Wading equipment with self-powered system

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of power supply, and provides wading equipment with a self-powered system. The self-powered system comprises a power generation module used for generating electric energy through water flow in a water supply pipeline, the power generation module comprises a water turbine and a permanent magnet direct current generator, and the water turbine is the water turbine with the best performance screened out from multiple candidate water turbines by conducting modeling analysis on the multiple candidate water turbines in advance, the permanent magnet direct-current generator is used for converting mechanical energy transmitted by the water turbine into electric energy. The power generation and energy storage module is used for storing the electric energy generated by the power generation module into a rechargeable battery of the first wading equipment; and the electric quantity transfer module is used for transferring redundant electric quantity generated by the power generation module of the first wading equipment to a rechargeable battery of the second wading equipment in a preset distance range from the first wading equipment under the condition that the electric quantity of the rechargeable battery of the first wading equipment is greater than a first preset value. The scheme can improve the power generation utilization rate of the wading equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of power supply technology, and more specifically, to a water-using device with a self-powered system. Background Technology

[0002] Water-related equipment with a self-powered system refers to equipment that can use hydropower to maintain its operation, such as self-generating water meters and self-generating valves.

[0003] The electricity generated by water-related equipment with a self-powered system depends on the amount of water flowing through it. In some special cases, such as when no one is home for a long time or when water usage is low, there may be an imbalance between the power generation and the instantaneous power consumption demand, which may affect the normal operation of the water-related equipment.

[0004] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background section above is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of this disclosure, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a water-using device with a self-powered system, thereby at least to some extent balancing the power generation and instantaneous power consumption of water-using devices for users with low water consumption, and avoiding the impact of imbalance between power generation and instantaneous power consumption on the normal operation of the water-using device.

[0006] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, or may be learned in part from practice of this disclosure.

[0007] According to embodiments of this disclosure, a water-wading device with a self-powered system is provided, comprising: a power generation module for generating electrical energy using water flow in a water supply pipeline, the power generation module including a water turbine and a permanent magnet DC generator, the water turbine being the best-performing water turbine selected from multiple candidate water turbines through pre-modeling and analysis, the permanent magnet DC generator for converting the mechanical energy transmitted by the water turbine into electrical energy; a power generation and energy storage module for storing the electrical energy generated by the power generation module in a rechargeable battery of the first water-wading device; and a power transfer module for transferring the power generated by the power generation module of the first water-wading device to a rechargeable battery of a second water-wading device located within a preset distance range from the first water-wading device when the power level of the rechargeable battery of the first water-wading device is greater than or equal to a first preset value, wherein the first water-wading device and the second water-wading device include different water-wading devices deployed in the same independent physical space unit and having a preset association relationship.

[0008] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, the water-using equipment with a self-powered system in the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure has at least the following advantages and positive effects:

[0009] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the technical solutions provided include, on the one hand, the power generation module enables the water-using equipment to be self-powered, ensuring normal operation of the water-using equipment without the need for an external battery, thus reducing the economic cost for users of the water-using equipment; on the other hand, the power transfer module achieves a balance between the power generation and instantaneous power consumption of the water-using equipment for users with low water consumption, avoiding the impact of imbalance between power generation and instantaneous power consumption on the normal operation of the water-using equipment; furthermore, during power transfer, by transferring power between water-using equipment deployed in the same independent physical space unit, having a preset association relationship, and within a preset distance range, the loss during the power transfer process can be reduced, and the power utilization efficiency can be improved.

[0010] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure. It is obvious that the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this disclosure, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any inventive effort.

[0012] Figure 1 A block diagram of a self-powered system to which embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied is shown;

[0013] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates a block diagram of another self-powered system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0014] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating a method for transferring electrical charge according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure is shown.

[0015] Figure 4 This illustration shows a flowchart of a method for determining a second water-contacting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0016] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, example embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided to make this disclosure more comprehensive and complete, and to fully convey the concept of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art. The described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a full understanding of embodiments of this disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the technical solutions of this disclosure can be practiced with one or more of the specific details omitted, or other methods, components, apparatus, steps, etc., can be employed. In other instances, well-known technical solutions are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of this disclosure.

[0017] The terms “a,” “an,” “the,” and “the” are used in this specification to indicate the presence of one or more elements / components / etc.; the terms “including” and “having” are used to indicate an open-ended inclusion and to mean that there may be other elements / components / etc. in addition to the listed elements / components / etc.; the terms “first” and “second” are used only as markings and are not a limitation on the number of objects.

[0018] Furthermore, the accompanying drawings are merely illustrative of this disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts, and therefore repeated descriptions of them will be omitted. Some block diagrams shown in the drawings are functional entities and do not necessarily correspond to physically or logically independent entities. These functional entities may be implemented in software, in one or more hardware modules or integrated circuits, or in different network and / or processor devices and / or microcontroller devices.

[0019] In this embodiment of the disclosure, a water-wading device with a self-powered system is provided. This water-wading device may be referred to as a first water-wading device. The self-powered system 100 in the water-wading device refers to a system that can autonomously supply power to the water-wading device. The self-powered system may include a power generation module 110, a power generation and energy storage module 120, and a power transfer module 130. The power generation module 110 generates electricity using water flow in the water supply pipeline. The power generation module includes a water turbine and a permanent magnet DC generator. The water turbine is the best-performing turbine selected from multiple candidate water turbines through pre-modeling and analysis. The permanent magnet DC generator converts the mechanical energy transmitted by the water turbine into electrical energy. The power generation and energy storage module 120 stores the electrical energy generated by the power generation module in the rechargeable battery of the first water-wading device. The power transfer module 130, when the charge of the rechargeable battery of the first water-wading device exceeds a first preset value, transfers the electrical energy generated by the power generation module of the first water-wading device to the rechargeable battery of a second water-wading device located within a preset distance from the first water-wading device. The first water-wading device and the second water-wading device include different water-wading devices deployed in the same independent physical space unit and having a preset association relationship.

[0020] exist Figure 1 In the technical solution provided by the illustrated embodiment, on the one hand, the power generation module enables the water-using equipment to be self-powered, ensuring the normal operation of the water-using equipment without the need for an external battery, thus reducing the economic cost for users of the water-using equipment; on the other hand, the power transfer module achieves a balance between the power generation and instantaneous power consumption of the water-using equipment for users with low water consumption, ensuring the normal operation of the water-using equipment with low water consumption; furthermore, when transferring power, by transferring power between water-using equipment deployed in the same independent physical space unit that has a preset association relationship and is within a preset distance range, the loss in the power transfer process can be reduced, and the power utilization efficiency can be improved.

[0021] The following is a detailed description of the specific implementation method of "power generation module 110, used to generate electricity from water flow in water supply pipe".

[0022] In one exemplary embodiment, the water-related equipment in this disclosure may include any device capable of generating electricity from water flow for its own use, such as various water-related metering devices.

[0023] For example, water-related equipment can be installed in water supply pipes, and a generator module in a self-powered system can convert the water flow in the pipes into electrical energy to power the equipment. Examples of water-related equipment with a self-powered system include water meters, valves, and flow meters.

[0024] In one exemplary embodiment, the power generation module 110 may include a water turbine and a permanent magnet DC generator.

[0025] For example, the turbine is the best-performing turbine selected from multiple candidate turbines by pre-modeling and analyzing multiple candidate turbines.

[0026] In one exemplary embodiment, the structural parameters of each candidate turbine are different. The structural parameters of each candidate turbine include one or more of the following: number of runner blades, runner blade shape, runner blade height, runner inlet and outlet configuration, runner shaft diameter, number of fixed guide vanes, fixed guide vane inlet angle, fixed guide vane outlet angle, volute cross-sectional shape, and volute wrap angle.

[0027] For example, candidate turbine models can be constructed first. These models can be built based on a reference turbine and different structural parameters. The reference turbine could include a mixed-flow turbine or a bulb turbine. For instance, the blades of the reference turbine can be reduced in size and thickened, the upper crown and lower ring can be designed, and then several sets of different structural parameter values ​​can be given to determine multiple candidate turbine models.

[0028] After obtaining multiple candidate turbine models, flow field analysis can be performed on these models under different operating conditions to achieve structural optimization and obtain the final turbine for use. For example, the constructed candidate turbine models can be subjected to fluid domain extraction, boundary region naming, and mesh generation. Transient dynamic meshing can be used to simulate the motion and rotation of the candidate turbine model driven by water flow, calculating the impeller's rotation under water flow impact. FLUENT steady-state calculations can be used to obtain the impeller's data under stable rotation conditions. The calculated data can be read and the impeller's energy output calculated, completing the flow field analysis of the candidate turbine model for structural optimization. Based on the structural optimization results, the final turbine for use can be obtained. The calculated data may include the number of runner blades, runner inlet height, runner inlet width, runner outlet diameter, fixed guide vane inlet angle, flow rate, and corresponding reference data. Reference data may include volute, torque, rotational speed, pressure drop, velocity head loss, head loss, efficiency, and power. The power and efficiency from the reference data can be used as evaluation indicators to assess the performance of candidate turbine models, with each candidate turbine model corresponding to a specific candidate turbine. Furthermore, the candidate turbine model with the best performance is selected based on power and efficiency, and this model is designated as the optimal candidate turbine. This optimal candidate turbine is then identified as the turbine in the self-powered system of the water-related equipment.

[0029] Based on the simulation results, it can be seen that the constructed turbine has a reasonable pressure distribution, a suitable velocity vector, no impact at the inlet, no flow separation at the outlet, a reasonable distribution of stagnation points, a uniform pressure field on the front and back surfaces of the blades, and a uniform flow distribution between the blades.

[0030] Based on this, by analyzing parameters such as the number of runner blades, the shape of the runner blades, the height of the runner blades, the height of the runner inlet, the width of the runner inlet, the diameter of the runner outlet, the fixed guide vane placement angle, and the flow rate, a turbine can be established, thereby effectively controlling the speed and load of the turbine, improving the utilization coefficient of the turbine, and thus improving the water flow conversion efficiency of the turbine and the self-generation efficiency of the power generation module.

[0031] In one exemplary embodiment, a water turbine can be installed inside a pipe through which water flows, i.e., in a water supply pipe. The water turbine can convert the energy of the water flow in the water supply pipe into the mechanical energy of its rotation. A permanent magnet DC generator is used to convert the mechanical energy transmitted by the water turbine into electrical energy, thereby realizing power generation through the water turbine and the permanent magnet DC generator. The entire conversion process follows the laws of conservation of energy and conservation of momentum.

[0032] In one exemplary embodiment, the turbine's spiral casing has a rectangular cross-section, and the turbine's spiral casing and fixed guide vanes are integrally connected to form a structural whole.

[0033] For example, in this disclosure, through modeling simulation and performance evaluation, the cross-section of the turbine casing is determined to be rectangular, and the turbine casing and fixed guide vanes are designed as one piece, ignoring the movable guide vanes, thereby simplifying the turbine structure and enabling it to be better installed in the water supply pipeline.

[0034] Among them, the water turbine can be a micro water turbine. The design and optimization process of the water turbine can be based on numerical simulation and simulation analysis of fluid mechanics. Through CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulation software, the flow field characteristics of the water turbine under different operating conditions can be simulated, thereby optimizing the structural parameters of the water turbine and improving the energy conversion efficiency to obtain the water turbine.

[0035] For example, a micro turbine suitable for the water flow conditions of the water supply pipeline can be selected as the turbine, and the shape and number of the runner blades can be optimized to improve the water flow conversion efficiency. The power generation module may also include a motor housing, a gear speed-increasing unit, and a permanent magnet DC generator. The inlet of the motor housing is funnel-shaped to increase the water flow velocity and pressurize the water flow, so that even at low water flow velocities, the impeller of the turbine housed within the motor housing can obtain power to drive the permanent magnet DC generator. The impeller rotates around its shaft under the drive of the water flow, and the shaft is fixed to a bearing that supports the stable operation of the impeller. The gear speed-increasing unit increases the impeller's rotational speed to a speed suitable for the permanent magnet DC generator, enabling the permanent magnet DC generator in the power generation module to generate electricity. The rotational speed can be, for example, 1500 r / min.

[0036] In one exemplary embodiment, the permanent magnet DC generator of this disclosure includes a permanent magnet DC generator with an external rotor structure.

[0037] For example, using an external rotor structure increases the rotor size along with the stator size, while a rotor with a larger moment of inertia helps suppress vibrations. When calculating the main dimensions of the motor, its structural characteristics such as speed and diameter must be considered. The calculation of the rotor's inner diameter is crucial for obtaining a suitable rotor yoke magnetic field strength to reduce core losses, while simultaneously ensuring sufficient mechanical strength.

[0038] For the power generation module, the motor housing and impeller can be made of high-strength, corrosion-resistant materials to ensure stability and durability over long-term use. The permanent magnet DC generator can be made using permanent magnet materials, thereby improving power generation efficiency and output power. In addition, CAD / CAM software can be used for 3D modeling and precision machining design, and precision machining equipment can be used to process components such as the motor housing, impeller, and gear speed-increasing unit. The permanent magnet DC generator itself can also be designed and simulated. Based on the simulation design results, the generator stator and rotor are manufactured, the permanent magnet DC generator is assembled and debugged, its functions are verified, and based on the overall system experiment and test results, the generator parameters are rationally optimized to ultimately determine a permanent magnet DC generator suitable for water-related equipment.

[0039] The following is a detailed description of the specific implementation of the "power generation and energy storage module 120, used to store the electrical energy generated by the power generation module into the rechargeable battery of the first water-related equipment".

[0040] For example, Figure 2 A block diagram of another self-powered system according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure is shown. (Reference) Figure 2The self-powered system includes a water turbine 21, a generator 22, and a charging circuit 23. The charging circuit 23 includes a rectifier circuit 231, a filter and voltage regulator circuit 232, a charging management circuit 233, and an energy storage element 234. The energy storage element may include a rechargeable battery or a supercapacitor.

[0041] For example, the water turbine 21 converts the energy of the water flow in the water supply pipe into mechanical energy, the generator 22 converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy, and the various sub-circuits in the charging circuit 23 process the electrical energy output by the generator into electrical energy suitable for input to the energy storage element 234, thereby storing the electrical energy output by the generator in the energy storage element 234. When the water-using equipment needs electricity, it can obtain electrical energy from the energy storage element 234 to meet the power demand of the water-using equipment.

[0042] In one exemplary embodiment, the circuit elements used in the charging circuit are determined in advance based on the estimated power consumption of the first water-using device.

[0043] The estimated power consumption of water-related equipment can include the estimated power consumption of the minimum regular cycle of water flow in the water supply pipes installed on the equipment. For example, it can be the estimated daily power consumption.

[0044] For example, taking water-related equipment, including instruments and devices installed in the water supply pipes of residential buildings, the water usage behavior of residents and the power consumption behavior of water-related equipment in residential buildings are both periodic on a daily basis. Therefore, the daily power consumption of water-related equipment can be estimated, and charging circuits can be designed based on the estimation results to accurately match the actual operating needs of water-related equipment. At the same time, estimating power consumption with the shortest cycle can also reduce the design pressure of energy storage components (such as reducing the size and cost of energy storage components).

[0045] For example, the method for determining the estimated power consumption of water-related equipment includes: determining multiple estimated power consumption results of the first water-related equipment based on multiple power consumption estimation methods, and determining the estimated power consumption of the first water-related equipment based on the multiple estimated power consumption results.

[0046] In one exemplary implementation, various power consumption estimation methods include: power consumption estimation based on working status, power consumption estimation based on daily power consumption statistics, and power consumption estimation based on statistics of the total power supply time of disposable batteries to water-related equipment.

[0047] For example, the specific power consumption estimation process of the power consumption estimation method based on working status may include: statistically analyzing the working current and daily working duration of each working status; determining the power consumption of each working status by multiplying the working current and daily working duration of each working status with the voltage of the water-related equipment; and obtaining the power consumption estimation result of the power consumption estimation method based on working status by summing the power consumption of each working status.

[0048] The specific power consumption estimation process based on daily power consumption statistics may include: collecting daily power consumption data of the target user's water-using equipment; obtaining the daily power consumption of the water-using equipment based on the average daily power consumption data; and determining the power consumption estimation result based on the product of the daily power consumption and the voltage of the water-using equipment. For example, if the daily power consumption of the water-using equipment is 6.3 mA and the voltage is 3.6 volts, then the estimated power consumption is 3.6 volts × 6.3 mA × 60 fen ≈ 1.36 watt-minutes.

[0049] The target users can include users whose daily water usage time reaches a preset duration or users whose daily water usage difference is less than a preset difference within the collection period.

[0050] The specific power consumption estimation process based on the statistics of the total power supply time of disposable batteries to water-using equipment may include: calculating the total power supply time of each disposable battery to the water-using equipment based on historical data; determining the daily power consumption of each disposable battery based on the quotient of its capacity and total power supply time; determining the daily power consumption of the water-using equipment based on the average daily power consumption of all disposable batteries; and determining the power consumption estimation result based on the product of the daily power consumption and the voltage of the water-using equipment.

[0051] For example, historical data shows that an 8500 mAh disposable battery can power a certain water-using device for an average of 6 years. Therefore, the daily power consumption of the water-using device is approximately 3.88 mAh (8500 ÷ 6 ÷ 365 ≈ 3.88 mAh). The estimated power consumption of the water-using device is approximately 3.6 volts × 3.88 mAh × 60 minutes ≈ 0.84 watt-minutes.

[0052] For example, when there are large differences among multiple power consumption estimates, such as when the difference between the minimum and maximum values ​​among the multiple power consumption estimates is greater than a preset difference value, the maximum value among the multiple power consumption estimates can be determined as the power consumption estimate of the water-related equipment.

[0053] For example, when the differences between multiple power consumption estimates are small, such as when the difference between the minimum and maximum values ​​of the multiple power consumption estimates is less than a preset difference value, the average value of the multiple power consumption estimates can be determined as the power consumption estimate of the water-related equipment.

[0054] For example, the maximum value among multiple power consumption estimates can be directly determined as the power consumption estimate of the water-related equipment.

[0055] Of course, a power consumption estimation range can also be determined based on the minimum and maximum values ​​of various power consumption estimation methods. This range can then be used as the final power consumption estimate, meaning the power consumption estimate can be characterized by the estimation range. In subsequent calculations, all data related to the power consumption estimate will be based on the minimum and maximum values ​​corresponding to this estimation range. The selection of subsequent circuit components must also cover the relevant data range indicated by the maximum and minimum values ​​corresponding to the power consumption estimate. For example, a voltage regulator chip needs to cover the voltage range corresponding to both the minimum and maximum power consumption values.

[0056] For example, the circuit elements of the charging circuit are pre-determined based on the estimated power consumption of the first water-wading device, including: pre-determining the electrical energy that the permanent magnet DC generator needs to output based on the estimated power consumption of the first water-wading device and the first preset energy conversion efficiency of the charging circuit; pre-determining the output power of the permanent magnet DC generator based on the electrical energy that the permanent magnet DC generator needs to output; and pre-determining the circuit elements used in the charging circuit based on the output power of the permanent magnet DC generator.

[0057] For example, the estimated power consumption of a water-using device is the electrical energy required by the device. Based on the first preset energy conversion efficiency of the charging circuit and the electrical energy required by the water-using device, the electrical energy that the permanent magnet DC generator needs to output can be deduced.

[0058] The first preset energy conversion efficiency can be the overall conversion efficiency of the charging circuit. For example, if the estimated power consumption is 1.36 watt-minutes (WPM) and the first preset energy conversion efficiency of the charging circuit is 50%, then the permanent magnet DC generator needs to output 1.36 WPM divided by 0.5, which is 2.72 WPM. The first preset energy conversion efficiency can also be determined by the product of the second preset energy conversion efficiencies of each sub-circuit of the charging circuit. For example, if the estimated power consumption is 1.36 WPM, and the second preset energy conversion efficiencies of the rectifier sub-circuit, filter and voltage regulator sub-circuit, charging management sub-circuit, and battery sub-circuit are 80%, 85%, 85%, and 90% respectively, then the first preset energy conversion efficiency is the product of these four values, approximately 52%. Therefore, the permanent magnet DC generator outputs 2.6 WPM. In other words, the generator can generate electricity for 2.6 minutes at an output power of 1 watt, or for 5.2 minutes at an output power of 0.5 watts, which can meet the daily power consumption needs of the water-related equipment.

[0059] For example, the above-mentioned method of pre-determining the circuit elements of the charging circuit based on the output power of the permanent magnet DC generator includes: determining the input power and output power of each sub-circuit of the charging circuit based on the output power of the permanent magnet DC generator and the second preset energy conversion efficiency of each sub-circuit of the charging circuit; for each sub-circuit, determining a first candidate circuit element from the circuit elements that have the circuit function of the sub-circuit based on the input and output parameter requirements of the sub-circuit, wherein the input and output parameter requirements include the input power and the output power; performing at least one level of performance matching on the first candidate circuit element corresponding to the sub-circuit based on the priority of the circuit performance requirement data of the sub-circuit; and determining the circuit elements used by the sub-circuit based on the matching results of the at least one level of performance matching.

[0060] For example, based on the first preset energy conversion efficiency of the overall charging circuit and the design requirements of each sub-circuit of the charging circuit, the second preset energy conversion efficiency of each sub-circuit can be determined, such that the product of the second preset energy conversion efficiencies of each sub-circuit equals the first preset energy conversion efficiency. After determining the second preset energy conversion efficiency of each sub-circuit, the input power and output power of each sub-circuit can be determined based on the output power of the permanent magnet DC generator, the connection sequence of each sub-circuit, and the second preset energy conversion efficiency of each sub-circuit. Continuing with the second preset energy conversion efficiencies of the rectifier circuit, filter and voltage regulator circuit, charging management circuit, and battery, which are 80%, 85%, 85%, and 90% respectively, and taking the output power of the permanent magnet DC generator as 1 watt, the input power of the rectifier circuit is 1 watt and the output power is 0.8 watts, the input power of the filter and voltage regulator circuit is 0.8 watts and the output power is 0.68 watts, the input power of the charging management circuit is 0.68 watts and the output power is 0.578 watts, and the input power of the rechargeable battery is 0.578 watts and the output power is 0.52 watts.

[0061] In one exemplary embodiment, the input and output parameters of each sub-circuit may include input and output voltage, input and output current, and input and output power.

[0062] For example, the input and output voltages and currents of each sub-circuit can be determined based on the output voltage and output power of the permanent magnet DC generator, the input voltage and input current of the water-using equipment, and the functional requirements of each sub-circuit. For instance, the output voltage range of the permanent magnet DC generator is 5V to 12V. During peak water usage periods, the water flow rate is high, the generator speed is high, and the output voltage is high, reaching 12V. During off-peak water usage periods, the water flow rate is low, the generator speed is slow, and the output voltage is low, only 5V. Figure 2 As shown, the output terminal of the permanent magnet DC generator is connected to the rectifier circuit, so the input voltage of the rectifier circuit is 5V-12V. The function of the rectifier circuit is to provide redundant voltage for the subsequent voltage regulator circuit, so the output voltage of the rectifier circuit is higher than the input voltage. If a three-phase rectifier circuit is selected, the output voltage of the three-phase rectifier circuit can be 6.7V-16V.

[0063] After determining the input and output parameters of each sub-circuit, for each sub-circuit, a first candidate circuit element that meets the input and output parameter requirements of that sub-circuit can be identified from the circuit elements that have the circuit function of that sub-circuit. This yields the first candidate circuit element for each sub-circuit. For example, a candidate rectifier circuit that meets the input and output parameter requirements of the rectifier sub-circuit can be selected from various rectifier circuits. Based on the circuit elements in the candidate rectifier circuit, the first candidate circuit element corresponding to the rectifier circuit can be determined. Similarly, the input and output values ​​of existing voltage regulator chips can be matched with the input and output parameters of the aforementioned voltage regulator sub-circuit. Existing voltage regulator chips that successfully match are identified as candidate voltage regulator chips, and these candidate voltage regulator chips are then identified as the first candidate circuit element of the voltage regulator sub-circuit.

[0064] For example, after obtaining the first candidate circuit elements for each sub-circuit, if there is only one first candidate circuit element for each sub-circuit, then that first candidate circuit element can be directly used as the circuit element used in that sub-circuit. For instance, if only one rectifier circuit can meet the input and output parameter requirements of the rectifier sub-circuit, then that rectifier circuit is the finally determined rectifier sub-circuit. If there are multiple first candidate circuit elements for each sub-circuit, then at least one level of performance matching can be performed on the first candidate circuit elements corresponding to each sub-circuit based on the priority of the performance requirement data of each sub-circuit. Based on the matching results of at least one level of performance matching, the circuit element used in the sub-circuit can be determined.

[0065] For example, the step of performing at least one level of performance matching on the first candidate circuit element corresponding to the sub-circuit based on the priority of the circuit performance requirement data of the sub-circuit, and determining the circuit element used by the sub-circuit based on the matching result of the at least one level of performance matching includes: matching the highest priority circuit performance requirement data with the first target performance data in the first candidate circuit element, obtaining the circuit element matching result corresponding to the highest priority circuit performance requirement data based on the matching result, wherein the first target performance data is the performance data of the first candidate circuit element that has the same performance as the performance indicated by the highest priority circuit performance requirement data; traversing other circuit performance requirement data according to the priority order of the circuit performance requirement data, matching the currently traversed circuit performance requirement data with the second target performance data of the circuit element in the matching result corresponding to the previous priority, determining the circuit element matching result corresponding to the currently traversed circuit performance requirement data, repeating this process until the last circuit performance requirement data is traversed, and determining the circuit element used by the sub-circuit based on the circuit element matching result of the last circuit performance requirement data; wherein, the second target performance data is the performance data of the circuit element in the matching result corresponding to the previous priority that has the same performance as the performance indicated by the currently traversed circuit performance requirement data.

[0066] For example, if a sub-circuit has only one performance requirement, the performance indicator data of the first candidate circuit element that matches the performance requirement is directly matched with the performance requirement data. The first candidate circuit element that successfully matches is determined as the circuit element used by the sub-circuit. If a sub-circuit has multiple performance requirement data, multi-level matching can be performed according to priority. Based on the results of multi-level matching, the circuit element used by the sub-circuit is determined. For example, if the performance requirements of a voltage regulator sub-circuit include an efficiency of 80% and a price of less than 2 yuan, with efficiency taking precedence over price, then the efficiency of the first candidate circuit element (such as the first candidate voltage regulator chip) determined based on the input and output parameters can be matched with the efficiency of 80% in the performance requirements of the voltage regulator sub-circuit. This will filter out first candidate circuit elements with an efficiency greater than or equal to 80%, and these selected first candidate circuit elements will be used as new first candidate circuit elements. Then, the price of these new first candidate circuit elements will be matched with the price of 2 yuan in the performance requirements of the voltage regulator sub-circuit, filtering out first candidate circuit elements with a price less than or equal to 2 yuan. This two-stage matching process will ultimately select the first candidate circuit element with an efficiency greater than or equal to 80% and a price less than or equal to 2 yuan from the initial first candidate circuit elements, and use it as the circuit element used in the voltage regulator circuit.

[0067] After prioritizing the performance requirements data, if the number of the last updated first candidate circuit element is one, it can be directly used as the final circuit element for the sub-circuit. If the number of the last updated first candidate circuit elements is multiple, such as multiple voltage regulator chips that meet the requirements of 80% or higher efficiency and less than 2 yuan, the charging circuit can be actually made based on the multiple voltage regulator chips that meet the performance requirements. The actual circuit is then tested, and the voltage regulator chip with the best overall performance in the test results is determined as the voltage regulator chip used in the voltage regulator circuit.

[0068] In this disclosure, circuit elements that meet the actual needs can be quickly and accurately selected from circuit elements with the same function based on the actual power consumption and performance requirements of the water-using equipment. Then, a charging circuit is designed based on the selected circuit elements, so that the self-powered system can not only meet the actual power demand of the water-using equipment, but also avoid the cost burden and volume burden caused by excessive redundant design, thereby improving the practical application value of water-using equipment with self-powered system.

[0069] The following is a detailed description of the specific implementation of the "power transfer module 130, used to transfer the power generated by the power generation module of the first water-wading device to the rechargeable battery of the second water-wading device, which is within a preset distance range from the first water-wading device, when the power of the rechargeable battery of the first water-wading device is greater than or equal to a first preset value".

[0070] In one exemplary embodiment, the amount of electricity greater than or equal to a first preset value is used to indicate that the rechargeable battery of the water-wading device is fully charged or nearly fully charged. For example, the first preset value can be the amount of electricity indicated by the battery capacity of the rechargeable battery of the water-wading device, or it can be a preset percentage of the amount of electricity indicated by the battery capacity of the rechargeable battery of the water-wading device, such as 99%. If the battery capacity of the rechargeable battery of the water-wading device is 8500 mAh, the first preset value can be 8500 mAh, or it can be 8500 multiplied by 99%, which is 8415 mAh.

[0071] For example, for users with high water consumption, the self-powered system of their water-using devices may have sufficient power generation, potentially leading to situations where the rechargeable battery is fully charged but water continues to flow and generate electricity. Therefore, if the rechargeable battery capacity of a water-using device exceeds a first preset value, the excess power generated by the device's power generation module can be transferred to other water-using devices with lower battery capacity (such as a second water-using device) to avoid wasting the electricity generated by the water-using device.

[0072] In one exemplary embodiment, the first water-wading device and the second water-wading device include different water-wading devices deployed in the same independent physical space unit and having a preset association relationship.

[0073] Within this framework, a single independent physical space unit can include the installation area of ​​different water-related devices for a single user. For example, taking water-related devices in a residential building's water supply as an example, the same independent physical space unit could be the water supply pipe for a single household. Alternatively, in a scenario where all water-related devices are installed inside a household's residence, the same independent physical space unit could be the interior space of that household's residence. The first and second water-related devices could be the self-generating valve and self-generating water meter for the same household. The same independent physical unit can also be a public water room on the same floor of a residential building, such as a pipe shaft or dedicated room where self-generating water meters are centrally installed. Pre-defined associations can include functional linkage relationships or same-area installation relationships. Continuing with the example of water-related devices in a residential building's water supply, there is a functional linkage between the self-generating water meter and self-generating water valve for the same household. After the water meter measures the water, the valve controls the water flow into the household. Water meters in the same floor's water room have a physical same-area installation association; for example, water meters for different users on the same floor might be installed in a public water room.

[0074] For example, transferring excess electricity generated by the power generation module of the first water-wading device to the rechargeable battery of the second water-wading device, which is within a preset distance range from the first water-wading device, includes: transferring excess electricity generated by the power generation module of the water-wading device to the rechargeable battery of the second water-wading device, which is within a preset distance range from the first water-wading device, via wireless charging.

[0075] Since the transmission efficiency of wireless charging technology is affected by charging distance and obstacles, the water-related devices that can transfer power between each other can be determined based on the transmission distance of the selected wireless transmission method. For example, in a residential building scenario, if water meters with self-powered systems are concentrated on the same floor, such as in the water rooms on each floor, power can be transferred between the self-powered water meters of the residents on the same floor via wireless charging. This ensures transmission efficiency and allows for convenient power transfer between residents. When power transfer is needed, simply turn on the wireless charging module of the corresponding resident's self-powered water meter; there is no need to install wiring between each resident.

[0076] In another exemplary embodiment, a target power transfer method can be determined from candidate power transfer methods based on the distance between the first water-wading device and the second water-wading device and obstacles. The excess power generated by the power generation module of the first water-wading device is transferred to the rechargeable battery of the second water-wading device, which is within a preset distance range from the first water-wading device, through the target power transfer method. The candidate power transfer methods include wireless charging or wired charging.

[0077] For example, wireless charging eliminates the need for wiring, but it is limited by distance and obstacles. Excessive distance or numerous obstacles can reduce the efficiency of wireless charging. Wired charging is more efficient than wireless charging, but in some scenarios, the actual environment makes it difficult to lay out the wiring. Therefore, it is possible to pre-select whether to use wireless or wired methods for power transfer based on the distance and obstacles between the water-using equipment and the target number of water-using equipment, thus balancing the efficiency of power transfer and the construction difficulty of the transfer method.

[0078] For example, wired power transfer can be used between water-related devices that are surrounded by obstacles and are easy to wired, while wireless power transfer can be used between water-related devices that are close together and are not easy to wired. For instance, between self-generating water meters and self-generating valves in the same household, power transfer can be done via wired means due to the ease of wiring, but wireless means can also be used.

[0079] For example, if the rechargeable battery of the water-using device is greater than or equal to a first preset value, it can be determined whether to transfer the electricity generated by the power generation module of the water-using device to other water-using devices based on the duration of the current power generation of the water-using device. (Reference) Figure 3 As shown, Figure 3 This diagram illustrates a flow chart of a method for transferring electrical charge according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 3 The method may include steps S310 to S340, wherein:

[0080] In step S310, the duration of the current power generation of the power generation module of the first water-related equipment is predicted based on historical water usage habits and real-time flow.

[0081] For example, we can statistically analyze historical water usage data, including both the time spent using water and the duration of each instance. The results can then be grouped by time period to determine whether water was used during each period and the duration of water usage within that period, thus revealing the user's historical water usage habits. For instance, by pre-dividing each day into multiple time periods and using historical data to determine whether water was used during each period and the duration of water usage, a user's water usage habit profile can be generated. Here, the duration of water usage can be understood as the uninterrupted, continuous duration of water use.

[0082] For example, the duration of the current power generation can be predicted based on the user's water usage habits and real-time flow changes. For instance, if the user's water usage habits indicate that the current time belongs to their water usage period, and the average duration of water usage during this period is 10 minutes, and the current real-time flow fluctuation is less than a preset value (e.g., less than 20%), it indicates that the user's current water usage is habitual, and the predicted duration of this water usage is the average duration of the current water usage period, which is 10 minutes. Conversely, if the user's water usage habits indicate that the current time belongs to their water usage period, and the average duration of water usage during this period is 10 minutes, but the current real-time flow fluctuation is greater than a preset value (e.g., greater than 20%), it indicates that this may be a non-habitual, temporary water usage, and the predicted duration of this water usage is less than 10 minutes.

[0083] Of course, the duration of water use can also be predicted in other ways. This exemplary embodiment does not make any special limitations on this. The duration of water use can be used to characterize the duration of power generation, that is, the duration of power generation is equal to the duration of water use.

[0084] In step S320, it is determined whether the duration of power generation is greater than or equal to the first preset duration. If so, proceed to step S330; otherwise, proceed to step S340.

[0085] In one exemplary embodiment, the first preset duration can be determined based on the power transfer loss. For example, the power to be transferred within the first preset duration needs to be greater than or equal to the transfer loss, or the first preset duration is the time required for the successfully transferred power to reach a preset power value.

[0086] In step S330, the electricity generated by the power generation module of the first water-wading device is transferred to the rechargeable battery of the second water-wading device, which is within a preset distance range from the first water-wading device.

[0087] In step S340, it is determined that the first water-contacting device does not perform power transfer.

[0088] For example, if the predicted duration of the current power generation is greater than or equal to the first preset duration, it means that the power generation of the first water-touch device will be relatively large, and power transfer can be carried out. Otherwise, it means that the power generation of the first water-touch device will be relatively small, and if power transfer is carried out, the actual amount of power successfully transferred may be small due to losses, so power transfer is not carried out.

[0089] In this disclosure, by predicting the duration of power generation, it is determined whether to transfer the excess power currently generated by the power generation module of the water-related equipment. This avoids the risk that the transmitted energy is less than the transmission loss, ensures that each power transfer is effective, and also avoids the ineffective and frequent start-up of the power transfer module, which would increase the wear and tear on the equipment.

[0090] For example, Figure 4 This diagram illustrates a process flow of a method for determining a second water-contacting device according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure. (See reference...) Figure 4 The method may include steps S410 to S430.

[0091] in:

[0092] In step S410, the power request signal sent by the first candidate water-contacting device is received.

[0093] In one exemplary embodiment, the first candidate water-using device includes other water-using devices that are within a preset distance range from the first water-using device and whose current remaining battery power is less than a second preset value. The signal data in the power request signal includes the water-using device identifier, current remaining battery power, the time of the most recent power generation, and historical water consumption data. The first candidate water-using device and the first water-using device are also different water-using devices deployed in the same independent physical space unit and have a preset association relationship.

[0094] For example, the preset distance range can be determined based on the power transfer efficiency. For instance, the preset distance range can include a distance range where the power transfer efficiency is greater than or equal to the preset transfer efficiency.

[0095] For example, if the remaining power of any water-using device is less than a second preset value, the water-using device can send a power request signal to other water-using devices within a preset distance range. The power request signal carries the identifier of the water-using device requesting power, its current remaining power, the time of its most recent power generation, and historical water consumption data. The second preset value can be determined based on practical experience; for example, it could be one-fifth of the rechargeable battery's capacity.

[0096] In one exemplary embodiment, when the remaining power of the water-using device with a self-powered system is less than a second preset value, it can also send a power request signal to other water-using devices. That is, the water-using device with a self-powered system can be the initiator of power transfer or the receiver of power transfer.

[0097] In one exemplary embodiment, the self-powered system may further include a wireless communication module, which can send or receive power demand signals. The communication method of the wireless communication module can be determined according to the actual scenario and needs, such as using Bluetooth, Zigbee (a low-power wireless communication technology based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard), etc., and this exemplary embodiment does not impose any special limitations on it.

[0098] For example, after receiving a power request signal from another water-using device, the device can store the signal. It can periodically delete these signals, such as retaining only those from the last three days. Each device can also check its remaining power daily to determine whether to send a power request signal. This prevents devices that have already sent a power request signal from failing to receive power due to its signal being deleted before the request was successfully completed. After successfully transferring power, each device can check its latest remaining power. If the latest remaining power is greater than a second preset value, it can request other devices to delete their power request signals to update their stored signals and avoid unnecessary duplicate power transfers.

[0099] In step S420, the screening criteria for the second water-related equipment are determined based on the signal data and signal strength of the electrical signal.

[0100] For example, the current remaining power, the time of the most recent water use and power generation, historical water consumption data, and the signal strength of the power request signal can be used as screening indicators for the second water-using equipment. That is, the second water-using equipment can be determined from the first candidate water-using equipment by using the current remaining power, the time of the most recent water use and power generation, historical water consumption data, and the signal strength of the power request signal.

[0101] In step S430, the second water-using device is determined from the first candidate water-using devices based on the priority order of the screening indicators.

[0102] For example, one exemplary implementation of step S430 may include: traversing each screening index according to the priority order, screening the first candidate water-tracing device according to the screening rules of the currently traversed screening index, updating the first candidate water-tracing device according to the screening results, repeating the process until the number of the currently updated first candidate water-tracing device is 1, and then determining the currently updated first candidate water-tracing device as the second water-tracing device.

[0103] For example, if a water-using device capable of power transfer receives a power request signal from only one first candidate water-using device, it can directly identify that first candidate water-using device as the second water-using device. If a water-using device capable of power transfer receives power request signals from multiple first candidate water-using devices, it can select the second water-using device from each first candidate water-using device based on the screening criteria and the priority of the screening criteria.

[0104] In one exemplary implementation, the priority order of each of the filtering indicators includes: the current remaining power has a higher priority than the most recent water consumption and power generation time, the most recent water consumption and power generation time has a higher priority than the historical water consumption data, and the historical water consumption data has a higher priority than the signal strength.

[0105] For example, the priority order of the screening indicators from high to low is as follows: current remaining power, time of the most recent power generation, historical water consumption data, and signal strength of the power signal. The screening indicators can be iterated sequentially according to their priority from high to low. Based on the currently encountered screening indicator, the first candidate water-using equipment is selected, and the remaining first candidate water-using equipment is designated as the new first candidate water-using equipment. This process is repeated based on the next encountered screening indicator, continuing until only one first candidate water-using equipment remains. The final remaining first candidate water-using equipment is then designated as the target candidate water-using equipment.

[0106] In one exemplary implementation, the filtering rules for the current remaining power include: selecting the first candidate water-using device with the lowest current remaining power; the filtering rules for the most recent water-using power generation time include: selecting the first candidate water-using device with the earliest most recent water-using power generation time; the filtering rules for the historical water consumption data include: selecting the first candidate water-using device with the lowest historical water consumption data; and the filtering rules for the signal strength include: selecting the first candidate water-using device with the highest signal strength.

[0107] For example, based on the current remaining power, the device with the lowest current remaining power can be selected from the first candidate water-using devices as the new first candidate water-using device. If multiple first candidate water-using devices have the same and lowest current remaining power, then the device with the earliest recent water-using and power-generating time can be selected from the multiple devices with the same and lowest current remaining power. If multiple first candidate water-using devices have the same and lowest current remaining power and the same recent water-using and power-generating time, then the device with the lowest historical water consumption data can be selected from the multiple first candidate water-using devices with the same and lowest current remaining power and the same recent water-using and power-generating time. If there are still first candidate water-using devices with the same and lowest current remaining power, the same recent water-using and power-generating time, and the same historical water consumption data, then the first candidate water-using device with the strongest electrical signal strength can be selected as the second water-using device.

[0108] In other words, priority can be given to transferring power to the first candidate water-related device with the least remaining power. If the remaining power is the same and at its minimum, the next power generation time can be predicted based on the most recent power consumption and generation time. If the most recent power consumption and generation time is recent, it means the user may only be temporarily away from home and will likely generate power soon. If the most recent power consumption and generation time is distant, it means the user may be away on a long business trip and the next power generation time may be far away. Therefore, priority can be given to water-related devices with a longer next power consumption and generation time. If the most recent power consumption and generation time is also the same, the future power generation capacity of the first candidate water-related device can be predicted based on the historical total water consumption. For example, the future power generation capacity of water-related devices with low historical total water consumption is also relatively weak. Therefore, power can be transferred to water-related devices of users with low historical total water consumption. If the historical total water consumption is also the same, the power transfer efficiency can be judged based on the signal strength of the power request signal. The stronger the power request signal, the less signal loss, which indirectly indicates a high power transfer efficiency between the requester and the recipient. In this case, the excess power can be transferred to the first candidate water-related device with high power transfer efficiency.

[0109] By using the method for determining the second water-related equipment disclosed herein, the most needed and suitable water-related equipment for receiving power transfer can be determined based on the power demand, future power generation capacity, and power transfer efficiency, thereby improving the quality and practical value of power transfer.

[0110] As mentioned earlier, users with high and frequent water usage may have excess power generation. Conversely, for users with low water usage, such as those who frequently travel, the power generation of their water-using devices' self-powered systems may be insufficient to meet the devices' needs for extended periods. This imbalance between power generation and consumption poses a risk of battery depletion. This disclosure addresses this issue by transferring excess power generation from water-using devices to the rechargeable batteries of other devices with lower water usage. This balances the overall power generation and instantaneous power consumption of the water-using devices, effectively resolving situations where insufficient power generation occurs due to prolonged absence of the user. This improves the reliability of self-powered systems, reduces the frequency of manual intervention (e.g., if a water-using device's battery is chronically low or depleted, requiring manual charging or replacement), and lowers maintenance costs.

[0111] In one exemplary embodiment, when the water-using device determines that there is excess power, the power transfer module of the water-using device can execute the aforementioned methods (such as the method for predicting the duration of power generation and the method for determining the second water-using device) to determine whether the excess power can be transferred and the second water-using device to which it needs to be transferred. If it is determined that the transfer can be made, the device opens its own power transfer switch (such as the switch of the wireless charging transmitter module) and notifies the second water-using device to open its power transfer switch (such as the switch of the wireless charging receiver module), thereby enabling the power generated by the power generation module of the water-using device in real time to be directly charged into the rechargeable battery of the second water-using device.

[0112] In another exemplary embodiment, if the water-using device determines that it has excess power, the background management and control system of the water-using device can also execute the above method to determine whether the excess power can be transferred and which second water-using device needs to transfer it to. For example, if the power of the water-using device's rechargeable battery is greater than or equal to a first preset value, the water-using device can send a power transfer request command to the background management and control system when using water. After receiving the power transfer request command, the background management and control system first predicts the duration of power generation of the water-using device. If it is determined that power transfer can be carried out, the background management and control system further determines the power transfer recipient of the water-using device, namely the second water-using device, and then sends a power transfer command to the water-using device and the second water-using device to control the power transfer between the two devices. In this case, each water-using device can send a power request signal to the background management and control system. However, this may increase the computational burden of the background management and control system. The background management and control system can reduce the computational load by using a distributed architecture with multiple servers for distributed processing.

[0113] In one exemplary embodiment, the second wading device is one that is not currently generating electricity using water. For example, after identifying the second wading device, the first wading device can send a wireless charging receiver module activation command to the second wading device. Upon receiving this command, if the second wading device's own battery is not currently charging, it can activate its wireless receiver module and send a command to the sender of the wireless charging receiver module activation command (i.e., the first wading device) that the wireless charging receiver module is activated and to begin charging. Otherwise, it directly sends a command to the sender of the wireless charging receiver module activation command to find a second wading device. In other words, each wading device prioritizes using its own self-powered system to charge its own battery. When its own power supply system is unused and the battery level is low, it then activates its own wireless charging receiver circuit to charge its own battery using the power transmitted from the wireless charging transmitter circuits of other wading devices.

[0114] In one exemplary embodiment, the self-powered system further includes a data processing module, which is used to determine the operating mode of each working state of the first water-using device based on the current remaining power of the rechargeable battery.

[0115] In one exemplary implementation, the operating states include communication operating state, data display operating state, and metering operating state.

[0116] For example, communication operation status refers to the operational status of water-related equipment transmitting data with external devices or a back-end management system. The water-related equipment, through its built-in wireless communication module, sends relevant data, such as battery level and metering data, to the back-end management system according to a pre-defined communication protocol. Simultaneously, it can also receive instructions from the back-end management system, such as valve control commands.

[0117] Data display of working status refers to the way water-related equipment presents relevant information to users or operators through its own display device, such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen. For example, a water meter with a self-powered system can display information such as the meter's cumulative water consumption, remaining water consumption, and remaining battery power on its display.

[0118] Metering status refers to the operational status of water-related equipment. Taking a water meter with a self-powered system as an example, the water meter detects the water flow that drives the impeller or rotor to rotate. Then, using sensors such as photoelectric sensors and magnetic sensors, it samples the rotation of the impeller or rotor, converts it into an electrical signal, and then the controller processes and calculates the electrical signal to obtain the current flow rate. The flow rate is then accumulated to obtain the total water consumption.

[0119] In one exemplary embodiment, the metering operation includes: measuring and storing data in real time according to a preset sampling frequency, and measuring and storing data periodically according to a preset sampling frequency. The communication operation includes: periodically and proactively reporting data, and reporting data via background wake-up. The data display operation includes: proactive screen display, passively triggered screen display, and screen backlight display.

[0120] Active screen display can include proactively displaying relevant data during measurement or proactively displaying relevant data at set intervals. Passively triggered screen display refers to the passive display of relevant data by triggering a screen display button. Screen backlight refers to turning on the screen backlight by triggering a button, allowing data to be viewed in a dark environment.

[0121] For example, the operation mode of controlling each working state of the first water-using device according to the current remaining power of the rechargeable battery includes: controlling the operation mode of each working state of the first water-using device according to the power level to which the current remaining power belongs; the power level includes a first power level, a second power level and a third power level, wherein the power of the first power level is higher than that of the second power level, and the power of the second power level is higher than that of the third power level.

[0122] For example, battery capacity can be divided into three levels: the first level corresponds to a high capacity level, the second level to a medium capacity level, and the third level to a low capacity level. For instance, the threshold for different capacity levels can be determined based on experience or the actual power consumption of the water-using equipment; this exemplary embodiment does not impose any special limitations on this. For example, a battery capacity greater than or equal to two-thirds of the total capacity is considered a high capacity level, between two-thirds and one-third is a medium capacity level, and less than or equal to one-third is a low capacity level.

[0123] For example, when the current remaining power level is the first power level, the working mode of controlling the metering working state is to perform metering according to a preset sampling frequency and store metering data in real time; the working mode of controlling the communication working state is to actively report data according to a first preset cycle and support background wake-up communication; and the working mode of controlling the data display working state is to support active screen display, passively triggered screen display, and screen backlight display.

[0124] For example, when the current remaining battery level is at a high level, it indicates a relatively high battery capacity. Therefore, a higher-performance operating mode can be adopted for any working state. For instance, in metering mode, a high-performance mode can be used to measure data according to a preset sampling frequency and store the metering data in real time, ensuring that metering data is not lost. In communication mode, metering data can be actively reported at a preset period, such as daily, while also supporting background data reporting at any time, thus ensuring the timeliness and flexibility of data reporting. In data display mode, active screen display, passively triggered screen display, and screen backlight display can be supported simultaneously to meet different needs and improve the user experience.

[0125] For example, when the current remaining power level belongs to the second power level, the working mode of controlling the metering working state is to perform metering according to a preset sampling frequency and store metering data in real time; the working mode of controlling the communication working state is to actively report data according to a first preset cycle and disable background wake-up communication; and the working mode of controlling the data display working state is to support passively triggered screen display and screen backlight display and disable active screen display.

[0126] For example, when the current remaining battery level is at the medium level, it indicates that the current battery is slightly insufficient. If energy-saving measures are not taken, there is a risk that the battery will drop too quickly and become too low. Therefore, in this case, priority should be given to ensuring the high-performance operation of the most important requirement, namely the metering mode. The data display and communication modes should be downgraded. That is, the metering mode remains unchanged, but the communication mode is downgraded to only support active data reporting according to the first preset cycle, and background wake-up communication is no longer supported. The data display mode is downgraded to only support passively triggered screen display and screen backlight display, meeting the user's need for passive data viewing, thereby saving power and extending the battery life of water-related equipment.

[0127] For example, when the current remaining power level is the third power level, the communication operation mode is controlled to actively report data according to the second preset cycle and disable background wake-up communication; the data display operation mode is controlled to support passively triggered screen display and disable active screen display and screen backlight display; the next water usage time is predicted based on historical water usage data; when the interval between the next water usage time and the current time is less than or equal to a preset duration, the metering operation mode is controlled to perform metering according to a preset sampling frequency and store metering data in real time; when the interval between the next water usage time and the current time is greater than a preset duration, the metering operation mode is controlled to perform metering according to a preset sampling frequency and store metering data periodically; wherein, the period duration of the second preset cycle is greater than the period duration of the first preset cycle.

[0128] One specific implementation method for predicting the next water usage time based on historical water usage data may include: predicting the most recent water usage time based on the user's historical water usage habits. For example, the user's historical water usage periods can be statistically analyzed to predict the user's most recent water usage time.

[0129] For example, when the remaining battery level is low, it indicates that the battery is insufficient, so further energy-saving measures are needed. Based on this, for communication operations, background wake-up communication can remain disabled. To further conserve power, the period for proactive data reporting can be adjusted from a first preset period to a second preset period, where the interval of the second preset period is longer than that of the first preset period. For example, instead of daily scheduled data reporting, proactive data reporting can be changed to every two or three days. For data display operations, proactive screen display can remain disabled, and screen backlight display can be further disabled, retaining only passively triggered screen display. This preserves the most basic functionality, and passively triggered display is activated based on user needs, satisfying the user's data viewing requirements while avoiding excessive power consumption from other methods. For the metering operation mode, the next water usage time can be predicted based on historical water usage data. If the interval between the next water usage time and the current time is less than or equal to the preset time, it means that the battery can be replenished soon. Therefore, the metering operation mode can continue to maintain high-performance operation to ensure the accuracy of the metering data. If the interval between the next water usage time and the current time is longer than the preset time, it means that the battery cannot be replenished temporarily. Therefore, it is necessary to extend the battery life as much as possible. Thus, the metering operation mode can be adjusted to meter according to the preset sampling frequency and store metering data periodically, that is, to change from real-time metering data storage to periodic metering data storage.

[0130] Through the data processing module, the operating mode of the water-using equipment can be flexibly controlled according to the current power level of the remaining power. While ensuring working performance and user experience, the battery life of the water-using equipment can be extended as much as possible to avoid the adverse effects caused by the water-using equipment running out of power.

[0131] In one exemplary embodiment, the second water-wading device described above may also include a power generation module, a power generation and energy storage module, a power transfer module, and a data processing module. The specific implementation of each module in the second water-wading device is exactly the same as the specific implementation of each module in the first water-wading device described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0132] In other words, in this disclosure, the self-powered systems of the first and second water-wading devices contain identical modules and their functions; both the first and second water-wading devices can be either power transferors or power receivers. Each power transfer module of any water-wading device includes a power sending submodule and a power receiving submodule.

[0133] In this disclosure, a power transfer module is used to balance the power generation and instantaneous power consumption of water-related equipment with a self-generating power system, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the water-related equipment.

[0134] It should be noted that although several modules or units for the device used to perform actions have been mentioned in the detailed description above, this division is not mandatory. In fact, according to exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the features and functions of two or more modules or units described above can be embodied in one module or unit. Conversely, the features and functions of one module or unit described above can be further divided and embodied by multiple modules or units.

[0135] Furthermore, although the steps of the relevant methods in this disclosure are described in a specific order in the accompanying drawings, this does not require or imply that these steps must be performed in that specific order, or that all the steps shown must be performed to achieve the desired result. Additional or alternative steps may be omitted, multiple steps may be combined into one step, and / or a step may be broken down into multiple steps.

[0136] Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure also provide a computer program product. The computer program product includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the method for determining the second water-wading device described above.

[0137] In one implementation, the computer program product can be a tangible product containing a computer program, such as a computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program. The readable storage medium can be a storage medium based on electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or other signals, including but not limited to: random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash memory, hard disk drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD), etc. For example, the computer program product can be implemented as a non-volatile storage medium storing the computer program, such as read-only memory, NAND flash memory, etc.

[0138] In one implementation, the computer program product can be an intangible product containing a computer program. For example, the computer program product can be implemented as a virtual digital product, such as an executable file, installation package, or other digital file storing the computer program.

[0139] Computer program code can be written in one or more programming languages. Examples of programming languages ​​include C, Java, C++, and Python. Program code can execute entirely on the user's computing device, partially on the user's computing device, or as a standalone software package. It can also execute partially on the user's computing device and partially on a remote computing device, or entirely on a remote computing device or server. In cases involving remote computing devices, the remote computing device can be connected to the user's computing device via any type of network, such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or it can be connected to an external computing device (e.g., via an internet connection provided by a mobile network operator).

[0140] Computer programs can be carried or transmitted via signals such as electricity, magnetism, light, electromagnetic radiation, and infrared radiation. Electronic devices can convert signals carrying computer programs into digital signals, thereby running the computer programs. When a computer program runs on an electronic device, its code is used to cause the electronic device to execute (more specifically, the processor of the electronic device to execute) the method steps of various exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, such as the method for determining the second water-borne device described above.

[0141] It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific methods, steps, or structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. Those skilled in the art will readily conceive of other embodiments based on the specific implementations provided in this disclosure. Therefore, the specific implementations provided in this disclosure are merely exemplary, and the scope and spirit of this disclosure are indicated by the claims, and should cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure that follow the general principles of this disclosure and include common knowledge or customary technical means in the art not disclosed in this disclosure.

Claims

1. A water-using device with a self-powered system, characterized in that, The self-powered system is applied to the first water-contacting equipment, and the self-powered system includes: A power generation module is used to generate electricity from the water flow in the water supply pipeline. The power generation module includes a water turbine and a permanent magnet DC generator. The water turbine is the best-performing water turbine selected from multiple candidate water turbines through pre-modeling and analysis. The permanent magnet DC generator is used to convert the mechanical energy transmitted by the water turbine into electrical energy. A power generation and energy storage module is used to store the electrical energy generated by the power generation module into the rechargeable battery of the first water-wading device; A power transfer module is used to transfer the power generated by the power generation module of the first water-wading device to the rechargeable battery of a second water-wading device that is within a preset distance range from the first water-wading device when the power of the rechargeable battery of the first water-wading device is greater than or equal to a first preset value. The first water-wading device and the second water-wading device include different water-wading devices deployed in the same independent physical space unit and having a preset association relationship.

2. The water-using equipment with a self-powered system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of transferring the electricity generated by the power generation module of the first water-wading device to the rechargeable battery of the second water-wading device, which is located within a preset distance range from the first water-wading device, includes: The electricity generated by the power generation module of the first water-wading device is transferred to the rechargeable battery of the second water-wading device, which is within a preset distance range from the first water-wading device, via wireless charging.

3. The water-using equipment with a self-powered system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of transferring the electricity generated by the power generation module of the first water-wading device to the rechargeable battery of the second water-wading device, which is located within a preset distance range from the first water-wading device, includes: Based on historical water usage habits and real-time flow, the power generation duration of the first water-using device's power generation module is predicted for the current time. If the power generation duration exceeds a first preset duration, the electricity generated by the power generation module of the first water-using device is transferred to the rechargeable battery of the second water-using device, which is within a preset distance range from the first water-using device.

4. The water-using equipment with a self-powered system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The methods for determining the second water-related equipment include: The system receives a power request signal from a first candidate water-using device. The first candidate water-using device includes other water-using devices that are within a preset distance range from the first water-using device and whose current remaining charge of the rechargeable battery is less than a second preset value. The signal data in the power request signal includes the water-using device identifier, current remaining charge, the time of the most recent water-powered generation, and historical water consumption data. Based on the signal data and signal strength in the electrical signal, the screening criteria for the second water-related equipment are determined. Based on the priority order of the screening indicators, the second water-using device is determined from the first candidate water-using devices.

5. The water-using equipment with a self-powered system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The step of determining the second water-contacting device from the first candidate water-contacting devices based on the priority order of the screening indicators includes: According to the priority order, each screening index is traversed, and the first candidate water-related equipment is screened according to the screening rules of the currently traversed screening index. The first candidate water-related equipment is then updated according to the screening results. This process is repeated until the number of the currently updated first candidate water-related equipment is 1. Then, the currently updated first candidate water-related equipment is determined as the second water-related equipment.

6. The water-using equipment with a self-powered system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The priority order of each of the filtering indicators includes: the current remaining power has a higher priority than the most recent water consumption and power generation time, the most recent water consumption and power generation time has a higher priority than the historical water consumption data, and the historical water consumption data has a higher priority than the signal strength. The filtering rules for the current remaining power include: selecting the first candidate water-using device with the lowest current remaining power; The selection rules for the most recent water-powered generation time include: selecting the first candidate water-related equipment with the earliest most recent water-powered generation time; The filtering rules for the historical water consumption data include: selecting the first candidate water-related equipment with the lowest historical water consumption data; The signal strength screening rules include: selecting the first candidate water-crossing device with the strongest signal strength.

7. The water-using equipment with a self-powered system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The self-powered system also includes a data processing module, which is used to determine the working mode of each working state of the first water-using device based on the current remaining power of the rechargeable battery. The working states include communication working state, data display working state, and metering working state.

8. The water-using equipment with a self-powered system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The method of determining the various working states of the first water-using device based on the current remaining power of the rechargeable battery includes: Based on the current remaining power level, determine the operating mode of each working state of the first water-related equipment; The power levels include a first power level, a second power level, and a third power level, wherein the power level of the first power level is higher than that of the second power level, and the power level of the second power level is higher than that of the third power level.

9. The water-using equipment with a self-powered system according to claim 8, characterized in that, Based on the current remaining power level, the operating modes of the first water-related equipment in each working state are determined as follows: When the current remaining power level belongs to the first power level, the working mode of the metering working state is determined to be metering according to a preset sampling frequency and storing metering data in real time; the working mode of the communication working state is determined to be actively reporting data according to a first preset period and supporting background wake-up communication; and the working mode of the data display working state is determined to be supporting active screen display, passively triggered screen display, and screen backlight display. When the current remaining power level is the second power level, the working mode of the metering operation is determined to be metering according to a preset sampling frequency and storing metering data in real time; the working mode of the communication operation is determined to be actively reporting data according to a first preset cycle and disabling background wake-up communication; and the working mode of the data display operation is determined to be supporting passively triggered screen display and screen backlight display and disabling active screen display. When the current remaining power level is the third power level, the communication working mode is determined to be to actively report data according to the second preset cycle and disable background wake-up communication. The data display working mode is determined to support passively triggered screen display and disable active screen display and screen backlight display. The next water usage time is predicted based on historical water usage data. When the interval between the next water usage time and the current time is less than or equal to a preset time, the metering working mode is determined to be to meter according to a preset sampling frequency and store metering data in real time. When the interval between the next water usage time and the current time is greater than a preset time, the metering working mode is determined to be to meter according to a preset sampling frequency and store metering data periodically. The duration of the second preset period is longer than the duration of the first preset period.

10. The water-using equipment with a self-powered system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The structural parameters of each candidate turbine are different, including one or more of the following: number of runner blades, runner blade shape, runner blade height, runner inlet and outlet configuration, and runner shaft diameter.

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