Water leak detection using pressure sensing
A system including a sensing device configured to (i) measure pressure of water in cold and hot water lines proximate to a fixture of a water system of a structure, and (ii) generate pressure measurement data representing the pressure of the water. The system also includes one or more processors. The system additionally includes one or more non-transitory computer readable media storing machine-executable instructions configured, when executed on the one or more processors, to perform detecting a non-cyclical pressure event corresponding to a water leak in the water system of the structure during a first time period based on an analysis of information comprising the pressure measurement data. Other embodiments are described.
1. A system comprising:
a sensing device configured to (i) measure pressure of water in cold and hot water lines proximate to a fixture of a water system of a structure and (ii) generate pressure measurement data representing the pressure of the water;
one or more processors; and
one or more non-transitory computer readable media storing machine-executable instructions configured, when executed on the one or more processors, to perform:
detecting a non-cyclical pressure event corresponding to a water leak in the water system of the structure during a first time period based on an analysis of information comprising the pressure measurement data.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the information analyzed in the analysis further comprises: (a) the pressure measurement data in a time domain, and (b) a frequency domain characteristic of the pressure measurement data; and
the information analyzed in the analysis does not include any flow measurement data that represents a total amount of flow of the water in the water system of the structure during the first time period.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein detecting the non-cyclical pressure event further comprises:
analyzing a frequency domain characteristic of the pressure measurement data to identify a turbulence in the frequency domain characteristic when compared to a baseline frequency domain characteristic of the pressure measurement data, wherein the turbulence has a duration longer than a first threshold.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein:
the turbulence comprises a frequency band in the frequency domain characteristic;
the frequency band has a center frequency and a width; and
the machine-executable instructions are further configured, when executed on the one or more processors, to perform:
determining the center frequency and the width of the frequency band.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein detecting the non-cyclical pressure event further comprises:
tracking successive pressure samples of the pressure measurement data in a time domain; and
identifying a pattern of negative slopes interrupted by periodic pressure increases, wherein the periodic pressure increases correspond to pressure resets activated by a pressure regulator coupled to the water system of the structure.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein detecting the non-cyclical pressure event further comprises:
detecting a pressure level below a pressure level threshold, wherein the pressure level threshold represents a pressure level floor observed during normal operating conditions of the water system.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein:
the sensing device further comprises a flow turbine configured to determine whether the water is flowing at the sensing device; and
detecting the non-cyclical pressure event further comprises:
determining that the water is not flowing at the sensing device when the pressure level is detected below the pressure level threshold.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein detecting the non-cyclical pressure event further comprises:
determining a first standard deviation of pressure measurements of the pressure measurement data during a second time period comprising at least a portion of the first time period; and
determining that the first standard deviation is greater than a second known stable pressure standard deviation value by a multiple of a second threshold.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the sensing device is located between a pressure regulator of the water system and the fixture of the water system.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine-executable instructions are further configured, when executed on the one or more processors, to perform:
transmitting a request for verification of the water leak.
11. A method comprising:
measuring pressure of water in cold and hot water lines proximate to a fixture of a water system of a structure to generate pressure measurement data representing the pressure of the water; and
detecting a non-cyclical pressure event corresponding to a water leak in the water system of the structure during a first time period based on an analysis of information comprising the pressure measurement data.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the information analyzed in the analysis further comprises: (a) the pressure measurement data in a time domain, and (b) a frequency domain characteristic of the pressure measurement data; and
the information analyzed in the analysis does not include any flow measurement data that represents a total amount of flow of the water in the water system of the structure during the first time period.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein detecting the non-cyclical pressure event further comprises:
analyzing a frequency domain characteristic of the pressure measurement data to identify a turbulence in the frequency domain characteristic when compared to a baseline frequency domain characteristic of the pressure measurement data, wherein the turbulence has a duration longer than a first threshold.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the turbulence comprises a frequency band in the frequency domain characteristic;
the frequency band has a center frequency and a width; and
the method further comprises:
determining the center frequency and the width of the frequency band.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein detecting the non-cyclical pressure event further comprises:
tracking successive pressure samples of the pressure measurement data in a time domain; and
identifying a pattern of negative slopes interrupted by periodic pressure increases, wherein the periodic pressure increases correspond to pressure resets activated by a pressure regulator coupled to the water system of the structure.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein detecting the non-cyclical pressure event further comprises:
detecting a pressure level below a pressure level threshold, wherein the pressure level threshold represents a pressure level floor observed during normal operating conditions of the water system.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the sensing device further comprises a flow turbine configured to determine whether the water is flowing at the sensing device; and
detecting the non-cyclical pressure event further comprises:
determining that the water is not flowing at the sensing device when the pressure level is detected below the pressure level threshold.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein detecting the non-cyclical pressure event further comprises:
determining a first standard deviation of pressure measurements of the pressure measurement data during a second time period comprising at least a portion of the first time period; and
determining that the first standard deviation is greater than a second known stable pressure standard deviation value by a multiple of a second threshold.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the sensing device is located between a pressure regulator of the water system and the fixture of the water system.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
transmitting a request for verification of the water leak.