EVENT BASED LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM
A system is provided for detecting abnormal consumption in a distributed water infrastructure. The system may receive from at least one sensor associated with the distributed water infrastructure signals indicative of water usage in the distributed water infrastructure, and aggregate groups of signals to construct a plurality of time-based water event profiles, each water event profile containing a distribution of water usage indicators over time. The system may store a subset of the plurality of water event profiles in memory as normal water event profiles, and receive, from the at least one sensor, signals indicative of current water usage in the distributed water infrastructure. The system may construct, from the signals indicative of current water usage, at least one current water event profile, and compare the at least one current water event profile with normal water event profiles stored in the memory. The system may initiate remedial action if the at least one current water event profile does not substantially correspond to normal water event profiles stored in the memory.
1 . A system for detecting abnormal consumption in a distributed water infrastructure, the system comprising:
at least one processor configured to:
receive from at least one sensor associated with the distributed water infrastructure signals indicative of water usage in the distributed water infrastructure;
aggregate groups of signals to construct a plurality of time-based water event profiles, each water event profile containing a distribution of water usage indicators over time;
store a subset of the plurality of water event profiles in memory as normal water event profiles;
receive from the at least one sensor, signals indicative of current water usage in the distributed water infrastructure;
construct, from the signals indicative of current water usage, at least one current water event profile;
compare the at least one current water event profile with normal water event profiles stored in the memory; and
initiate remedial action if the at least one current water event profile does not substantially correspond to normal water event profiles stored in the memory.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each time based water event profile and each normal event profile is associated with a specific appliance in the distributed water system.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each time based water event profile and each normal event profile is associated with a group of appliances in the distributed water system.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each time based water event profile is associated with a group of appliances in the distributed water system, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine from the time based water event profile a normal event profile associated with a specific water appliance.
5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the specific appliance includes at least one of a toilet, a shower, and a sink.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein comparing includes pattern recognition.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the remedial action includes opening and closing a valve to send pulses of water to communicate that an abnormal amount of water has been consumed.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein, based on the comparison, the at least one processor is configured to identify a water user associated with the water event profile.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system includes a transmitter and wherein the remedial action includes sending, via the transmitter, a notification to an administrator.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a water flow sensor having a unmeasured flow reducer.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a water flow sensor is configured to detect flow at a rate of less than about 2 liters per hour.
12 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine operation of the specific water appliance when the current water event profile deviates from the normal event profile by less than a predetermined amount.
13 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine that the specific appliance is in use before use of the specific appliance is terminated.
14 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to initiate the remedial action when a duration of use of a specific appliance exceeds a duration of an associated normal water event profile.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive from an end user an indication of a specific appliance in use, and to store in an associated manner, the specific appliance with a water event profile associated with the specific appliance.
16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to compare the at least one current water event profile with abnormal water event profiles stored in the memory and to initiate remedial action when a substantial match is determined.
17 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to enable identification of a specific appliance based on at least one parameter selected from an average flow rate, an initial flow rate, a total volume associated with a current water event profile, a noise in signals indicative of water usage, and a change in the rate of water usage.
18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the remedial action includes sending an alert to an end user.
19 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to distinguish between abnormal operation of appliances unlikely to cause damage and abnormal operation of appliances likely to cause damage, and wherein the remedial action includes closing a valve when abnormal operation likely to cause damage is detected.
20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine from the current water event profile a specific appliance that is leaking, and wherein the remedial action includes providing information to an end user identifying the specific appliance.
21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to provide to the end user information about a characterization of the leaking of water.