How do gas meters measure how much gas you use if gas can be compressed? (unlike water)
In: Engineering
From Wikipedia
“Diaphragm/bellows meters
A diaphragm type gas meter.
These are the most common type of gas meter, seen in almost all residential and small commercial installations. Within the meter there are two or more chambers formed by movable diaphragms. With the gas flow directed by internal valves, the chambers alternately fill and expel gas, producing a nearly continuous flow through the meter. As the diaphragms expand and contract, levers connected to cranks convert the linear motion of the diaphragms into rotary motion of a crank shaft which serves as the primary flow element. This shaft can drive an odometer-like counter mechanism or it can produce electrical pulses for a flow computer.
Diaphragm gas meters are positive displacement meters.”
The positive displacement chambers combined with knowing the pressure provides a reliable reading for the low flow rates for home gas meters.
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