AGEING AND DUST DETECTION IN A METER

An ageing and dust detection system, comprising: a data collection unit configured to collect a plurality of parameters of a gas meter; and a processing unit, configured to: receive the plurality of the parameters of the gas meter; calculate a numerical value of the plurality of the parameters; compare the calculated numerical value of the plurality of the parameters with a corresponding predefined higher range of values and a predefined lower range of values for the plurality of parameters; determine a reason of a fault in the gas meter based on the compared values, wherein the reason of the fault in the gas meter is at least one of, a presence of a dust, an ageing of the gas meter, or a combination thereof.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure pertains to a system and a method for detecting a reason for a fault in meters such as a gas meter.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Ultrasonic transducers used in a gas meter are very sensitive to dust contamination that negatively impacts a measurement accuracy of the gas meter. Moreover, an ageing of different components of the gas meter also causes a decrease in the measurement accuracy of the gas meter. In addition, a combination of these two factors results in a poor performance of the gas meter in long term, which needs to be rectified at a right time to mitigate additional costs of operating and changing a faulty gas meter.

Traditionally used systems can find out a fault in the gas meter and generate an alarm based on the detected fault. However, the traditional systems cannot predict a reason for the fault in the gas meter. In some cases, the fault can occur due to dust particles from gas pipelines, and in other cases, the fault can occur due to ageing of components of the gas meter. The dust particles are intended to be collected in a dust trap installed within the gas meter, which includes a capacity and a resistance measurement setup to detect if the dust particles are the reason for the fault. However, if the reason of the fault is ageing, then the capacity and resistance measurement setup of the dust trap is ineffective. Moreover, if the dust is not collected in the dust trap then the dust continue to flow to transducers and accumulate on the transducers that can affect a performance of the gas meter. In traditional systems, in case, an amplitude of a signal drops 10% from an initial amplitude, an alarm is activated, which notifies a gas meter operator about the detected fault in the gas meter. However, if a correct reason for the detected fault is unknown, then the meter operator may end up replacing the gas meter when the gas pipeline needs to be replaced, and vice versa.

There is thus a need for a system and a method for detecting a correct reason for a detected fault in a gas meter in a more efficient manner.

SUMMARY

The disclosure reveals an ageing and dust detection system, comprising: a data collection unit connected to a gas meter, configured to collect a plurality of parameters of the gas meter. Further, the ageing and dust detection system comprises a memory device storing executable instructions. Further, the ageing and dust detection system comprises a processing unit, in communication with the memory device, connected to the data collection unit, wherein the processing unit is configured to: receive each of the plurality of the parameters of the gas meter; calculate a numerical value of each of the plurality of the parameters; compare the calculated numerical value of each of the plurality of the parameters with a corresponding predefined higher range of values for each of the plurality of parameters, and a corresponding predefined lower range of values for each of the plurality of parameters; determine a reason of a fault in the gas meter based on the compared values of each of the plurality of the parameters, wherein the reason of the fault in the gas meter is at least one of, a presence of a dust, an ageing of the gas meter, or a combination thereof; and generate a report based on the determined reason of the fault.

The disclosure reveals an ageing and dust detection system, comprising: a data collection unit connected to a gas meter, configured to collect a plurality of parameters of the gas meter, wherein the plurality of parameters of the gas meter are at least one of, a temperature inside the gas meter, a time of the gas meter in a field, a volume of a flow, an amplitude of a signal, a gain amplification from an automatic-gain-control, a shape of the signal, a resonance frequency, a capacity of a filter mat of a multifunctional dust trap, a resistance of the filter mat of the multifunctional dust trap, or a combination thereof. Further, the ageing and dust detection system comprises a memory device storing executable instructions. Further, the ageing and dust detection system comprises a processing unit, in communication with the memory device, connected to the data collection unit, and the upper conductive grid and the lower conductive grid, wherein the processing unit is configured to: receive each of the plurality of the parameters of the gas meter; calculate a numerical value of each of the plurality of the parameters; compare the calculated numerical value of each of the plurality of the parameters with a corresponding predefined higher range of values for each of the plurality of parameters, and a corresponding predefined lower range of values for each of the plurality of parameters; determine a reason of a fault in the gas meter based on the compared values of each of the plurality of the parameters, wherein the reason of the fault in the gas meter is at least one of, a presence of a dust, an ageing of the gas meter, or a combination thereof, and generate a report based on the determined reason of the fault, wherein the report comprises the calculated numerical value of each of the plurality of parameters.

The disclosure reveals a method comprising steps of: receiving data associated with a plurality of parameters of a gas meter from a data collection unit connected to the gas meter, and a plurality of conductive grids of a multifunctional dust trap, wherein the plurality of parameters of the gas meter are selected from one of, a temperature inside the gas meter, a time of the gas meter in a field, an accumulated volume of a flow, an amplitude of a signal, a shape of the signal, a gain amplification from automatic-gain-control, a resonance frequency, a capacity of a filter mat of a multifunctional dust trap, a resistance of the filter mat of the multifunctional dust trap, or a combination thereof. Further, the method comprises a step of, calculating a numerical value of each of the plurality of parameters based on the received data; comparing the calculated numerical value of each of the plurality of the parameters with a corresponding predefined higher range of values for each of the plurality of parameters, and a corresponding predefined lower range of values for each of the plurality of parameters; determining a reason of a fault in the gas meter based on the compared values of each of the plurality of the parameters, wherein the reason of the fault in the gas meter is at least one of, a presence of a dust, an ageing of the gas meter, or a combination thereof and generating a report based on the determined reason of the fault, wherein the report comprises the calculated numerical value of each of the plurality of the parameters.

The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present mechanism. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present mechanism and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present mechanism in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present mechanism are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.

DESCRIPTION

The present system and approach may incorporate one or more processors, computers, controllers, user interfaces, wireless and/or wire connections, and/or the like, in an implementation described and/or shown herein.

This description may provide one or more illustrative and specific examples or ways of implementing the present system and approach. There may be numerous other examples or ways of implementing the system and approach.

The present approach may provide a system and a method for detecting a reason for a fault in a gas meter. According to embodiments of the present mechanism, the reason may be a presence of a dust or an ageing of the gas meter.

The present approach may provide a system and a method for detecting a reason for a fault in a gas meter that may help to find out a root-cause of the gas meter failure in a field. In addition, the system and the method may provide a customer an additional information that pipes may be very rusty and should be exchanged.

The present mechanism has a feature in it that it may use the advantages of the prior used fault detection techniques without harvesting the disadvantage.

A technical benefit is to have a system and a method for detecting a reason for a fault in a gas meter for enabling a meter operator to take necessary actions to improve a measuring accuracy and lifetime of the gas meter.

A business advantage is to have a low-cost system for detecting a reason for a fault in a gas meter that provide additional features by without adding additional components to the gas meter.

FIG. 1Ais a diagram illustrating an ageing and dust detection system100. The ageing and dust detection system100may be configured to detect a reason for a fault in a measurement of a gas meter102when the gas meter102fails in a field.

The ageing and dust detection system100may comprise the gas meter102, a data collection unit104, a processing unit106, and a user device108. Further, the gas meter102, the data collection unit104, and the processing unit106may be configured to communicate with each other by one or more communication mediums. The communication medium may include, but not limited to, a coaxial cable, a copper wire, a fiber optic, a wire that comprise a system bus coupled to a processor of a computing device, and so forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any of the communication medium known to a person skilled in the art that may be capable of enabling a communication within the ageing and dust detection system100. Further, the processing unit106, and the user device108may be connected through a communication network110, according to embodiments of the present mechanism. The communication network110may include a data network such as, but not limited to, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), and so forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any of the communication network110known to a person skilled in the art that may be capable of enabling a communication within the ageing and dust detection system100. According to an embodiment of the present mechanism, the processing unit106, and the user device108may be configured to communicate with each other by one or more communication mediums connected to the communication network110. As discussed above, the communication mediums include, but are not limited to, coaxial cables, copper wires, fiber optics, wires that comprise a system bus coupled to a processor of a computing device, and so forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any of the communication mediums known to a person skilled in the art that may be capable of enabling a communication within the ageing and dust detection system100.

Further, the gas meter102may be connected to a pipeline (not shown) to measure a flow rate of a gas passing through the gas meter102. Further, the gas meter102may comprise a multifunctional dust trap112, and a flow tube114. According to embodiments of the present mechanism, the multifunctional dust trap112and the flow tube114may be made up of a material, such as, but not limited to, a natural plastic, a Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) material, a Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), and so forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any of the material for making the multifunctional dust trap112and the flow tube114known to a person skilled in the art that may be capable of providing a durability to the multifunctional dust trap112and the flow tube114.

The multifunctional dust trap112may comprises an inlet116that may be connected to a gas inlet118of the gas meter102. A flow of the gas may enter from the inlet116into a chamber120of the multifunctional dust trap112. According to an embodiment of the present mechanism, a larger cross-sectional area of the chamber120in comparison with the inlet116may cause a drop in a velocity of the flow of the gas. Further, the chamber120may guide the flow of the gas towards an outlet122of the multifunctional dust trap112. The outlet122may comprise a filter mat124fixedly attached to the outlet122for filtering a plurality of micro-dust particles (hereinafter referred to as the micro-dust particles). The filter mat124may filter the gas thus eliminating the micro-dust particles from the gas to produce a clean gas. Further, the clean gas may enter the flow tube114installed within the gas meter102. The flow tube114may comprise a plurality of flow inlets126a-126b(hereinafter referred to as the flow inlets126) for enabling a balanced flow of the gas into a flow chamber128of the flow tube114. The flow tube114may further comprise a first transducer130connected near a first end of the flow chamber128and a second transducer132connected near a second end of the flow chamber128. The first transducer130and the second transducer132may be a device capable of converting an electrical energy into a plurality of acoustic waves (hereinafter referred to as the acoustic waves). Further, the first transducer130and the second transducer132may be connected in the flow tube114such that the first transducer130and the second transducer132faces each other. The first transducer130may be configured to transmit the generated acoustic waves towards the second transducer132and the second transducer132may be configured to transmit the generated acoustic waves towards the first transducer130. Further, an outlet134of the flow tube114may be connected to a gas outlet136of the gas meter102. The gas outlet136may be connected to the pipeline (not shown) that may receive the flow of the clean gas from the flow tube114, according to an embodiment of the present mechanism.

Further, the gas meter102may comprise a display138connected to the processing unit106that may be configured to display an output generated by the processing unit106, according to an embodiment of the present mechanism. The display138may be, but not limited to, a digital display, a touch screen display, and so forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any of the display138known to a person skilled in the art that may be capable of displaying the output generated by the processing unit106.

The data collection unit104of the ageing and dust detection system100may be an electrical device connected to the gas meter102through a connecting wire140, according to an embodiment of the present mechanism. In another embodiment of the present mechanism, the data collection unit104may be connected to the gas meter102through a wireless connection. The data collection unit104may comprise a plurality of electrical circuits that may be configured to collect data of a plurality of parameters (hereinafter referred to as the parameters) associated with the gas meter102, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. The parameters may be, but not limited to, a temperature inside the gas meter102, a time of the gas meter102in a field, an accumulated volume of a flow, an amplitude of a signal, a shape of the signal, a gain amplification from an automatic-gain-control, a resonance frequency, a capacity of a filter mat124, a resistance of a filter mat124(as shown in theFIG. 1B), and so forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any of the parameters associated with the gas meter102known to a person skilled in the art. In an embodiment of the present invention, the temperature inside the gas meter102may be sensed using a temperature sensor (not shown) that may be configured to transmit the sensed temperature inside the gas meter102to the data collection unit104. Further, the data collection unit104may be configured to determine the time of the gas meter102in the field in real time using an integrated clock (not shown) installed within the gas meter102, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. In another embodiment of the present mechanism, the time of the gas meter102in the field may be manually entered by a user by using the display138that may transmit the data to the processing unit106. The user may be, but not limited to, a meter operator, a serviceman, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any user of the ageing and dust detection system100.

Furthermore, the data collection unit104may be configured to collect the temperature inside the gas meter102, the time of the gas meter102in the field, the accumulated volume of the flow, the amplitude of the signal, the shape of the signal, the gain amplification from the automatic-gain-control, the resonance frequency, the capacity of the filter mat124, and the resistance of the filter mat124through an electrical circuit (not shown) of the gas meter102, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. Further, the data collection unit104may be configured to transmit the collected data to the processing unit106. The processing unit106may be configured to receive and/or transmit data within the ageing and dust detection system100using the communication network110. Further, the processing unit106may be configured to process data associated with the ageing and dust detection system100to generate the output, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. According to embodiments of the present invention, the processing unit106may be, but not limited to, a Programmable Logic Control unit (PLC), a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a computing device, a development board, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the processing unit106known to a person skilled in the art that may be capable of processing the received data. Further, components of the processing unit106will be explained in detail in conjunction withFIG. 3.

The processing unit106may be further connected to a memory device107that may be configured to store a plurality of computer executable instructions. The memory device107may be, but not limited to, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read Only Memory (ROM), a flash memory, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the memory device107known to a person skilled in the art.

The user device108may be configured to enable the user to receive data and to transmit data within the ageing and dust detection system100. The user may be, but not limited to, a meter operator, a serviceman, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any user of the ageing and dust detection system100. According to embodiments of the present invention, the user device108may be, but not limited to, a mobile device, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a portable computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a smart device, a smart watch, a smart glass, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the user device108known to a person skilled in the art.

FIG. 1Bis a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional front view of the multifunctional dust trap112for measuring the parameters of the gas meter102. The parameters may be the capacity of the filter mat124and the resistance of the filter mat124, according to an embodiment of the present mechanism. The inlet116of the multifunctional dust trap112may be attached to the chamber120. The outlet122may be provided to enable the exit of the clean gas from the chamber120of the multifunctional dust trap112. Further, the outlet122may comprise a frame142that may be capable of fixedly holding the filter mat124, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. Further, the frame142may comprise an upper conductive grid144, and a lower conductive grid146such that the upper conductive grid144and the lower conductive grid146sandwiches the filter mat124. The upper conductive grid144and the lower conductive grid146may be further connected to a power source (not shown) that may be capable of enabling the upper conductive grid144and the lower conductive grid146to generate an electrostatic charge. The generated electrostatic charge may be used to generate data representing an amount of the micro-dust particles collected by the filter mat124. The upper conductive grid144and the lower conductive grid146sandwiching the filter mat124may form a capacitance that may enable a capacitive measurement of the amount of the micro-dust particles collected by the filter mat124. The micro-dust particles may be, but not limited to, Iron (II, III) Oxide (Fe3O4), Ferrous Oxide (FeO), Silicone Oxide (SiO), and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the micro-dust particles known to a person skilled in the art. Further, the upper conductive grid144, and the lower conductive grid146may be configured to transmit the data representing the amount of the micro-dust particles collected by the filter mat124to the processing unit106.

FIG. 2Ais a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional front view of a multifunctional dust trap200for measuring the parameters of the gas meter102. The parameters may be the capacity and the resistance of the filter mat124, according to another embodiment of the present mechanism. The multifunctional dust trap200comprises a top part202, and a bottom part204. Further, the top part202, and the bottom part204may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a natural plastic, a synthetic plastic, a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a metal, and so forth. The top part202, and the bottom part204may be made up of any of the material known to a person skilled in the art that may provide a durability to the multifunctional dust trap200.

The top part202may comprise an inlet206, an outlet208, and an upper chamber210. The inlet206may be a cylindrical shaped hollow structure for connecting the multifunctional dust trap200with the gas meter102. The inlet206may comprise an inlet cavity212on an outer surface along a circumference of the inlet206to fixedly connect the multifunctional dust trap200with the gas meter102, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. In another embodiment of the present mechanism, the inlet cavity212may be provided to removably connect the multifunctional dust trap200with the gas meter102by using a plurality of threads (not shown).

The outlet208may be an opening adjacent to the inlet206, which may be provided to enable an exit of a flow of a clean gas from the upper chamber210. The flow of the clean gas may be free from the dust particles that may improve an accuracy of a measurement of the gas meter102. The outlet208and the inlet206may be connected through a vertical wall214. The vertical wall214may act as a channel for guiding the flow of the gas through the upper chamber210from the inlet206towards the outlet208. Further, the vertical wall214and the upper chamber210may form a frame216having a cavity246(as shown inFIG. 2B) provided on an inner surface along a perimeter of the frame216. A shape of the frame216may be, but not limited to, a square, a rectangular, and so forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any of the shape of the frame216known to a person skilled in the art. Further, the frame216may be capable of fixedly holding the filter mat124, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. The filter mat124may be fixedly attached within the frame216for filtering a plurality of micro-dust particles (hereinafter referred to as the micro-dust particles) from the gas, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. In another embodiment of the present mechanism, the filter mat124may be removably attached within the frame216by using a snap lock mechanism. Further, the filter mat124may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a fabric, a woven material, and so forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any of the material for making the filter mat124known to a person skilled in the art that may be capable of filtering the micro-dust particles.

Further, the frame216may comprise an upper conductive grid218, and a lower conductive grid220such that the upper conductive grid218and the lower conductive grid220sandwiches the filter mat124. The upper conductive grid218and the lower conductive grid220may be further connected to a power source (not shown) that may be capable of enabling the upper conductive grid218and the lower conductive grid220to generate an electrostatic charge. The generated electrostatic charge may be used to generate data representing an amount of the micro-dust particles collected by the filter mat124. The upper conductive grid218and the lower conductive grid220sandwiching the filter mat124may form a capacitance that may enable a capacitive measurement of the amount of the micro-dust particles collected by the filter mat124. In another embodiment of the present invention, the upper conductive grid218and the lower conductive grid220sandwiching the filter mat124may be capable of generating data representing a resistance of the filter mat124that may be used for a resistive measurement of the resistance of the filter mat124. Further, the upper conductive grid218, and the lower conductive grid220may be configured to transmit the data representing the amount of the micro-dust particles collected by the filter mat124and the data representing the resistance of the filter mat124to the processing unit106through the data collection unit104. The frame216may further comprise a cover222that may be fixedly attached onto the upper conductive grid218to hold the upper conductive grid218in place, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. In another embodiment of the present mechanism, the cover222may be removably attached onto the upper conductive grid218using a snap lock mechanism. Further, the cover222may comprise a plurality of ribs224a-224n(hereinafter referred to as the ribs224) connected to each other forming a grid like structure to cover the upper conductive grid218. The cover222may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a natural plastic, a Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) material, a Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), and so forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any of the material for making the cover222known to a person skilled in the art that may be capable of providing a durability to the cover222.

The upper chamber210may comprise a first wall226, a second wall228, a side wall230, and a top surface232. The first wall226, the second wall228, the side walls230, and the top surface232may form a hollow enclosure defining the upper chamber210. The inlet206may be connected to the top surface232of the upper chamber210, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. The first wall226may be a flat wall extending vertically in a downward direction from the top surface232. The second wall228may be a curved wall extending vertically in a downward direction from the frame216.

The bottom part204may comprise a first curved wall234, a second curved wall236, and a base238. The first curved wall234and the second curved wall236may be a concave shaped wall designed to guide the flow of the gas from the inlet206to the outlet208. Further, the bottom part204may comprise a plurality of locking mechanism240a-240m(hereinafter referred to as the locking mechanism240) that may be capable of fixedly engaging with a plurality of protrusions242a-242m(hereinafter referred to as the protrusions242) provided on the side wall230of the upper chamber210to attach the bottom part204with the top part202. Further, the locking mechanism240may be a snap lock mechanism, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. Further, the base238may comprise a plurality of ribs244a-244o(hereinafter referred to as the ribs244) extending vertically in an upward direction from an inner surface of the base238. The ribs244may be fixedly attached along a length of the base238, in an embodiment of the present mechanism.

FIG. 2Bis a diagram illustrating an exploded view of the multifunctional dust trap200, according to an embodiment of the present mechanism. The multifunctional dust trap200comprises the top part202, and the bottom part204. The top part202may comprise the inlet206, the outlet208, and the upper chamber210. The frame216having the cavity246may be provided to fixedly hold the filter mat124, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. Further, the frame216may comprise the upper conductive grid218, and the lower conductive grid220sandwiching the filter mat124. The upper conductive grid218and the lower conductive grid220may be further connected to the power source that may be capable of enabling the upper conductive grid218and the lower conductive grid220to generate an electrostatic charge. The generated electrostatic charge may be used to generate data representing an amount of the micro-dust particles collected by the filter mat124. The upper conductive grid218and the lower conductive grid220sandwiching the filter mat124may form the capacitance that may enable a capacitive measurement of the amount of the micro-dust particles collected by the filter mat124. The frame216may further comprise the cover222that may be fixedly attached onto the upper conductive grid218to hold the upper conductive grid218in place, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. The bottom part204may comprise the locking mechanism240that may be capable of fixedly engaging with the protrusions242provided on the upper chamber210to attach the bottom part204with the top part202.

FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating components of the processing unit106, according to an embodiment of the present mechanism. The processing unit106comprises an input module300, a data processing module302, a report generation module304, an output module306, and a notification module308.

The input module300may be configured to receive the data associated with the parameters of the gas meter102. The input module300may be configured to collect the data of the parameters of the gas meter102from the data collection unit104, according to an embodiment of the present mechanism. The parameters may be, but not limited to, a temperature inside the gas meter102, a time of the gas meter102in a field, an accumulated volume of a flow, an amplitude of a signal, a shape of the signal, a gain amplification from automatic-gain-control, a resonance frequency, and so forth. The input module300may further be configured to collect the data of the parameters of the gas meter102from the upper conductive grid144and the lower conductive grid146to measure the parameter, i.e., the capacity of the filter mat124and the resistance of the filter mat124, according to an embodiment of the present mechanism. Further, the input module300may be configured to transmit the received data to the data processing module302.

The data processing module302may be configured to process the data received from the input module300. The data processing module302may be configured to calculate a numerical value of each of the parameters of the gas meter102. Further, the data processing module302may be configured to compare the calculated numerical value of each of the parameters with a predefined upper range of values corresponding to each of the parameters and a predefined lower range of values associated with each of the parameters. In an embodiment of the present mechanism, the predefined upper range of values and the predefined lower range of values may be stored in the memory device107. The data processing module302may further be configured to determine a reason for a fault in the measurement of the gas meter102based on the compared numerical values. In an embodiment of the present mechanism, the data processing module302may be configured to process the received data associated with the parameters of the gas meter102to generate an amplitude time graph400(as shown inFIG. 4A) for a wave package transmitted by the first transducer130and captured by the second transducer132. In another embodiment of the present mechanism, the data processing module302may process the received data associated with the parameters of the gas meter102to generate an amplitude time graph (not shown) for a signal transmitted by the second transducer132and captured by the first transducer130.

Further, the data processing module302may be configured to determine a numerical value of the amplification from the automatic gain control required to adjust an amplitude of the wave package to a desired value, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. In an embodiment of the present mechanism, if the determined numerical value of the amplification from the automatic gain control is high that represents that the received amplitude of the signal is decreased, then the data processing module302may be configured to determine that the reason for the fault in the gas meter102is the dust in the gas meter102and/or the ageing of the gas meter.

The data processing module302may receive the time of the gas meter102in the field, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. Further, the data processing module302may be configured to compare the received time with the predefined upper range of values of the time in the field and the predefined lower range of values of the time in the field. In case, the received time is within the upper range of values of the time in the field, then the data processing module302may be configured to determine that the reason for the decreased amplitude of the signal and the reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter102is due to ageing of the gas meter102. In case, the received time is within the lower range of values of the time in the field, then the data processing module302may be configured to determine that the decreased amplitude of the signal and the reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter102is due to the presence of dust in the gas meter102.

Further, the data processing module302may be configured to calculate the numerical value of the accumulated volume of the flow through the flow tube114by calculating a time of flight upstream (TOF UPS) of the acoustic waves from a wave package upstream received by the second transducer132from the first transducer130and a time of flight downstream (TOF DNS) of the acoustic waves from a wave package downstream received by the first transducer130from the second transducer132. Further, the data processing module302may be configured to determine a time difference (dTOF) between both TOF UPS and TOF DNS. The data processing module302may be configured to calculate a flowrate using the dTOF, TOF UPS, and TOF DNS, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. Further, the data processing module302may be configured to calculate the numerical value of the accumulated volume of the flow through the flow tube114using the calculated flow rate and a time of propagation. Furthermore, the data processing module302may be configured to compare the calculated numerical value of the accumulated volume of the flow with the predefined upper range of values of the accumulated volume of the flow and the predefined lower range of values of the accumulated volume of the flow. In case, the calculated numerical value of the accumulated volume of the flow is within the upper range of values of the accumulated volume of the flow that may be equal to 1 Million Cubic Feet on a counter (not shown) of the gas meter102, then the data processing module302may be configured to determine that the reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter is due to the presence of dust and/or the ageing of the gas meter102. In case, the calculated numerical value of the accumulated volume of the flow is within the lower range of values of the accumulated volume of the flow, then the data processing module302may be configured to determine that the reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter102is due to the presence of dust and/or a defect in the first transducer130and/or a defect in the second transducer132.

Further, the data processing module302may be configured to compare the calculated temperature within the gas meter102received from the data collection unit104with the predefined upper range of values of the temperature and the predefined lower range of values of the temperature. In case, the calculated temperature is within the upper range of values of the temperature, then the data processing module302may be configured to determine that the reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter102is due to the ageing of the gas meter102. In case, the calculated temperature is within the lower range of values of the temperature, then the data processing module302may be configured to determine that the reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter102is due to the presence of dust.

Furthermore, the data processing module302may be configured to calculate the capacity of the filter mat124and the resistance of the filter mat124based on the received data from the upper conductive grid144and the lower conductive grid146. Further, the data processing module302may be configured to compare the calculated capacity of the filter mat124and resistance of the filter mat124with the predefined upper range of values of the capacity and the predefined upper range of values of the resistance and the predefined lower range of values of the capacity and the predefined lower range of values of the resistance. In case, the calculated capacity of the filter mat124and the resistance of the filter mat124is within the upper range of values of the capacity and the resistance, then the data processing module302may be configured to determine that the reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter102is due to the presence of the dust. In case, the calculated capacity of the filter mat124and the resistance of the filter mat124is within the lower range of values of the capacity and the resistance, then the data processing module302may be configured to determine that the reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter102is due to the ageing of the gas meter102.

In another embodiment of the present mechanism, the data processing module302may be configured to calculate the resonance frequency based on the received data representing the wave package received at the second transducer132from the first transducer130by using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). In an embodiment of the present mechanism, the data processing module302may be configured to generate a graph of a FFT for the wave package upstream received at the second transducer132from the first transducer130to calculate the resonance frequency and an amplitude drop. According to an embodiment of the present mechanism, a sampling frequency of the FFT may be increased to achieve more accurate results. In an exemplary scenario, the data processing module302may be configured to generate a graph404(as shown inFIG. 4C) of a FFT for the wave package upstream received at the second transducer132with the presence of the dust to calculate the resonance frequency. Further, the data processing module302may be configured to compare the calculated resonance frequency with a standard resonance frequency determined from a graph402(as shown inFIG. 4B) of a FFT for the wave package upstream received at the second transducer132without the presence of the dust. In case, the data processing module302determines a shift in the calculated resonance frequency from the standard resonance frequency, then the data processing module302may be configured to determine that the reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter102is due to the presence of dust. Further, the data processing module302may be configured to calculate a slope from a minimum wave to a maximum wave of the signal to calculate the shape of the signal. Furthermore, the calculated shape of the signal may be compared with a standard signal shape, in an embodiment of the present mechanism.

The report generation module304may be configured to generate a report based on the processed data from the data processing module302. The generated report may comprise the determined reason of the fault in the measurement of the gas meter102. Further, the report may comprise the calculated numerical values of each of the parameters. In an embodiment of the present mechanism, the report generation module304may be further configured to generate a notification comprising the generated report and an alert signal. Further, the report generation module304may be configured to transmit the generated notification to the output module306and the notification module308.

The output module306may be configured to display the generated report through the display138, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. In another embodiment of the present mechanism, the alert signal may enable the output module306to generate an alarm using a buzzer (not shown) installed in the gas meter102.

Further, the notification module308may be configured to transmit the generated notification to the user device108of the user. In another embodiment of the present invention, the notification module308may be configured to transmit the notification to a head-end system. The alert signal of the notification may be capable of generating an alarm at the head-end system to alert the administrator about the detected reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter102.

FIG. 4Ais a diagram illustrating the amplitude time graph400for the wave package transmitted by the first transducer130and captured by the second transducer132of the flow tube114. The graph400depicts an amplitude of the acoustic waves of the wave package when the first transducer130has a layer of accumulated dust particles and an amplitude of the acoustic waves of the wave package when the first transducer130is dust free.

FIG. 4Bis a diagram illustrating the graph402of the FFT for the wave package upstream received at the second transducer132(as shown in theFIG. 1A) without the presence of the dust.

FIG. 4Cis a diagram illustrating the graph404of the FFT for the wave package upstream received at the second transducer132(as shown in theFIG. 1A) with the presence of the dust. The amplitude of the acoustic waves of the wave package received at the second transducer132may be decreased as compared to the amplitude of the acoustic waves of the wave package received at the second transducer132without the presence of the dust.

FIG. 5is a diagram illustrating a method500for an ageing and dust detection in the gas meter102within the ageing and dust detection system100.

At step502, the ageing and dust detection system100may receive data of the parameters associated with the gas meter102. The parameters may be, but not limited to, the temperature inside the gas meter102, the time of the gas meter102in the field, the accumulated volume of the flow, the amplitude of the signal, the shape of the signal, the resonance frequency, the capacity of the filter mat124, the resistance of the filter mat124, and so forth.

At step504, the ageing and dust detection system100may calculate the numerical value of the parameters based on the received data, as discussed above.

Next, at step506, the ageing and dust detection system100may compare the calculated numerical value of the parameters with a corresponding predefined higher range of values for each of the parameters, and a corresponding predefined lower range of values for each of the parameters.

At step508, the ageing and dust detection system100may determine the reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter102based on the compared numerical values.

Further, at step510, the ageing and dust detection system100may generate a report comprising the reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter102and the calculated numerical values of the parameters. The ageing and dust detection system100may further generate a notification that may comprise the report and an alert signal.

At step512, the ageing and dust detection system100may transmit the generated notification to the user device108of the user and to the head-end system for alerting the user such as, but not limited to, a meter operator.

Any publication or patent document that may be noted herein is hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, or patent document was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Although the present system and/or approach has been described with respect to at least one illustrative example, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the related art to include all such variations and modifications.