High-resolution meter reading system for gas utility meter

This paper presents the design and implementation of a high-resolution automated metering system for a residential natural gas meter. This new high resolution sensing technique can non-intrusively monitor the gas consumption of individual appliances in a home by resolving small amounts of gas usage. It relies on utilizing an existing meter that will be retrofitted with a module that includes a high-resolution encoder to collect gas flow data and a microprocessor to analyze and identify appliance load profiles. Additional benefits of the system include the ability to detect very small leaks and theft, efficiency analysis, and real time customer feedback of gas usage. The system has the potential for wide scale market adoption.