Dynamic Water Meter Valve Control for Stable Flow Limiting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current water utility meters with integrated valves struggle to accurately and efficiently limit water flow due to varying input pressures and consumption patterns, leading to potential inconvenience and energy inefficiency, especially in domestic settings where precise control is needed to avoid total shut-off and conserve energy.
Innovation Solution
A battery-operated water utility meter with a flow sensor and adjustable valve actuator, utilizing a controller unit and state machine to dynamically adjust the valve position based on flow rate limits, time durations, and volume calculations, allowing for multiple throttling positions and incremental adjustments to manage water flow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a static throttling position is used to limit maximum flow, then water consumption is limited, but the flow rate varies with pressure and causes inconvenience to consumers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic throttling where the valve position is continuously adjusted based on real-time flow rate measurements. The controller unit receives flow rate data from the flow sensor and dynamically modifies the valve opening to maintain a stable maximum flow rate despite pressure variations, eliminating the inconvenience of static throttling while still limiting total water consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a closed-loop feedback mechanism where the flow sensor continuously monitors the actual flow rate and feeds this information to the controller unit. The controller compares the measured flow rate with the desired maximum flow rate and adjusts the valve position accordingly, ensuring that water consumption is limited while maintaining consumer convenience through stable flow delivery.
2Quantity of substance
If a constant throttling level is applied to all consumers, then peak flows are limited, but consumers with lower consumption patterns experience unnecessary flow restriction
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the throttling level to each consumer's actual consumption pattern by continuously monitoring flow rates and adjusting valve positions in real-time. This allows the system to limit peak flows for high-consumption consumers while providing near-full flow to low-consumption consumers, eliminating unnecessary restrictions and improving adaptability to individual consumption patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller unit changes the valve opening parameter dynamically based on measured flow rates and consumption patterns. By adjusting this key parameter in real-time, the system can optimize the balance between peak flow limitation and consumption pattern adaptation, ensuring each consumer receives appropriate flow levels based on their actual usage behavior.
3Measurement precision
If the valve is adjusted frequently to match consumption patterns, then flow control accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic monitoring and adjustment cycles rather than continuous operation. The flow sensor measures flow rates at regular intervals, and the controller unit adjusts the valve position only when necessary based on these periodic measurements. This approach maintains adequate flow control accuracy while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial adjustment action by only modifying the valve position when flow rate deviations exceed acceptable thresholds. Instead of continuously adjusting to maintain perfect precision, the system makes adjustments only when necessary to bring the flow rate back within acceptable ranges, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining sufficient control accuracy.
4Quantity of substance
If the valve is throttled to 5-15% of normal flow, then water consumption is limited, but accurate control below 5% is difficult due to valve clogging and shut-off risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic throttling with continuous or periodic valve adjustments based on real-time flow measurements, keeping the valve in a moderately open position rather than maintaining a fixed 5-15% throttling. This dynamic approach limits water consumption effectively while avoiding the reliability problems associated with extreme throttling positions where clogging and accidental shut-off risks are highest.
Solution Approach 2:
The closed-loop feedback system continuously monitors actual flow rates and adjusts the valve position to achieve the desired consumption limitation. This feedback mechanism allows the system to limit water consumption effectively while maintaining the valve in a reliable operating range, avoiding the extreme throttling positions that cause clogging and operational unreliability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A water utility meter configured for dynamic throttling and arranged to register and manage the amount of water delivered to a consumption site from a distribution network is disclosed. The water utility meter comprises a flow sensor for measuring a flow rate through the water utility meter, a valve for limiting the flow rate from the distribution network to the consumption site, an actuator for changing a valve position so that the valve may be in an open position or a closed position or a variable throttling position and a controller unit arranged to control the actuator. The controller unit is further configured to monitor the flow rate using the flow sensor, to verify if the flow rate exceeds a maximum flow rate limit or does not exceed a minimum flow rate limit and if the limits are exceeded adjust the valve position to change the maximum flowrate.