Systems and methods for generating power through the flow of water

• US 9,651,400 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• 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, William D., Nagel, Steven, Nardi, Benedict J., Smith, Russell S., Pitchford, Barth R., Simon, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US14/822,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20160025514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• 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

Examples of generating power through the flow of water are disclosed. In one example, remote water meter monitoring system includes an energy converter and a sensor. The energy converter is in fluid connectivity with water flowing through a pipe, the energy convertor being driven by a mechanical energy of water flowing through the pipe to convert the mechanical energy into an electrical energy for charging a battery connected to the energy converter. The sensor detects a level of a property of the water, the sensor being powered by the battery connected to the energy converter.

Claims

1. A remote water meter monitoring system comprising:

an energy converter in fluid connectivity with water flowing through a pipe, the energy converter being driven by a mechanical energy of water flowing through the pipe to convert the mechanical energy into an electrical energy for charging a battery connected to the energy converter; and

a sensor detecting a level of a property of the water, the sensor being powered by the battery connected to the energy converter.

2. The remote water meter monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the property of the water is selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, and chlorine.

3. The remote water meter monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a water quality sensor.

4. The remote water meter monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna being powered by the battery connected to the energy converter, the antenna coupled to a meter pit cover and extending above a plane defined by the meter pit cover.

5. The remote water meter monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control module being powered by the battery connected to the energy converter.

6. The remote water meter monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the control module comprises:

a transceiver;

a microprocessor; and

a memory storing a control program executable by the control module.

7. The remote water meter monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the control program is configured to cause the remote water meter monitoring system to:

awaken from a sleep state;

check battery charge levels and adjust a charging cycle in response to available power;

prepare a data packet for transmitting water consumption data to a collector;

listen for a communication from a collector;

transmit the prepared data packet; and

return to a sleep state.

8. The remote water meter monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

a valve being powered by the battery connected to the energy converter.

9. The remote water meter monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second sensor detecting a level of a second property of the water, the second sensor being powered by the battery connected to the energy converter.

10. A method, comprising:

generating electrical energy at an energy converter in fluid connectivity with water flowing through a pipe, the energy converter being driven by a mechanical energy of water flowing through the pipe to convert the mechanical energy into an electrical energy;

charging a battery connected to the energy converter using the generated electrical energy; and

powering a sensor, the sensor to detect a level of a property of the water.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting an event condition by the sensor.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

sending a message indicative of the detected event condition.

13. A power conversion device, comprising:

an energy converter in fluid connectivity with water flowing through a pipe, the energy converter being driven by a mechanical energy of water flowing through the pipe to convert the mechanical energy into an electrical energy; and

a power supply circuit to output electrical energy to a power bus;

wherein the power bus is electrically coupled to a first sensor to detect a level of a first property of the water.

14. The power conversion device of claim 13, wherein the power bus is electrically coupled to a second sensor to detect a level of a second property of the water.

15. The power conversion device of claim 13, wherein the power bus is electrically coupled to a shut off valve to enable the water flowing through the pipe to be shut off.

16. The power conversion device of claim 13, wherein the power bus is electrically coupled to a control module.

17. The power conversion device of claim 16, wherein the control module comprises:

a transceiver;

a microprocessor; and

a memory storing a control program executable by the control module.

18. The power conversion device of claim 17, wherein the control program is configured to cause the power conversion device to:

awaken from a sleep state;

check battery charge levels and adjust a charging cycle in response to available power;

prepare a data packet for transmitting water consumption data to a collector;

listen for a communication from a collector;

transmit the prepared data packet; and

return to a sleep state.

19. The power conversion device of claim 13, wherein the power supply circuit further comprises a battery.

20. A remote water meter monitoring system comprising:

an energy converter in fluid connectivity with water flowing through a pipe, the energy converter being driven by a mechanical energy of water flowing through the pipe to convert the mechanical energy into an electrical energy for charging a battery connected to the energy converter; and

a counting module powered by the battery, the counting module programmed to

monitor water flow rate,

compare the monitored water flow rate to a threshold parameter, and

responsive to a determination that the monitored water flow rate exceeds the threshold parameter, update data associated with the monitoring of water flow rate to indicate existence of a problem condition.

21. The remote water meter monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the counting module is further programmed to

monitor a water flow pattern,

compare the monitored water flow pattern to another threshold parameter, and

responsive to a determination that the monitored water flow pattern exceeds the another threshold parameter, update data associated with the monitoring of water flow pattern to indicate existence of another problem condition.

22. The remote water meter monitoring system of claim 20, further comprising a processing unit operatively connected to the counting module, and wherein the counting module is further programmed to, responsive to a determination that the monitored water flow rate exceeds the threshold parameter, transmit the updated data to the processing unit.

23. The remote water meter monitoring system of claim 22, wherein the processing unit is a control module powered by the battery.

24. The remote water meter monitoring system of claim 22, wherein the processing unit is programmed to, responsive to a determination that the updated data satisfies criteria to send an alert, send the alert to a recipient.

25. The remote water meter monitoring system of claim 22, wherein the processing unit is operatively connected to an electronically controllable shut-off valve, and wherein the processing unit is programmed to, responsive to a determination that the updated data satisfies criteria to perform a remote water shut-off, transmit a command to the shut-off valve to move into a closed position.