Methods and systems for detecting fluidic levels and flow rate and fluidic equipment malfunctions
View Patent ↗An improved sensor system is provided that monitors and controls a dendritic fluid system. A dendritic fluid system can include artificial components and/or natural components that carry fluid from a source to a destination through a series of paths. The sensor system can include magnetic field sensors, acoustic sensors, encapsulated sensor systems, pressure regulators, and valve controllers to monitor and control the dendritic fluid system. For example, magnetic field sensors, acoustic sensors, and/or pressure regulators can be used to measure the flow of fluid within a dendritic fluid subsystem and/or to detect potential leaks. The encapsulated sensor systems and/or valve controllers can be used to detect fluid levels in a contained system and control valves to adjust the fluid levels in the contained system to a desired level.
1. A sensor system comprising:
a magnetic field sensor coupled to a water meter, wherein the magnetic field sensor is configured to measure a magnetic field generated by the water meter;
an acoustic sensor coupled to a pipe, wherein the acoustic sensor is configured to measure an acoustic signal emanating from the pipe, and wherein the pipe is coupled to the water meter;
a server comprising a processor and memory, wherein the memory includes instructions that, when executed, cause the server to:
receive the measured acoustic signal from the acoustic sensor over a network;
compare the measured acoustic signal with a signature corresponding to a leak;
determine that the measured acoustic signal matches the signature;
receive the measured magnetic field from the magnetic field sensor over the network;
determine, using the measured magnetic field, whether water is flowing through the water meter; and
generate a notification indicating that a leak is present on a purveyor side of the water meter in response to a determination that no water is flowing through the water meter.
2. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the server to determine, using the measured magnetic field and the measured acoustic signal, whether a water flow rate is correlated with the measured acoustic signal.
3. The sensor system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the server to:
receive a second measured acoustic signal from the acoustic sensor;
receive a second measured magnetic field from the magnetic field sensor;
determine that the measured acoustic signal matches the second measured acoustic signal;
determine whether a first water flow rate determined using the measured magnetic field and a second water flow rate determined using the second measured magnetic field are the same; and
generate a second notification indicating that a leak is present on the purveyor side of the water meter in response to a determination that the first water flow rate and the second water flow rate are different.
4. The sensor system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the server to:
receive a second measured acoustic signal from the acoustic sensor;
receive a second measured magnetic field from the magnetic field sensor;
determine that the measured acoustic signal does not match the second measured acoustic signal;
determine that a first water flow rate determined using the measured magnetic field and a second water flow rate determined using the second measured magnetic field are different, wherein a difference between the first water flow rate and the second water flow rate is correlated with a difference between the measured acoustic signal and the second measured acoustic signal; and
generate a second notification indicating that a leak is present on a customer side of the water meter in response to the determination that the difference between the first water flow rate and the second water flow rate is correlated with the difference between the measured acoustic signal and the second measured acoustic signal.
5. The sensor system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the server to generate a second notification indicating that a leak is present on the purveyor side of the water meter in response to a determination that the water flow rate is not correlated with the measured acoustic signal.
6. The sensor system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the server to generate a second notification indicating that a leak is present on a customer side of the water meter in response to a determination that the water flow rate is correlated with the measured acoustic signal.
7. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the pipe is coupled to the water meter on the purveyor side of the water meter.
8. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises:
a head comprising a first sensor, a second sensor, and a third sensor, wherein the first sensor is oriented to measure the magnetic field generated by the water meter along a first axis, wherein the second sensor is oriented to measure the magnetic field along a second axis different from the first axis, wherein the third sensor is oriented to measure the magnetic field along a third axis different from the first axis and the second axis, and wherein the head is positioned a first distance from the water meter;
a cable comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the cable is coupled with the head, wherein the cable is configured to receive a first measurement measured by the first sensor, a second measurement measured by the second sensor, and a third measurement measured by the third sensor, and wherein the cable is further configured to transport the first measurement, the second measurement, and the third measurement to the second end of the cable; and
a transceiver coupled to the second end of the cable, wherein the transceiver is configured to wirelessly transmit the first measurement, the second measurement, and the third measurement received from the second end of the cable to the server over the network.
9. The sensor system of claim 8 , wherein a front surface of the head is positioned the first distance from the water meter.
10. The sensor system of claim 8 , wherein a left surface of the head is positioned the first distance from the water meter.
11. The sensor system of claim 8 , wherein the water meter comprises a magnet that rotates about the first axis, and wherein the head is positioned in a plane that is generally transverse to the first axis.
12. The sensor system of claim 11 , wherein the third sensor measures a rate of change of a magnetic field generated by the magnet in the water meter along the third axis, and wherein a faulty meter is detected if the rate of the change of the magnetic field generated by the magnet in the water meter along the third axis is greater than a threshold value.
13. The sensor system of claim 8 , wherein the first sensor is a hall-effect sensor.
14. The sensor system of claim 8 , wherein the first sensor is positioned in a first plane, and wherein the head further comprises a ferrite pole positioned in a second plane co-planar with the first plane.
15. The sensor system of claim 8 , wherein the head further comprises an amplifier configured to amplify the first measurement measured by the first sensor.
16. The sensor system of claim 15 , wherein the head further comprises an analog-to-digital circuit (ADC) configured to digitize the amplified first measurement, and wherein the ADC is further configured to transmit the digitized amplified first measurement to the first end of the cable.
17. The sensor system of claim 8 , wherein the first sensor is configured to measure a rate of change of the magnetic field generated by the water meter along the first axis, and wherein the second sensor is configured to measure a rate of change of the magnetic field generated by the water meter along the second axis.
18. The sensor system of claim 8 , wherein the head comprises a protective enclosure that protects the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor from an environment exterior to the head.
19. The sensor system of claim 8 , wherein a top of the head comprises a first depression for coupling the device with the pipe using a mounting component.
20. The sensor system of claim 19 , wherein the mounting component is a plastic tie.