Case study: developing a new single phase meter
Background
The measurement of electric current and power is at the heart of energy measurement and billing systems. Electricity meters have been sold at volumes of tens of millions of units per annum for 100 years, but there is now a requirement for higher accuracy, wider dynamic range and more functionality than can be met with conventional mechanical meters.Solid state metering offers improvements in accuracy and stability over traditional mechanical meters, but at a cost. Sentec had identified this market opportunity and a potential solution.
Sensus Metering Systems are market leaders in gas and water metering, and wished to retain their position in the face of increasing competition from remote meter reading technologies.
The opportunity
The metering market has also developed a number of communications solutions, particularly in AMR. Sentec's solution allows a modular approach to meter construction and installation, and lowers the costs of installing and changing AMR solutions.Further, Sensus saw an opportunity to collect water, gas and electricity data at one point through a wireless communications hub. The link could not be battery powered, so the ideal solution was to make it part of an electricity meter.
Our approach
The core of an electricity meter is the current sensor, and we realised that there was an opportunity to challenge the conventional, costly approach and develop an entirely new sensor, formed out of the same circuit board needed by the electronics. The benefits of this approach - low cost, inherent linearity, strong IP - were clear to our partner.In this case, the technology venture is built around a licence agreement, which gives Sentec a long term interest in the meter's development. We have worked with Sensus from prototype to product, using our strong design for manufacture skills, and we continue to work with Sensus to develop a full product family (see 3 phase meter development case study).
Results
Demand for the new product range has exceeded the expectations of our partner, achieving customer acceptance in unprecedented timescales. Sensus now has access to a market they estimate to be worth a conservative $400 million.New products are being developed for multiple occupancy and commercial buildings, which will further open up the market for Sensus' products.roject finished.
