Control of the flow rate and fluid pressure in a pipeline network for optimum distribution of the fluid to consumers
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the distribution of physical phenomena to users of said phenomena over an interconnected multinode distribution network comprising the steps of:
- (a) measuring the user consumption of said phenomena at selected nodes and generated therefrom a set of respective normalized patterns of consumption of said physical phenomena;
(b) generating a plurality of normalized user demand patterns associated with each of the nodes of said interconnected multinode distribution network in accordance with prescribed user characteristics associated with each node;
(c) measuring the total consumption of said physical phenomena over a prescribed interval of time for each node of said network;
(d) assigning, to each node in said network, a respective one of said normalized patterns of consumption, in accordance with a prescribed relationship between the normalized user demand pattern associated with said each node and the normalized user demand patterns associated with said selected nodes;
(e) producing, for each node, a respective predicted user consumption demand pattern in accordance with the total consumption measured in step (c) and the normalized patterns of consumption assigned to each node in step (d); and
(f) controlling the distribution of said physical phenomena over said interconnected multinode distribution network in accordance with the predicted user consumption demand patterns produced in step (d).
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for optimum distribution of water supplied to consumers is disclosed.
At selected nodes of a network from which water is supplied to consumers, the actual water consumption is measured to detect a standard pattern for water demand in each selected area. Next, predicted demand patterns for each and every node are determined by comparing the characteristics or attributes of each area with those of areas having standard demand patterns. Thirdly, manipulated variables of pumps and valves installed in the pipeline network are controlled on the basis of predicted demand patterns.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the distribution of physical phenomena to users of said phenomena over an interconnected multinode distribution network comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring the user consumption of said phenomena at selected nodes and generated therefrom a set of respective normalized patterns of consumption of said physical phenomena; (b) generating a plurality of normalized user demand patterns associated with each of the nodes of said interconnected multinode distribution network in accordance with prescribed user characteristics associated with each node; (c) measuring the total consumption of said physical phenomena over a prescribed interval of time for each node of said network; (d) assigning, to each node in said network, a respective one of said normalized patterns of consumption, in accordance with a prescribed relationship between the normalized user demand pattern associated with said each node and the normalized user demand patterns associated with said selected nodes; (e) producing, for each node, a respective predicted user consumption demand pattern in accordance with the total consumption measured in step (c) and the normalized patterns of consumption assigned to each node in step (d); and (f) controlling the distribution of said physical phenomena over said interconnected multinode distribution network in accordance with the predicted user consumption demand patterns produced in step (d).
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2. In an interconnected multinode distribution network, wherein prescribed physical phenomena are supplied to the users thereof located in a plurality of areas, each of which areas is served by a respective node of said multinode distribution network, said system including a central control unit having data inputs coupled to said nodes and to the locations of the users of said phenomena for receiving prescribed data representative of the consumption of said phenomena, and having a plurality of outputs coupled to distribution control units, disposed within said network, for controlling the delivery of said phenomena through said network to said users, said central control unit including a central processor unit and associated memory for processing data coupled thereto and generating, in accordance with the processing of the data, control signals to be supplied to said distribution control units, a method controlling the distribution of said physical phenomena to said users comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring the user consumption of said phenomena at selected nodes and supplying data representative thereof to said central control unit; (b) generating and storing, in said central control unit, a set of respective normalized patterns of consumption of said physical phenomena in accordance with the data measured in step (a); (c) generating and storing in said central control unit a plurality of normalized user demand patterns associated with each of the nodes of said network in accordance with prescribed user characteristics associated with each node; (d) measuring the consumption of said phenomena for each user served by the nodes of said network and supplying data representative thereof to said central control unit; (e) generating and storing, in said central control unit, quantities representative of the total consumption of said physical phenomena over a prescribed interval of time for each node of said network in accordance with the data measured in step (d); (f) assigning, for each node in said network, a respective one of the normalized patterns of consumption generated in step (b) in accordance with a prescribed relationship between the normalized user demand pattern associated with said each node and the normalized user demand patterns associated with said selected nodes; (g) producing, for each node of said network, a respective predicted user consumption demand pattern in accordance with the total consumption quantities generated in step (e) and the normalized patterns of consumption assigned to each node in step (f); and (h) generating control signals and supplying said control signals from said central control unit to said distribution control units to thereby control the distribution of said physical phenomena over said interconnected multinode distribution network in accordance with the predicted user consumption demand patterns produced in step (g). - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a pipeline network system in which a network has a plurality of nodes Nk (where k=1, 2, 3, . . . z), from which fluid is supplied to respective demand areas Dk (where k=1, 2, 3, . . . z) each of which includes plural demand item Ri (where i=1, 2, 3, . . . m) and means for controlling the network comprises pumps, valves, control devices for controlling the pumps and the valves and a control unit having a memory unit and a processor unit for performing necessary operations on the basis of data and information obtained from the network and supplying outputs to the control devices, wherein a demand pattern at the node Nk is predetermined in the processor unit from the data and information stored in the memory unit and flow rate and fluid pressure in the network are controlled through the control devices to follow the predetermined demand pattern, a method for controlling the flow rate and fluid pressure in the pipeline network system, which comprises the steps of:
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(a) inputting into the control unit the data and information on the occupation rate Xnk (Ri) for the demand area Dk, the occupation rate Xnk (Ri) being obtained as the ratio of the number of people NRi in the demand item Ri to the total number of people NT in the demand area Dk to which the fluid is supplied from the node Nk ; (b) measuring the change of fluid consumption with time at each of demand nodes Nl, Nm . . . N of some ones selected from among all the demand areas to obtain standard demand patterns Qnl (t), Qnm (t), . . . Qnn (t); (c) sequentially comparing the occupation rate Xnk (Ri) with those Xnl (Ri), Xnm (Ri), . . . Xnn (Ri) for the selected demand areas to detect one of the occupation rates having the greatest similarity with Xnk (Ri) so that the standard demand pattern for the selected demand area having the greatest similarity is used as the predetermined demand pattern for control of the demand area Dk ; (d) producing signals indicative of the amount of fluid demand at the node Nk at any given time in accordance with the predetermined demand pattern; and (e) controlling manipulated variables of the pumps and the valves on the basis of the signals indicative of the amount of fluid demand.
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8. A system of controlling the distribution of physical phenomena to users of said phenomena over an interconnected multinode distribution network comprising, in combination:
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means for measuring the user consumption of said phenomena at selected nodes and generating a set of data representative of respective normalized patterns of consumption of said physical phenomena; means for measuring the total consumption of said physical phenomena over a prescribed interval of time for each node of said network; data processor unit which generates a plurality of data representative of normalized user demand patterns associated with each of the nodes of said interconnected multinode distribution network in accordance with prescribed user characteristics associated with each node, assigns, to each node in said network, a respective one of said normalized patterns of consumption, in accordance with a prescribed relationship between the normalized user demand pattern associated with said each node and the normalized user demand patterns associated with said selected nodes, and produces, for each node, a respective predicted user consumption demand pattern in accordance with the total measured consumption and the normalized patterns of consumption assigned to each node; and means for controlling the distribution of said physical phenomena over said interconnected multinode distribution network in accordance with said predicted user consumption demand patterns.
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9. In an interconnected multinode distribution network, wherein prescribed physical pehnomena are supplied to the users thereof located in a plurality of areas, each of which areas is served by a respective node of said multinode distribution network, said system including a central control unit having data inputs coupled to said nodes and to the locations of the users of said phenomena for receiving prescribed data representative of the consumption of said phenomena, and having a plurality of outputs coupled to distribution control units, disposed within said network, for controlling the delivery of said phenomena through said network to said users, said central control unit including a central processor unit and associated memory for processing data coupled thereto and generating in accordance with the processing of the data, control signals to be supplied to said distribution control units, a system controlling the distribution of said physical phenomena to said users comprising, in combination:
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first means for measuring the user consumption of said phenomena at selected nodes and supplying data representative thereof to said central control unit; second means for measuring the consumption of said phenomena for each user served by the nodes of said network and supplying data representative thereof to said central control unit; and wherein, within said control unit, said central processor unit and its associated memory respectively generate and store a set of respective normalized patterns of consumption of said physical phenomena in accordance with the data measured and supplied by said first means, a plurality of normalized user demand patterns associated with each of the nodes of said network in accordance with prescribed user characteristics associated with each node, and quantities representative of the total consumption of said physical phenomena over a prescribed interval of time for each node of said network in accordance with the data measured and supplied by said second means, and wherein said central processor unit assigns, for each node in said network, a respective one of the normalized patterns of consumption generated in accordance with a prescribed relationship between the normalized user demand pattern associated with said each node and the normalized user demand patterns associated with said selected nodes, produces, for each node of said network, a respective predicted user consumption demand pattern in accordance with the total consumption quantities and the normalized patterns of consumption assigned to each node, and generates control signals in accordance with the predicted user consumption demand patterns; and
wherein said control signals are supplied from said central processor unit to said distribution control units to thereby control the distribution of said physical phenomena over said interconnected multinode distribution network. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a pipeline network system in which a network has a plurality of nodes Nk (where k=1, 2, 3, . . . z), from which fluid is supplied to respective demand areas Dk (where k=1, 2, 3, . . . z) each of which includes plural demand items Ri (where i=1, 2, 3, . . . m) and means for controlling the network comprising pumps, valves, control devices for controlling the pumps and the valves and a control unit having a memory unit and a processor unit for performing necessary operations on the basis of data and information obtained from the network and supplying outputs to the control devices, wherein a demand pattern at the node Nk is predetermined in the processor unit from the data and information stored in the memory unit and flow rate and fluid pressure in the network are controlled through the control devices to follow the predetermined demand pattern, a system for controlling the flow rate and fluid pressure in the pipeline network system, which comprises:
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means for inputting into the control unit the data and information on the occupation rate Xnk (Ri) for the demand area Dk, the occupation rate Xnk (Ri) being obtained as the ratio of the number of people NRi in the demand item Ri to the total number of people NT in the demand area Dk to which the fluid is supplied from the node Nk ; means for measuring the change of fluid consumption with time at each of demand nodes Nl, Nm, . . . Nn of some ones selected from among all the demand areas to obtain standard demand patterns Qnl (t), Qnm (t), . . . Qnn (t); and wherein said processor unit sequentially compares the occupation rate Xnk (Ri) with those Xnl (Ri), Xnm (Ri) . . . Xnn (Ri) for the selected demand areas to detect one of occupation rates having the greatest similarity with Xnk (Ri) so that the standard demand pattern for the selected demand area having the greatest similarity is used as the predetermined demand pattern for control of the demand area Dk, and produces signals indicative of the amount of fluid demand at the node Nk at any given time in accordance with the predetermined demand pattern; and means for controlling manipulated variables of the pumps and the valves on the basis of the signals indicative of the amount of fluid demand.
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Specification