Ultrasonic Non-Valve Smart Water Meter

What It Is and Why It Matters ？

Instead of mechanical wheels or impellers, the ZYLXUS-1 uses ultrasonic transit-time measurement. By detecting the time difference between upstream and downstream ultrasound signals, the meter computes flow without any moving parts eliminating mechanical wear and preserving accuracy over time.

The product is designed to meet internationally recognized standards for cold potable water metering, aligning with China’s GB/T 778.1~5-2018 (equivalent to ISO 4064) and verification rules in JJG 162-2019. These standards specify methods such as flow-point testing, repeatability, and permissible errors for initial and subsequent verification, providing a rigorous baseline for performance and compliance.

Core Benefits and Performance Characteristics

No moving parts. With a fully electronic measurement path, ZYLXUS-1 avoids frictional losses and mechanical drift. That translates into stable, long-term accuracy and lower life-cycle costs.

Wide measuring range at low starts. The meter achieves a high range ratio (R250/R400) with a starting flow as low as 2–3 L/h, capturing micro-flows that traditional meters often miss. This capability is crucial for leak detection, conservation programs, and fair billing in low-use scenarios.

Micro-power design. ZYLXUS-1 emphasizes low power consumption, supporting battery operation with a life of up to six years minimizing truck rolls and maintenance overhead.

Multiple communications built in. Native support for NB-IoT, GPRS, and LoRaWAN gives utilities flexibility to match local network availability and cost structures while maintaining data continuity across diverse deployments.

Deep historical memory. The device stores granular usage hourly for the last 90 days, daily for 180 days, and monthly for the past year making it easy to analyze consumption patterns, verify bills, and optimize network operations.

Air-in-pipe intelligence. The meter can treat persistent “air-in-pipe” signatures as an abnormal disassembly alarm, enhancing tamper awareness and overall system security.

Measured Accuracy and Endurance

Technical parameters underscore robust engineering. The meter supports nominal diameters DN15, DN20, and DN25, with boundary (Q2), common (Q3), and overload (Q4) flow specifications designed for domestic and light-industrial applications. It carries a range ratio of 250, Accuracy Class B, working pressure ≤1.0 MPa, and a Δp40 pressure-loss designation balancing sensitivity with hydraulic efficiency. Protection is rated at IP65, and the standard temperature class is T30 (0.1–30 °C), matching typical cold-water service. An 8-digit LCD shows totals up to 99,999.999 m³. Power is a 3.6 V supply.

Communications and Interoperability

Beyond headline protocol support, the manual lists specific module and band options useful for procurement and network planning. NB-IoT modules (e.g., BC660K, BC66, BC260Y) cover bands from B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B8 and others; GPRS (BM25) spans GSM850/EGSM900/DCS1800/PCS1900; and a 4G LTE-FDD option (EG800G-EU) includes B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28. LoRaWAN regions include AS923, EU868, US915, AU915, KR920, IN865, and several others, enabling global deployments.

For wired integration, the meter exposes an RS485 interface (four-wire: red+, black-, yellow A, blue B), allowing connection to SCADA/AMR/AMI backends or building-level controllers where required.

Smart Functions that Matter in the Field

Metering and status. The device provides real-time cumulative flow and reports meter status including (where applicable) valve state, power supply condition, and battery capacity on a regular schedule. The default daily reporting cycle can be set to a fixed time (e.g., 23:00), and payloads include cumulative usage, RSSI/SNR for LoRaWAN, and other diagnostics to improve network visibility.

Event handling and alarms. The meter uploads alarms for low battery and supports on-device indicators (LED prompts) for communication and screen-switch events—useful for both field technicians and end users.

Local display and controls. A low-power, always-on 8-digit LCD presents current reading, battery level, balance, and valve status (default open). A short press toggles pages; holding 3–6 s triggers a data report; holding ~10 s enters the secondary menu for deeper diagnostics and configuration.

Secondary menus for power users. The UI is organized into clear function blocks Main, Verification, Information, History, and Communication offering everything from forward/reverse cumulative flow and instantaneous velocity to software version, date/time, battery voltage, measurement update cycles, and comms parameters. These pages make it possible to validate performance on site without specialized tools.

Operational feedback. Active display indicators clearly show key states: water-flow direction, secondary page info, valve open/closed, battery level (with low-battery flashing), electronic seal, date/time, air in the pipe, water leakage, and burst-pipe icons. Such at-a-glance diagnostics reduce troubleshooting time and improve customer service.

Data You Can Trust

The history memory snapshot is unusually complete for a compact device: hourly logs for 90 days, daily for 180 days, and monthly for 12 months. Combined with the fixed-time daily reporting schedule, utilities gain near-continuous visibility into consumption and network health even across challenging RF environments.

On the communication side, information pages expose details such as module identifiers, SIM ICCID (where applicable), LoRaWAN mode and DevAddr fragments, reporting cycles, and downlink signal strength/SNR handy for RF planning and post-install audits.

Installation Guidance and Best Practices

Like any RF-enabled endpoint, installation quality directly impacts telemetry reliability. The manual recommends avoiding closed environments that would attenuate wireless signals; preventing exposure and freezing; keeping the site readable and serviceable; and taking antifreeze measures in winter. During construction, protect hoses and wiring—never lift the meter by its hose—and thoroughly flush new pipelines to remove debris that could obstruct the meter. Finally, check the pipe spacing and alignment; misalignment or incorrect length will stress fittings or prevent proper installation.

Where ZYLXUS-1 Fits

The ultrasonic architecture is inherently suited to clean, hygienic, or chemically sensitive applications because it measures via acoustic signals rather than mechanical contact. With accurate low-flow detection, broad communications support, and rich in-meter analytics, ZYLXUS-1 is a pragmatic choice for: residential billing with AMI/AMR backhaul, university and hospital campuses, light industry with quality requirements, and water-conservation programs focused on leaks and micro-use.

Why Utilities Choose ZYLXUS-1 ？？

• Accuracy and longevity: Ultrasonic measuring and no moving parts reduce drift and wear.

• Actionable insights: Hourly/daily/monthly histories and fixed-time reporting simplify analytics.

• Flexible connectivity: NB-IoT, GPRS, LoRaWAN, plus RS485 for wired scenarios.

• Field-friendly UI: Clear icons, quick key-press logic, and deep diagnostic menus.

• Ruggedized design: IP65 protection, Δp40 pressure-loss spec, and Class B accuracy.

Conclusion

ZYLXUS-1 blends metering precision with practical operations tooling. For utilities looking to modernize networks, curb non-revenue water, and enhance customer transparency, this meter offers a balanced package: reliable ultrasonic measurement, versatile communications, rich on-board data, and straightforward installation guidelines all backed by a standard-aligned specification.

Source: Zhongyi Smart “Ultrasonic Non-Valve Smart Water Meter (8-digit screen)” User Manual, V1.0, May 20, 2025.