Micro power water leak detector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water leak detection systems often have limited battery life and high costs, and they fail to effectively integrate low battery monitoring and long-term operation, which can lead to false alarms and increased property damage.
Innovation Solution
A fluid sensing system with a leak sensor that uses a low-power design, a water leak detector with a metal probe and sensing cable, and a low battery sensor, which can operate for up to ten years on a single battery set, integrating a boost converter to power a piezo driver for audible alerts and a timer to manage power consumption, while also shutting off a water heater in case of a leak.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the alarm system operates continuously to detect water leaks, then the detection reliability is improved, but the battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic sensing cycles rather than continuous operation. The microcontroller activates the sensing circuit at intervals, allowing the alarm to maintain detection capability while significantly reducing average power consumption. This periodic operation enables the system to achieve reliable leak detection over extended periods using battery power.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operational state based on conditions. During normal standby mode, it consumes minimal power. When water is detected or a fault condition occurs, it transitions to an active alarm state. This dynamic state management optimizes the balance between detection reliability and battery conservation.
2Ease of operation
If the alarm volume is increased to ensure customer awareness, then the alert effectiveness is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm output is activated periodically rather than continuously. When water is detected, the alarm sounds in cycles or intervals rather than continuously, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining effective alerting. The high-volume alarm is only activated when needed, not during normal standby operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection using low-power sensing circuits before activating the high-power alarm output. The microcontroller and sensing circuits monitor conditions continuously at low power, and only when a leak is detected does the system activate the high-volume alarm, ensuring effective alerting while minimizing energy consumption.
3Ease of manufacture
If the sensing system uses discrete components and analog circuitry, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates analog sensing circuits in a low-power parameter regime. By carefully selecting component values, operating voltages, and circuit configurations, the analog sensing circuits achieve adequate sensitivity while consuming minimal power. The design optimizes the trade-off between component simplicity and power consumption through parameter selection rather than architectural complexity.
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 provides reliable, long-term water leak detection and alert functionality, minimizing property damage by extending battery life and reducing false alarms through efficient power management and integrated safety features.
Implementation Method 1
The water leak detector may detect water with a metal probe
Implementation Method 2
integrating a boost converter to power a piezo driver for audible alerts
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid sensing system and approach having a leak sensor. The leak sensor may output a signal when a fluid is detected. The signal may go to an alarm circuit which can sound a warning or alert. The signal may also go to a control interface of a piece of equipment, such as a water heater, to shut off the piece equipment in an event that it is causing a leak of fluid. Also, the sensing system may have a low battery sensor and indicator in case a battery supplying power for the sensing system is running low. The sensing system may be made of analog circuitry and discrete components.