Water Meter Leak Detection with Wireless Sensor Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water management systems lack effective real-time monitoring and detection of leaks in private and public properties, leading to significant water loss and property damage due to undetected broken or compromised water pipes, especially in underground locations.
Innovation Solution
A water meter and leak detection system that includes a collection node with sensors for flow rate, pressure, and acoustic monitoring, connected via wireless technology (LoRa, WiMAX, NB-IoT) to a communication hub, enabling real-time data transmission and automated shut-off of water supply, with optional temperature and quality sensors for comprehensive monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional water meter systems are used without real-time monitoring capabilities, then device complexity is reduced, but water loss increases due to undetected leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple independent components: flow sensors, pressure sensors, acoustic sensors, microcontrollers, and wireless communication modules. Each component performs a specific function and can be independently replaced or maintained, reducing overall system complexity while enabling comprehensive leak detection
Solution Approach 2:
Wireless communication modules serve as intermediaries between the sensors/microcontrollers and remote monitoring systems. This eliminates the need for complex wired connections while enabling real-time data transmission, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining effective leak detection
2Reliability
If real-time monitoring sensors are installed, then leak detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor types (flow, pressure, acoustic) and processing functions are integrated into a single unified device housing. The microcontroller consolidates data processing from all sensors, and a single wireless communication module handles all data transmission, reducing the number of separate components while maintaining comprehensive leak detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses multi-functional components that can perform multiple tasks. For example, the microcontroller not only processes sensor data but also manages wireless communication, local storage, and alarm triggering. The wireless module can transmit various types of data (flow rates, pressure readings, acoustic signals) through a single interface, reducing overall system complexity
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 system provides real-time leak detection and water usage monitoring, reducing water loss and damage by automatically notifying users and shutting off water supply when leaks are detected, thus enhancing water conservation and minimizing insurance losses.
Implementation Method 1
one or more water flow rate sensors
Implementation Method 2
one or more optional pressures sensors
Implementation Method 3
one or more optional acoustic sensors
Implementation Method 4
wireless radio technology
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a water meter and leak detection system that has a private or public property(ies) facility water supply interruption system. The system is comprised of a water meter collection node system with shut-off/on mechanism that has wireless Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, Zigbee, Z-wave LoRa, Wi-Fi, radio frequency and cellular technology with a private or corporate network, or internet connection that transfer water parameter data to a remote computer or server. Or the system can consist of a water meter collection node that communicates by Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, Zigbee, Z-wave LoRa, Wi-Fi, radio frequency and cellular technology with a data communication hub whereby the communication hub is in wired or wireless communication with an internet router that communicates with an internet connection, or with a private or commercial network system, to a remote computer/server or a cloud-computing commercial service.