Which type of water meter calculates total flow by multiplying the flow through the meter by a factor?

A proportional water meter is designed to calculate total flow by taking the flow rate through the meter and multiplying it by a predetermined factor. This type of meter is particularly useful in applications where the flow varies, and it provides accurate measurements of total volume based on flow conditions.

The process is efficient because, by using flow multiplication, proportional meters can accommodate fluctuations in water usage without losing precision. This method of calculation helps in monitoring water usage over time, making it vital for billing and resource management in water distribution systems.

Conversely, other types of water meters, such as the velocity water meter or positive displacement meter, measure flow differently. Velocity meters assess flow based on the speed of water passing through a turbine or propeller. Positive displacement meters work by capturing a fixed volume of water for each unit of flow and counting the number of times that volume is displaced. While both serve important roles in water measurement, they do not employ the multiplication factor method for determining total flow as the proportional meter does.