Remote monitoring of water distribution system
A liquid monitoring system includes a remote measurement device located at a location of the fire hydrant that is in contact with water provided by a water main. The remote measurement device has sensors that measure characteristics of the water and a communication interface that transmits measured information to a communication network device that may be located elsewhere on the fire hydrant. The communication network device communicates with a communication network.
1. A system for monitoring water pressure within a water distribution system, comprising:
a plurality of valves each located at a respective dry barrel fire hydrant of the water distribution system, each valve comprising:
a sealing surface that prevents a flow of water from the water distribution system to a barrel of the dry barrel fire hydrant while the valve is sealed and allows the flow of water from the water distribution system to the barrel of the dry barrel fire hydrant while the valve is unsealed;
an exposed surface that is exposed to the water within the water distribution system whether the valve is sealed or unsealed; and
a pressure sensor that is in contact with the water within the water distribution system via the exposed surface of the valve whether the valve is sealed or unsealed, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to output a pressure signal based on a pressure of the water within the water distribution system;
a plurality of communication network devices, each communication network device associated with a valve of the plurality of valves and located at an exterior surface of an above-ground portion of the dry barrel fire hydrant where the associated valve is located, each communication network device comprising:
a processor configured to receive the pressure signal from the pressure sensor of the associated valve, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a plurality of pressure values based on the pressure signal; and
a wireless communication interface coupled to the processor to receive the plurality of pressure values and to transmit the plurality of pressure values via a wireless communication network; and
a central monitoring system configured to receive, from each wireless communication interface of the plurality of communication network devices, the plurality of pressure values associated with each pressure sensor, wherein the central monitoring system is further configured, based on the received pressure values, to determine a change of water pressure within the water distribution system and to identify a location associated with the determined change of water pressure.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central monitoring system is configured to determine a corrective action for the water distribution system based on the identified location and the received pressure values.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein each processor of a corresponding communication network device of the plurality of communication network devices is configured to generate a warning based on one or more of the plurality of pressure values and to cause the corresponding wireless communication interface to transmit the warning to the central monitoring system via the wireless communication network.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the warning is generated by the processor based on one of one or more of the plurality of pressure values falling below a pressure threshold or one or more of the plurality of pressure values exceeding a pressure threshold.
5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the warning is generated by the processor based on a rate of change of the plurality of pressure values exceeding a threshold rate of change.
6. The system of claim 3 , wherein each processor of a corresponding communication network device of the plurality of communication network devices is configured to wake the wireless communication interface from a sleep mode based on the warning.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein each wireless communication interface of a corresponding communication network device of the plurality of communication network devices comprises a cellular communication interface and wherein the wireless communication network comprises a cellular communication network.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the exposed surface of at least one valve of the plurality of valves includes a channel, wherein the corresponding pressure sensor of the at least one valve is located within the channel, and wherein the pressure sensor is in contact with the water within the water distribution system via the channel.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the exposed surface of at least one valve of the plurality of valves includes a reservoir, wherein the corresponding pressure sensor of the at least one valve is located within the reservoir, and wherein the pressure sensor is in contact with the water within the water distribution system via the reservoir.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor of at least one valve of the plurality of valves is fixedly attached to the corresponding exposed surface of the valve.
11. A method to monitor water pressure within a water distribution system, the method comprising:
providing a monitoring system on each dry barrel hydrant of a plurality of dry barrel hydrants of a water distribution system, wherein the monitoring system comprises:
a valve comprising an exposed surface that is exposed to the water within the water distribution system and a pressure sensor that is in contact with the water within the water distribution system via the exposed surface of the valve whether the valve is sealed or unsealed, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to output a pressure signal based on a pressure of the water within the water distribution system; and
a communication network device located at an exterior surface of an above-ground portion of the dry barrel fire hydrant, the communication network device comprising a processor and a wireless communication interface, the processor configured to receive the pressure signal from the pressure sensor and further configured to determine a plurality of pressure values based on the pressure signal, and wherein the wireless communication interface is coupled to the processor to receive the plurality of pressure values and to transmit the plurality of pressure values via a wireless communication network;
outputting, by each pressure sensor, a pressure signal based on a pressure of the water within the water distribution system;
receiving, by each processor, the pressure signal from the corresponding pressure sensor;
determining, by each processor, a plurality of pressure values based on the pressure signal;
providing, by each processor, the plurality of pressure values to the corresponding wireless communication interface;
transmitting, by each wireless communication interface, the plurality of pressure values via a wireless communication network;
receiving, by a central monitoring system, the plurality of pressure values from each wireless communication interface;
determining, by the central monitoring system, a change of water pressure within the water distribution system based on the received pressure values from the wireless communication interfaces; and
identifying, by the central monitoring system, a location of the water distribution system associated with the determined change of water pressure.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining, by the central monitoring system, a corrective action for the water distribution system based on the identified location and the received pressure values.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
generating, by a processor of a communication network device, a warning based on one or more of the plurality of pressure values; and
transmitting the warning to the central monitoring system, via the wireless communication network, by the corresponding wireless communication interface.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein generating the warning includes determining, by the processor, whether one or more of the plurality of pressure values falls below a pressure threshold or one or more of the plurality of pressure values exceeds a pressure threshold.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein generating the warning includes determining, by the processor, whether a rate of change of the plurality of pressure values exceeds a threshold rate of change.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein each monitoring system further comprises a battery, wherein the battery provides power to the corresponding pressure sensor and the corresponding communication network device, and the method further comprises:
determining, by a processor of a communication network device, whether the battery level is low; and
providing, by the processor, a low battery message based on the determination that the battery level is low; and
transmitting, by the corresponding wireless communication interface of the communication network device, the low battery message via the wireless communication network.
17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving updates to configuration parameters at each communication network device.
18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising limiting power consumption in a communication network device by placing one or more corresponding components of the communication network device into a sleep mode.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein outputting a pressure signal includes periodically providing power to the pressure sensor.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
each wireless communication interface of a corresponding communication network device comprises a cellular communication interface; and
transmitting the plurality of pressure values includes transmitting the plurality of pressure values via a cellular communication network.