Design Guideline

Electromagnetic Flow Meter Installation

Goulburn Valley Water

Electromagnetic Flow Meter Installation - Design Guideline
Table of Contents
Description: .................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Objective:...................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Reference Documents:................................................................................................................................................ 3
Component Description............................................................................................................................................... 3
1.

Suppliers ......................................................................................................................................................... 3

2.

Meter priority ................................................................................................................................................... 3

3.

New meter accuracy (from factory)................................................................................................................ 4

4.

Meter size selection ........................................................................................................................................ 4

5.

Pre-delivery inspection ................................................................................................................................... 4

6.

Upstream/downstream installation requirement ......................................................................................... 4

7.

Power Preference............................................................................................................................................ 4

8.

Installation location preference ..................................................................................................................... 5

9.

Pit requirements ............................................................................................................................................. 5

10

Below ground installation depth requirements ............................................................................................ 5

11.

Below ground installation protection requirements ..................................................................................... 5

12.

Earthing/fluid contact rings ........................................................................................................................... 5

13.

Gaskets............................................................................................................................................................ 5

14.

Cables .............................................................................................................................................................. 5

15.

Injection points................................................................................................................................................ 6

16.

Transmitters .................................................................................................................................................... 6

17.

Meter terminations ......................................................................................................................................... 6

18.

Potting of terminal box ................................................................................................................................... 6

19.

Cathodically protected assets ........................................................................................................................ 6

20

Training ............................................................................................................................................................ 6

21

Australian Technical Standard 4747.5-2008 meters for non-urban water supply ................................. 6

22.

Installed meter inspection, pre GVW acceptance ......................................................................................... 7

23.

Flow checking.................................................................................................................................................. 7

24.

Clamp on flow meter requirements ............................................................................................................... 7

25.

SCADA connection .......................................................................................................................................... 7

Schematic Plans ......................................................................................................................................................... 8

Installation Photos ....................................................................................................................................................... 9

Goulburn Valley Water

Electromagnetic Flow Meter Installation - Design Guideline

Description:
The following design manual details how a electromagnetic flow meter (meter) is to be installed
within GVWs systems. This will enable GVW to accurately measure the volume and flow rate of water
entering, leaving and within water storages, Water Treatment Plants (WTP), Wastewater Management
Facilities (WMF), Sewerage Pump Stations (SPS) and the reticulation network; as well as to monitor
non revenue water (NRW) losses such as evaporation seepage, process water disposal and
reticulation leaks.
For preferred actual locations for flow meter installations please see Sub Metering Design Manual.
Objective:
To ensure flow meters are installed to allow for accurate tracking of volumes and flow rates.
Reference Documents:

Design Manual for Sub Metering

Non Revenue Bulk Flow Meters >50mm - Preferred Suppliers, Installation and Maintenance
Requirements, November 2009, TRIM 090/035/94

Component Description
1.

Suppliers
Refer to the preferred equipment list

2.

Meter priority
GVW classes its meters based on priority. This is used to determine installation requirements,
ongoing maintenance and replacement of the meter. Meters shall be classed as follows;

Priority 1 (P1) Meters for ESC requirements and revenue, WTP raw water and flow to town
Priority 2 (P2) SPS to WMF, WMF tertiary treatment inflow and flow to rivers.
Priority 3 (P3) Other SPS, internal plant, onsite irrigation and all others.

Goulburn Valley Water

Electromagnetic Flow Meter Installation - Design Guideline

3.

New meter accuracy (from factory)

The accuracy of the flow tube sensor from the factory is to be a maximum +/-0.5%.

4.

Meter size selection

The meters size is to be based on the expected flow velocities within the pipeline and is not to
be selected to just match the pipe size. This is particularly important when replacing meters as
the operating conditions may have changed from when the original meter was installed.

5.

Pre-delivery inspection
A pre delivery diagnostic check is to be conducted on the meter in the factory before delivery
to the site. This is to provide a finger print of the meter for future reference.

6.

Upstream/downstream installation requirement

The straight length of pipe requirements pre and post the meter, expressed as a ratio
multiplied by the pipe diameter are listed in the table below;
Required
Preferred
Minimum
Special Cases (excludes P1 meters)
Prior approval required - must show
good cause

Ratio
20:10
10:5
5:3

Example: pipe diameter 150mm = Upstream requirement 3m (150mm x 20): Downstream

requirement 1.5m (150mm x 10). No valve, bend, join, injection point or other cause of flow
disturbance is to be within 3m upstream of the meter and 1.5m downstream of the meter.

7.

Power Preference
Primary 240v AC mains power, or 24v DC
Secondary Battery.

Goulburn Valley Water

Electromagnetic Flow Meter Installation - Design Guideline

8.

Installation location preference

Above Ground. Below ground meters located in a pit are acceptable if required for operational
reasons. Buried meters are not accepted.

9.

Pit requirements
All below ground meters are to be installed in a pit, see Diagram B. Pit lids shall be light weight
and easily opened. Bollards to be installed to protect pit from vehicle traffic loads.

10

Below ground installation depth requirements

No deeper than 1.5m.

11.

Below ground installation protection requirements

All meters installed below ground are to be rated to IP68, potted and Denso wrapped, even
when immersion in water is not expected. It is important to protect the flow sensor by
completely packing the entire sensor (housing, bolts/nuts, and flanges) with Denso mastic
(400), then wrap it with Denso tape (600), followed by Denso PVC overwrap tape (931).

12.

Earthing/fluid contact rings

Earthing or fluid contact rings when supplied are to be installed as per manufactures
specifications. This includes the installation of bonding wire when required by the
manufacturers specifications.

13.

Gaskets
Neoprene gaskets are to be fitted on both flanges of the flow sensor.

14.

Cables
Cables between the sensor and transmitter are to be run in a separate conduit and not run
with power cables.
Cables between the transmitter and SCADA equipment are to be run in a separate, good
quality screened conduit and not run with power cables.
5

Goulburn Valley Water

Electromagnetic Flow Meter Installation - Design Guideline

15.

Injection points
Chemical injection points are not to be installed near meters. If injection points are required
near a meter then they shall be installed 20 diameters downstream of the meter.

16.

Transmitters
Transmitters or readouts are to be securely mounted in an easily accessible location out of
direct sunlight. They may be installed in a suitably sized cabinet with an isolation switch.

17.

Meter terminations
All terminations are shall be as per the manufactures specifications and not as per general
electrical terminations.

18.

Potting of terminal box

The meters terminal box located on the flow sensor is to be fully potted.

19.

Cathodically protected assets

For meters required near or on assets provided with impressed current cathodic protection
such as tanks and pipelines, the manufactures recommendations for installation in
cathodically protect pipelines shall apply. GVW shall be consulted to see if an asset has
impressed current cathodic protection.

20

Training
Installers and appropriate GVW staff to be certified by the ABB installation course.

21

Australian Technical Standard 4747.5-2008 meters for non-urban water supply

Be adopted as minimum requirements for meter installation, supplemented by this report.

Goulburn Valley Water

Electromagnetic Flow Meter Installation - Design Guideline

22.

Installed meter inspection, pre GVW acceptance

Meter to pass diagnostic check (verification) after installation and prior to GVW acceptance.

23.

Flow checking
Installation to allow enough room left for flow check by clamp on meter (only P1 meters
when in a pit).P1 meters flow checking point to be reviewed before installation.

24.

Clamp on flow meter requirements

To be included in O&M manuals. i.e. pipe type and thickness, lining type and thickness

25.

SCADA connection
To be discussed at project inception meeting.

Version No.
1.0
2.0
2.1

Date
Apr 2010
Sept 2010
June 2011

Description
Original draft issue
Revised Format
Revised Format

Prepared by:
Adam Glasson
Jeff Block
Adam Glasson

Approved by:
Steven Nash

Goulburn Valley Water

Electromagnetic Flow Meter Installation - Design Guideline
Schematic Plans

Goulburn Valley Water

Electromagnetic Flow Meter Installation - Design Guideline

Installation Photos