Smart Water Meter Sizing Correction via Flow Rate Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water meter sizing practices do not account for changes in water fittings, occupancy, or usage, leading to oversized or undersized meters, resulting in revenue loss, damage, and varying water pressure.
Innovation Solution
A water meter with a microprocessor and antenna that calculates and monitors the flow rate, sending signals to confirm if the meter is correctly sized by comparing it to programmed maximum and minimum flow rates, and alerting utilities if the meter is oversized or undersized.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional water meter sizing practices are used, then initial meter installation is straightforward, but the meter becomes oversized or undersized when changes occur in water fittings, occupancy, or usage
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors water flow rate through the meter and provides feedback to a control mechanism. When the flow rate exceeds predetermined thresholds (indicating the meter is oversized) or falls below thresholds (indicating the meter is undersized), the system generates alerts or signals to notify utility operators, enabling them to take corrective action to maintain proper meter sizing
Solution Approach 2:
The water meter system performs self-monitoring and self-diagnosis of its sizing appropriateness by automatically measuring flow rates and comparing them against expected ranges for correctly sized meters. This eliminates the need for manual monitoring and enables the system to autonomously identify sizing issues
2Productivity
If an oversized water meter is used, then the meter can handle high flow rates, but revenue is lost and water pressure varies
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors flow rates and provides feedback when they indicate oversized meter conditions (inappropriately high flow rates for the building's actual needs), enabling utility operators to identify and replace oversized meters to prevent revenue loss
3Loss of energy
If an undersized water meter is used, then revenue is protected, but the meter suffers damage and water pressure varies
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors flow rates and provides feedback when they indicate undersized meter conditions (inappropriately low flow rates suggesting the meter is too small for the building's needs), enabling utility operators to identify and replace undersized meters before damage occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively identifies undersized meter conditions before they cause damage by monitoring flow rates and generating early warnings, allowing preventive replacement before the meter suffers mechanical damage from excessive pressure or flow
4Measurement precision
If continuous flow rate monitoring is implemented, then meter sizing accuracy is confirmed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing water meter's flow measurement capabilities for dual purposes: traditional billing/usage tracking and new meter sizing verification. By leveraging the meter's inherent flow sensing function for both purposes, the system avoids adding dedicated complex measurement hardware
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and computer program product for identifying an incorrectly sized utility meter having a measuring system for fluid passing through the utility meter, including monitoring a plurality of utility meters, each utility meter being installed at a utility location, receiving utility meter data, transmitted by at least one utility meter of the plurality of utility meters to a central computer including at least one processor, wherein the utility meter data comprises a measurement of a volumetric amount of fluid passing through the utility meter or other utility meter data for deriving the volumetric amount of fluid passing through the utility meter, identifying the incorrectly sized utility meter by detecting whether a flow rate associated with the volumetric amount of fluid passed through the utility meter is outside of a flow rate range; and providing an interactive interface to report/receive a status associated with the incorrectly sized utility meter.