Sensor periodic activation for energy-efficient water quality measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensors for continuous water quality measurement require either high and constant power consumption or extended measurement intervals to conserve energy, leading to inadequate measurement rates for accurate water quality monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A power-saving procedure and device that alternately activates and deactivates the sensor, using a defined switch-on and switch-off phase to record measurement values, with a reference measurement and calculation regulation to ensure accurate final measurement values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sensor is continuously powered to ensure accurate measurements, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is activated periodically in alternating switch-on and switch-off phases rather than continuously. During switch-on phases, the sensor performs measurements; during switch-off phases, it remains deactivated to conserve energy. This periodic activation pattern resolves the contradiction by providing measurements only when necessary while minimizing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
A reference measurement is performed during an extended switch-on phase before the sensor enters regular periodic operation. This preliminary action establishes a baseline that enables subsequent measurements to be made with shorter activation times, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining measurement accuracy through the calculation rule that references these preliminary measurements.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the measurement interval is extended to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but measurement rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor operates in periodic cycles of switch-on and switch-off phases, performing multiple measurements during each switch-on phase rather than taking a single measurement per extended interval. This increases the measurement rate within each activation cycle while still maintaining lower overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
During each switch-on phase, the sensor continuously records operating measurements rather than taking discrete isolated measurements. This continuous recording during activation periods maximizes the utilization of the powered state, increasing measurement rate without requiring proportional increases in energy consumption.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the sensor is deactivated between measurements to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A reference measurement is performed during an extended switch-on phase before regular periodic operation begins. This preliminary measurement establishes an accurate baseline that compensates for the sensor's deactivation and reactivation effects, ensuring that subsequent measurements taken during shorter switch-on phases maintain accuracy despite the intermittent operation pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
A calculation rule is applied that uses the reference measurement as feedback to correct and interpret operating measurements taken during periodic switch-on phases. This feedback mechanism compensates for variations introduced by intermittent operation, ensuring measurement accuracy is maintained even though the sensor is deactivated between measurement cycles.
4Reliability
If a pump is activated to ensure water transport to the sensor, then measurement reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is activated periodically in coordination with the sensor's switch-on phases rather than operating continuously. Water is transported to the sensor only during periods when measurements are actually being taken, ensuring measurement reliability is maintained while minimizing the pump's energy consumption during switch-off phases when no measurements occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump is activated before the sensor during each switch-on phase to ensure water is already available at the sensor when measurement begins. This preliminary action by the pump eliminates the need for continuous pumping, as water transport is prepared in advance for each measurement cycle, reducing overall pump operation time and energy consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a measuring device (2) and method for the energy-saving, continuous measuring (FM) of a quality of a fluid, in particular water, using a sensor (1, 1a) for detecting a measurement variable (G), wherein at least: the measuring device (2) is arranged relative to the fluid; the sensor (1, 1a) is alternatingly activated for the duration of a switch-on phase (TE) and deactivated for the duration of a switch-off phase (TA); a measurement value (M) is detected as a comparison measurement value (V) using the sensor (1, 1a) during a defined switch-on phase (TED); a reference measurement (RM) is carried out for detecting a measurement value (M) representing the fluid quality as a reference measurement value (R); measurement values (M) are continuously detected as operating measurement values (B) using the sensor (1, 1a) during further switch-on phases (TEW) following the defined switch-on phase (TED); a calculation rule is determined which assigns the comparison measurement value (V) to the reference measurement value (R); and a final measurement value (F) for measuring the quality is determined from each operating measurement value (B) by means of the calculation rule.