Flow imaging and monitoring for synchronized management of wide area drainage

• US 9,945,705 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2016
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Environmental Protection Agency (Government of the United States of America), Urbanalta Corp
• Original Assignee: US Environmental Protection Agency (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Kertesz, Ruben, Murray, Jr., Daniel J., Bolan, Michael, Anderson, Ryan, Fang, Chunsheng
• Primary Examiner(s): DUNLAP, JONATHAN M
• Application Number:
  US15/365,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20170082470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 7386118, 7386125-86128, 73 491, 73 405 A, 73592, 404 25, 404 26, 137551, 340603, 340606, 702 54
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 2201/20 Measuring flow in sewer systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 2201/40 Means for indicating blockage in sewer systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 7/00 Other installations or implements for operating sewer systems, e.g. for preventing or indicating stoppage; Emptying cesspools
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/002 wherein the flow is in an open channel
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/66 by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/661 using light
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/662 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/666 by detecting noise and sounds generated by the flowing fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/704 using marked regions or existing inhomogeneities within the fluid stream, e.g. statistically occurring variations in a fluid parameter G01F1/76, G01F25/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/7086 using optical detecting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/251 specially adapted for stationary devices, e.g. power plant buffering or backup power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8359 Inspection means

Abstract

A flow imaging and monitoring system for synchronized management of wide area drainage that includes an interposer for supporting monitoring and management equipment in a manhole, a module for illuminating water flowing in pipes at the base of the manhole, a module for monitoring responses to reflected light, a sealed and rechargeable battery pack, and a data analysis and management system to interpret data streams in real time. The interposer can be adjusted to fit the diameter of the manhole and can be adjusted to be placed under the manhole cover. The module for illuminating the flowing water can be adjusted to generate various frequencies. The support structures for the modules can be adjusted for varying pitch, roll and yaw with respect to the manhole. The data analysis and management system is supported by cloud computing.

Claims

1. A flow monitoring system comprising:

an interposer supporting monitoring equipment in a location above water;

one or more modules monitoring water-generated responses to reflected or transmitted light and/or reflected or transmitted sound at the location;

a battery pack;

a data capture, processing, and communication subsystem that renders light and/or sound into interpretable data streams; and

a data analysis and management subsystem to interpret data streams, wherein;

the data capture, processing, and communication subsystem interacts with the data analysis and management subsystem,

the data analysis and management subsystem manages the data capture, processing, and communication subsystem,

the data analysis and management subsystem is supported by cloud computing, and

the one or more modules monitoring reflected or transmitted sound provide a signature of the flow throughout the audio spectrum.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more modules monitoring water-generated responses to reflected or transmitted light further comprise, image sensors, associated optics, processors, memory, communication circuits, and regulated power.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more modules illuminating water below the location, and wherein the one or more modules illuminating water further comprise an Always On Computer (AOC) that includes a real time clock, and power switches.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the AOC controls a back-up battery cell bank to ensure longevity of power.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the AOC further comprises an RGB/iR sensor and/or a sound sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery pack further comprises encapsulated input and output cables, one or more power cells, a microcontroller, a battery pack regulator, and one or more high side power switches.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the microcontroller controls on-time of the power cells only when needed, maps around dead or faulty cells, re-charges individual power cells, and signals when recharge of the entire battery pack is necessary.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the location above water is a manhole.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the interposer is able to be adjusted for a compression fit to the wall of the manhole with or without a seating bracket.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the one or more modules for illuminating the water can be adjusted to generate various frequencies and wavelengths.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the one or more modules for monitoring sound, measure reflected sound, transmitted sound, and/or sound generated by the movement of water below the location.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the modules have support structures, and wherein the support structures for the modules are adjustable to vary pitch, roll, yaw and eccentric offset with respect to the water beneath the location.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more modules monitoring the thermal image of water beneath the location.

14. A method of flow imaging, monitoring and management of storm water and wastewater comprising:

placing an interposer supporting, at least one module for monitoring water-generated responses to reflected or transmitted light and/or reflected or transmitted sound, a battery pack, and a data capture, processing, and communication subsystem at a location above flowing water;

measuring one or more of the width, depth, shape, obstruction and velocity of the water flowing below the location;

interpreting the water flow characteristics in real time using a data capture, processing and communication subsystem;

sending the interpretation to a cloud computer;

and controlling the data capture, processing and communications subsystem from the cloud computer,

wherein the at least one module monitoring reflected or transmitted sound provides a signature of the flow throughout the audio spectrum.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the location above water is a manhole, and wherein the interposer supports at least one module for illuminating water flowing at the base of the manhole.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising interpreting data streams from the modules.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising a user interface accessing and controlling data aggregation and interpretation software tools from the data capture, processing and communication subsystem.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the flowing water is obstructed or ponded.

19. A flow monitoring system comprising:

monitoring equipment placed in a location above water;

one or more modules monitoring water-generated responses to reflected or transmitted light and/or reflected or transmitted sound at the location;

a battery pack;

a data capture, processing, and communication subsystem that renders light and/or sound into interpretable data streams; and

a data analysis and management subsystem to interpret data streams, wherein;

the data capture, processing, and communication subsystem interacts with the data analysis and management subsystem,

the data analysis and management subsystem manages the data capture, processing, and communication subsystem,

the data analysis and management subsystem is supported by cloud computing, and

the one or more modules monitoring reflected or transmitted sound provide a signature of the flow throughout the audio spectrum.