Hidroconta revolutionizes water metering with the Centaurus smart meters

The Centaurus devices developed by Hidroconta are optimized for low power consumption, allowing the batteries to last for several years. This is crucial for applications that require long-term monitoring without human intervention. With a battery life of more than 15 years with daily communications, Centaurus meters exceed regulatory requirements and offer a long-lasting and efficient solution.

The Centaurus provides accurate, real-time monitoring of water consumption, not only recording and sending consumption data, but also issuing alerts to prevent invisible leaks. This optimizes network management and helps conserve water resources.

Features and benefits of Centaurus smart meters

These meters combine the accuracy of a mechanical meter with the advanced capabilities of a smart device, offering a state-of-the-art solution for monitoring and controlling water consumption. In addition to recording consumption in real-time, users have access to detailed data through a software solution, allowing effective monitoring with daily, weekly or monthly patterns.

One of the most impressive features of the Centaurus meters is their ability to detect potential problems before they lead to a crisis. Users can receive immediate alerts about leaks, breaks or other problems, allowing them to take quick action to avoid unnecessary water loss. Thanks to their high accuracy, these meters can identify even the smallest leaks, facilitating predictive maintenance and contributing to water resource conservation.

Hidroconta has developed the Centaurus meter with two different mechanical technologies: Centaurus 100 series, with single-jet technology and Centaurus 300 series, with volumetric or fill and drain measuring technology.

Centaurus 100 series water meters: single jet technology

The Centaurus 100 series is an electronic meter that uses the operating principle of the single jet system. Here, the water flow impacts directly on a turbine, the rotation of which is translated into accurate data thanks to tunnel magnetoresistance effect sensors integrated into the electronic totalizer.

Centaurus 100 series meters are available in DN-13, 15 and 20 mm gauges, with copper alloy bodies, and are exceptional in their ability to operate without the need for straight lines at the inlet or outlet, with a maximum allowable pressure of 16 bar.

Centaurus 300 series meters: fill and drain measuring technology

The Centaurus 300 series uses a technology based on counting the filling and emptying of a chamber of known volume. An oscillating rotary piston in the measuring chamber, driven by the water flow, generates accurate data that is shown on the LCD display. These meters are available in DN-13 and 15 mm gauges with composite bodies, and DN-13, 15, 20, 25, 32 and 40 mm with copper alloy bodies. Like the 100 series, they do not require straight lines for operation and can withstand a maximum pressure of 16 bar.

Centaurus 300 Series

Certifications and standards met by Centaurus

Both families of meters have CE marking, in accordance with applicable Directives and have EU Type Examination certificates as equipment suitable for making them available on the market for the measurement of clean water:

• Directive 2014/32/EU (MID): DIRECTIVE 2014/32/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of measuring instruments (recast).
• Directive 2014/53/EU (RED): DIRECTIVE 2014/53/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 April 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment.
• Directive 2011/65/EU (ROHS): DIRECTIVE 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

Advanced technology and connectivity

From a technological point of view, the Centaurus range of meters integrates a series of features that place them at the forefront of metering and water management technology.

First of all, they have native LTE-NBIoT communications. NBIoT (Narrow Band Internet of Things) is a cellular communication technology of the LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) family. Like all communications systems in this family, it is characterized by extremely low power consumption and the long communication distance it can reach, which facilitates its mass deployment and makes it highly reliable and robust. Since this is a mobile technology, the user does not have to worry about the maintenance of the communications network, as this would be the task of the telephone companies.

Centaurus communication scheme

As an added advantage, we can point out that Centaurus incorporates remote reprogramming of both the internal FW of the meter and the modem itself. It is also compatible with SWAPING (change of service operator remotely and without changing the SIM). Both functions guarantee compatibility with the network throughout the lifetime of the meter.

Hidroconta’s meters have CE marking and EU Type Examination certificates as equipment suitable for the measurement of clean water

Hidroconta wanted to ensure the connectivity of all its meters by providing them with WM-Bus (868 MHz) short-range communications. WM-Bus is a well-established standard in the metering world. It allows drive-by and walk-by systems to be linked. This provides a simple and inexpensive way to have remote reading in "shadow" areas of mobile network coverage.

With WM-Bus we can also set up fixed network systems, i.e. a meter communicating with a concentrator that acts as a gateway between WM-Bus and GPRS or NBIoT. This architecture is interesting in installations with a high concentration of meters such as residential buildings. It eliminates the need to have a SIM for each unit installed, and the concentrator's SIM is the only one. This means significant savings.

The maintenance of the equipment is done by using a Radio - Bluetooth interface that we call Caronte. This is a small device that, connected to a cell phone and through our APP, allows us to communicate directly with the meter and perform maintenance actions such as configuration, data download, communications status check, etc.

International projection and presentation of Centaurus

Hidroconta's commercial team is working hard to promote Spanish technology in different international markets. The Centaurus smart meter, with its technology easily adaptable to different environments and markets, and with the highest quality standards, is presented as a keystone for global water management.

Countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, Denmark, Greece and several others in the American continent have shown interest in the new product developed by Hidroconta. This international projection underlines the versatility and robustness of Centaurus, positioning it as a worldwide leader in the water management sector.

From top to bottom. Commercial presentation at Manila Water Company. Commercial presentation at Maynilad water company. Commercial presentation in Greece with ICEX

Conclusion

Hidroconta's Centaurus smart meter represents a significant breakthrough in water management efficiency, seamlessly integrating advanced technology with innovative features that promise to transform how we measure and utilize this essential resource. With its accuracy, real-time monitoring capabilities and problem detection, Centaurus is an essential tool for water conservation and sustainable management.

The project in the Cruz de Gracia housing development is a clear example of Hidroconta's success and excellent progress in the digital transformation of water services, showing how technological innovation can transform the management of essential resources in modern communities.