Method and system for determining demand in a water distribution system
First Claim
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;
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; and
providing the determined demand to at least one of a memory, a data storage location, and a data output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Demand in a water distribution system is determined by the steps of 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 demand.
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Citations
23 Claims
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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:
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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; 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; and providing the determined demand to at least one of a memory, a data storage location, and a data output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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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:
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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; 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; 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; and providing the computed demand to at least one of a memory, a data storage location, and a data output. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A system for determining the amount of demand in a water distribution system having an input, a storage reservoir and an output, comprising:
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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; wherein the calculated demand is provided to at least one of a memory, a data storage location, and a data output. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for determining the amount of demand in a water distribution system having an input and an output, comprising:
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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; wherein the calculated demand is provided to at least one of a memory, a data storage location, and a data output. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification