System for water management, and related methods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hotel guests frequently complain about inconsistent water pressure and insufficient hot water, leading to negative reviews, economic losses, and damage to the hotel's reputation due to the inability to deliver heated water effectively, which exceeds the costs of heating water.
Innovation Solution
A system for monitoring and managing water delivery that includes sensing devices for temperature, pressure, and leakage, a recirculation pump, and a pressure regulating device, connected to a data collection system and controller, which generates alerts and controls water flow to maintain optimal conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a recirculation system is implemented to ensure consistent hot water delivery, then water temperature consistency is improved, but system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The recirculation pump proactively circulates hot water through the dedicated conduit loop before guests need it, maintaining ready-to-use hot water at all outlets. This preliminary action prevents the need for long wait times and ensures immediate hot water delivery upon demand.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors positioned at strategic locations continuously monitor water temperature in the recirculation loop and provide feedback to the controller. The controller adjusts the recirculation pump operation based on this feedback, maintaining temperature within desired parameters while optimizing energy consumption.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensing devices are deployed to monitor water parameters, then detection precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing devices are designed to perform multiple functions: temperature sensors monitor both water temperature for comfort and detect abnormal temperature changes that may indicate leaks or equipment failures. Pressure sensors similarly monitor system pressure and detect anomalies. This multi-functionality maximizes detection precision without proportionally increasing device count.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sensing functions are integrated into unified monitoring points throughout the system. The controller consolidates data from various sensors and uses centralized processing to detect anomalies, reducing the need for separate dedicated sensors for each parameter and simplifying the overall device architecture.
3Reliability
If real-time monitoring and alert systems are implemented, then reliability of water delivery is improved, but use of energy and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic sampling of water parameters rather than continuous high-power monitoring. Sensors take measurements at optimized intervals, and the controller processes data in cycles, reducing peak energy consumption while maintaining reliable detection of water delivery issues and anomalies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically monitors itself and generates alerts without requiring constant human intervention. The controller autonomously compares sensor readings against predefined thresholds and historical data, identifying anomalies and triggering notifications only when necessary. This self-service approach maintains high reliability while minimizing the energy required for operational monitoring.
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 ensures consistent hot water delivery, reduces guest complaints, and minimizes economic losses by proactively addressing water-related issues before they become major problems, thereby protecting the hotel's reputation.
Implementation Method 1
a recirculation pump hydraulically coupled to the dedicated conduit loop
Implementation Method 2
a pressure regulating or balancing device hydraulically coupled to the dedicated conduit loop
Implementation Method 3
a first set of sensing devices operatively coupled to an input and an output of the mixing valve(s)... a second set of sensing devices operatively coupled to selected portions of the dedicated conduit loop
Implementation Method 4
sensing devices for temperature, pressure, and leakage
Implementation Method 5
one or more mixing valves hydraulically connected to the dedicated conduit loop
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for monitoring and managing water delivered to users hydraulically connected via a dedicated conduit loop to a water supply source and a water heating unit via a dedicated conduit loop, the system including a mixing valve(s) hydraulically connected to the dedicated conduit loop; a first set of sensing devices operatively coupled to an input and an output of the mixing valve, wherein each sensing device of the first set is adapted to generate and transmit sensed data signals; a recirculation pump hydraulically coupled to the dedicated conduit loop; a second set of sensing devices operatively coupled to selected portions of the dedicated conduit loop, wherein each sensing device of the second set is adapted to generate and transmit sensed data signals; a pressure regulating or balancing device(s) hydraulically coupled to the dedicated conduit loop; a data collection system for receiving and storing sensed data transmitted by the first set of sensing devices and/or the second set of sensing devices; and a system controller for comparing sensed data with rules, data patterns, data signatures, relationships between data, or mathematically calculated values associated with water event anomalies and generating and transmitting a notification, a warning, and/or an alert if the comparison is suggestive of a water event anomaly.