The Australian Flow Management Group (AFMG) of the University of South Australia provides specialised testing services to meet the needs of the water industry.
Our testing focuses on improved understanding of water resources and flow management for a wide range of clients including the water industry, local councils, and state governments.
We test a range of products including flow meters, smart meters, pipes, pipe fittings,valves, emitters, drippers, timer taps, moisture sensors, drainage systems, EMC electrical equipment compliance, gross pollution traps, stormwater treatment, and other hydraulic components.
We house a number of state-of-the-art research and testing facilities including:
- Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing
- Radio Frequency (RF) immunity testing
- Controlled and random electrodynamic vibration testing
- Full-scale hydraulic testing (up to 510 L/s)
- Scale modelling of hydraulic structures (e.g. fish passages, culverts and overland flow paths)
- Environmental testing in a controlled temperature and humidity room
- Physical hydraulic model studies
- Irrigation equipment testing
- Water meter testing and calibration
- Valve type testing
Our testing services
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Water Meter Testing and Calibration
The Australian Flow Management Group (AFMG) carry out water meter testing and calibration, with or without adjustment, to Australian and international standards.
Specification and capability
- NATA accredited as a calibration facility, accreditation number 17135
- Maximum calibration/test flow rate 510L/s
- Minimum accredited calibration/test flow rate 18L/h
- Least measurement of uncertainty 0.07% for gravimetric calibrations between 0.05L/s and 0.7L/s
- Calibration through gravimetric or comparison methods
- NMI approval status as a Verifying Authority for initial verification, or re-verification and sealing meters, and NMI approval status as an Approving Authority to Pattern Approve meters.
Legal metrology capabilities
Verifying Authority
As a verifying Authority the AFMG is able to test and seal water meters under National Measurement Regulations 1999.
As an independent Calibration and Testing laboratory the AFMG is not owned by a Utility Meter manufacturer, or Water Supply organisation.
Approving Authority
As an Approving Authority, the AFMG is able to pattern approve meters under the National Measurement Regulations 1999.
As an instrument of trade measurement, water meter models are increasingly being required to have pattern approval. Initially this was only required for 20mm domestic potable water meters, however now it is extending to larger urban and non-urban meters.
The AFMG is capable of initially verifying meters to both NMI R 49 and NMI M 10. For more information on legal metrology refer to the website of the National Measurement Institute.
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Electrical EMC Immunity Testing
The Australian Flow Management Group (AFMG) have the capacity to test electrical components to several immunity standards. These tests are conducted and reported against Australian and/or international standards.
We also offer testing of electrical equipment to determine Ingress Protection (IP) ratings or IP68. The commissioning and use of this system is based on two standards:
- AS 60529 Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)
- IEC 60512-11-8 Section 8: Test 11h _ Sand and dust
With respect to NMI M 10 and NMI R 49, the AFMG is capable of conducting these IP rating tests on water meters.
Most of the testing services offered are covered by the AFMG's NATA scope of accreditation.
Specification and capability
- Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) testing in accordance with NMI M 10, AS/NZS 61000.4.2, IEC 61000-4-2, EN 61000-4-2
- Fast transients: NMI M 10, AS/NZS 61000.4.4, IEC 61000-4-4, EN 61000-4-4
- Voltage dips, short interruptions and voltage variations: NMI M 10, AS/NZS 61000.4.11, IEC 61000-4-11, EN 61000-4-11
- RF immunity testing in accordance to Radiated Immunity: NMI M 10, NMI R 49, AS/NZS 61000.4.20, IEC 61000-4-20, & EN 61000-4-20 in the frequency range 20MHz to 6GHz. Note that this RF immunity testing is not currently (June 2012) covered by our NATA accreditation.
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Radio Frequency (RF) Immunity Testing
The Australian Flow Management Group are able to performance test products to RF immunity requirements.
Specification and capability
- Testing based on IEC 61000-4-20 "Testing and measurement techniques - Emissions and immunity testing in transverse electromagnetic (TEM) waveguides"
- Dimension LxWxH: 6.0 x 3.0 x 2.5m
- Maximum EUT size : 0.80 x 0.80m x 2.0m
- 10MHz to 1GHz Power Amp 33 V/m @ 80% AM or 90V/m CW
- 0.8GHz to 3.1GHz Power Amp 28 V/m @ 80% AM or 75V/m CW
- 2.5Gz to 6.0GHz Power Amp 12 V/m @ 80% AM or 30V/m CW
- Programmable frequency and stress level exposure
- Automatic switching between power amps providing 10MHz to 6GHz range
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Full-scale Hydraulic Testing
The Australian Flow Management Group can be engaged to conduct full-scale testing of hydraulic components either in the field or within the laboratory.
Examples of full-scale hydraulics testing previously conducted by our facilities include:
- Gross pollution traps performance testing
- Road drainage performance testing
- Stormwater treatment/improvement devices
- Smart metering field studies
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Physical Hydraulic Model Studies
The Australian Flow Management Group (AFMG) can be engaged to conduct hydraulic modelling of systems or components.
This can be an effective risk mitigation tool for large hydraulic projects. The relatively small input cost of the modelling can save the major cost of having to modify a substantial piece of infrastructure after construction. Further, data obtained from running flow scenarios can be used to optimise other components in a connected network.
Examples of hydraulic model testing conducted by the AFMG include:
- Fishway hydraulic models
- Locks and weir system modelling
- Power station cooling water hydraulic models
- Surface water models for creeks, drainage systems, stream flows and other modelling
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Irrigation Equipment Testing
The Australian Flow Management Group (AFMG) were first established to undertake testing and research of equipment for the irrigation sector, and this capacity remains one of our strengths.
Testing and research of irrigation equipment conducted over the years includes a wide range of, pipes, pipe fittings, valves, emitters, drippers, time taps, moisture sensors and other irrigation components. Testing can range from dripper emitter rates to studies into the effect of droplet size in centre pivot irrigation.
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Valve Type Testing
The Australian Flow Management Group (AFMG) offer performance testing of valves to Australian standards.
Specification and capability
- Flange loading and testing
- Several valves which we have tested have subsequently gained Standards Marking
- Resilient seat gate valve type testing to AS 2638.2
- Other types of valves tested to required standards
- Hydrostatic pressure testing up to 10,000 kPa
- Flow testing at over 800kPa (closing pressure) with over 100L/s
- Flow testing at over 500kPa (closing pressure) with over 500L/s
- Endurance and cyclic testing, as seen in the photo below
