Sensor network

Abstract

The sensor network system for determining a chimney maintenance schedule includes a sensor unit (16) configured to be disposed in or proximate to a chimney (6). The sensor unit includes at least one sensor configured to measure a parameter of the chimney (6) and generate chimney health data associated with the chimney (6) using the measured parameter. The sensor unit includes a transmission module configured to transmit (20) the chimney health data to a remote analysis unit (18). The remote analysis unit (18) is configured to receive chimney profile data associated with the chimney (6) and estimate a chimney health level associated with the chimney (6) from the respective chimney health data and the chimney profile data. The remote analysis unit (18) determines a chimney maintenance schedule from the estimated chimney health level.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to sensor networks, and more particularly to a networked sensor system for evaluating the maintenance requirements of one or more chimneys.

Background Art

[0002] Many buildings, particularly residential buildings such as houses and apartments, are provided with chimneys for the discharge of gases and smoke generated from sources such as furnaces, boilers, stoves, incinerators, and the like. Typically, a chimney is a substantially vertical architectural structure within or on the side of a building that defines the route for gases and smoke from the building through a flue that extends the length of the chimney to the outside world. The chimney also provides an intake path for providing air for combustion within the source.

[0003] Similar to residential buildings, chimneys may be provided in commercial and industrial buildings, and such chimneys may be subject to more "severe use". It is estimated that there are approximately 2 million chimneys in Norway, over 7 million in the Nordic region, and over 240 million in Europe as a whole.

[0004] Over time, pollutants and foreign matter accumulate inside the chimney and around the flue. This undesirable accumulation can pose a risk of causing a fire and can prevent the proper functioning of the chimney, i.e., it can inhibit or prevent the proper flow of gases through the flue. Impeding the air flow also increases the risk of harmful gases such as carbon monoxide leaking into the building.

[0005] For example, when wood is used as the fuel burned in the combustion process, creosote accumulates on the inner wall of the chimney (i.e., around the flue), reducing the cross-sectional area of the flue and thereby potentially impeding the flow. Furthermore, since these creosote deposits are combustible, there is a risk of fire due to ignition of the deposits.

[0006] Therefore, in order to prevent the accumulation of foreign substances, it is important to carry out continuous cleaning and maintenance of each chimney. Such maintenance may involve chimney inspection and cleaning of the interior of the chimney, and is sometimes referred to as chimney sweeping. Generally, it is recommended that chimneys be cleaned and inspected annually, and there are also countries that mandate regular inspection and cleaning of chimneys.

[0007] Such inspections and cleanings may be carried out by private chimney sweeps or by public authorities. In some countries such as Norway, chimney inspection and cleaning is the responsibility of the fire department and is a public service.

[0008] However, the applicant is aware that chimney usage varies greatly. Some people use chimneys much more frequently than those who may not use them at all. Similarly, the amount and type of fuel burned also have a significant impact on the accumulation of substances in the flue and the type of substances that accumulate. For example, wood may be more likely to leave creosote on the walls of the flue, while natural gas burns cleaner and leaves little residue. Additionally, some people burn fuel frequently as the main means of heating their homes, while others rely mostly on another heating system such as a central heating system using a gas boiler or an electric boiler and only use a fireplace occasionally, for example, to create a warm and cozy atmosphere in the house.

[0009] However, regardless of usage, since the flue is exposed to the external environment, it is common for substances to accumulate over time. For example, even if the chimney itself is not used frequently, airborne particles and / or debris (tree leaves) may accumulate in the chimney over time.

[0010] For example, when chimneys are inspected and cleaned annually (or at other frequencies), a regular maintenance schedule may be used. However, the applicant recognizes that it is advantageous to use resources more efficiently by scheduling chimney maintenance only when necessary. In particular, chimneys that are not used very frequently and do not accumulate much can wait longer for maintenance, while other chimneys where substances tend to accumulate may require more regular maintenance.

Summary of the Invention

[0011] Viewed from a first aspect, the present invention provides a sensor network system for determining a chimney maintenance schedule. The sensor network comprises a sensor unit configured to be disposed within or near a chimney, the sensor unit comprising at least one sensor configured to measure parameters of the chimney and to generate chimney health data associated with the chimney using the measured parameters, and the sensor unit further comprising a transmission module configured to transmit the chimney health data, and a remote analysis unit comprising a reception module configured to receive the chimney health data, the remote analysis unit being configured to receive chimney profile data associated with the chimney. The remote analysis unit is configured to estimate a chimney health level associated with the chimney from the respective chimney health data and chimney profile data, and the remote analysis unit determines a chimney maintenance schedule from the estimated chimney health level.

[0012] The first aspect of the present invention is extended to a sensor unit configured to be disposed within or in proximity to a chimney, the sensor unit measuring parameters of the chimney and using the measured parameters to generate chimney health data associated with the chimney, and comprising at least one sensor and a transmission module configured to transmit the chimney health data to a remote analysis unit.

[0013] The first aspect of the present invention is also extended to a method of operating a sensor network system for determining a chimney maintenance schedule, the sensor network comprising a sensor unit comprising at least one sensor and a transmission module, and a remote analysis unit comprising a reception module, the method comprising: measuring parameters of the chimney using the sensor; generating chimney health data associated with the chimney using the measured parameters; transmitting the chimney health data using the transmission module; receiving the chimney health data using the reception module; receiving chimney profile data associated with the chimney; estimating a chimney health level associated with the chimney from the respective chimney health data and chimney profile data; and determining a chimney maintenance schedule from the estimated chimney health level.

[0014] The first aspect of the present invention further extends to a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to implement a method of operating a sensor network system for determining a chimney maintenance schedule, the sensor network being a network comprising a sensor unit comprising at least one sensor and a transmission module, and a remote analysis unit comprising a reception module, the method comprising: measuring parameters of the chimney using the sensor; Using the measured parameters, generating chimney health data associated with the chimney; Using a transmission module to transmit the chimney health data; Using a receiving module to receive the chimney health data; Receiving chimney profile data associated with the chimney; Estimating a chimney health level associated with the chimney from each chimney health data and chimney profile data; Determining a chimney maintenance schedule from the estimated chimney health level, and including.

[0015] Accordingly, it will be understood that an embodiment of the present invention provides a system in which a sensor disposed inside or in the vicinity of a chimney transmits data regarding measured parameters of the chimney to a remote analysis unit. The remote analysis unit acquires the data received from the sensor unit and the chimney profile, and determines the health of the chimney, that is, the operating state of the chimney, in order to determine whether maintenance is required and / or when maintenance should be scheduled. The chimney profile data corresponds to information known a priori about the chimney, that is, it is existing data rather than dynamic data from the sensor, and an example thereof will be described in more detail below. Both the dynamic data from the sensor unit and the existing profile data are supplied to the remote analysis unit, and the remote analysis unit can determine whether chimney maintenance is required and when it is required using a suitable model.

[0016] For example, the remote analysis unit can determine from the chimney health data and the chimney profile data that the chimney has foreign matter exceeding the allowable level and that urgent maintenance is required. Conversely, the remote analysis unit can determine that the chimney is currently relatively clean and does not require cleaning for some time, thereby setting the chimney maintenance schedule so as not to schedule maintenance, although this is only an example, for six months.

[0017] The sensor unit may comprise one or more different types of sensors each measuring a parameter regarding the chimney. In some embodiments, the sensor unit comprises a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the chimney. The temperature sensor may measure the instantaneous temperature of the chimney.

[0018] Accordingly, the parameters of the chimney may, in some embodiments, include the temperature of the chimney. This temperature may be the temperature of the gas and / or smoke at a certain point in the flue of the chimney. Additionally or alternatively, the temperature sensor may measure the temperature of the components of the chimney itself, for example, the temperature of the flue and / or the outer wall of the chimney.

[0019] Additionally or alternatively, the parameters may, in some embodiments, include the ignition frequency. Those skilled in the art will understand that the term "ignition frequency" means the frequency at which the source (e.g., gas stove, fireplace, etc.) to which the chimney is connected is ignited. The temperature sensor may determine this from when the temperature rises due to a fire being ignited under the chimney. A chimney with a high ignition frequency may have an increase in deposits on the flue wall compared to a chimney with a low ignition frequency.

[0020] In some possibly overlapping embodiments, the parameters may include the ignition intensity. Those skilled in the art will understand that the term "ignition intensity" means how hot the source is when it is ignited. The temperature sensor may determine this from the magnitude of the temperature when the temperature rises due to a fire ignited under the chimney. The applicant recognizes that, for example, the accumulation of foreign matter on the flue wall may be correlated with the ignition intensity.

[0021] In further possibly overlapping embodiments, the parameters may include a temperature profile over a period of time. The temperature profile provides an indication of the rate of temperature change when a fire is ignited under the chimney and may indicate the current accumulation of foreign matter in the flue.

[0022] Thus, the temperature profile can provide a display of the "trajectory" of temperature over time, and the temperature profile may, in some embodiments, include a plurality of temperature measurement points during a period. The "shape" of the profile can indicate the current state of the chimney, i.e., the shape of the curve when the temperature is plotted as a function of time.

[0023] The temperature profile may additionally or alternatively include a time derivative of the temperature in order to provide a measure of the rate of change of temperature, i.e., a measure of the "steepness" of the time-temperature gradient. A plurality of time derivatives of the temperature may be obtained. One or more second-order time derivatives of the temperature may be additionally or alternatively used to determine the "acceleration" of the temperature within the flue (i.e., how fast the rate of change itself is changing). Of course, higher-order time derivatives may be obtained. Such time derivatives may be included as part of the temperature profile itself, or the temperature profile may include only temperature measurements (i.e., temperatures measured at various points in time), and the time derivatives may be determined separately, for example, by a remote analysis unit, when estimating the chimney health level.

[0024] Similarly, the temperature profile may additionally or alternatively include a time integral of the temperature, i.e., the "area under the curve" of the plot of temperature as a function of time. Alternatively, the time integral may be determined by a remote analysis unit, for example, when estimating the chimney health level.

[0025] In some embodiments, the sensor unit comprises an ultrasonic sensor configured to determine when foreign matter is present in the chimney and / or to measure the thickness of the foreign matter in the chimney. By transmitting ultrasonic signals and receiving the reflections of those signals, the ultrasonic transducers can determine whether foreign matter is present and / or how much of it there is. For example, by comparing the amplitude of the received signal to a threshold, the sensor unit can determine the type of material that reflected the ultrasonic signal from the amount of reflection (and thus attenuation). Further, the received amplitude of the ultrasonic signal and / or the round-trip time of flight (TOF) can indicate the thickness of the foreign matter in the chimney. For example, the ultrasonic sensor can receive two reflected pulses, a pulse reflected by the foreign matter layer and another pulse reflected by the flue wall, and the time difference between the received reflections is proportional to the thickness of the foreign matter layer. Additionally or alternatively, the ultrasonic sensor can be configured to measure the flow and / or temperature in the chimney.

[0026] The sensor unit can be placed at any convenient location to enable appropriate measurement of the parameters used to determine the maintenance schedule. However, in some embodiments, the sensor unit is configured to be mounted at the top of the chimney. In some embodiments that may be overlapping in some respects, the sensor unit is configured to be mounted at least partially within the flue of the chimney.

[0027] In some embodiments, the sensor unit is battery-powered. Providing a battery to the sensor unit advantageously provides a convenient power source for a sensor unit that does not require connection to a commercial power source, thereby avoiding the need to provide electrical wiring from the commercial power source to the chimney.

[0028] In some possible overlapping embodiments, the sensor unit is connected to a photovoltaic panel. Since the photovoltaic panel can be conveniently positioned on the roof of a house, it is well-suited to power the sensor unit. Such a photovoltaic panel can directly power the sensor unit, but additionally or alternatively, it can charge a battery that helps to power the sensor unit.

[0029] Additionally or alternatively, the sensor unit can be connected to a piezoelectric cell, a thermal cell, a voltaic battery, and / or a radio frequency (RF) rectifier. Those skilled in the art will understand that an RF rectifier is a device that "harvests" the power of RF signals present in the environment surrounding the device (i.e., from electromagnetic energy).

[0030] It will be readily understood that the analysis unit is "remote", i.e., a hardware device separate from the sensor unit. Advantageously, the analysis unit removes the need for the sensor unit itself to make any decisions and can provide a centralized analysis function for multiple sensor units within a sensor network. Thus, in some embodiments, the sensor network comprises a plurality of sensor units each configured to be disposed within or in proximity to respective chimneys, each sensor unit comprising at least one sensor configured to measure parameters of the respective chimney and to use the measured parameters to generate respective chimney health data associated with the chimney, and each sensor unit further comprising a respective transmission module configured to transmit the chimney health data to a remote analysis unit.

[0031] In some such embodiments, the remote analysis unit is configured to receive stack health data from each sensor unit and receive stack profile data associated with each stack, the remote analysis unit is configured to estimate a health level associated with each stack from the respective stack health data and the respective stack profile data, and the remote analysis unit determines a stack maintenance schedule from the estimated stack health levels. Thus, the remote analysis unit can receive stack health data corresponding to a number of different stacks and determine a suitable maintenance schedule for each stack. Each remote analysis unit can provide services to a wide geographical area, such as a number of houses, apartment buildings, neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, etc. The sensor network additionally or alternatively comprises a plurality of remote analysis units such that each remote analysis unit communicates with one or more sensor units.

[0032] A plurality of stacks may be located in a single building, but in a set of particular embodiments, the plurality of sensor units includes two or more sensor units each configured to be disposed within or proximate to respective stacks of different buildings. Thus, in some embodiments, the sensor network system a first sensor unit configured to be disposed within or proximate to a first stack of a first building, and a second sensor unit configured to be disposed within or proximate to a second stack of a second building, and comprises each of the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit comprises at least one sensor configured to measure parameters of the respective stack and generate stack health data associated with the respective stack using the measured parameters, and each sensor unit further comprises a transmission module configured to transmit the stack health data. As outlined below, the use of a distributed wireless communication network is particularly advantageous in configurations where a plurality of sensor units are provided across a plurality of buildings.

[0033] In such a set of embodiments, the sensor network system comprises one or more additional sensor units each configured to be disposed within or proximate to a respective chimney of each respective additional building, the additional sensor units each comprising at least one sensor configured to measure parameters of a respective chimney and to generate chimney health data associated with the respective chimney using the measured parameters, and each additional sensor unit further comprising a transmission module configured to transmit the chimney health data.

[0034] In some embodiments, the transmission and reception modules are wireless communication modules. Using wireless communication between the sensor unit and the remote analysis unit advantageously means that no wired connection is required for data exchange between these units. In some embodiments, the remote analysis unit is cloud-based. Being cloud-based means that the remote analysis unit is provided by, for example, on-demand computing resources within a suitable data center, and thus it will be understood that the remote analysis unit includes a server.

[0035] There are a number of wireless communication technologies suitable for providing data exchange between the sensor unit and the remote analysis unit. In some embodiments, the wireless communication transmission and reception modules are configured to communicate via a cellular network. A cellular network is a mobile network, a communication network that is geographically dispersed over a number of "cells", and each cell is provided with at least one cellular network transceiver where data is exchanged with the sensor unit and / or the remote analysis unit. In some embodiments, the cellular network includes a cellular Internet of Things (IoT) network, non-limiting examples of which may be specified by the 3GPP (registered trademark) standards body.

[0036] In a set of potentially repeating embodiments, the wireless communication transmit and receive module is configured to communicate via a LoRa® communication link. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that LoRa® is a wireless communication technology such as cellular that is known per se in the art.

[0037] In some potentially repeating embodiments, the wireless communication transmit and receive module is configured to communicate via a Bluetooth® communication link. Bluetooth® is a wireless communication standard that uses relatively short wavelength ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio waves to exchange data and generally operates at a frequency of about 2.4 GHz. In addition to “conventional” Bluetooth®, as used herein, the term “Bluetooth® communication link” should be understood to include other variations of the Bluetooth® standard including, but not limited to, Bluetooth Low Energy®.

[0038] In some potentially repeating embodiments, the wireless communication transmit and receive module is configured to communicate via a Wi-Fi™ network. It will be understood that “Wi-Fi™” is a family of wireless communication standards based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. The sensor unit may be equipped with, for example, a Wi-Fi module that enables connection to a nearby Wi-Fi network that is a home wireless network within the building to which the chimney belongs.

[0039] (For example, of the types described above including, but not limited to, wireless communication networks) A communication network can have any suitable topology, for example, a star or tree network. However, in some embodiments, the sensor network comprises a mesh network. A "mesh" network is understood to be a topology in which network nodes are connected (often directly) to as many other nodes as possible within the network and generally route data between them for the purpose of routing data as efficiently as possible. Thus, in embodiments where the sensor network comprises a plurality of sensor units, the sensor units can be configured to provide "peer-to-peer" communication between them and route stack health data via the mesh network to a remote analysis unit.

[0040] In certain sets of embodiments, it will be understood that the communication network comprises a wireless communication network that enables "long-range" communication, for example, using a "Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN)". This is different from "short-range" communication technologies such as Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi™. LPWAN technologies can be preferred over "conventional" cellular communication technologies (e.g., 2G, 3G, 4G) as they generally utilize low power consumption, which can be advantageous when sensor units are installed inside or in close proximity to stacks, and it can be difficult to provide "unlimited" power. Instead, the sensor units rely on batteries and / or intermittent power sources (e.g., solar power generation).

[0041] Thus, in some embodiments, the wireless communication network comprises an inter-building network. This is particularly different from configurations where a local area network (LAN) is used to exchange communications in a confined area such as within a particular building. Of course, the actual range required depends on how close the relevant buildings are, but in some embodiments, the wireless communication network can have a communication range of at least 100 m, optionally at least 500 m, further optionally at least 1 km, further optionally at least 2 km, and further optionally at least 5 km.

[0042] The use of a long-distance communication network is particularly beneficial when sensor units are distributed over a wide area, for example, when the sensor units are disposed in or proximate to chimneys in completely different buildings, making it possible to disperse the distributed network of sensor units over a wide area (e.g., across a town or city).

[0043] Examples of LPWAN technologies that are particularly well-suited for use in communication between sensor units and / or remote analysis units include Long Term Evolution (LTE) narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), LoRa®, and Sigfox. For example, distances of several kilometers are achievable with LPWAN technologies. For example, NB-IoT has an approximate range of 1 km (urban) to 10 km (rural), LoRa® has an approximate range of 5 km (urban) to 20 km (rural), and Sigfox has an approximate range of 10 km (urban) to 40 km (rural).

[0044] Of course, this list of preferred technologies is not exhaustive, and it will be understood that other suitable technologies enabling communication between buildings can be readily used and remain within the scope of the present invention. Further, the scope provided herein is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Instead, it is intended to provide context regarding the geographical area that can be covered using such a sensor network system. As outlined above, the remote analysis unit receives chimney profile data associated with a chimney. This chimney profile data corresponds to information that is known a priori regarding the chimney, i.e., it is existing data rather than dynamic data.

[0045] The chimney profile data can include information regarding what types of sources are connected to the chimney, e.g., whether the chimney serves a furnace, stove, boiler, incinerator, etc. In practice, a single chimney can serve multiple purposes, and each of these can be represented in the chimney profile data (e.g., the profile data can indicate that a given chimney serves two furnaces and one stove). The source information can include models, age, size, service history, etc. associated with the source.

[0046] In some possible overlapping embodiments, the chimney profile data includes fuel information associated with the chimney. This can indicate what types of fuel are burned by the sources connected to the chimney, e.g., whether wood, coal, natural gas, or oil is being burned. This information can provide indications regarding the types of foreign matter that accumulate in the flue, the fire risk associated with the foreign matter levels for a given type of fuel being burned, and the expected rate of change of the foreign matter accumulation.

[0047] In some further possible embodiments that may be repeated, the chimney profile data includes the chimney cleaning history. By taking into account previous cleaning activities performed on the chimney, a more informed analysis can be carried out regarding the need for chimney cleaning and maintenance. For example, if a large amount of foreign matter has accumulated despite the chimney having been cleaned relatively recently, this may indicate that a particular chimney is experiencing foreign matter accumulation at a faster rate than average and may therefore require more frequent cleaning.

[0048] The chimney maintenance schedule may include an estimate of when the chimney should receive the next maintenance, which may be a deadline or a time window. This information can be relayed to the chimney owner, the building manager, or the organization responsible for chimney maintenance, such as a private company or a public entity like a fire department.

[0049] In addition to providing a maintenance schedule, in at least some embodiments, the sensor network may be able to generate an alarm when the difference between the estimated chimney health level and the target chimney health level exceeds a threshold. For example, if it is determined that there is an accumulation of foreign matter in the flue that is greater than what is considered safe (e.g., there is a significant fire hazard), an alarm indicating the need for urgent maintenance may be issued. This alarm can be issued by a remote analysis unit or another hardware unit, such as an emergency alarm unit.

[0050] In some embodiments, the sensor network system is configured to generate an emergency alarm signal when a chimney parameter exceeds a threshold. For example, if the temperature is determined, an alarm may be generated when the temperature exceeds a threshold indicating, for example, a house fire. Such an alarm can be used to sound an audible alarm (such as a bell, a siren, or a buzzer) within the building and / or to alert a suitable authority such as the fire department.

[0051] In some embodiments, the remote analysis unit is configured to estimate emission levels from chimney health data and / or chimney profile data. Thus, the system may be able to determine the emission profile of the source to which the chimney is connected. By way of example only, an old oven may emit more particles than a new oven. Similarly, an oven that burns pellets may emit less than an oven that burns wood. Temperature measurements, as outlined above, may provide information regarding ignition frequency and / or ignition intensity. This information, combined with information about the age and / or model of the source (e.g., an oven or another type of source), may be used to predict emissions (e.g., particulate matter) generated by the source.

[0052] In a set of particular embodiments, the remote analysis unit may be configured to estimate regional air quality levels from chimney health data and / or chimney profile data associated with a plurality of sensor units. The applicant understands that in a particularly advantageous set of embodiments, data may be obtained from a plurality of chimneys distributed across a particular geographical area (e.g., many houses, apartment buildings, neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, municipalities, counties, regions, countries, etc.). This "crowdsourced" data can be used not only to estimate the regional air quality with respect to the current air quality, but also to predict future changes and trends in the air quality of that geographical area. For example, if the usage (e.g., ignition intensity and / or frequency) of chimneys in a particular area is increasing, it may be determined that there is an immediate potential for a negative impact on air quality, which may indicate that preventive or mitigation measures need to be taken proactively. Conversely, if many people appear to be switching to less polluting fuels or reducing usage, a positive impact on air quality may be detected.

[0053] Thus, in some embodiments, the sensor network is a first sensor unit configured to be disposed within or proximate to a first chimney of a first building, a second sensor unit configured to be located within or proximate to a second chimney of the second building Each of the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit includes at least one sensor configured to measure parameters of its respective chimney and to generate chimney health data associated with its respective chimney using the measured parameters, and each sensor unit further includes a transmission module configured to transmit the chimney health data The remote analysis unit is configured to estimate the air quality level of the region from the chimney health data and / or chimney profile data received from each of the sensor units

[0054] In such a set of embodiments, the sensor network includes one or more additional sensor units each configured to be disposed within or proximate to a respective chimney of a respective additional building, the additional sensor units each including at least one sensor configured to measure parameters of its respective chimney and to generate chimney health data associated with its respective chimney using the measured parameters, each additional sensor unit further including a transmission module configured to transmit the chimney health data, and the remote analysis unit is configured to estimate the air quality of the region using the chimney health data and / or chimney profile data received from the additional sensor units

[0055] In some embodiments, the remote analysis unit is configured to estimate the fire risk level from the chimney health data and / or the chimney profile data. Accordingly, the system can determine what the fire risk is inside the chimney based on the data from the sensor unit and / or the prior knowledge provided by the profile data. This risk level can be, for example, the probability (or related to the probability) of a fire occurring inside the chimney. This fire risk level can be reported, for example, to the authorities or the owner / occupant of the building having the chimney. This can be advantageous as proactive measures can be taken to manage the fire risk.

[0056] As outlined previously, the fire risk level can be determined based on the amount of foreign matter accumulated on the flue walls. Additionally or alternatively, the fire risk level can be based on the ignition intensity and / or the ignition frequency. For example, an increase in the usage of the stove can indicate a high fire risk.

[0057] The remote analysis unit may be a single hardware unit, but it will be understood that in embodiments of the present invention, its various functions may be implemented in a distributed system implemented across multiple different hardware units. Similarly, in some embodiments, the hardware components of the sensor unit may be housed within a common housing, but other embodiments are envisioned where one or more components of the sensor unit are separate hardware connected together to provide the functions described herein with respect to embodiments of the present invention.

[0058] As outlined above, in some embodiments, the remote analysis unit may estimate emission levels and / or regional air quality levels from chimney health data and / or chimney profile data. In some overlapping embodiments, sensor units within the sensor network may be used to obtain information regarding the air quality in the area surrounding the chimney. For example, the sensor unit may obtain environmental data such as air quality parameters, concentrations of one or more pollutants, concentrations of air particles (e.g., particles having a specific size). The sensor unit may comprise one or more suitable sensors for obtaining the relevant environmental data. The environmental data may then be analyzed to determine air quality metrics associated with the area surrounding the sensor unit. This analysis may be performed, for example, by the remote analysis unit.

[0059] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0060]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0061] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-section of a prior art chimney configuration 2. The chimney configuration 2, which may be located beside a residential building, comprises a stove 4 and a chimney stack 6 in which a flue 8 rises vertically.

[0062] As shown by the arrow, the flue 8 provides a path for the gases and smoke generated by the fire 10 in the stove 4 to be discharged from the stove 4 to the outside. The flue 8 also provides an intake path for air for combustion within the stove 4 (i.e., in a direction opposite to the arrow in FIG. 1), although the intake of air is not shown for ease of illustration.

[0063] In this particular embodiment, the fire 10 is the result of burning wood. However, when the wood burns, as seen in FIG. 2, deposits of creosote 12 remain on the inner wall of the flue 8. These deposits 12 accumulate over time and impede the flow of air through the flue 8, as indicated by the thinner arrows in FIG. 1. The accumulation of this creosote deposit 12 is dangerous because the deposit 12 itself is combustible and prone to ignition, which can have catastrophic consequences (i.e., a house fire can occur).

[0064] To avoid such problems, the flue 8 of the chimney stack 6 must be regularly cleaned, for example, once a year, to remove the deposits 12.

[0065] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a sensor network 14 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sensor network 14 includes a sensor unit 16 and a remote analysis unit 18, and the sensor unit 16 and the remote analysis unit 18 are configured to communicate with each other via a wireless communication link 20. In this particular embodiment, the wireless communication link 20 is a cellular connection (i.e., utilizes a "mobile network"), but additionally or alternatively, Bluetooth®, Bluetooth Low Energy®, Wi-Fi®, other suitable wireless communication standards can be used, or it can be implemented using a proprietary wireless communication method instead as needed according to the network situation (e.g., distance, signal-to-noise ratio, etc.).

[0066] In this embodiment, the sensor unit 16 includes a temperature sensor 22, an ultrasonic sensor 24, a processor 26, and a wireless transducer module 28. Specifically, the wireless transducer module 28 is a cellular transducer module and is suitable for communicating via a cellular network in a manner known per se in the art. In order for the sensor unit 16 to report to the remote analysis unit 18, the wireless transducer module 28 can have only a transmitter function, but in this embodiment it also has a receiving capability.

[0067] The processor 26 is configured to buffer data in the memory 27 such that the data is transmitted intermittently via the wireless transducer module 28. This can provide power savings by enabling the sensor unit 16 to "wake up" from a low-power mode at specific intervals and transmit only the buffered data.

[0068] The remote analysis unit 18 includes a wireless transducer module 30, a processor 32, and a memory 34. Similar to the wireless transducer module 28 of the sensor unit 16, the wireless transducer module 30 of the remote analysis unit 18 is a cellular transducer module, and the wireless transducer module 30 can have only a receiver function, but in this embodiment it also has a transmitting capability.

[0069] The operations of the sensor unit 16 and the remote analysis unit 18 will be described in more detail below.

[0070] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the network topology of the sensor network 14 of FIG. 3, where a plurality of sensor units 16a-e are connected to a remote analysis unit 18 via respective wireless communication links 20a-e. In this embodiment, all of the wireless communication links 20a-e are cellular communication links, but different types of wireless communication links can be used, and embodiments are envisioned where there is a mix of different wireless communication links such that some of the sensor units 16a-e use a different wireless communication standard (and / or proprietary communication scheme) than the others. Alternatively, a wired communication link can be used in place of one or more of the wireless communication links 20a-e.

[0071] The chimney maintenance schedule 36 generated by the remote analysis unit 18 is merely an example and can be provided to external entities 38 such as fire departments, local governments, public organizations, and private chimney monitoring organizations.

[0072] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-section of the chimney configuration 2 within the sensor network 14 of FIG. 4. The chimney configuration 2 corresponds to the chimney configurations of FIGS. 1 and 2, but is provided with sensor units 16 that communicate with the remote analysis unit 18 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and like reference numerals indicate like elements.

[0073] The temperature sensor 22 of the sensor unit 16 is configured to measure the temperature 27 within the flue 8. By monitoring the temperature 27 over time, the ignition frequency of the fire 10 within the furnace 4 (i.e., how frequently the fire 10 is ignited) and the ignition intensity of the fire 10 (i.e., corresponding to how hot the fire 10 is) can be determined. Further, a temperature profile (i.e., a measure of how the temperature within the flue 8 changes over time) can be determined.

[0074] The ultrasonic sensor 24 is configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal 25a, for example, an ultrasonic pulse, and receive a reflection 25b of the transmitted ultrasonic signal. The ultrasonic sensor 24 can determine from the received reflection 25b whether the deposit 12 is present and how thick the deposit 12 is. If the deposition of the deposit 12 is non-uniform, the measured thickness may be a "spot test" that provides a thickness measurement at one specific spot, but by using multiple ultrasonic sensors, multiple measurements may be taken so that the maximum thickness and / or average thickness can be determined as needed. The ultrasonic sensor 24 can also determine the flow rate and / or temperature inside the chimney.

[0075] The measurement parameters from each of these sensors 22, 24 are collated by a processor 26 that passes the chimney health data 40 to be collated to the wireless transmission module 28 of the sensor unit 16. The wireless transmission module 28 transmits this chimney health data 40 to the remote analysis unit 18, and the remote analysis unit 18 receives the chimney health data 40 via its wireless reception module 30.

[0076] The wireless reception module 30 passes the chimney health data 40 to the processor 32 of the remote analysis unit 18. The processor 32 also receives chimney profile data 42 from the memory 34, and this chimney profile data 42 is shown in FIG. 6, which is a data flow diagram illustrating the operation of the remote analysis unit 18 of FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0077] The data received by the processor 32 includes ignition duration and intensity data 44, temperature profile data 46, furnace information data 48 (e.g., furnace model and age), and cleaning history data 50. The ignition duration and intensity data 44 as well as the temperature profile data 46 can be received from the sensor unit 16 as chimney health data, and the furnace information data 48 and the cleaning history data 50 can be received from the memory 27 as chimney profile data 42 (illustrated by the dotted lines surrounding this data 48, 50). The processor 32 can also receive historical temperature profile data and / or emission intensity and duration data (not shown).

[0078] The processor combines various data sources, for example, using an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm or the like. For example, a gentle gradient in the temperature profile data 46 may indicate that the chimney has a large amount of deposits on the flue wall (the rate of temperature increase near the sensor unit slows down), and a steeper gradient may indicate a "cleaner" chimney. However, there may be some dependence, for example, on the ignition intensity and duration that can affect this gradient. The analysis of this data over time, together with prior knowledge about the furnace model and / or age, information about previous cleaning activities (e.g., when it was last cleaned, how dirty it was during the previous cleaning, etc.), can help draw conclusions about the current state of the chimney and how it has changed over time. This is then used by the processor to generate the chimney maintenance schedule 36 output by the system as outlined previously.

[0079] Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention provide a networked system in which data related to the condition and health of a chimney is transmitted to a remote analysis unit that combines this data with previous information known about the chimney. Such a system may enable a "smarter" use of resources by scheduling maintenance based on operational needs rather than according to a general (e.g., fixed) schedule. While particular embodiments have been described in detail, those skilled in the art will understand that many variations and modifications are possible using the principles of the invention described herein.

Claims

1. A sensor network system for determining a chimney maintenance schedule, wherein the sensor network comprises a sensor unit configured to be disposed inside or near the chimney, the sensor unit comprising at least one sensor configured to measure parameters of the chimney and to generate chimney health data associated with the chimney using the measured parameters, the sensor unit further comprising a transmission module configured to transmit the chimney health data, and a remote analysis unit comprising a reception module configured to receive the chimney health data, the remote analysis unit being configured to receive chimney profile data associated with the chimney, the remote analysis unit being configured to estimate a chimney health level associated with the chimney from the respective chimney health data and the chimney profile data, the remote analysis unit determining the chimney maintenance schedule from the estimated chimney health level, the sensor unit comprising a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the chimney, the parameter including a temperature profile over a period of time, the temperature profile providing an indication of the rate of change of temperature when a fire is ignited under the chimney, A sensor network system.

2. The sensor network system according to claim 1, wherein the parameter includes a firing frequency and / or a firing intensity.

3. The sensor network system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sensor unit comprises an ultrasonic sensor configured to determine when a foreign object is present in the chimney and / or to measure the thickness of a foreign object in the chimney.

4. A sensor network system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a plurality of sensor units each configured to be disposed within or in proximity to each respective chimney, each sensor unit comprising at least one sensor configured to measure a parameter of each respective chimney and to generate respective chimney health data associated with the chimney using the measured parameter, and each sensor unit further comprising a respective transmission module configured to transmit the chimney health data to the remote analysis unit.

5. A first sensor unit configured to be disposed within or in proximity to a first chimney of a first building, and a second sensor unit configured to be disposed within or in proximity to a second chimney of a second building, the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit each comprising at least one sensor configured to measure a parameter of each respective chimney and to generate chimney health data associated with each respective chimney using the measured parameter, and each sensor unit further comprising a transmission module configured to transmit the chimney health data, the sensor network system according to claim 4.

6. The transmission module and the reception module comprise a wireless communication module configured to communicate via an inter-building network, a cellular network, a Bluetooth® communication link, or a Wi-Fi® network, the sensor network system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The chimney profile data includes fuel information associated with the chimney, the sensor network system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The chimney profile data includes a cleaning history of the chimney, the sensor network system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The remote analysis unit is configured to estimate an emission level from the chimney health data and / or the chimney profile data, the sensor network system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The sensor network system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the remote analysis unit is configured to estimate a fire risk level from the chimney health data and / or the chimney profile data.

11. A method of operating a sensor network system for determining a chimney maintenance schedule, the sensor network comprising a sensor unit comprising at least one sensor and a transmission module, and a remote analysis unit comprising a reception module, the method comprising: measuring the parameters of the chimney using the sensor; generating chimney health data associated with the chimney using the measured parameters; transmitting the chimney health data using the transmission module; receiving the chimney health data using the reception module; receiving chimney profile data associated with the chimney; estimating a chimney health level associated with the chimney from the respective chimney health data and the chimney profile data; determining the chimney maintenance schedule from the estimated chimney health level, wherein the sensor unit comprises a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the chimney, the parameter includes a temperature profile over a period of time, and the temperature profile provides an indication of the rate of temperature change when a fire is ignited under the chimney. Method.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of operating a sensor network system for determining a chimney maintenance schedule, the sensor network comprising a sensor unit comprising at least one sensor and a transmission module, and a remote analysis unit comprising a reception module, the method comprising: measuring the parameters of the chimney using the sensor; generating chimney health data associated with the chimney using the measured parameters; transmitting the chimney health data using the transmission module; receiving the chimney health data using the reception module; receiving chimney profile data associated with the chimney; estimating a chimney health level associated with the chimney from the respective chimney health data and the chimney profile data; determining the chimney maintenance schedule from the estimated chimney health level; and the sensor unit includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the chimney, the parameter includes a temperature profile over a period of time, and the temperature profile provides an indication of a rate of change of temperature when a fire is ignited under the chimney. A non-transitory computer-readable medium.

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