Pressure compensation systems, liquid supply systems and methods using the same
Fluid detection systems and methods using the same are disclosed. In embodiments the fluid detection systems include a sensor module and an electronics module. The sensor module includes a sensor housing that includes a liquid flow path and a sensor element disposed around at least part of the liquid flow path. The sensor element can detect a capacitance of the liquid flow path and provide a sensor signal to a controller in the electronics module. The electronics module can determine a detected capacitance in the liquid flow path based at least in part on the sensor signal, and can determine whether a wet event has occurred based on a comparison of the detected capacitance to a threshold capacitance. Methods using the fluid detection systems and fluid supply systems including the fluid detection systems are also disclosed.
1 . A pressure compensation system for a water supply system, comprising:
a first pressure sensor, the first pressure sensor configured to detect a fluid pressure P 3 corresponding to an outlet fluid pressure of a valve system coupled downstream of an automatic control valve (ACV), the first pressure sensor further configured to produce a first sensor signal indicative of P 3 ;
a controller configured to communicatively couple to the first pressure sensor; and
an actuator for the ACV, the actuator configured to communicatively couple to the controller and to control a position of a valve within the ACV;
wherein:
the controller is configured to determine P 3 based at least in part on the first sensor signal and to compare P 3 to a target outlet fluid pressure T of said water supply system; and
when P 3 differs from T, the controller is configured to produce and send a control signal to the actuator, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to change position of the valve within the ACV such that P 3 at least substantially equals T.
2 . The pressure compensation system of claim 1 , wherein the valve system is a backflow preventer.
3 . The pressure compensation system of claim 2 , wherein said backflow preventer comprises a first check valve assembly and a second check valve assembly, and the first pressure sensor is configured to detect said fluid pressure P 3 within or downstream of the second check valve assembly.
4 . The pressure compensation system of claim 2 , further comprising a second pressure sensor, wherein:
the second pressure sensor is configured to detect an inlet fluid pressure P 1 corresponding to a fluid pressure provided to an inlet of the ACV, and to produce a second sensor signal indicative of P 1 ;
the controller is configured to communicatively couple to the second pressure sensor, and
to determine P 1 based at least in part on the second sensor signal; and
when P 3 differs from T, the controller is configured to produce the control signal based at least in part on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.
5 . The pressure compensation system of claim 2 , further comprising a second pressure sensor, wherein:
the second pressure sensor is configured to detect an inlet fluid pressure P 1 corresponding to a fluid pressure provided to an inlet of the ACV, and to produce a second sensor signal indicative of P 1 ;
the controller is configured to communicatively couple to the second pressure sensor, and
to determine P 1 based at least in part on the second sensor signal; and
when P 3 differs from T, the controller is configured to produce the control signal based at least in part on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.
6 . The pressure compensation system of claim 5 , wherein:
the controller is configured to determine a pressure drop D across the backflow preventer based at least in part on the comparison of P 3 and T; and
when P 3 differs from T, the control signal is configured to cause the actuator to change the position of the valve within the ACV such that a fluid pressure P 2 between the ACV and the valve system at least substantially equals P 3 +D.
7 . The pressure compensation system of claim 6 , further comprising a third pressure sensor configured to detect P 2 , wherein:
the third pressure sensor is configured to produce a third sensor signal indicative of P 2 ;
and the controller is configured to confirm that P 2 at least substantially equals P 3 +D based at least in part on the third sensor signal.
8 . The pressure compensation system of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is configured to determine a pressure drop D across the valve system based at least in part on the comparison of P 3 and T; and
when P 3 differs from T, the control signal is configured to cause the actuator to change the position of the valve within the ACV such that a fluid pressure P 2 between the ACV and the valve system at least substantially equals P 3 +D.
9 . The pressure compensation system of claim 8 , further comprising a third pressure sensor configured to detect P 2 , wherein:
the third pressure sensor is configured to produce a third sensor signal indicative of P 2 ;
and the controller is configured to determine whether P 2 at least substantially equals P 3 +D based at least in part on the third sensor signal.
10 . The pressure compensation system of claim 1 , further comprising an inlet gate valve upstream of the ACV.
11 . A pressure compensated water supply system comprising:
an automatic control valve (ACV) comprising an inlet and an outlet, the inlet fluidly coupled to a water supply;
a valve system comprising an inlet fluidly coupled to the outlet of the ACV and an outlet fluidly coupled to at least one outlet in a destination;
a first pressure sensor configured to detect a fluid pressure (P 3 ) corresponding to an outlet fluid pressure the valve system, the first pressure sensor further configured to produce a first sensor signal indicative of P 3 ;
a controller configured to communicatively couple to the first pressure sensor; and
an actuator for the ACV, the actuator configured to communicatively couple to the controller and to control a position of a valve within the ACV;
wherein:
the controller is configured to determine P 3 based at least in part on the first sensor signal and to compare P 3 to a target outlet pressure T of said water supply system; and
when P 3 differs from T, the controller is configured to produce and send a control signal to the actuator, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to change a position of the valve within the ACV such that P 3 at least substantially equals T.
12 . The pressure compensated water supply system of claim 11 , wherein the valve system is a backflow preventer.
13 . The pressure compensated water supply system of claim 12 , wherein:
the backflow preventer comprises a first check valve assembly and a second check valve assembly; and
the first pressure sensor is configured to detect said fluid pressure P 3 within or downstream of the second check valve assembly.
14 . The pressure compensated water supply system of claim 13 , further comprising a second pressure sensor, wherein:
the second pressure sensor is configured to detect an inlet pressure P 1 corresponding to a fluid pressure provided to the inlet of the ACV, and to produce a second sensor signal indicative of P 1 ;
the controller is configured to communicatively couple to the second pressure sensor, and
to determine P 1 based at least in part on the second sensor signal; and
when P 3 differs from T, the controller is configured to produce the control signal based at least in part on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.
15 . The pressure compensated water supply system of claim 12 , wherein:
the controller is configured to determine a pressure drop D across the backflow preventer based at least in part on the comparison of P 3 and T; and
when P 3 differs from T, the control signal is configured to cause the actuator to change the position of the valve within the ACV such that a fluid pressure P 2 between the ACV and the valve system at least substantially equals P 3 +D.
16 . The pressure compensated water supply system of claim 15 , further comprising a third pressure sensor configured to detect P 2 , wherein:
the third pressure sensor is configured to produce a third sensor signal indicative of P 2 ; and
the controller is configured to confirm that P 2 at least substantially equals P 3 +D based at least in part on the third sensor signal.
17 . The pressure compensated water supply system of claim 11 , wherein:
the controller is configured to determine a pressure drop D across the valve system based at least in part on the comparison of P 3 and T; and
when P 3 differs from T, the control signal is configured to cause the actuator to change the position of the valve within the ACV such that a fluid pressure P 2 between the ACV and the valve system at least substantially equals P 3 +D.
18 . The pressure compensated water supply system of claim 17 , further comprising a third pressure sensor, wherein:
the third pressure sensor is configured to detect P 2 and to produce a third sensor signal indicative of P 2 ; and
the controller is configured to confirm that P 2 at least substantially equals P 3 +D based at least in part on the third sensor signal.
19 . The pressure compensated water supply system of claim 11 , further comprising a second pressure sensor, wherein:
the second pressure sensor is configured to detect an inlet fluid pressure P 1 corresponding to a fluid pressure provided to an inlet of the ACV, and to produce a second sensor signal indicative of P 1 ;
the controller is configured to communicatively couple to the second pressure sensor, and
to determine P 1 based at least in part on the second sensor signal; and
when P 3 differs from T, the controller is configured to produce the control signal based at least in part on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.
20 . The pressure compensated water supply system of claim 11 , further comprising an inlet gate valve upstream of the ACV.
21 . A method of pressure compensation for a water supply system comprising an automatic control valve (ACV) comprising an inlet fluidly coupled to a water supply and an outlet fluidly coupled to a valve system, the method comprising:
with a first pressure sensor, detecting a fluid pressure P 3 corresponding to an outlet fluid pressure of the valve system and producing a first sensor signal indicative of P 3 ; and
with a controller communicatively coupled to the first pressure sensor and communicatively coupled to an actuator for a valve within the ACV;
determining P 3 based at least in part on the first sensor signal;
comparing P 3 to a target outlet fluid pressure T of said water supply system; and
when P 3 differs from T, producing and sending a control signal to said actuator, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to change a position of the valve within the ACV such that P 3 at least substantially equals T.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the valve system is a backflow preventer.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein said backflow preventer comprises a first check valve assembly and a second check valve assembly, and detecting P 3 with said first pressure sensor comprises detecting P 3 within or downstream of the second check valve assembly.
24 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
with a second pressure sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, detecting an inlet fluid pressure P 1 corresponding to a fluid pressure provided to an inlet of the ACV, and
generating a second sensor signal indicative of P 1 ; and
with the controller:
determining P 1 based at least in part on the second sensor signal; and
when P 3 differs from T, the controller produces said control signal based at least in part on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.
25 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising, with the controller:
determining a pressure drop D across the backflow preventer based at least in part on the comparison of P 3 and T; and
when P 3 differs from T, the control signal is configured to cause the actuator to change the position of the valve within the ACV such that a fluid pressure P 2 between the ACV and the valve system at least substantially equals P 3 +D.
26 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising:
with a third pressure sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, detecting P 2 and producing a third sensor signal indicative of P 2 ; and
with the controller, determining whether P 2 at least substantially equals P 3 +D based at least in part on the third sensor signal.
27 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising, with said controller:
determining a pressure drop D across the valve system based at least in part on the comparison of P 3 and T; and
when P 3 differs from T, configuring the control signal to cause the actuator to change the position of the valve within the ACV such that a fluid pressure P 2 between the ACV and the valve system at least substantially equals P 3 +D.
28 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising:
with a third pressure sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, detecting P 2 and producing a third sensor signal indicative of P 2 ; and
with the controller, determining whether P 2 at least substantially equals P 3 +D based at least in part on the third sensor signal.
29 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising:
with a second pressure sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, determining an inlet fluid pressure P 1 corresponding to a fluid pressure provided to an inlet of the ACV and producing a second sensor signal indicative of P 1 ; and
with the controller:
determining P 1 based at least in part on the second sensor signal; and
when P 3 differs from T, producing the control signal based at least in part on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.
30 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising closing an inlet gate valve located upstream of the ACV.