Building Water Leak Detection with Flow Meters and Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building-wide water leak detection systems are inadequate for high-rise condominiums, as they fail to detect small leaks promptly, lack comprehensive monitoring, and do not provide timely and efficient management of multiple flow meter units, leading to potential significant water damage.
Innovation Solution
A building-wide interconnected system using highly sensitive flow meters and controllers that communicate with leak sensors via RF technologies, allowing for continuous monitoring, accurate measurement of low flow volumes, and automatic shut-off of water supply, with a central control unit for alerting and data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only a flow meter is used to detect extended continual flow, then the system can detect flow, but it does not record or analyze the type or quantity of flows and does not detect very small flows
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments flow detection into multiple components: a flow meter for continuous flow detection, leak sensors at specific leak points for localized detection, and a control unit for data processing. Each component handles specific aspects of flow monitoring, enabling both small flow detection and comprehensive flow information recording.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it receives data from the flow meter, processes leak sensor signals, stores flow information, analyzes flow patterns, and generates alerts. This multi-functional approach allows the system to both detect flows and record comprehensive flow information without requiring separate dedicated devices.
2Reliability
If sensors are placed at various leak points communicating wirelessly, then leak detection is enabled, but the system lacks comprehensive monitoring and timely management of multiple flow meter units
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple monitoring functions into a centralized control unit that manages leak sensors, flow meters, and alert generation in one location. This consolidation reduces the complexity of managing distributed monitoring components while maintaining comprehensive leak detection coverage across multiple units.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously receives feedback from leak sensors and flow meters, processes this information in real-time, and generates alerts when leaks are detected. This feedback loop enables timely leak management and provides continuous monitoring without requiring complex manual intervention for each sensor.
3Reliability
If a building-wide interconnected system is implemented, then comprehensive monitoring is achieved, but the complexity of managing multiple flow meter units increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed as a universal device that can manage multiple flow meter units and leak sensors across the entire building. It provides centralized control, data aggregation, and alert generation functions that simplify the management of the building-wide system while maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the distributed sensors and flow meters and the central monitoring system. It consolidates data from multiple sources, processes information locally, and communicates with the central system, thereby reducing the operational complexity of managing numerous individual devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for detecting multiple incidents in a set of flow meter units attached to a set of water consuming units. A plurality of uniquely identified flow meter units are operatively connected to a central control unit. The control unit is programmable to send alerts based on leaking incident status of particular flow meter units so that a responder may receive the alert and timely address the alert. The central control receives and stores data from the multiple flow meter units, including volumetric flow, time, and status and location of each alert. A method of detecting leaking in a building having multiple separate units, each unit having a unit water supply, includes placing a specially configured controller having a flow meter and automatic shut-off valve in each unit of the building. Leak sensors are positioned in water-leak risk areas wherein the controller communicates with both the flow meter and the sensors. A communication is established in between the controller and the sensors. One or more individuals are identified to receive an alert when leakage (or over-pressure conditions) occurs. Water flow is measured with the controller in multiple of the units and using one or more of the sensors. The measurements detect changes when compared to earlier established baseline parameters. An alert is sent to one or more of the individuals (e.g. owner(s), maintenance staff, management) when an abnormal water flow valve is measured.