Method and installation for real-time inspection of the quality of water in a delivery network

• US 8,531,303 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2008
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suez International (Saudi Chemical Company)
• Original Assignee: Suez Environnement (Suez Environnement Company)
• Inventors: Laine, Jean-Michel, Kora, Roland, Pham, Hao-Nhin
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees, Edny
• Application Number:
  US12/598,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20100141459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 340/602, 340/603, 340/604, 210/747.5, 210/747.7, 210/170.07, 210/170.08, 134/43, 134/109, 134/111, 134/113
• US Class Current: 340/603
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/006 Water distributors either inside a treatment tank or directing the water to several treatment tanks; Water treatment plants incorporating these distributors, with or without chemical or biological tanks for settling tanks B01D21/24
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/11 Turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/29 Chlorine compounds
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/02 Public or like main pipe systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/18 Water

Abstract

Method for inspecting, in real time, the quality of water of a drinking water delivery network comprising, on the one hand, on connections for consumers, consumption meters (9a) fitted with remote-reading devices, and, on the other hand, on-line analysers (10a) distributed at supervision points on the network in order to measure at least one parameter of water quality. The meters (9a) are fitted with remote-reading devices and the consumption data of the various meters (9a), and the measurements of the analysers (10a) are transmitted to a programmed computing unit (A) with a kinetic model of decrease of the quality parameter in question; the computing unit (A) permanently updates the hydraulic model according to the consumption data received from the meters (9a, 9b etc.); the computing unit (A) establishes expected estimated values of the concentration in the water of the parameter in question at the various supervision points of the network, and a prewarning system (w) makes a comparison between the estimated values of the quality parameter and the values measured at various points of the network, a warning being triggered when the difference between the measured value and the expected estimated value exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring the quality of the water of a drinking water distribution network including consumption meters and in-line analyzers at surveillance points of the network for measuring at least one quality parameter of the water, in which method:

measurements from the analyzers (10a, 10b, etc.) are sent to a calculation unit (A),

the calculation unit (A) establishes estimated values of the level in the water of the parameter concerned at the various surveillance points in the network,

measured values of the quality parameter at the various points of the network are sent to a pre-alarm system (W), and

the pre-alarm system (W) compares the estimated values of the quality parameter and the values measured at various points of the network, an alarm being tripped if the difference between a measured value and an estimated value exceeds a predetermined threshold,

wherein, for monitoring in real time;

end user meters (9a, 9b, etc.) equipped with remote meter reading devices are installed on branch connections to end user consumers,

consumption data from the various end user meters (9a, 9b, etc.) is sent to the calculation unit (A),

the calculation unit (A) is programmed with a hydraulic model and a kinetic model of the decrease of the quality parameter concerned,

using the hydraulic and the kinetic models, the calculation unit (A) evaluates the level of the quality parameter concerned in the water, and

the calculation unit (A) continuously updates the hydraulic model according to consumption data received from the end user meters (9a, 9b, etc.),

wherein reverse flow information from the end user meters (9a, 9b, etc.) is sent to he pre-alarm system (W) and grouped information on reverse flow and quality parameter levels are combined to increase the probability of detecting an intrusion into the network.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein consumption data from the end user meters (9a, 9b, etc.) equipped with remote meter reading devices is sent to the calculation unit (A) at least once per hour.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the quality parameter is the turbidity.

5. An installation for implementing a method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a drinking water distribution network that includes consumption meters and in-line analyzers at monitoring points in the network to measure at least one water quality parameter, which installation also includes:

a calculation unit (A) which is sent measurements from the analyzers (10a, 10b, etc.) and establishes estimated values of the level in the water of the parameter concerned at the various surveillance points in the network, and

a pre-alarm system (W) which is sent measured values of the quality parameter at the various points of the network and that compares the estimated values of the quality parameter and the values measured at various points in the network, an alarm being tripped if the difference between a measured value and an estimated value exceeds a predetermined threshold,

wherein, for monitoring, in real time;

the installation includes end user meters (9a, 9b, etc.) equipped with remote meter reading devices installed on branch connections to end user consumers,

consumption data from the various end user meters (9a, 9b, etc.) is sent to the calculation unit (A),

the calculation unit (A) is programmed with a hydraulic model and a kinetic model of the decrease of the quality parameter concerned,

using the hydraulic and the kinetic, models, the calculation unit (A) evaluates the level of the quality parameter concerned in the water, and

the calculation unit (A) continuously updates the hydraulic model according to consumption data received from the end user meters (9a, 9b, etc.),

wherein it includes a fixed remote meter reading system (13) which establishes from all the consumption information sent by the end user meters (9a, 9b, etc.) an estimated instantaneous consumption that is communicated via a link (14) to the calculation unit (A), and

wherein the remote meter reading system (13) is adapted to signal a reverse flow from one the end user meters (9a, 9b, etc.), reverse flow information being sent over a link (15) to the pre-alarm system (W).

6. The installation as claimed in claim 5, wherein it includes a remote surveillance system (12) which receives information from the analyzers (10a, 10b, etc.) and which sends the calculation unit via a link (12a), after processing it, information on the pressure and flow rate state of the network and via one or more links (12b, 12c) information on the level of the quality parameter in the water.

7. The installation as claimed in claim 5, wherein analyzers (10a, 10b, etc.) measure the chlorine concentration of the water, which constitutes one quality parameter.

3. The method as claimed in 1, wherein the water quality parameter taken into account for real time monitoring of the network is the chlorine concentration of the water.

8. A method of monitoring the quality of the water of a drinking water distribution network including consumption meters and in-line analyzers at surveillance points of the network for measuring at least one quality parameter of the water, in which method:

measurements from the analyzers (10a, 10b, etc.) are sent to a calculation unit (A),

the calculation unit (A) establishes estimated values of the level in the water of the parameter concerned at the various surveillance points in the network,

measured values of the quality parameter at the various points of the network are sent to a pre-alarm system (W),

reverse flow information from end user meters (9a, 9b, etc.) is sent to the pre-alarm system (W), an alarm being tripped when reverse flow is detected, and

the pre-alarm system (W) compares the estimated values of the quality parameter and the values measured at various points of the network, an alarm being tripped if the difference between a measured value and an estimated value exceeds a predetermined threshold,

wherein, for monitoring in real time;

the end user meters (9a, 9b, etc,) are equipped with remote meter reading devices and are installed on branch connections to end user consumers,

consumption data from the end user meters (9a, 9b, etc.) is sent to the calculation unit (A),

the calculation unit (A) is programmed with a hydraulic model and a kinetic model of the decrease of the quality parameter concerned,

using the hydraulic and the kinetic models, the calculation unit (A) evaluates the level of the quality parameter concerned in the water, and

the calculation unit (A) continuously updates the hydraulic model according to consumption data received from the end user meters (9a, 9b, etc.).