Compound Water Meter Sensor Integration for Defect Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy compound water meters face challenges such as underreporting, leaks, and difficulty in diagnosing defects due to mechanical limitations and lack of digital interfaces, leading to inefficiencies and revenue losses in municipal water supply systems.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a compound water meter with integrated sensors and a processing device that analyzes sensor data from optical, magnetic, vibration, and pressure sensors to detect issues like register failures, leaks, and fraud, enabling real-time monitoring and data transmission for improved accuracy and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If legacy compound water meters are used with mechanical basis only, then device complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost is lowered, but measurement precision deteriorates and reliability worsens due to inability to detect defects and underreporting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces purely mechanical measurement systems with a hybrid system incorporating optical sensors, magnetic sensors, and electronic processing. The optical sensor reads the register display to detect water flow measurements, while magnetic sensors monitor turbine rotation, eliminating reliance on purely mechanical indicators and enabling digital data extraction for improved measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing device that acts as a mediator between the mechanical meter components and the digital monitoring system. This device collects data from multiple sensors, processes the information, and generates alerts for anomalies, thereby improving measurement precision without directly modifying the core mechanical measurement mechanism.
2Loss of information
If legacy compound water meters without digital interfaces are used, then ease of manufacture is improved and cost is reduced, but loss of information increases due to inability to transmit data for leak detection and fraud prevention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual reading and mechanical data recording with electronic sensors and digital communication systems. Optical and magnetic sensors automatically capture measurement data, which is then transmitted via communication modules to remote systems, eliminating information loss associated with manual processes and enabling real-time monitoring without complicating manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a multi-functional meter system that performs water flow measurement, data collection, transmission, and anomaly detection within a single integrated device. This universal approach addresses information loss by incorporating multiple functions into the existing meter structure, maintaining ease of manufacture while enabling comprehensive data transmission for leak detection and fraud prevention.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If traditional mechanical compound water meters are used, then reliability is maintained for basic measurement, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to inability to diagnose defects like turbine failure or bypass valve issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where sensors continuously monitor meter operation and transmit data to processing systems that analyze for anomalies. The system provides feedback alerts when defects such as turbine failures, sediment buildup, or bypass valve issues are detected, enabling timely maintenance and improving operational reliability by reducing undetected failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary diagnostic system that mediates between the mechanical meter components and operators. This system uses sensors to detect subtle changes in meter performance and translates them into actionable diagnostic information, making defect detection straightforward without compromising the reliability of the underlying mechanical measurement system.
4Productivity
If compound water meters lack sensor integration and data analysis capability, then device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but productivity decreases due to manual inspection requirements and inability to provide real-time monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the water meter system to perform self-monitoring and self-diagnosis through integrated sensors and processing capabilities. The meter automatically detects anomalies, generates alerts, and provides diagnostic information without requiring manual inspection, thereby improving productivity for water utilities by reducing labor requirements and enabling real-time operational efficiency monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements real-time feedback loops where sensor data is continuously analyzed and actionable information is provided to utility operators. This feedback mechanism improves productivity by enabling proactive maintenance, reducing manual inspections, and providing immediate awareness of operational issues, while the modular sensor architecture keeps device complexity manageable through targeted monitoring rather than comprehensive system redesign.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of systems and methods are provided to monitor operation of a compound water meter comprising a low flow meter and a high flow meter. In the disclosed embodiments, a first sensor package is coupled to the low flow meter to generate a first set of sensor data for monitoring operation of the low flow meter, and a second sensor package is coupled to the high flow meter to generate a second set of sensor data for monitoring operation of the high flow meter. The first and second sensor packages may each include, e.g., an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor and a vibration sensor. In the disclosed embodiments, the first and second sets of sensor data are analyzed to detect various potential problems within the compound water meter, such as a register failure, a crossover failure, a measurement failure, a bypass open condition and/or an incorrect flow meter size.