Water leak detection using pressure sensing

• US 10,352,814 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2015
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phyn LLC (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Phyn LLC (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Enev, Miroslav, Banerjee, Salil, Patel, Shwetak N
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Tung S
• Application Number:
  US14/937,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20170131174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/07 Arrangement of devices, e.g. filters, flow controls, measuring devices, siphons or valves, in the pipe systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2815 using pressure measurements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution

Abstract

A system including a sensing device including a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure of water in a water system of a structure. The sensing device can be configured to generate pressure measurement data representing the pressure of the water as measured by the pressure sensor. The system also can include one or more processing units including one or more processors and one or more non-transitory storage media storing machine executable instructions configured when run on the one or more processors to perform detecting a non-cyclical pressure event corresponding to a water leak in the water system of the structure during a first time period based on an analysis of information including the pressure measurement data. The information analyzed in the analysis does not include any flow measurement data that represents a total amount of flow of the water in the water system of the structure during the first time period. The pressure sensor can be coupled to the water system of the structure at a single location of the water system of the structure when measuring the pressure of the water in the water system of the structure. Other embodiments are provided.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a sensing device comprising a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure of water in a water system of a building structure, the water system of the building structure comprising fixtures and water lines that supply the water to the fixtures of the water system, the sensing device being coupled to the water system of the building structure, the sensing device being configured to generate pressure measurement data representing the pressure of the water in the water system of the building structure as measured by the pressure sensor; and

one or more processing units comprising one or more processors and one or more non-transitory storage media storing machine executable instructions configured when run on the one or more processors to perform;

detecting a non-cyclical pressure event corresponding to a water leak in the water system of the building structure during a first time period based on an analysis of information comprising the pressure measurement data, wherein the information analyzed in the analysis does not include any flow measurement data that represents a total amount of flow of the water in the water system of the building structure during the first time period,

wherein;

the sensing device is coupled to the water system of the building structure at a single location of the water system of the building structure when the pressure sensor is measuring the pressure of the water in the water system of the building structure; and

detecting the non-cyclical pressure event further comprises;

analyzing a frequency domain characteristic of the pressure measurement data to identify a turbulence in the frequency domain characteristic when compared to a baseline frequency domain characteristic, the turbulence having a duration longer than a first threshold, and the turbulence that is identified comprises a frequency band in the frequency domain characteristic with a width of less than approximately 3 Hertz.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the information analyzed in the analysis further comprises;

(a) the pressure measurement data in a time domain, and (b) the frequency domain characteristic of the pressure measurement data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first threshold is 45 minutes.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the frequency band has a center frequency; and

the machine executable instructions are further configured when run on the one or more processors to perform;

determining the center frequency.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the single location of the sensing device is located between a pressure regulator of the water system and a first fixture of the fixtures of the water system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine executable instructions are further configured when run on the one or more processors to perform:

transmitting a request for verification of the water leak.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the information analyzed in the analysis further comprises;

(a) the pressure measurement data in a time domain, and (b) the frequency domain characteristic of the pressure measurement data;

the single location of the sensing device is located between a pressure regulator of the water system and a first fixture of the fixtures of the water system;

the first threshold is 45 minutes;

the frequency band has a center frequency; and

the machine executable instructions are further configured when run on the one or more processors to perform;

determining the center frequency; and

transmitting a request for verification of the water leak.

8. A system comprising:

a sensing device comprising a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure of water in a water system of a building structure, the water system of the building structure comprising fixtures and water lines that supply the water to the fixtures of the water system, the sensing device being coupled to the water system of the building structure, the sensing device being configured to generate pressure measurement data representing the pressure of the water in the water system of the building structure as measured by the pressure sensor; and

one or more processing units comprising one or more processors and one or more non-transitory storage media storing machine executable instructions configured when run on the one or more processors to perform;

detecting a first non-cyclical pressure event corresponding to a first water leak in the water system of the building structure during a first time period based on a first analysis of first information comprising a first portion of the pressure measurement data; and

detecting a second non-cyclical pressure event corresponding to a second water leak in the water system of the building structure during a second time period based on a second analysis of second information comprising a second portion of the pressure measurement data, wherein the first information analyzed in the first analysis and the second information analyzed in the second analysis does not include any flow measurement data that represents a total amount of flow of the water in the water system of the building structure during the first time period or the second time period,

wherein;

the sensing device is coupled to the water system of the building structure at a single location of the water system of the building structure when the pressure sensor is measuring the pressure of the water in the water system of the building structure;

detecting the first non-cyclical pressure event further comprises;

tracking successive pressure samples of the pressure measurement data in a time domain; and

identifying a pattern of negative slopes interrupted by periodic pressure increases, the periodic pressure increases correspond to pressure resets activated by a pressure regulator coupled to the water system of the building structure; and

detecting the second non-cyclical pressure event further comprises;

detecting a pressure level below a pressure level threshold, wherein the pressure level threshold represents a pressure level floor observed during normal operating conditions of the water system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the first information analyzed in the first analysis and the second information analyzed in the second analysis further comprises;

(a) the pressure measurement data in the time domain, and (b) a frequency domain characteristic of the pressure measurement data.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the single location of the sensing device is located between the pressure regulator of the water system and a first fixture of the fixtures of the water system.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the machine executable instructions are further configured when run on the one or more processors to perform:

transmitting a request for verification of the first water leak and the second water leak.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the first information analyzed in the first analysis and the second information analyzed in the second analysis further comprises;

(a) the pressure measurement data in the time domain, and (b) a frequency domain characteristic of the pressure measurement data;

the single location of the sensing device is located between the pressure regulator of the water system and a first fixture of the fixtures of the water system; and

the machine executable instructions are further configured when run on the one or more processors to perform;

transmitting a request for verification of the first water leak and the second water leak.

13. A system comprising:

a sensing device comprising a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure of water in a water system of a building structure, the water system of the building structure comprising fixtures and water lines that supply the water to the fixtures of the water system, the sensing device being coupled to the water system of the building structure, the sensing device being configured to generate pressure measurement data representing the pressure of the water in the water system of the building structure as measured by the pressure sensor; and

one or more processing units comprising one or more processors and one or more non-transitory storage media storing machine executable instructions configured when run on the one or more processors to perform;

detecting a non-cyclical pressure event corresponding to a water leak in the water system of the building structure during a first time period based on an analysis of information comprising the pressure measurement data, wherein the information analyzed in the analysis does not include any flow measurement data that represents a total amount of flow of the water in the water system of the building structure during the first time period,

wherein;

the sensing device is coupled to the water system of the building structure at a single location of the water system of the building structure when the pressure sensor is measuring the pressure of the water in the water system of the building structure; and

detecting the non-cyclical pressure event further comprises;

detecting a pressure level below a pressure level threshold that is not due to an aggregation of intentional water-use events, wherein the pressure level threshold represents a pressure level floor observed during normal operating conditions of the water system, and wherein the intentional water-use events are detected based on learned pressure signatures of one or more fixtures or appliances.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the sensing device further comprises a flow turbine configured to determine whether the water is flowing at the single location of the sensing device; and

detecting the non-cyclical pressure event further comprises;

determining that the water is not flowing at the single location of the sensing device when the pressure level is detected below the pressure level threshold.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the information analyzed in the analysis further comprises;

(a) the pressure measurement data in a time domain, and (b) a frequency domain characteristic of the pressure measurement data.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the single location of the sensing device is located between a pressure regulator of the water system and a first fixture of the fixtures of the water system.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the machine executable instructions are further configured when run on the one or more processors to perform:

transmitting a request for verification of the water leak.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the information analyzed in the analysis further comprises;

(a) the pressure measurement data in a time domain, and (b) a frequency domain characteristic of the pressure measurement data;

the single location of the sensing device is located between a pressure regulator of the water system and a first fixture of the fixtures of the water system;

the sensing device further comprises a flow turbine configured to determine whether the water is flowing at the single location of the sensing device;

detecting the non-cyclical pressure event further comprises;

determining that the water is not flowing at the single location of the sensing device when the pressure level is detected below the pressure level threshold; and

the machine executable instructions are further configured when run on the one or more processors to perform;

transmitting a request for verification of the water leak.

19. A system comprising:

a sensing device comprising a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure of water in a water system of a building structure, the water system of the building structure comprising fixtures and water lines that supply the water to the fixtures of the water system, the sensing device being coupled to the water system of the building structure, the sensing device being configured to generate pressure measurement data representing the pressure of the water in the water system of the building structure as measured by the pressure sensor; and

one or more processing units comprising one or more processors and one or more non-transitory storage media storing machine executable instructions configured when run on the one or more processors to perform;

detecting a first non-cyclical pressure event corresponding to a first water leak in the water system of the building structure during a first time period based on a first analysis of first information comprising a first portion of the pressure measurement data; and

detecting a second non-cyclical pressure event corresponding to a second water leak in the water system of the building structure during a second time period based on a second analysis of second information comprising a second portion of the pressure measurement data, wherein the first information analyzed in the first analysis and the second information analyzed in the second analysis does not include any flow measurement data that represents a total amount of flow of the water in the water system of the building structure during the first time period or the second time period,

wherein;

the sensing device is coupled to the water system of the building structure at a single location of the water system of the building structure when the pressure sensor is measuring the pressure of the water in the water system of the building structure;

detecting the first non-cyclical pressure event further comprises;

determining a first standard deviation of pressure measurements of the pressure measurement data during a third time period comprising at least a portion of the first time period; and

determining that the first standard deviation is greater than a second known stable pressure standard deviation value by a multiple of a threshold; and

detecting the second non-cyclical pressure event further comprises;

detecting a pressure level below a pressure level threshold, wherein the pressure level threshold represents a pressure level floor observed during normal operating conditions of the water system.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the threshold is 3.5.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the first information analyzed in the first analysis and the second information analyzed in the second analysis further comprises;

(a) the pressure measurement data in a time domain, and (b) a frequency domain characteristic of the pressure measurement data.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the single location of the sensing device is located between a pressure regulator of the water system and a first fixture of the fixtures of the water system.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the machine executable instructions are further configured when run on the one or more processors to perform:

transmitting a request for verification of the first water leak and the second water leak.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the threshold is 3.5;

the first information analyzed in the first analysis and the second information analyzed in the second analysis further comprises;

(a) the pressure measurement data in a time domain, and (b) a frequency domain characteristic of the pressure measurement data;

the single location of the sensing device is located between a pressure regulator of the water system and a first fixture of the fixtures of the water system; and

the machine executable instructions are further configured when run on the one or more processors to perform;

transmitting a request for verification of the first water leak and the second water leak.