Flow imaging and monitoring for synchronized management of wide area drainage

• US 10,508,939 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2018
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Environmental Protection Agency (Government of the United States of America), Urbanalta Corp
• Original Assignee: US Environmental Protection Agency (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Kertesz, Ruben, Murray, Jr., Daniel J., Bolan, Michael, Anderson, Ryan, Fang, Chunsheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunlap, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US15/954,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20180238726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 7386118, 7386125-86128, 73 491, 73 405 A, 73592, 137551, 340603, 340606, 702 54
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 2201/20 Measuring flow in sewer systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 2201/40 Means for indicating blockage in sewer systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 7/00 Other installations or implements for operating sewer systems, e.g. for preventing or indicating stoppage; Emptying cesspools
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/002 wherein the flow is in an open channel
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/66 by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/661 using light
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/662 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/666 by detecting noise and sounds generated by the flowing fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/704 using marked regions or existing inhomogeneities within the fluid stream, e.g. statistically occurring variations in a fluid parameter G01F1/76, G01F25/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/7086 using optical detecting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/251 specially adapted for stationary devices, e.g. power plant buffering or backup power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8359 Inspection means

Abstract

A flow imaging and monitoring system for synchronized management of wide area drainage that includes an interposer for supporting monitoring and management equipment in a manhole, a module for illuminating water flowing in pipes at the base of the manhole, a module for monitoring responses to reflected light, a sealed and rechargeable battery pack, and a data analysis and management system to interpret data streams in real time. The interposer can be adjusted to fit the diameter of the manhole and can be adjusted to be placed under the manhole cover. The module for illuminating the flowing water can be adjusted to generate various frequencies. The support structures for the modules can be adjusted for varying pitch, roll and yaw with respect to the manhole. The data analysis and management system is supported by cloud computing.

Claims

1. A flow monitoring system comprising:

(a) one or more acoustic modules configured to acquire intrinsic acoustic signature patterns of the flow;

(b) one or more image acquisition modules; and

(c) an on-site computing system,

wherein the flow monitoring system provides characterization and measurement of flow associated with open channel stormwater and/or wastewater drainage, and the acoustic modules do not use artificially produced sound to monitor flow.

2. The flow monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the one or more image acquisition modules comprise one or more image sensors.

3. The flow monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the one or more acoustic modules comprise one or more acoustic sensors.

4. The flow monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising at least one battery.

5. The flow monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the on-site computing system is supported by cloud computing.

6. The flow monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising an interposer to physically engage with and provide support for the one or more acoustic modules and the one or more image acquisition modules.

7. The flow monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the interposer is located above water.

8. The flow monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the one or more image sensors include at least one image sensor selected from the group consisting of a visible spectrum image sensor, a range camera, a thermal image sensor, an ultraviolet image sensor, and an infrared image sensor.

9. The flow monitoring system of claim 1 configured to measure at least one of the width, depth, shape, velocity, volumetric flow rate, obstructions, color, direction, fluorescence, temperature and water quality of the flow.

10. A flow monitoring system comprising:

(a) one or more acoustic modules configured to acquire acoustic signature patterns of the flow;

(b) one or more image acquisition modules; and

(c) an on-site computing system supported by cloud computing,

wherein the flow monitoring system provides characterization and measurement of water flow, and the on-site computing system supported by cloud computing triggers the one or more image acquisition modules to provide additional flow measurement data when necessary to improve the measurement of flow parameters.

11. A method for flow imaging, monitoring and management of storm water and/or wastewater comprising:

locating the flow monitoring system of claim 10 above the storm water and/or wastewater;

providing an acoustic signature of the flow;

triggering a multifactor data acquisition by a command from cloud computing services or by a sensor to engage,

if necessary, the one or more image acquisition modules to acquire flow width images to further improve measurement of the flow parameters.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein cloud computing is used to augment calculation of flow parameters.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein site specific active learning is employed to increase confidence in the flow parameters.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein active learning relies on the use of historical data patterns in the calculation of flow parameters.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the image acquisition modules assist in determining the cross-sectional average flow velocity and volumetric flow rate based on images of flow width at a specific site.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the Manning formula is used to determine cross-sectional average flow velocity based on images of flow width.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising measuring particle velocity.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising using chevron pattern analysis of images to calculate flow parameters.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the flow velocity and volumetric flow rate data at one specific site is in communication with flow monitoring systems at multiple sites.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein flow velocity and volumetric flow rate data at one specific site turns on an actuator to control flow at another site.

21. The flow monitoring system of claim 10 further comprising one or more lighting modules.

22. The flow monitoring system of claim 21, wherein the one or more lighting modules are configured to communicate with the imaging module to coordinate lighting conditions necessary to improve measurement of flow parameters.

23. The flow monitoring system of claim 22, wherein the one or more lighting modules contain one or more lighting sources.

24. The flow monitoring system of claim 23, wherein the one or more lighting sources comprise at least one member of the group consisting of white light, laser light, and thermal infrared technology.