Wireless Well Water Control for Dry-Well and Tank Level Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional well-based groundwater delivery systems fail to adequately monitor water table levels and associated metrics, leading to issues such as dry wells, overfilling, or underfilling storage tanks, resulting in costly repairs and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop monitoring and control system utilizing wireless sensors and controllers to measure water volume and flow rates accurately, regardless of tank orientation, and automatically adjust operations to maintain optimal water levels and flow rates, replacing traditional high-voltage wiring and float switches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional well-based control systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the monitoring precision of water table levels and operational metrics is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical float switches and high-voltage wiring systems with electronic sensors (such as pressure sensors, level sensors, and flow meters) connected to a microcontroller-based monitoring system. This substitution enables precise digital measurement of water table levels, tank levels, and flow rates while eliminating the complexity of mechanical linkages and electrical wiring harnesses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless communication intermediary layer between the sensors/actuators in the well system and the user interface. This wireless module acts as a mediator that transmits operational data and control commands without requiring physical wiring, thereby improving measurement precision while keeping the overall system architecture manageable and scalable.
2Reliability
If inadequate flow sensing is used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of water level control is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a closed-loop feedback control system where sensors continuously monitor water table levels, tank water levels, and pump flow rates. This real-time data is fed back to a controller that automatically adjusts pump operation to maintain optimal conditions, preventing both dry-well damage and overflow conditions. The feedback mechanism ensures high reliability by continuously correcting deviations from desired operating parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by setting up automated alert systems and predictive monitoring that warn users of potential problems before they occur. For example, the system can detect declining water table trends and alert users to replenish the aquifer before the well goes dry, or predict tank overflow conditions and preemptively adjust pumping rates.
3Productivity
If automated monitoring and control is implemented, then the productivity of groundwater delivery is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service automation where the monitoring system automatically manages pump operation, tank filling, and water level maintenance without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously responds to changing conditions by adjusting pump runtime, preventing dry-well conditions, avoiding overflow, and optimizing delivery schedules based on real-time sensor data, thereby maximizing productivity while minimizing the need for complex manual control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A well-based, groundwater delivery system provides a wireless control network that is used to report system performance via measured operational metrics. Such metrics facilitate monitoring of operational parameters associated with the well-based, groundwater delivery system and closed-loop control feedback to automatically implement measures to prevent damage. Sensors are used to measure volumes of water stored within the well-based, groundwater delivery system as well as water flow rates. Soft mounted sensors allow accurate measurements to be taken regardless of the mounting orientation of the sensor or the degree of plumb exhibited by water storage tanks of the well-based, groundwater delivery system. Automated status and control is established wirelessly via a base controller that may be accessed locally by a portable user device or accessed remotely via an external network.