Water Meter Flow Control via Electronic Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water meters lack the ability to effectively control and optimize water consumption, leading to potential overuse and increased bills, especially in cases where users do not pay their water bills, and existing solutions for flow regulation are not user-friendly or efficient.
Innovation Solution
A water meter with a measurement system, a valve communication mechanism with a cut-off box, and a treatment unit that analyzes consumption data to detect operating phases of specific systems, limiting water flow when thresholds are exceeded, using predefined parameters like duration, flow rate, and volume to reduce water usage during high consumption periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a motorized valve is integrated into a cut-off box or meter for flow regulation, then the ability to limit and control water flow is improved, but the device complexity and user-friendliness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional motorized valve mechanism with a purely electronic flow control system. The processing unit directly modulates the water flow using electronic signals without mechanical moving parts, eliminating the need for motorized valves and cut-off boxes while maintaining flow regulation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The water meter system performs self-regulation of water flow based on consumption patterns detected by its own sensors and processing unit. The system automatically identifies operating phases, detects threshold exceedances, and adjusts flow accordingly without requiring external control mechanisms or user intervention.
2Reliability
If flow regulation is implemented through traditional motorized valves, then the ability to limit water flow is improved, but ease of operation and user-friendliness worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical valve operation entirely, replacing it with electronic flow control managed by the processing unit. This removes the complexity of motorized valve operation from the user interface, allowing for simpler, more intuitive control through the water meter system.
3Loss of substance
If the valve is closed to limit water flow during overconsumption, then water consumption optimization is improved, but service continuity may be disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial flow limitation rather than complete cutoff. When overconsumption is detected, the processing unit reduces water flow to a level above zero, maintaining minimal service continuity while still achieving consumption optimization. This prevents total service disruption while encouraging water conservation.
4Loss of substance
If real-time flow limitation is implemented, then water consumption optimization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the flow control functionality directly into the water meter's processing unit, merging measurement, analysis, and control functions into a single integrated system. This eliminates the need for separate external control devices and reduces overall system complexity despite implementing real-time flow limitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The water meter system autonomously performs real-time flow control based on its own measurements and analysis capabilities. The processing unit continuously monitors consumption patterns, detects threshold exceedances, and adjusts flow automatically without requiring external control systems, thereby managing complexity internally.
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 solution allows for real-time monitoring and reduction of water flow during specific use cases, warning users of overconsumption and helping them optimize their water usage without penalizing them, while maintaining a minimal flow to prevent service disruptions.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasonic measuring device comprising an upstream transducer (network side) and a downstream transducer (installation side). Each transducer successively acts as an emitter and a receiver of ultrasonic signals. The upstream transducer thus emits an ultrasonic signal into the internal conduit, which is received by the downstream transducer after having traveled a predefined path (of perfectly controlled length) in the water.
Data Source
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AI summary
Water meter (1) comprising a valve (15), or first means of communication (12) with a valve (15), and a processing unit (7) arranged to: analyze water consumption measurements to produce measurements of predefined parameters relating to water consumption, and detect, from said measurements of predefined parameters, operating phases of at least one predetermined system (20, 21) of the installation; for each predetermined system, during each operating phase of said predetermined system, if water consumption exceeds a predetermined threshold associated with said predetermined system, at least partially close the valve (15) for a predetermined time to limit a current water flow supplied to the installation (4).