Flow Detection Hub With Automatic Shutoff for Water Leak Events
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Solution Overview
Problem
Property owners often remain unaware of leaks or bursts in water pipes until significant damage and water loss occur, leading to costly repairs and increased water bills, due to the lack of effective monitoring and detection systems for fluid flow characteristics in water systems.
Innovation Solution
A flow detection system comprising a flow detection hub connected to a fluid supply pipe, equipped with a flow sensor and a processing element that detects changes in flow rates, correlates these changes with specific events, and communicates alerts to user devices, while also integrating a valve assembly to automatically shut off the water supply in case of leaks or abnormal usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no flow monitoring system is installed, then the system remains simple and inexpensive, but leaks and abnormal flow events go undetected causing water damage and loss
Solution Approach 1:
The flow monitoring function is segmented into discrete components: a flow sensor that detects flow rate changes, a processing element that analyzes flow patterns and correlates events, and a valve assembly that executes shutdown actions. This modular segmentation allows the system to achieve reliable leak detection while maintaining manageable complexity through divided functional responsibilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing element autonomously analyzes flow rate data, determines deltas between consecutive readings, correlates flow events without human intervention, and automatically actuates the valve assembly when leaks are detected. This self-service capability eliminates the need for continuous human monitoring while maintaining high reliability in leak detection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If automatic flow shutoff is implemented, then water damage is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is pre-positioned in the fluid supply pipe upstream of potential leak points, and the processing element is pre-programmed with flow pattern correlation algorithms. When abnormal flow is detected, the system immediately actuates the valve to shut off water supply before significant damage can occur. This preliminary positioning and pre-programming enable rapid response that minimizes water damage while keeping the physical addition to the system relatively simple.
3Measurement precision
If flow rate monitoring is continuous, then leak detection precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow sensor continuously monitors flow rate but the processing element analyzes data in periodic intervals by determining deltas between consecutive flow rate readings. This periodic analysis approach maintains measurement precision for leak detection while reducing computational energy consumption compared to continuous real-time processing of every data point.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables early detection of leaks and abnormal flow events, reducing water damage and consumption by alerting users promptly and automatically shutting off the water supply, thus enhancing monitoring and management of water usage patterns.
Implementation Method 1
a flow sensor that detects a flow rate of fluid flowing through the fluid supply pipe
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates generally to a flow detection system. The system may include a flow detection hub fluidly connected to a fluid supply pipe including a flow sensor that detects a flow rate of fluid flowing through the fluid supply pipe and a processing element in communication with the flow sensor and a user device. The processing element performs the following operations: determining a first delta based on a first flow rate data from the flow sensor; determining a second delta based on a second flow rate data from the flow sensor; correlating the first delta and the second delta to a first event; and transmitting a message to a user device corresponding to the first event.