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- Lattice Brochure (PDF, 1.53 Mb)
Smart Gas Meters
Customised, affordable gas smart meters
Utilities considering large scale deployments of smart gas meters need the right products in the right volumes at the right time. Lattice, Sentec’s platform measurement technology, provides a futureproof, affordable, and easily customised smart metering solution for all levels of gas smart meter functionality.
Lattice is a high quality metrology solution that vastly simplifies meter design for utilities, allowing them to specify and (using a contract manufacturer) build their own meters for more timely, affordable and appropriate meter solutions. Using Lattice, all existing elements of smart gas meter functionality (2 way communications, shut off valves, consumer displays) can be integrated at much lower cost when compared to mechanical designs, and design headroom for future developments can be built in.
The right smart meter design for gas
Large smart metering deployments offer an excellent opportunity to obtain the best functionality for best cost, through the use of contract equipment manufacturers (CEM) whose experience and cost base offer an extremely competitive supply option.
Such an approach also allows meter products to be created and optimised specifically for the utilities’ needs. Lattice is a solid state flow measurement technology with high performance and low power requirements that is easily built into an outstanding meter design. Smart gas meters based on Lattice provide accurate, direct measurement over a long lifetime. This allows for great flexibility in handling data and low cost integration with the communications and software systems required for smart meter functionality.
Smart meter functionality now and for the future
Lattice gas meters can support a full range of smart meter applications:
- Remote credit/prepayment switch
- Remote disconnect
- Safety cut-off
- Tamper/status alerts
In addition, direct measurement of the data and low power requirements of the technique mean it is relatively straightforward to build new functionality into future meter designs
How it works
Lattice has a completely new technique for measuring gas. It uses components widely deployed in common consumer products to 'mark' a band of gas and then measures the period of time for it to travel between two points, from which it can calculate the volume of gas that is passing through the flow tube. It requires only minimal signal processing to meet metrology standards, such as the European MID. It draws very little power, creating the potential to design meters with a long lifetime between battery changes.
The simplicity of the design means it can easily be integrated with a wide range of communications and management functions with very little additional cost, ensuring it remains competitive even for basic metering applications
Working with Lattice and Sentec
Lattice is available under license or partnership for a number of territories and applications. If needed, Sentec can assist in the design and integration process in a number of ways, from full design and development service to smaller projects. For more information please see the attached PDF or contact Lattice@sentec.co.uk.
