Method and system for determining demand in a water distribution system

• US 20060015269A1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Underground Utility Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Underground Utility Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Rigby, Gene, Rigby, Amy Lee
• Granted Patent: US 7,124,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/55
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/02 Public or like main pipe systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/007 by measuring the level variations of storage tanks relative to the time

Abstract

A method for determining demand in a water distribution system. The method comprises measuring the volume of water flowing into the water distribution system through an input during a predetermined interval of time, measuring the change in the volume of water stored in the storage reservoir during the same time interval, measuring the volume of water flow exiting the water distribution system through an output during the same time interval, calculating an adjusted input measurement by subtracting the measured flow of water exiting the water distribution system from the measured volume of water flow into the water distribution system, and adding a measured increase in the volume of the water in the storage reservoir to the adjusted input measurement, or subtracting a measured decrease in the volume of water in the storage reservoir from the adjusted input measurement, to determine the amount of demand upon the water distribution system.

Claims

1. A method for determining the amount of demand in a water distribution system having an input, a storage reservoir and an output, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring the volume of water flowing into the water distribution system through the input during a predetermined interval of time;

measuring the change in the volume of water stored in the storage reservoir during the same time interval;

measuring the volume of water flow exiting the water distribution system through the output during the same time interval;

calculating an adjusted input measurement by subtracting the measured flow of water exiting the water distribution system from the measured volume of water flow into the water distribution system; and

adding a measured increase in the volume of the water in the storage reservoir to the adjusted input measurement, or subtracting a measured decrease in the volume of water in the storage reservoir from the adjusted input measurement, to determine the amount of demand upon the water distribution system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of minimizing the amount of water exiting the water distribution system for the time interval, wherein the resulting demand computation represents unaccounted-for losses in the water distribution system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of issuing an alarm signal if the demand exceeds a predetermined value.

4. A method for determining the amount of demand in a water distribution system having an input and an output, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring the volume of water flowing into the water distribution system through the input during a predetermined interval of time;

measuring the volume of water flow exiting the water distribution system through the output during the same time interval; and

subtracting the measured flow of water exiting the water distribution system from the measured volume of water flow into the water distribution system to determine the amount of demand upon the water distribution system.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of minimizing the amount of water exiting the water distribution system for the time interval, wherein the resulting demand computation represents unaccounted-for losses in the water distribution system.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of issuing an alarm signal if the demand exceeds a predetermined value.

7. A system for determining the amount of demand in a water distribution system having an input, a storage reservoir and an output, comprising:

a first flow meter to measure the flow of water through the input;

a first time source to provide time data corresponding to measurements of the first flow meter;

a first data storage location to record the measurements of the first flow meter and time data corresponding to measurements of the first flow meter;

a second flow meter to measure the flow of water through the output;

a second time source synchronized with the first time source and configured to provide time data corresponding to measurements of the second flow meter;

a second data storage location to record the measurements of the second flow meter and time data corresponding to measurements of the second flow meter;

a water level meter to measure the volume of water stored in the storage reservoir;

a third time source synchronized with the first time source and configured to provide time data corresponding to the measurements of the water level meter;

a third data storage location to record the measurements of the water level meter and time data corresponding to measurements of the water level meter; and

a control configured to receive measurements and corresponding time data from the first, second and third data storage locations and calculate the demand upon the water distribution system.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the first and second flow meter are each one of a differential pressure flow meter, velocity flow meter, positive displacement flow meter, mass flow meter and an open channel flow meter.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the water level meter further comprises a transducer.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein at least two of the first, second and third time sources are combined into a single time source.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the data storage locations are one of a data logger, data acquisition system, flash memory, random access memory, magnetic bubble and/or disc media, optical disk media and magnetic tape.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the control comprises at least one of a computer, microcontroller, central processing unit, programmable controller, logic device, microprocessor, and ladder logic device.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein the control further comprises an output.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the output is at least one of an electronic solid state display, cathode ray tube, and printing device.

15. The system of claim 7 wherein the control further comprises a memory.

16. The system of claim 7 wherein the control further comprises a predetermined set of instructions.

17. The system of claim 7 wherein at least one of the first flow meter, first time source, first data storage location, second flow meter, second time source, second data storage location, water level meter, third time source, third data storage location and control are linked by at least one of wired and wireless means.

18. A system for determining the amount of demand in a water distribution system having an input and an output, comprising:

a first flow meter to measure the flow of water through the input;

a first time source to provide time data corresponding to measurements of the first flow meter;

a first data storage location to record the measurements of the first flow meter and time data corresponding to measurements of the first flow meter;

a second flow meter to measure the flow of water through the output;

a second time source synchronized with the first time source and configured to provide time data corresponding to measurements of the second flow meter;

a second data storage location to record the measurements of the second flow meter and time data corresponding to measurements of the second flow meter; and

a control configured to receive measurements and corresponding time data from the first and second data storage locations and calculate the demand upon the water distribution system.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the first and second flow meter are each one of a differential pressure flow meter, velocity flow meter, positive displacement flow meter, mass flow meter and an open channel flow meter.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the water level meter further comprises a transducer.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein at least two of the first, second and third time sources are combined into a single time source.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein the data storage locations are one of a data logger, data acquisition system, flash memory, random access memory, magnetic bubble and/or disc media, optical disk media and magnetic tape.

23. The system of claim 18 wherein the control comprises at least one of a computer, microcontroller, central processing unit, programmable controller, logic device, microprocessor, and ladder logic device.

24. The system of claim 18 wherein the control further comprises an output.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the output is at least one of an electronic solid state display, cathode ray tube, and printing device.

26. The system of claim 18 wherein the control further comprises a memory.

27. The system of claim 18 wherein the control further comprises a predetermined set of instructions.

28. The system of claim 18 wherein at least one of the first flow meter, first time source, first data storage location, second flow meter, second time source, second data storage location, water level meter, third time source, third data storage location and control are linked by at least one of wired and wireless means.