Systems and methods for generating power through the flow of water

• US 9,105,181 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pitchford, Barth R., Pitchford, William D., Simon, Robert P., Nagel, Steven, Nardi, Benedict J., Smith, Russell S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunnings, Travis
• Application Number:
  US13/492,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20130113631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/45 Utility meters networked together within a single building
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 3/12 Meters with nutating members, e.g. discs
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/886 using energy harvesting, e.g. solar, wind or mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A remote water meter monitoring system is provided. A mesh network-type transceiver unit is coupled to a water meter housing having a water counting mechanism inside to transmit water consumption information as well as other sensor information, such as backflow detection, water pressure, and water metrics (e.g., residual chlorine and temperature) to a central server system via a bridge device and a corresponding mesh network. Mechanical energy from the water flowing through the water meter housing is converted to electrical energy via an energy conversion unit. An electrically powered shut off valve is remote addressable via the transceiver unit.

Claims

1. A remote water meter monitoring system comprising:

a water meter body coupling a water supply source to a water customer;

a flow meter contained within the water meter body that is configured to measure a flow rate of water through the water meter;

a power supply system including at least one battery and a power generator,

wherein the power generator is powered by a flow of water through the water meter body;

a controller communicatively coupled to the water meter body and power supply system; and

at least one antenna connected to the controller; and

the at least one antenna including;

a meter pit cover containing a through-hole;

an insert disposed in the through-hole of the meter pit cover, the insert containing an exciter loop; and

an electrically conductive plate attached to the insert, the electrically conductive plate disposed below and coupled in parallel with the meter pit cover, wherein the electrically conductive plate conducts radio frequency signals.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller and antenna are configured to transmit and receive information from and send information to the system.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the controller and antenna are configured to send water usage information wirelessly to a bridge device.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein sending water usage information comprises sending information either directly or through one or more other water meter monitoring systems.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the system is configured to receive at least one command from the wireless bridge device;

and wherein the at least one command is a command selected from the group consisting of a meter reading transmission request, a status request, and a water shutoff request.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive plate is circular in shape with a central aperture through which the insert is disposed.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the electrically conductive plate is sandwiched between a shoulder of the insert and a conductive plate nut that is threadably attached to the insert.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the electrically conductive plate is disposed in a plane parallel to the meter pit cover.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the exciter loop is disposed relative to the meter pit cover such that a portion of the exciter loop extends above a top surface of the meter pit cover.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the exciter loop is electronically connected to a coaxial cable, and the coaxial cable is electronically connected to an RF connector.

11. The system according to claim 10, further including at least one annular bead that is disposed about the coaxial cable.

12. The system according to claim 11, the at least one annular bead being constructed of ferrite.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the water meter body further comprises a shut off valve;

and wherein the shut off valve may be remotely activated by a wireless signal received by the system.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the flow sensor is adapted to detect reverse water flow and to cause the shut off valve to trigger when reverse water flow exceeds a predetermined volume.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the water meter further comprises at least one water quality sensor;

wherein the controller is configured to send periodic water usage information wirelessly to the water customer; and

wherein the system is remotely addressable via a communications network with a network content browser.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the antenna further comprises:

a radio frequency connector connected to the insert distal from the exciter loop; and

a pit cover nut disposed on the insert, the nut holding the insert in position relative to the meter pit cover.

18. The network according to claim 13, wherein the water meter further comprises a shut off valve operable to prevent water from flowing from the supply to the customer and configured for remote shut off via the communication circuit.

19. The network according to claim 18, wherein the shut off valve is configured for remote shut off based on water consumption of a customer.

20. The network according to claim 18, wherein the shut off valve is configured for remote shut off based on observed water contamination.

21. The network according to claim 13, wherein the antenna of the communication circuit includes an exciter loop, a portion of the exciter loop extending above the meter pit cover.

17. A wireless remote water meter monitoring network comprising:

at least one central data processing system;

at least one bridge device communicatively coupled to the at least one central data processing system; and

a plurality of network nodes, each network node configured to perform two-way communication with the at least one bridge device, either directly or through one or more other network nodes,

wherein each network node comprises;

a water meter housing coupling a water customer with a water supply line;

a flow measurement device in the water meter housing for measuring a volume of water flowing through the meter;

a power supply circuit including at least one power storage device and a power converter, wherein the power converter is powered by water flow through the meter; and

a communication circuit comprising a mesh-type controller and an antenna, wherein the communication circuit is coupled to the flow measurement device and the power supply circuit and is adapted to perform two-way communication; and

the antenna including;

a meter pit cover containing a through-hole;

an insert disposed in the through-hole of the meter pit cover, the insert containing an exciter loop; and

an electrically conductive plate attached to the insert, the electrically conductive plate disposed below and coupled in parallel with the meter pit cover, wherein the electrically conductive plate conducts radio frequency signals.

22. A circuit for a wireless water meter monitoring system comprising:

a mechanical energy harnessing sub-circuit for converting water flow mechanical energy into electrical energy comprising a pair of magnetically coupled rotors driven by water flow and having a plurality of magnets affixed thereto that rotate around a set of coils, thereby inducing a current in the coils;

an energy storage and delivery sub-circuit comprising at least one rectifier circuit electrically coupled to the coils, at least one capacitor charged by the at least one rectifier circuit, at least one battery, and a switch for permitting the at least one battery to be charged by the at least one capacitor and for selecting either the at least one capacitor or the at least one battery to supply continuous power to the circuit and to manage charging of the at least one battery;

a water flow counting sub-circuit comprising a plurality of flux change detectors that detect flux changes caused by a magnet rotating about a shaft driven by a flow meter of a water flow chamber;

a communication sub-circuit electrically coupled to the energy storage and delivery sub-circuit and the water flow counting sub-circuit comprising a mesh-type transceiver and an antenna for enabling two-way communication between the wireless water meter monitoring system and other systems; and

a sensor sub-circuit electrically coupled to the energy storage and delivery sub-circuit and the communication sub-circuit for recording sensor data and comprising at least one sensor device; and

the antenna including;

a meter pit cover containing a through-hole;

an insert disposed in the through-hole of the meter pit cover, the insert containing an exciter loop; and

an electrically conductive plate attached to the insert, the electrically conductive plate disposed below and coupled in parallel with the meter pit cover, wherein the electrically conductive plate conducts radio frequency signals.

23. The circuit according to claim 22, wherein the sensor sub-circuit comprises a plurality of Hall effect switches for detecting a water flow through the meter and a counter device for quantifying the water flow into a flow rate.

24. The circuit according to claim 22, wherein the sensor sub-circuit comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a water pressure sensor, a water composition sensor, and a temperature sensor.

25. The circuit according to claim 22, further comprising a water flow shut off sub-circuit coupled to the communication sub-circuit and the energy storage and delivery sub-circuit for preventing a water flow to a customer associated with the water meter in response to a command received from the communication sub-circuit.

26. The circuit according to claim 22, wherein the communications sub-circuit comprises an embedded microprocessor executing a control program for recording information from the sensor sub-circuit and the water flow counting sub-circuit and for periodically transmitting this recorded information to a remote system.