Electronic smart water meter raises questions

Recently, the news about a large number of IC smart water meters in Harbin was once again causing people's attention to electronic smart water meters.

According to media reports, Harbin started the pilot work of IC card water meters in 1998. By the end of 2006, a total of more than 130,000 pieces were installed. However, according to preliminary statistics from Harbin Water Supply and Drainage Group Water Supply Company, more than 30,000 of the installed IC card water meters in Harbin have become obsolete.

IC card water meter is a kind of smart water meter, which can automatically water supply and automatic metering according to deposits in the water card, which not only removes the trouble of the staff to enter the meter reading, but also eliminates the “flat pot rice” flat water fee of the original building user. Contradictions. Why is such an advanced product that is beneficial to residents and the water supply sector and is convenient for water conservation?

Residents of the design deviated from the metering function report that after installation of the electronic smart meter, some of the cards were obviously rich, but suddenly stopped water; some IC card meter batteries were not used, but they were damaged after two to three years, causing the meter to stall; The quality of the IC card water meter is not up to the standard, and its magnetic card can not be used after three or four times.

Li Hongwei, technical director and senior engineer of Shenzhen Xingyuan Dingxin Technology Co., Ltd., who has been engaged in the research and development of metering for many years, introduced that, from a technical point of view, the automatic meter reading system of the electronic smart water meter is used to accumulate the pulses emitted from the pulse meter and realize this way. Remote transmission, the reliability of which depends on the pulse sending table, pulse signal transmission and system metering reliability. "The reality proves that the reliability of these links cannot be guaranteed." The technical principle determines that once the appearance of the body itself mechanical vibration, external electromagnetic interference, power supply problems, the table is reversed, the signal magnet demagnetization and other issues, the table sending accuracy will be affected; if the pulse signal transmission line fails, or even Poor line quality will inevitably lead to system counting errors; in addition, the quality of accessories such as batteries and valves will directly affect the quality of water meters, and the current quality of these accessories in China is not satisfactory.

Because of these system design congenitally insufficient and the quality is not too hard, using such a water meter directly as a basis for measuring charges will inevitably lead to endless troubles.

In addition to technical deficiencies in measurement management out of control, management confusion is also a bottleneck affecting the development of electronic smart meter. In the case of Harbin and Yinchuan, there were problems with manufacturers who left after the money was collected and installed and water meter damage was not resolved. Li Hongwei analyzed that due to the independence and decentralization of the ownership and management of forms, circuits, and systems, water, electricity, and gas management departments, property companies, developers, and manufacturers have no clear relationship between their respective responsibilities, rights and interests, resulting in maintenance after the warranty period. The funds could not be implemented, resulting in the system being unable to maintain and maintain the system in time, and thus the user lost its protection.

On the other hand, the water, electricity, and gas meters are state-mandatory measuring instruments. However, due to the lack of technical standards, the first verification of the meter reading system by various verification agencies currently only stays at the mechanical metering performance level of the inspection pulse meter. The system does overall testing. However, the actual meter reading system requires metering functions to be achieved through the interaction of tables, lines, and system equipment.

Li Hongwei analyzed that to solve the problem of accuracy and reliability in the measurement of electronic smart metering systems, technological breakthroughs are a prerequisite. She believes that a direct reading meter and a meter reading system developed in recent years have advantages in terms of feasibility and applicability, and this system may provide a good solution for the promotion and application of electronic smart meter systems.

In terms of management, Professor Hong Hongyang of the Harbin Academy of Social Sciences suggested that the government should play a leading role. On the one hand, it should formulate corresponding policies, give it strong support, clarify the rights and responsibilities of relevant departments, and on the other hand implement the market access mechanism, strictly control and implement Tender, and require the winning bidder to prepay a part of the deposit, strengthen the supervision and management, if the factory in the warranty period, abandon the tube phenomenon, this part of the deposit can be used to repair the problem of water meters to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.