Ultrasonic water meter with integrated valve table and control system

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of water meter control, in particular to an ultrasonic water meter integrated with a valve and a control system. The ultrasonic water meter is applied to the field of farmland irrigation and comprises a data acquisition sensor, an electric regulating valve and a controller. The controller is in communication connection with the data acquisition sensor and the electric regulating valve and is configured to acquire metering data collected by the data acquisition sensor, enter a working mode corresponding to a preset control trigger condition in response to the trigger condition, and generate a valve control instruction based on the metering data and synchronously drive opening degree adjustment of the electric regulating valve in the working mode. Compared with related technologies, the metering data processing and the valve control function are integrated, the controller updates the valve control instruction and drives the electric regulating valve in real time according to changes in the metering data, local closed-loop control of metering data acquisition and valve action is realized, and the problems of signal delay and communication asynchronization caused by the fact that the water meter and the valve belong to different control channels are eliminated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of water meter control technology, and in particular to an ultrasonic water meter and control system that integrates valve and meter. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of farmland irrigation, ultrasonic water meters are widely used for agricultural water intake measurement and irrigation water management. In related farmland irrigation systems, ultrasonic water meters and valves are usually designed separately. That is, the ultrasonic water meter measures the flow rate by the time difference method, but does not integrate valve control. The valve (such as an electric butterfly valve or ball valve) is independently controlled by an external controller to achieve opening and closing or regulation. The two are physically installed separately and operate independently in control logic.

[0003] Because valve control and flow metering belong to different control channels, they rely on external communication protocols for data exchange, which can easily lead to signal delays and communication asynchrony, resulting in a time lag between valve action and water meter response. For example, in a prepaid card-based water dispensing scenario for farmland irrigation, after the user swipes their card, the external controller drives the valve to open, and the ultrasonic water meter begins to measure water consumption. Due to the lack of direct data linkage between the water meter and the controller, there is a time lag between valve action and water meter response, causing the valve to fail to open promptly after the user swipes their card, or the balance update to be delayed after water usage ends. When applied to scenarios with high real-time requirements, this time lag further amplifies the problem of metering and control disconnect, manifesting as delayed valve action, slow flow regulation response, and increased cumulative metering deviation, affecting the overall metering accuracy and control reliability of the system. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings and deficiencies of the prior art, this application provides an ultrasonic water meter and control system that integrates valve and meter. The main purpose is to solve the problem that valve control and flow metering control are disconnected in the current field of farmland irrigation, resulting in valve lag, slow flow regulation response, increased cumulative metering deviation, and affecting the overall metering accuracy of the system.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the main technical solutions adopted in this application include:

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an ultrasonic water meter integrating a valve and a meter, the ultrasonic water meter being applied in the field of farmland irrigation; the ultrasonic water meter includes:

[0007] Data acquisition sensors;

[0008] Electric regulating valve;

[0009] Controller; the controller is communicatively connected to both the data acquisition sensor and the electric regulating valve, and is configured to:

[0010] Acquire the measurement data collected by the data acquisition sensor;

[0011] In response to a preset control trigger condition, the system enters the working mode corresponding to the trigger condition.

[0012] In the operating mode, valve control commands are generated based on the metering data, and the opening degree of the electric regulating valve is adjusted synchronously.

[0013] The controller integrates the functions of processing the metering data and controlling the electric regulating valve. The controller updates the valve control command in real time and drives the electric regulating valve according to the changes in the metering data.

[0014] Optionally, the metering data includes at least one of instantaneous flow rate, cumulative flow rate, pressure data, and temperature data; the data acquisition sensors include: an ultrasonic flow sensor for acquiring the instantaneous flow rate and cumulative flow rate of the fluid; a pressure sensor for acquiring the pressure data of the fluid; and a temperature sensor for acquiring the temperature data of the fluid.

[0015] Optionally, the operating modes include prepaid card-swipe water dispensing mode, rotating irrigation mode, constant pressure control mode, and constant flow control mode.

[0016] Optionally, in the prepaid card-swipe water dispensing mode, the controller is further configured to: obtain the remaining balance corresponding to the user card in response to the user card information read by the card reader; control the opening and closing of the electric regulating valve according to the remaining balance; and calculate the water usage fee in real time based on the metering data and dynamically update the remaining balance during valve opening.

[0017] Optionally, the controller is further configured to: maintain the valve open and issue a low balance warning when the remaining balance is below a preset threshold; and close the electric regulating valve and synchronously update the balance and water usage records in the user card when the remaining balance is zero or less than zero.

[0018] Optionally, in the rotating irrigation mode, the controller is further configured to: receive and parse irrigation event plans issued by the cloud platform, the irrigation event plans including the start time, duration and execution order of multiple irrigation areas; based on the built-in real-time clock module, when the start time arrives, control the electric regulating valves to perform valve opening irrigation for each irrigation area in the execution order, and record the actual water consumption of each irrigation area; perform valve closing operation after the duration ends, and report the actual water consumption to the cloud platform.

[0019] Optionally, in the constant pressure control mode or the constant flow control mode, the controller is further configured to: acquire a preset target pressure value or target flow value; use the real-time pressure value or real-time instantaneous flow value acquired by the data acquisition sensor as a feedback value; calculate the deviation value through a built-in PID algorithm; and dynamically adjust the opening of the electric regulating valve according to the deviation value so that the real-time pressure value or real-time instantaneous flow value approaches the target pressure value or target flow value.

[0020] Optionally, in the constant pressure control mode or the constant flow control mode, the controller is further configured to: acquire the current pressure collected by the pressure sensor and the current instantaneous flow rate collected by the ultrasonic flow sensor, and establish a flow-pressure coupling model to characterize pipeline pressure changes; calculate the downstream output flow rate in real time according to the flow-pressure coupling model, and identify a downstream disturbance event when the rate of change of the downstream output flow rate is greater than a preset flow threshold; output a feedforward compensation amount in response to the downstream disturbance event; superimpose the feedforward compensation amount to the valve opening adjustment amount output by the PID algorithm to obtain a composite control amount, and drive the electric regulating valve to perform opening adjustment according to the composite control amount.

[0021] Optionally, the ultrasonic water meter further includes a communication module for data interaction with a cloud platform or mobile terminal. The communication module includes at least one of a 4G communication module, a Bluetooth module, and an RS485 interface. The controller is also configured to receive firmware update packages through the communication module and perform online upgrades based on the firmware update packages.

[0022] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide an integrated ultrasonic water meter control system with valve and meter, applicable to farmland irrigation, comprising:

[0023] Cloud platform;

[0024] At least one ultrasonic water meter that integrates a valve and a meter, as described in any one of the first aspects, wherein each ultrasonic water meter is communicatively connected to the cloud platform.

[0025] The cloud platform is configured to send control commands, irrigation event plans, or firmware update packages to each of the ultrasonic water meters, and to receive metering data, operating status, and event logs reported by each of the ultrasonic water meters.

[0026] By employing the above technical solution, this application provides an integrated ultrasonic water meter with valve and meter, applicable to farmland irrigation. The ultrasonic water meter includes: a data acquisition sensor; an electric regulating valve; and a controller. The controller is communicatively connected to both the data acquisition sensor and the electric regulating valve, and is configured to: acquire metering data collected by the data acquisition sensor; enter a working mode corresponding to a preset control trigger condition; in the working mode, generate valve control commands based on the metering data and synchronously drive the opening adjustment of the electric regulating valve; wherein, the controller integrates the functions of processing metering data and controlling the electric regulating valve, and the controller updates the valve control commands and drives the electric regulating valve in real time according to changes in the metering data. Compared with related technologies, by integrating metering data processing and valve control functions into one unit, local closed-loop control of metering data acquisition and valve action is achieved, eliminating the signal delay and communication asynchrony problems caused by the water meter and valve belonging to different control channels in related technologies. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an ultrasonic water meter integrating a valve and a meter, provided for an embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the control process of an ultrasonic water meter integrating valve and meter, provided for an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrating a prepaid card-based water dispensing process provided in this application embodiment;

[0030] Figure 4 A schematic flowchart of a rotation irrigation mode provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a feedforward compensation process in constant voltage / constant current control mode, provided as an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To better understand the above technical solutions, exemplary embodiments of this application will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although exemplary embodiments of this application are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that this application can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this application can be understood more clearly and thoroughly, and that the scope of this application can be fully conveyed to those skilled in the art.

[0033] To address the disconnect between valve control and flow metering control in farmland irrigation, which leads to lag in valve action, slow flow regulation response, and increased cumulative metering deviation, thus affecting the overall metering accuracy of the system, this application proposes an integrated valve-meter ultrasonic water meter. This meter integrates flow metering, pressure / temperature acquisition, valve control, and remote management, and can be applied to integrated valve-meter ultrasonic water meter control systems in farmland irrigation. The water meter includes:

[0034] Data acquisition sensors;

[0035] Electric regulating valve;

[0036] The controller is communicatively connected to the data acquisition sensor and the electric regulating valve.

[0037] Specifically, the data acquisition sensors include ultrasonic flow sensors, pressure sensors, and temperature sensors, used to collect instantaneous and cumulative flow rates, pressure data, and temperature data of the fluid, respectively. In other words, the metering data of particular interest in agricultural irrigation includes at least one of instantaneous flow rate, cumulative flow rate, pressure data, and temperature data. The ultrasonic flow sensor uses the time-of-flight measurement principle, calculating the flow velocity by measuring the time difference between the propagation of ultrasonic waves in the fluid's upstream and downstream directions, thereby obtaining the instantaneous and cumulative flow rates. The pressure sensor monitors pipeline pressure to ensure the irrigation system operates within a safe pressure range. The temperature sensor collects fluid temperature data and can be used for temperature compensation in flow measurement, improving metering accuracy.

[0038] In one feasible implementation, the aforementioned data acquisition sensors are all integrated into the ultrasonic module, thereby achieving data acquisition. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the water meter may further include a power module and a communication module. The communication module connects to the controller and other components via a communication interface (4G / Bluetooth / RS485). The power module uses a combination of solar panels and lithium batteries for power supply. The solar panels power the device and charge the lithium battery when there is sufficient sunlight, while the lithium battery powers the device at night or on cloudy or rainy days, ensuring long-term stable operation of the device in agricultural outdoor environments without electricity. The communication module supports 4G remote communication, Bluetooth near-field configuration, and RS485 wired communication to meet data transmission needs in different scenarios.

[0039] like Figure 2 As shown, the controller is configured during operation as follows:

[0040] S101, acquire the measurement data collected by the data acquisition sensor.

[0041] The controller actively reads data from the ultrasonic flow sensor, pressure sensor, and temperature sensor according to a preset sampling period, such as every five seconds, to obtain the current instantaneous flow rate, cumulative flow rate, pressure value, and temperature value.

[0042] S102, in response to the preset control trigger condition, enters the working mode corresponding to the trigger condition.

[0043] The preset control trigger conditions can include user card swiping, cloud platform commands, scheduled tasks, or internal state changes. The controller automatically switches to the corresponding operating mode based on the trigger condition type. Operating modes include prepaid card-swipe water dispensing mode, alternating irrigation mode, constant pressure control mode, and constant flow control mode. Users or administrators can select and switch modes via the cloud platform, Bluetooth APP, or touch buttons.

[0044] S103, in working mode, generates valve control commands based on metering data and synchronously drives the electric regulating valve to adjust the opening degree.

[0045] In S103, the controller integrates the functions of processing metering data and controlling the electric regulating valve. Furthermore, the controller updates the valve control commands in real time based on changes in the metering data and drives the electric regulating valve. This process is completed internally by the controller, eliminating the need for external controllers or communication protocols, thus eliminating the time lag between metering and valve control.

[0046] In related agricultural irrigation systems, ultrasonic water meters and valves are typically installed separately. The water meter is only responsible for metering, while the valve is controlled by a separate external controller, with data exchange between the two via wireless communication. In this architecture, the process of the water meter collecting metering data and the external controller receiving the data to drive the valve results in significant communication delays. In this embodiment, by integrating metering data processing and valve control functions into the same controller, local closed-loop control of metering data acquisition and valve operation is achieved, fundamentally solving the aforementioned problems.

[0047] In a specific application scenario, combined with Figure 3 As shown, in the scenario of prepaid card-based water dispensing for farmland irrigation, this is typically applied in situations requiring prepayment before water use, such as shared wells in villages and towns, agricultural water rights management projects, and temporary construction water intake points. Specifically, in the prepaid card-based water dispensing mode, the controller is also configured to: obtain the remaining balance corresponding to the user's card in response to the user's card information read by the card reader; control the opening and closing of the electric regulating valve based on the remaining balance; and calculate the water cost in real time based on the metering data and dynamically update the remaining balance while the valve is open.

[0048] Specifically, the card reader uses a 13.56MHz RFID module, supports the ISO / IEC 14443A / B standard, and has a reading distance greater than 5 cm. When a user places their pre-paid IC card near the water meter's card reader, the controller reads the user ID, initial balance, historical water consumption, and other data stored in the card and performs a validity check. After successful verification, the controller decides whether to open the valve based on the current remaining balance: if the balance is greater than zero, the controller drives the electric regulating valve to open gradually (e.g., the rate of change is controlled within 15% / s to avoid water hammer). Simultaneously, the current balance and cumulative water consumption can be displayed in real-time on the associated electronic screen. In this embodiment, the controller directly responds to the card reader signal. After reading the user's card information, the same controller completes the balance verification and valve actuation, eliminating the need for external communication relays. Actual test data shows that the response time from user card swiping to valve opening is less than 1 second, more than 80% shorter than existing technologies, avoiding the anxiety of waiting for the valve to open promptly after the user swipes their card and improving the water usage experience.

[0049] Optionally, the controller is also configured to: keep the valve open and issue a low balance warning when the remaining balance is below a preset threshold; and close the electric regulating valve and synchronously update the balance and water usage records in the user card when the remaining balance is zero or less than zero.

[0050] In this embodiment, when the balance is below the threshold, the screen flashes to indicate a low balance and emits a buzzer, but the valve is not immediately closed, allowing the user to complete the current irrigation operation. When the balance is exhausted, the controller immediately closes the valve and writes the cumulative water usage to the user's card, while simultaneously updating the remaining balance and water usage record in the card to ensure accurate balance information for the user's next card swipe. The entire transaction process generates a log record, including user ID, water usage, deducted amount, and remaining balance, which is reported to the cloud platform via a 4G module, facilitating water usage auditing and bill generation by the management department.

[0051] Combination Figure 4 As shown, in the scenario of rotating irrigation in farmland, this is typically used in centralized irrigation systems involving multiple plots and farmers. It requires rotating water supply by area and time period to address issues such as insufficient water pressure or uneven water resource distribution caused by simultaneous water supply. Specifically, in rotating irrigation mode, the controller is also configured to: receive and parse irrigation event plans issued by the cloud platform, which include the start time, duration, and execution order of multiple irrigation areas; based on the built-in real-time clock module, when the start time arrives, sequentially control the electric regulating valves to open and irrigate each irrigation area according to the execution order, and record the actual water consumption of each irrigation area; after the duration ends, perform valve closing and report the actual water consumption to the cloud platform.

[0052] In this embodiment, the built-in real-time clock module uses an independent RTC chip with an accuracy of ±2ppm and an annual error of less than 1 minute. It is also equipped with battery backup to ensure continuous clock operation when the device is powered off. The cloud platform sends irrigation event plans in JSON format to the water meter via 4G communication. These irrigation event plans include the start time, duration, and execution order of multiple irrigation zones.

[0053] After receiving the irrigation event plan, the controller stores it and periodically polls the RTC time. When the current time matches the start time in the event plan, the controller executes valve opening and irrigation sequentially. During irrigation, the controller records the cumulative water consumption of the area in real time and generates a log to report to the cloud platform after irrigation is completed. Even in the event of a network interruption, the water meter can still independently complete the irrigation task based on the locally stored event plan, and automatically re-upload the log after the network is restored, solving the problem of irrigation delays caused by communication interruptions.

[0054] In efficient water-saving irrigation scenarios for farmland, such as sprinkler and drip irrigation systems, it is required that pipeline pressure or flow rate remain stable to ensure uniform irrigation. Optionally, in constant pressure control mode or constant flow control mode, the controller is also configured to: acquire a preset target pressure value or target flow rate value; use the real-time pressure value or real-time instantaneous flow rate value collected by the data acquisition sensor as a feedback value; calculate the deviation value through a built-in PID algorithm; and dynamically adjust the opening of the electric regulating valve according to the deviation value so that the real-time pressure value or real-time instantaneous flow rate value approaches the target pressure value or target flow rate value.

[0055] In this embodiment, a built-in PID algorithm is used to monitor and adjust pipeline pressure or flow in real time to achieve constant pressure or constant flow output. Based on the deviation e(t) = setpoint (SP) - measured value (PV), the control output u(t) is calculated using proportional, integral, and derivative terms, thereby driving the valve actuator to adjust the opening. PID parameters (Proportional gain) (Integral gain) and (Differential gain) can be preset and dynamically adjusted via a local Bluetooth APP, a remote 4G cloud platform, or panel buttons, allowing users to optimize parameters according to specific application scenarios.

[0056] The core formula of the algorithm is as follows:

[0057]

[0058] The controller can be a digital embedded system, and the PID controller can be implemented in a discrete form.

[0059]

[0060]

[0061] Where e(k) is the deviation of the current sampling period k, To accumulate the integral, a finite memory buffer (default 100 historical samples) is used to prevent infinite integral overflow. Control output. Mapped to valve opening percentage: opening is min(max(opening_prev+Δu,0),100), where Δu is This means the difference between the output at the previous moment and the current output, ensuring gradual adjustment and avoiding drastic changes that could cause pipeline shocks.

[0062] The specific implementation of the pattern is as follows:

[0063] Constant pressure control: PV is a pressure sensor input (supports 1-channel supply / return pressure, accuracy ±0.5%FS, range 0-1.6MPa). The algorithm compares SP (user-set target pressure, such as 0.5MPa) and PV in real time. If... Threshold (default 5% SP, configurable) triggers a pressure fluctuation alarm: "PRESSALM" flashes on the electronic screen, a buzzer sounds an alarm, and the system logs to the cloud platform. Simultaneously, the system enters protection mode, limiting valve opening change rate to ≤10% / s to prevent overpressure damage to pipelines.

[0064] Constant flow control: PV is the instantaneous flow rate of the ultrasonic flow meter (accuracy level 2, range Q1-Q4). The algorithm maintains SP (target flow rate, such as 40 m³ / h), and adjusts the valve to compensate for load changes (such as downstream demand fluctuations) based on flow rate calculation. If the flow deviation exceeds the threshold (default 3% SP, configurable) for more than 10 seconds, a "FLOWALM" alarm is triggered, and the event log is recorded for traceability.

[0065] Control accuracy: Based on standard testing, the basic error is ≤ ±1% (measured at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% points for the stroke control mechanism); repeatability error is ≤ 0.5% (deviation from multiple executions under the same input). In practical applications (e.g., DN50 diameter, 1.6MPa pressure), response time < 5s, steady-state time < 30s, and overshoot < 5%. Parameter tuning supports the Ziegler-Nichols method or manual iteration: initial K... p =1~10, K i =0.1~1, K d =0.01~0.1, fine-tuned according to the oscillation response.

[0066] Furthermore, in the actual operation of farmland irrigation, a main pipeline often connects the water intakes of multiple plots or farmers. When multiple downstream users suddenly open or close their valves, the flow rate within the pipeline changes abruptly, causing drastic fluctuations in pipeline pressure. Traditional PID control only begins adjustment after a pressure deviation occurs, resulting in problems such as response lag, pressure overshoot, and long steady-state time. This affects irrigation uniformity and easily leads to pressure overshoot or excessive fluctuations, thus impacting water supply stability and pipeline safety. Specifically, there is a delay of several seconds to tens of seconds between the occurrence of pressure fluctuations and the valve adjustment taking effect; simultaneously, the pressure is prone to exceeding the target value during the adjustment process, potentially damaging drip irrigation tape or sprinkler heads.

[0067] To address this issue, this embodiment proposes that, in constant pressure control mode or constant flow control mode, the controller is further configured to: acquire the current pressure collected by the pressure sensor and the current instantaneous flow rate collected by the ultrasonic flow sensor, and establish a flow-pressure coupling model to characterize pipeline pressure changes; calculate the downstream output flow rate in real time based on the flow-pressure coupling model, and identify a downstream disturbance event when the rate of change of the downstream output flow rate is greater than a preset flow threshold; output a feedforward compensation amount in response to the downstream disturbance event; superimpose the feedforward compensation amount onto the valve opening adjustment amount output by the PID algorithm to obtain a composite control amount, and drive the electric regulating valve to perform opening adjustment based on the composite control amount.

[0068] In this embodiment, the current pressure P collected by the pressure sensor and the current instantaneous flow rate Q collected by the ultrasonic flow sensor are first obtained, and a flow-pressure coupling model for characterizing pipeline pressure changes is established.

[0069]

[0070] Where C is the pipe capacitive coefficient, characterizing the pipe's fluid storage capacity and reflecting the relationship between pressure changes and flow accumulation; R is the pipe resistive coefficient, characterizing the pipe's resistance to fluid flow and reflecting the relationship between flow rate and pressure loss; C and R can be pre-calibrated through field testing and stored in the controller, Q in The upstream input flow rate is the flow rate that passes through the electric regulating valve and enters the downstream pipeline, determined by the valve opening and the upstream pressure; Q out The downstream output flow rate is the actual flow rate taken by the downstream user, which is determined by the valve opening at the user end.

[0071] Rate of change in downstream output flow If the flow rate exceeds a preset threshold, it is identified as a downstream disturbance event;

[0072] In response to downstream disturbance events, output feedforward compensation amount ;

[0073]

[0074] Among them, K ff This is the feedforward gain coefficient;

[0075] feedforward compensation The valve opening adjustment amount output by the superimposed PID algorithm is used to obtain the composite control amount, and the electric regulating valve is driven to perform opening adjustment according to the composite control amount.

[0076] Using the above method, the controller can output feedforward compensation based on the downstream flow rate change rate when downstream disturbances occur but the pressure has not yet changed significantly, thus adjusting the valve opening in advance and suppressing pressure fluctuations. Experimental data shows that in a typical farmland irrigation pipeline (DN100 diameter, 500-meter pipeline length, target pressure 0.4MPa), when a downstream user suddenly closes the valve, the pressure overshoot using traditional PID control is about 15%, and the steady-state time is about 30 seconds; while using the above-mentioned feedforward + feedback composite control, the pressure overshoot is reduced to less than 5%, and the steady-state time is shortened to less than 10 seconds, significantly improving the response speed and stability of pressure control, ensuring irrigation uniformity and pipeline safety.

[0077] Taking a large-scale farmland irrigation project in Hebei Province as an example, the system uses a DN100 main pipeline, approximately 500 meters long, connecting the water intakes of three plots: east, west, and south. The target water supply pressure is set at 0.4 MPa, and a constant pressure control mode is used to supply water to the sprinkler irrigation system. Before adopting the proposed solution, when a farmer in the western area suddenly closed the water intake valve, the pressure sensor detected a rapid increase in pressure from 0.4 MPa to 0.46 MPa, with an overshoot of 15%. The PID controller only started to act about 2 seconds after the pressure deviation occurred, and it took about 30 seconds for the pressure to return to steady state after the disturbance. During this process, the sprinkler belts operating in the eastern area suffered multiple damages due to the instantaneous high pressure, resulting in water waste and maintenance delays.

[0078] Based on the above implementation method, the current pressure P collected by the pressure sensor and the current instantaneous flow rate Q collected by the ultrasonic flow sensor are first obtained to establish a flow-pressure coupling model to characterize pipeline pressure changes. The model parameter C is calibrated to 0.000052 m³ / Pa through field testing, and the calibration value of R is 8,300,000 Pa·s / m³. Then, the downstream output flow rate is calculated in real time using the coupling model, and it is detected whether the rate of change of the downstream output flow rate exceeds a preset flow threshold of 0.01 m³ / s². If so, a feedforward compensation amount is output. The feedforward gain coefficient K... ff The value was set to 1.2 after on-site adjustment. This further adjusted the feedforward compensation amount. This is superimposed on the valve opening adjustment ΔuPID output by the PID algorithm to form a composite control quantity Δu = ΔuPID + It also drives the electric regulating valve to adjust the opening degree.

[0079] After the above control measures are implemented, when farmers in the western district close their water intake valves, the controller uses a model to calculate in real time the downstream output flow rate Q. out The rate of change dQ decreases from 0.12 m³ / s to 0.02 m³ / s within 200 milliseconds. out The pressure overshoot reached -0.5 m³ / s², far exceeding the preset threshold of 0.01 m³ / s². The controller immediately identified this as a downstream shut-off disturbance and output a feedforward compensation to drive the valve to close prematurely, suppressing the pressure rise. Actual test data shows that after adopting the feedforward + feedback composite control of this embodiment, the pressure overshoot decreased from 15% in traditional PID control to 4.2%, the steady-state time was shortened from 30 seconds to 8 seconds, no damage to the sprinkler belt occurred during pressure fluctuations, and the irrigation uniformity coefficient increased from 85% to 93%.

[0080] Optionally, the ultrasonic water meter also includes a communication module for data interaction with a cloud platform or mobile terminal. The communication module includes at least one of a 4G communication module, a Bluetooth module, and an RS485 interface. The controller is also configured to receive firmware update packages through the communication module and perform online upgrades based on the firmware update packages.

[0081] In this embodiment, firmware updates for traditional farmland irrigation equipment require on-site opening of the cover, connection of a programmer, or replacement of the chip, with each upgrade taking approximately 2 hours and requiring professional technicians. This embodiment improves efficiency by over 90% through online upgrades. Combined with remote parameter configuration, proactive fault warnings, and a solar + lithium battery power supply solution, it reduces maintenance costs, shortens the mean time to repair faults, and effectively solves the practical problems of dispersed farmland irrigation equipment, power supply difficulties, and inconvenient maintenance.

[0082] In summary, this embodiment demonstrates the comprehensive application of the integrated ultrasonic smart water meter with valve and meter in farmland irrigation through the coordinated operation of the aforementioned modules. By integrating metering data processing and valve control functions into a single controller, local closed-loop control of metering data acquisition and valve operation is achieved, eliminating signal delays and communication asynchrony issues caused by separate control channels for the water meter and valve in related technologies. In the prepaid card-based water dispensing mode, the controller can synchronously drive valve opening and closing and dynamically update the balance based on real-time collected metering data after reading the user's card information, avoiding water disputes caused by delayed valve operation and untimely balance updates. In the rotating irrigation mode, the controller automatically executes valve opening and closing according to the built-in real-time clock and locally stored irrigation event plans, without relying on real-time commands from a remote platform, thus solving the irrigation delay problem caused by communication interruptions. In the constant pressure / constant flow control mode, the controller achieves disturbance feedforward compensation through flow-pressure decoupling control, effectively suppressing pressure fluctuations caused by downstream users opening and closing valves, ensuring irrigation uniformity and pipeline safety. In addition, the integrated design reduces the number of field equipment installations and wiring complexity. Combined with solar power supply and remote operation and maintenance functions, it significantly reduces the construction cost and operation and maintenance workload of farmland irrigation systems.

[0083] In addition, this embodiment also provides a valve-meter integrated ultrasonic water meter control system, including:

[0084] Cloud platform;

[0085] At least one ultrasonic water meter that integrates a valve and a meter, as described above, and each ultrasonic water meter is connected to the cloud platform for communication.

[0086] The cloud platform is configured to send control commands, irrigation event plans, or firmware update packages to each ultrasonic water meter, and to receive metering data, operating status, and event logs reported by each ultrasonic water meter.

[0087] It should be noted that other corresponding descriptions of the functional units involved in the integrated valve and meter ultrasonic water meter control system provided in this embodiment can be found in the following references. Figures 1 to 5 The corresponding description in [the document] will not be repeated here.

[0088] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that this application can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms, or it can be implemented by hardware. By applying the solution of this embodiment, compared with related technologies, the metering data processing and valve control functions are integrated into one, realizing local closed-loop control of metering data acquisition and valve action, eliminating the signal delay and communication asynchrony problems caused by the water meter and valve belonging to different control channels in related technologies.

[0089] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0090] In the description of this specification, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0091] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting this application. Those skilled in the art can make modifications, alterations, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic water meter integrating valve and meter, characterized in that, The ultrasonic water meter is used in farmland irrigation; the ultrasonic water meter includes: Data acquisition sensors; Electric regulating valve; Controller; the controller is communicatively connected to both the data acquisition sensor and the electric regulating valve, and is configured to: Acquire the measurement data collected by the data acquisition sensor; In response to a preset control trigger condition, the system enters the working mode corresponding to the trigger condition. In the operating mode, valve control commands are generated based on the metering data, and the opening degree of the electric regulating valve is adjusted synchronously. The controller integrates the functions of processing the metering data and controlling the electric regulating valve. The controller updates the valve control command in real time and drives the electric regulating valve according to the changes in the metering data.

2. The ultrasonic water meter with integrated valve and meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The metering data includes at least one of instantaneous flow rate, cumulative flow rate, pressure data, and temperature data; The data acquisition sensor includes: Ultrasonic flow sensors are used to collect the instantaneous and cumulative flow rates of fluids. Pressure sensors are used to collect pressure data of fluids; Temperature sensors are used to collect temperature data of fluids.

3. The ultrasonic water meter with integrated valve and meter according to claim 2, characterized in that, The operating modes include prepaid card-swipe water dispensing mode, rotating irrigation mode, constant pressure control mode, and constant flow control mode.

4. The ultrasonic water meter with integrated valve and meter according to claim 3, characterized in that, In the prepaid card-swipe water dispensing mode, the controller is also configured to: In response to the user card information read by the card reader, the remaining balance corresponding to the user card is obtained; The electric regulating valve is opened and closed according to the remaining balance; During valve opening, water usage fees are calculated in real time based on the metering data, and the remaining balance is dynamically updated.

5. The ultrasonic water meter with integrated valve and meter according to claim 4, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: When the remaining balance is lower than a preset threshold, the valve remains open and a low balance warning is issued; When the remaining balance is zero or less than zero, the electric regulating valve is closed and the balance and water usage records in the user card are updated synchronously.

6. The ultrasonic water meter with integrated valve and meter according to claim 3, characterized in that, In the rotational irrigation mode, the controller is further configured to: Receive and parse irrigation event plans issued by the cloud platform. The irrigation event plans include the start time, duration, and execution order of multiple irrigation areas. Based on the built-in real-time clock module, when the start time arrives, the electric regulating valves are controlled sequentially to open and irrigate each irrigation area according to the execution order, and the actual water consumption of each irrigation area is recorded. After the specified duration ends, the valve is closed, and the actual water consumption is reported to the cloud platform.

7. The ultrasonic water meter with integrated valve and meter according to claim 3, characterized in that, In the constant pressure control mode or the constant current control mode, the controller is further configured to: Obtain the preset target pressure value or target flow rate value; The real-time pressure value or real-time instantaneous flow rate value collected by the data acquisition sensor is used as the feedback value; The deviation value is calculated using the built-in PID algorithm; The opening of the electric regulating valve is dynamically adjusted according to the deviation value so that the real-time pressure value or real-time instantaneous flow value approaches the target pressure value or target flow value.

8. The ultrasonic water meter with integrated valve and meter according to claim 7, characterized in that, In the constant pressure control mode or the constant current control mode, the controller is further configured to: The current pressure collected by the pressure sensor and the current instantaneous flow rate collected by the ultrasonic flow sensor are obtained, and a flow-pressure coupling model is established to characterize the changes in pipeline pressure. The downstream output flow rate is calculated in real time based on the flow-pressure coupling model, and if the rate of change of the downstream output flow rate is greater than a preset flow rate threshold, it is identified as a downstream disturbance event. In response to the downstream disturbance event, output the feedforward compensation amount; The feedforward compensation is superimposed on the valve opening adjustment amount output by the PID algorithm to obtain a composite control amount, and the electric regulating valve is driven to perform opening adjustment according to the composite control amount.

9. The ultrasonic water meter with integrated valve and meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ultrasonic water meter also includes a communication module, which is used to interact with a cloud platform or mobile terminal. The communication module includes at least one of a 4G communication module, a Bluetooth module, and an RS485 interface. The controller is also configured to receive firmware update packages via the communication module and perform online upgrades based on the firmware update packages.

10. A valve-meter integrated ultrasonic water meter control system, characterized in that, include: Cloud platform; At least one ultrasonic water meter that integrates a valve and a meter as described in any one of claims 1-8, wherein each of the ultrasonic water meters is communicatively connected to the cloud platform. The cloud platform is configured to send control commands, irrigation event plans, or firmware update packages to each of the ultrasonic water meters, and to receive metering data, operating status, and event logs reported by each of the ultrasonic water meters.

Images