lead to a decrease in fees. The consumption of the energy carrier can be shown more or the same with what it was before in the case of installing the meter in the old house networks.
The principle of operation of a general house heat meter
The device calculates the amount of heat based on information from a temperature and flow meter. The meter measures the amount of energy supplied to the system, the temperature at the inlet and in the return. The volume is equal to the product of the water flow rate and the temperature difference when entering and leaving.Information about costs is fed to the computing unit, the device calculates the real consumption and records the information in the archive.
Incorrect readings occur due to errors in the operation of temperature sensors, water flow meters, and the computing module.
The error increases in the following cases:
- the temperature difference in the supply and return circuits is less than 3 ° С;
- the flow rate is less than that specified in the technical description of the device;
- incorrect installation that violates the manufacturer's requirements.
Manufacturers do not carry out warranty repairs if the device was installed by an organization without a license.
Heat is measured in gigacalories (Gcal). But most of the devices are made in Europe, where the unit of the international system is the gigajoule.
Replacement and installation of the counter
For the installation, a technical project is drawn up, taking into account the features of the house. The document is approved by the service, then the device is purchased according to the recommendation in the calculation output. For installation, contact a specialized organization. You cannot set the meter yourself.
Meter replacement is carried out in the event of:
- the end of the operating time prescribed by the manufacturer;
- detection of mechanical or electrical damage that affects the correctness of the data;
- violation of the control seal;
- if the check shows an excess of the possible error, the information does not correspond to reality;
- skipping technical check time.
The fee will be charged not according to the actual consumption, but according to the average tariff, if the failed device is not replaced in time.
Instrument maintenance
Metering devices are designed for a certain period of work. The owners of the house, represented by the responsible executor, submit an application for verification. Meters do not function for a long time without preventive maintenance and servicing. The frequency of work and their list are determined for each device on an individual basis.
Maintenance work is the responsibility of the users. If the consumer finds a fault or violation of the seal, he is obliged to notify the service office 24 hours in advance. An act is drawn up with the signatures of representatives and transferred to the heating point with a report on consumption for the specified period.
The owners ensure the access of specialists to the devices and pay the costs of the services voluntarily or compulsorily. The technicians analyze the equipment and determine the operability of the recorder.
At the time of repair, the organization can provide a replacement meter.
