Water metering device and methods for water consumption apportionment

1 . A method for determining fluid consumption comprising:

detecting, by a fluid meter mounted on an exterior of a pipe containing fluid, a first time of flight between a first ultrasonic transducer and a second ultrasonic transducer;

detecting, by the fluid meter, a second time of flight between the second ultrasonic transducer and the first ultrasonic transducer;

determining a time of flight difference between the first time of flight and the second time of flight;

determining a calibration parameter to account for installation characteristics of the fluid meter including an installation positioning of the fluid meter relative to the exterior of the pipe after installation of the fluid meter, a pipe diameter, and a material of the pipe on which the fluid meter is installed;

determining a volumetric flow rate based on the calibration parameter and the time of flight difference, the first time of flight, and the second time of flight; and

generating a fluid volume consumption total for fluid flowing through the pipe based on the volumetric flow rate.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the calibration parameter is based on the fluid meter being installed at a predetermined distance between the exterior of the pipe and the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the calibration parameter is further based on one or more environmental characteristics of the pipe.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the environmental characteristics include one or more of: a pipe diameter, a pipe wall thickness, or an ambient temperature.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the calibration parameter is selected based on an optimization of a data set corresponding to similar environmental characteristics.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a fluid cost based on the fluid volume consumption.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pipe delivers fluid to a unit within a multi-unit dwelling.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting by the fluid meter a first ultrasonic amplitude and a first sample time of flight between the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer;

detecting by the fluid meter a second ultrasonic amplitude and a second sample time of flight between the second ultrasonic transducer and the first ultrasonic transducer; and

analyze at least one of the first ultrasonic amplitude, the second ultrasonic amplitude, the first sample time of flight, or the second sample time of flight to determine that at least one of the first ultrasonic amplitude, the second ultrasonic amplitude, the detected first sample time of flight, or the second sample time of flight are within an expected range.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the calibration parameter is selected from or calculated based on a lookup table stored in a memory component of the fluid meter during manufacturing or before installation of the fluid meter.

10 . A method for determining fluid consumption comprising:

determining at least one characteristic of an installation environment for an over the pipe fluid flow meter; and

selecting at least one calibration parameter from a plurality of calibration parameters stored in a memory of the fluid flow meter, wherein the selected at least one calibration parameter is for determining flow rate for the over the pipe fluid flow meter based on the installation environment for the fluid flow meter, wherein the plurality of calibration parameters are stored in the memory during manufacturing of the fluid flow meter and before installation of the fluid flow meter.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

detecting temperature data in the installation environment after the fluid flow meter has been installed in the installation environment, wherein the temperature data is detected during at least one time period during which water has not flowed within the pipe;

determining that the at least one time period exceeds a minimum period; and

adjusting at least one calibration parameter based on the detected temperature data during the time period.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising generating a notification based on the temperature data.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising generating a water temperature notification based on the selected at least one calibration parameter, the first sample time of flight, and the second sample time of flight.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

detecting time of flight data between ultrasonic transducers in the fluid flow meter; and

based on the time of flight data and the at least one calibration parameter, determining a volumetric flow rate for fluid flowing within the pipe.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising estimating at least one of a type of the pipe or a size of the pipe based on the time of flight data captured at a known temperature in the installation environment.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein adjusting the calibration parameter is further based on the estimated type of the pipe or the estimated size of the pipe.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the set mounting distance is determined based on a known compression distance of a coupling member coupled to the fluid flow meter.

18 . A method for determining fluid consumption comprising:

actuating, by a non-invasive fluid meter mounted on a pipe, a first ultrasonic transducer to emit a first ultrasonic signal and a second ultrasonic transducer to emit a second ultrasonic signal;

detecting, by the non-invasive fluid meter, a total time of flight based on the first ultrasonic signal and the second ultrasonic signal;

determining, by the non-invasive fluid meter via a temperature sensor, an ambient temperature of an environment surrounding the non-invasive fluid meter;

estimating, by the non-invasive fluid meter, a temperature of fluid within the pipe based on the total time of flight and the ambient temperature;

determining, by the non-invasive fluid meter, a volumetric flow rate coefficient and an offset by taking into account environmental factors for the non-invasive fluid meter at the environment surrounding the non-invasive fluid meter, wherein the volumetric flow rate coefficient and the offset are each based on at least one pipe characteristic, the ambient temperature of the environment, or the temperature of the fluid; and

determining, by the non-invasive fluid meter, a volumetric flow rate based on the volumetric flow rate coefficient, the offset, and a time of flight difference between the first ultrasonic signal and the second ultrasonic signal.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the pipe characteristic is received by the non-invasive fluid meter as user input and the pipe characteristic includes one or more of pipe material, pipe manufacturer, a pipe wall thickness, or pipe diameter.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the offset comprises an absolute time of flight offset and a time of flight difference offset.

21 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

determining, by the non-invasive fluid meter, a water usage based on the volumetric flow rate and a predetermined length of time; and

generating, by the non-invasive fluid meter, water usage information for the pipe over the predetermined length of time.

22 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising generating a user notification based on the water usage information for the predetermined length of time.