Ing.-Büro IMBUS

Nuthedamm 23
14480 Potsdam

Brandenburg
Germany

Phone: 0049-331-62 52-41
Fax: 0049-331-62 52-40
E-Mail: info@imbus.net
Internet: Homepage

The engineering office IMBUS was founded end of 1996 as a consulting company. Main targets in the first years was sales of domestic gas meters in Germany and the technical consultation concerning requirements of gas measuring instruments in Western Europe. It belongs to extensive knowledge of standards, technical applications and regulations, as well as the practical conversion of requirements of the gas supplying industry.

Mr. Lutz Fabian, M.Sc. as the owner of engineering office is a personal member in the DVGW and already led several nationally certified inspection stations for gas measuring instruments.

Another field of activity is the gas measurement inspection technology with the special orientation towards critical nozzles using for different ranges of application. In this area is also positioned the service of the first in Germany certified critical nozzles test rig for diaphragm gas meters, which Mr. Fabian already certified in 1991. In this rig were used officially for the first time critical sonic nozzles for the calibration of diaphragm gas meters at 40 l/h and 60 l/h. For first sonic nozzles test rig, which is now used from the Local Weights and Measures Office in Halle (Saale), the engineering office IMBUS still carried out the maintenance and service.
Gas Consulting

The engineering office IMBUS is your competent partner, if you need professional assistance or consultation for the following ranges:
  • Gas measurement and regulation technology - special field of solutions for measuring system problems
  • Technical rules and standards of the gas range
  • Development of gas measurement technology
  • Calibration and inspection technology for flow measurements
  • Certification support for the gas industry
  • Working as an expert for gas measurement technology
  • Management consulting for enterprises of the gas industry and their supplier
Mr. Fabian can support you also with his experiences from activities as a official confirmed calibration administrator for a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory for gas measuring technologies.
Test Rigs

For the use of devices or part groups in the measurement technology, the significant parameters must be measured as exactly as possible. Therefore test rigs will be used, to determine these parameters by random sample checks of up to 100%. The precision requirements are mostly about 1/3 of the measured value. Usually the ability of the testing equipment for this accuracy is proven and shown in an uncertainty report.

Test rigs for Gas and Water Meters

Test rigs for measurement devices are offered mostly single build or in small serial production. The time of using of these rigs depends on the precision and long term stability of the used components. Changes of the standards and guidelines of the devices under test can also demand a variation of the facility. Sometimes the existing sensors, standard meters or electronic and control technology are not able to realise the new requirements. In that case mostly an extensive redesign or a complete replacement will be necessary.

The Eng.-Office IMBUS developed, build and renewed test rigs for gas and water meters. The working range contains the draft, construct or reconstruct, programming up to the documentation and uncertainty report. On demand service will be carry out too.

Test rigs for other part groups and devices

Also within the range of the mechatronics the parameters with a high accuracy are often needed. The engineering office IMBUS is also busy with development and construction of special test facilities.
First critical nozzles test rig for domestic gas meters? PGJE

The first test rig, which was working with critical nozzles as a standard only, was developed in 1983. The energy company ?Energiekombinat Potsdam? and the ?ASMW? as the measurement certification authority of the GDR were looking for better test possibilities for domestic gas meters. Bell Provers were used up to this time, without good automation benefits.
Test Rig for Water and Heat Meters

In 2006 the test rig for water and heat meters, produced in 1995, was converted and renewed in order of the National Weights and Measures Office Sachsen-Anhalt.

old Computer and control cabinet new Computer test rack

The standards, electronic and software were prepared for higher requirements and more flexibly. Also in expectation of the new European Measurement and Instrumentation Directive this reconstruction was necessary.

The flow-standards (MIDs), balances, control electronics as well as the computer inclusive software were replaced. The pipe work system, valves and water tanks were maintained and will be used further without substantial changes.
Test rig with critical nozzles for diaphragm gas meters

In order and together with the Dutch company I METER the Eng.-Office IMBUS developed a new sonic nozzle test rig for diaphragm gas meters. This should be used for calibration and verification of meters in a manufacturing plant and be laid out for the meter sizes G1.6, G2.5, G4 and G6.

From these facts also the substantial premises for the development resulted. It should be possible a fully automatic and fast test procedure. The necessary times for the leak test were to be optimised and reduced, without injuring however the requirements of the PTB Testing Instructions Volume 25.

A substantial quintessential point was thereby the structure of the sonic nozzle standard. In that case, a complicated nozzle exchange system was not used. Special attention was taken to the requirement, that each nozzle is permanently checked also during the use for possible internal and outside leakages. For generation of the 3 flows of all 4 meter types altogether only 9 nozzles are necessary.
General Information

On the following pages you will find information of different areas like technology or certification: