Remote Valve Reopening After Automatic Leak Shutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distributed water infrastructure systems face challenges in detecting leaks and abnormal water usage efficiently, leading to potential damage and waste, as users often do not realize leaks until it's too late, and it is difficult to discern the source of slow leaks or track water usage effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses sensors to detect water flow and construct time-based event profiles, comparing current usage to normal profiles to identify abnormalities, and automatically initiates remedial actions such as closing valves and alerting administrators, while also differentiating between water usage patterns to determine appliance functionality and health-related activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If automatic valve closure is implemented to prevent water waste, then water loss is reduced, but system complexity increases due to automated control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically closing valves when abnormal water consumption is detected, preventing water loss before it can occur. The patent implements this through automated control mechanisms that monitor water usage patterns and trigger valve closure without human intervention, thereby reducing water waste while managing system complexity through pre-programmed response protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring water consumption data, comparing it against established patterns, and automatically adjusting valve states based on detected anomalies. This closed-loop control system reduces water loss by responding to real-time conditions while managing complexity through algorithmic decision-making that learns from historical data
2Adaptability or versatility
If remote valve reopening is enabled to restore water flow, then system adaptability is improved, but control difficulty increases due to remote communication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses remote communication devices as intermediaries between administrators and the valve control system. These devices transmit commands and receive status information, enabling remote valve reopening without requiring physical access to the infrastructure. This intermediary layer improves system adaptability by allowing remote operation while managing control difficulty through standardized communication protocols and user-friendly interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical valve operation with electronic control systems that can be operated remotely through communication networks. This substitution eliminates the need for physical presence at the valve location, improving adaptability by enabling remote management while reducing operational difficulty through digital interfaces that simplify control commands
3Measurement precision
If detailed water usage monitoring is implemented to identify leak sources, then measurement precision is improved, but information processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments water usage data into distinct patterns and categories, analyzing different time periods, flow rates, and consumption characteristics separately. This segmentation improves measurement precision by enabling detailed identification of leak sources and usage anomalies while managing data processing complexity through modular analysis of divided data sets rather than treating all data uniformly
Data Source
AI summary
An abnormal consumption detection system is provided with remote valve control for a distributed water infrastructure. The system may comprise an electronically controllable valve, a remote communication transmitter, a remote communication receiver, at least one sensor for measuring water flow information associated with the distributed water infrastructure, and at least one processor. The system may determine from the water flow information obtained from the at least one sensor a potential abnormal consumption associated with the distributed water infrastructure. The system may automatically close a valve, without human intervention, when the potential abnormal consumption is determined. The system may transmit, via the remote communication transmitter to a remote administrator, alert information about the potential abnormal consumption to enable an administrator to decide based on the transmitted information whether to reopen the valve. The system may receive from the administrator via the remote communication receiver a control signal to reopen the valve, despite the information about the potential abnormal consumption, and reopen the valve.