HRP20120603A2 - Telemetry hydrant for measuring, collecting and wireless sending measured values into database on remote computer - Google Patents

Abstract

The telemetry hydrant is a unique unit that is composed of the following elements: a working casing (13) of a plumbing hydrant, a measuring device-sensor (1), a logic control device-PLC (2), a communication device (3), an electric-battery storage ( 7) and photovoltaic cells (5) as a source of electricity and a regulator for charging and discharging the battery (6). All devices except the sensors (1) are installed in the common housing (11), (12) (13) or (14). The telemetry hydrant, apart from serving the purpose of water intake, is also an energy-independent device for reporting measured quantities such as pressure, temperature, flow, water quality, opening detection, etc. to the control and monitoring center of the water supply system (dispatching center). The power supply to the telemetry hydrant device is provided by batteries (7) which are charged via photovoltaic cells (5). This technical solution can be applied to above-ground and underground hydrants by mounting photovoltaic cells (5) on or above the hydrant housing on the above-ground hydrants while placing photovoltaic cells (5) in road covers (10) of various shapes with underground hydrants. purpose of closing hydrants, latching chambers, deep cathodic bearings, piezometers, ducts, etc. The application of this solution enables setting up measuring points on the pipeline in a simple and inexpensive way and collecting numerous data on the status within the water supply network necessary for the proper and efficient management of the water supply. system.

Description

The field to which the invention relates

This invention relates to fire hydrants installed in the water supply network, industrial facilities, refineries, power plants, chemical industry, etc. In addition to the basic function of enabling the supply of water for fire protection needs, the integration of this invention into a standard hydrant enables measurement, collection, processing and sending of data to center for monitoring and managing the water supply system. An important feature of this invention is that the collection and sending of data is made possible without an energy connection by using an independent battery system or batteries that are charged with a renewable energy source such as solar or photovoltaic cells.

The field of application of this patent solution can also be modified to road covers of various shapes and purposes, such as, for example, road covers for closing hydrants, water chambers, road covers for closing deep anode beds in cathodic protection systems, on drainage system chambers, on piezometric boreholes etc.

Technical problem

Water supply pipelines are branched structures whose main purpose is the distribution of water from the water pumping station to the end user. In the distribution of water through pipelines, there is a frequent need to monitor the pressure, flow, temperature and quality of water in all parts of the water supply system. Water supply pipelines are infrastructural installations that are buried in the ground for a minimum of 1 meter, and very often the depth of burial significantly exceeds this depth both due to the configuration of the terrain and due to interpolation, i.e. taking into account already existing buried (built) installations such as gas pipelines, dtk cables, power cables, heat pipes, sewage collectors.

Due to the placement of pipelines deep underground, in concrete columns or suspensions under bridges, protective columns under highways, roads, tram or railway tracks, it is almost impossible to measure, collect and send data without communication devices connected to measuring devices on pipelines. As a rule, communication devices are located in overhead cabinets above or near the pipeline.

The water supply network consists of pipelines, fittings and various plumbing fittings. Pipelines are used for water transport and distribution within the water supply area. Fazon pieces are elements of the water supply system that serve to direct the flow of water, regulate the section (flow) through which the water flows, and to make connections with other elements. A very important element of the system are the water fittings that serve for the correct functioning, management and maintenance of the water supply system. We distinguish three types of water fittings;

- Valves for closing and regulation

- Fittings for taking water

- Protective fittings

This patent solution deals with improving the function of "water intake fittings", which are underground and above-ground hydrants, as well as road covers for various purposes.

Hydrants provide water for extinguishing fires, washing streets, watering public green areas, technical flushing of the water supply network and washing of water reservoirs, flushing and cooling of energy systems, taking water samples to control the healthiness of water (sampling). They used to be installed on pipelines as underground hydrants, and today almost exclusively as above-ground hydrants. They are placed on the water supply network at a distance of 80 to 150 meters.

A very important element of the water supply system is represented by measuring and valve chambers. Valves are installed in the valve chambers, which enable the manipulation of pressures, flows, and regulate the direction of water flow. Chambers represent important parts of the system because they largely define the hydraulics of the water supply system. Due to their importance, the chambers must be designed at the same time as the water supply pipeline (system). Most often, they are built within public traffic areas (roads, roads, squares, etc.), so for their construction, it is necessary to obtain a building permit if the chamber is built as an independent construction object. Mostly the chambers are covered by the construction permit for the construction of pipelines.

Chambers are subject to significant loads and vibrations caused by traffic, so static calculations are made for them. Placing chambers in public traffic areas solves the issue of property and legal relations, but requires regulation of traffic for the purpose of access for maintenance, reconstruction or eventual upgrading with measuring instruments. All this affects the high cost of building chambers, so they are designed and built only when there is technical and economic justification for it.

This Patent solution enables the construction of a measuring point on the hydrant, which is also the most accessible element of the pipeline. Measuring and telecommunication equipment, batteries and charging regulator will be located in or on the hydrant housing. This avoids the construction of chambers for placing the measuring device on the pipeline. This solution can also be applied to the road cover on already existing chambers. The solution can be achieved by placing photovoltaic cells under the multi-layered bulletproof glass on the chamber cover itself. Measuring and telecommunication equipment, batteries and charging regulator will be located in the chamber independently of the road cover and isolated from the influence of moisture in a place that does not interfere with the manipulation of the armature elements located in the chamber. The antenna of the communication device is located on the upper surface of the road cover next to the photovoltaic elements and is protected from the atmosphere by a transparent wall or epoxy compound.

Water losses

In Western European countries, water losses amount to 15-20%, while in Southeastern European countries, they significantly exceed 40%.

The structure of water losses is influenced by the following factors; unauthorized manipulation, illegal connections, technical flushing, fire prevention activities, street washing, watering of public green areas, but the most significant factor is the quality, maintenance and age of pipelines and fittings.

Urban water supply systems give increasing importance to measurements and activities aimed at reducing losses to an acceptable level. Reducing losses is directly a function of sustainable development, because the need for new amounts of drinking water and sources is reduced, that is, water resources are managed rationally, which is also in accordance with the principles of sustainable water management.

Water quality

In addition to water losses in the water supply system, it is even more important to monitor the quality of drinking water. Water is the second most important element (after air, the first) that is needed for human life, i.e. for meeting basic life needs. Therefore, it is necessary to control the quality of drinking water at the sources, after the conditioning and disinfection process, in water reservoirs and in the distribution network at precisely specified locations.

The frequency of sampling is legally defined. Amounts of chlorine and residual chlorine, turbidity, color, odor, conductivity, temperature, pH for raw and conditioned water are measured. Particular attention should be paid to water quality measurements after major reconstructions of the water supply network, drought or periods of heavy precipitation.

For high-quality management of a modern water supply system, it is necessary to have a large amount of information about the system, such as measurements of pressure, flow, temperature, chlorine and other quantities mentioned earlier.

State of the art

Central monitoring and management of the water supply system is carried out from the control and monitoring center through telemetry devices that communicate with devices located at certain points of the pipeline. Most often, the measuring points of pipelines are installed in underground chambers and are connected to telecommunication equipment located in electrical cabinets on the surface of the earth (and less often in the chamber itself) and have a secured electrical connection. Communication is carried out in several ways, such as UHF radio connection, modem connection, and lately the use of WiFi and GSM networks via GPRS, HSDPA, EDGE, LTA technology has become more frequent for communication between the center and measuring and regulating devices.

Hydrants can be used as measuring points in the manner shown by patent WO2012/000088 A1 in which the author describes the possibility of using and placing a pressure sensor inside the hydrant, or as a tamper detector as described in patent US 7,099,781 B1. Neither of the two listed solutions solves data transmission with equipment located in the hydrant, but involves an external device for data transmission or requires intervention in the immediate vicinity of the hydrant.

It is well known that the application of various electro-acoustic methods to detect leaks depends to a large extent on the intensity of noise from the environment, so this type of measurement for the purpose of inspecting the network is performed at night when the noise level is significantly lower and water consumption is reduced to a minimum. Forest loggers represent a cheaper and more efficient alternative to night work in searching for losses. The mentioned equipment uses short-range communication devices, and the batteries it uses for its work need to be replenished frequently, which makes continuous use impossible and requires the occasional presence of the operator.

Solving the problem of water losses increasingly requires the multidisciplinarity of experts and the use of a certain methodology in order to define the current situation as accurately as possible. In general, there are various approaches, for example creating a balance sheet, calculating certain indicators, dividing the system into zones, emergency interventions, active leakage control, minimum flow analysis, especially on measurements in the night mode of operation, and others. A prerequisite for conducting minimum flow analyzes is the collection of information on consumption, leaks and pressure dependence. Practice has shown that the use of existing equipment and devices (correlators, geophones, loggers) is not efficient enough, so there is an increasing need to measure flow and pressure.

Flow measurement is an expensive way of gathering information. A prerequisite for the installation of sophisticated flow meters is the construction of measurement and regulation chambers and the definition of the installation location, making sure that the meters are placed in the laminar area. The construction of new chambers in urban areas is subject to the obtaining of location and construction permits, the obtaining of electrical power approvals, static calculations, so they are built with special care.

Pressure measurements are made mainly at sources, in pumping stations, booster stations, and very rarely in the distribution network. The collection, transmission and processing of data through the telemetry hydrant will enable the collection of a large amount of data on pressures on the distribution network.

The development of water supply systems requires continuous measurements and regulation of system pressures. A large number of measuring points, the collection of a large amount of information and its processing will be solved using GIS technology. Modern GIS tools enable the integration of data taken from the SCADA system, data obtained by mathematical modeling, with other databases (billing, ruptures...) while providing the user with valuable technical information and a visual component.

Presentation of the essence of the invention

Hydrants are the most common and most available elements in the water supply system. Also, hydrants are significantly cheaper than regulation and measuring chambers with associated fittings. Therefore, their use, except for water supply and fire protection needs, by applying this patent solution - by integrating measuring and communication equipment into the hydrant housing, becomes technically and economically acceptable and in the future an irreplaceable part of the water supply measurement and regulation system.

The basic meaning of this invention is the integration of measuring, communication and electrical energy equipment into the hydrant housing (underground or above ground), which for its work uses a measuring device, a logical control device, a communication device, accumulator batteries (energy storage) and photovoltaic cells as an energy source and thus represents a unique hydrant measuring and signaling system.

In addition to the function of supplying water for firefighting needs and water supply, this hydrant has the ability to monitor measured values, for example pressure, flow, temperature, water quality or detection of opening, collecting and sending the collected information to the monitoring and management center.

In order to achieve measurement and communication functionality in the hydrant housing, it is necessary to install a measuring device - a sensor, a PLC (programmable logic controller), a modem with TCP/IP protocol, accumulator batteries and photovoltaic cells, and a battery charging and consumption regulator.

The purpose of the telemetry hydrant is to read the measured value and send this information via the public GSM network to the target (server) computer. The data downloaded on the target (server) computer has been downloaded and stored in the database and is available for further use.

The working principle is as follows: A sensor (or more) reads the value that is passed to the PLC; The PLC processes the data and, via the RS232 or RS485 protocol, forwards the data to the GSM/Wi-Fi modem that connects and transfers data to the target (server) computer on the network.

The connection between the hydrant and the target computer can be permanent or intermittent. A permanent connection is more energy-demanding and it is more difficult to achieve it continuously in the manner shown, so a charging and consumption regulator is used, which turns on and off measuring and communication devices at certain time intervals in order to save energy and the possibility of achieving a sufficient number of data transfers.

The communication device, batteries, PLC and controller are located inside the housing, on top of which a photovoltaic cell is placed for better exposure to sunlight. The entire housing with the mentioned equipment is located at the highest point of the hydrant and is designed to allow the smooth opening and closing of the hydrant. Since there are several different versions of the hydrant, this equipment can be installed in the hydrant housing itself, or it can be installed in a special housing that forms a single unit with the hydrant and can be separated from the hydrant housing.

With this integration, cheap and efficient construction of the measuring site is achieved without additional construction interventions. All of the above is also applicable to road covers of various shapes and purposes that close chambers in which underground hydrants or other water fittings are located.

A short list of drawings

Sl. 1 is a schematic representation of the communication and energy circuit and the mutual interaction of the telemetry hydrant device

Sl. 2 is a section of a detachable housing for housing the telemetry hydrant device

Sl. 3 is a floor plan of a telemetry hydrant with a detachable housing for housing the device

Sl. 4 is a side view of the telemetry hydrant with a built-in housing for housing the device

Sl. 5 is a section of a telemetry hydrant with devices installed in the hydrant housing

Sl. 6 is a floor plan of a telemetry hydrant with devices installed in the hydrant housing

Sl. 7 is a side view of the telemetry hydrant with devices installed in the hydrant housing

Sl. 8 is a floor plan of a road cover with photovoltaic cells that closes the chamber in which the underground telemetry hydrant is located

Sl. 9 is a side view of the hydrant and a section of the road cover with photovoltaic cells that closes the chamber in which the underground telemetry hydrant is located

Sl. 10 is the layout of the device in the case

Description of the method of realization of the invention

As can be seen from the drawing, for the construction of a telemetry hydrant, it is necessary to provide a housing (12) for the installation of the battery (7), photovoltaic (5), communication, regulation and control equipment and to isolate this equipment satisfactorily from atmospheric influences. Such a housing (12) can be separated from the hydrant and located outside the working part of the hydrant housing or it can be located in the hydrant housing itself (13).

The sensors, depending on the purpose, can be installed in any of the currently known ways inside the hydrant housing and are connected by a wire connection (8) to the PLC circuit (2) which forwards the data received from the sensors to the communication modem (3) based on radio, GSM or Wi-Fi data transmission method that sends this information via a wireless network to the target computer. Sensors can be analog or digital. The PLC (2) has the function of processing the collected data and forwarding it to the modem (3). The modem transmits data to wireless base stations via the antenna (4). Modem (3) uses one of the data transmission technologies for wireless data transmission such as UHF or VHF radio connection, GSM connection or Wi-Fi connection. The antenna of the modem (4) is located next to the photovoltaic cells for a better connection with the base stations through which data is transmitted. Modem (3) enables communication with the server computer via the TCP/IP protocol. PLC (2), modem (3) and sensors (1) use electricity from the built-in battery (7) for their work. In order to achieve a continuous supply of electricity, it is necessary to install photovoltaic cells (5) in the hydrant, which will supplement the batteries (7) with electricity and thereby achieve the energy independence of the telemetry hydrant. Photovoltaic cells (5) are located on the upper side of the hydrant and are thus most exposed to the daylight needed to generate electricity to charge the batteries (7). Because of their location, they must be insulated from the atmosphere. The regulator (6) has several functions. The first function is to ensure proper charging and discharging of the battery (7), which implies limiting the battery charging current (7) and timely disconnecting the battery (7) from charging as a protection against damage to the battery (7) due to overcharging. In case of excessive consumption of the battery (7), the function of the regulator is to turn off the consumer (6) and periodically switch it on to achieve continuity in data transmission until the battery (7) is fully charged for normal operation. The battery (7) must be rechargeable and have sufficient capacity to ensure the smooth operation of all consumers in the time when the photovoltaic cells (5) cannot produce electricity due to darkness or weak insolation.

Method of application of the invention

Modern water supply systems as we know them today basically represent the integration of construction, mechanical, electrical, telecommunication and IT knowledge, experience and equipment into complex process energy plants. The complexity of managing large water supply systems is best seen in large cities.

For flawless functioning, it is necessary to include the knowledge of various experts (mechanical, electrical, construction engineers, etc.) in the collection, processing, transfer and interpretation of various measured data (measurements).

The spread of Internet technology, new software solutions, a significant reduction in the prices of PLCs (and hardware in general), photovoltaic cells, batteries, and the transfer of collected data without obtaining special permits, enables a new way of managing the water supply system. Collecting data (on water quality, pressure, flow...) at a large number of measuring points on the distribution system will enable significantly more efficient and economical management.

The installation of a telemetric hydrant enables active involvement in world trends to achieve the minimum standards of water supply to the population with minimum pressures. The reduction of pressures in the system, in addition to the reduction of losses, will directly affect the extension of the service life of the installation, the amount of leakage, the creation of new cracks and the stabilization of existing leakage points will be reduced, the amount of human work required for system maintenance will be reduced, and there will be significant savings and on energy.

The installation of a telemetry hydrant will enable pressure reduction, collection of information on leakages, data processing, pressure analysis and rupture prediction using GIS tools, control of minimum and maximum pressure at a particular microlocation (section) or within a particular zone.

Underground and above-ground hydrants are elements that are installed on the water supply system for the purpose of taking water, the purpose is multiple and most often used to control the healthiness of drinking water, for fire fighting purposes, for washing streets, watering green areas of public interest. They are installed at distances of 80 to 150 m. All this makes them the most common reinforcing elements that are installed above the ground and must be visible, easily accessible and easy to handle.

The density of existing hydrants on the distribution water supply network represents an unused potential for collecting information on the water supply system as a whole, but above all on precisely defined microlocations.

The construction of most of today's hydrants allows a very light and simple replacement of a part of the existing hydrant (on the ground) with an armature assembly, which enables measurements, data collection (measured quantities), sending data to the data collection center for further processing. In the described way, by integrating photovoltaic cells, batteries, battery charge regulators, telecommunications and measuring equipment, we get a telemetry hydrant in the hydrant housing.

One or more measuring probes (pressure, chlorine, temperature, etc.) can be installed in an individual telemetry hydrant, depending on the design and available installation space. Each telemetry hydrant can be precisely positioned in space, thus enabling continuous monitoring and spatial analysis. The collected data obtained by measuring the telemetry hydrant will be sent via wireless networks and automatically entered into a database that can be used by GIS, Map Guide, Google Earth and other suitable programs that serve for spatial analysis, and can also be used for the remote control and monitoring system of the water supply. system.

Data collection via telemetry hydrants can be fully realized by remote communication in two ways; direct connection of each hydrant with the monitoring center or collecting data from several telemetry hydrants (pressure, flow, temperature, ..) in an individual DMA (District Metered Area) and sending a larger amount of data to the monitoring center. Data can be sent via UHF/VHF radio connection, Wi-Fi or GSM communication.

GIS Web orientation

Collecting and storing data is possible by establishing a SCADA system that would monitor changes in the distribution network. However, the large amount of collected data can be overwhelming for understanding and making quality decisions, so the systematization and visualization of data will be solved by connecting SCADA and GIS systems. Visualization is essential for geographic location and spatial analysis.

SCADA control systems consist of a complex network of electronic devices for measuring and sending data via LAN, WAN to the control center. It is envisaged that the SCADA system will monitor the hydrant network in real time, and the GIS will, as an upgrade, integrate the various systems highlighting their advantages. This will enable better monitoring and maintenance of the distribution network, as well as system management.

GIS technology will enable a fast, accurate and spatially unique display of network data, and it can be used for visualization of the distribution network, mathematical modeling, optimization, troubleshooting in the system, spatial analysis, and assistance in strategic planning.

Let's assume that there is a loss of water in some part of the network, in practice this will be played out in such a way that the telemetry hydrant reports the drop in pressure to the SCADA system, and the GIS system, with the help of the System for Prediction and Loss Management (EDC d.o.o.) application, will determine in which part network, there has been a loss of water (leakage, theft, legal or illegal encroachment) and display the location. Historical data and the frequency of pressure drop caused by a rupture will allow the operator monitoring the system to quickly obtain information and inform users how long it will take to fix the fault and which area will be without water.

The basic meaning of this patent solution is to achieve continuous data transmission, and proof of real-time monitoring on the distribution water supply network. The mentioned solutions can be applied to underground hydrants and road covers. Applying the above solution to other elements and fittings (hydrants, road hydrant covers, road covers on chambers, house connection boxes) will result in new products that, in addition to mechanical functions, also have the ability to measure, collect and send information.

The development, implementation and monitoring of the water supply system using a telemetric (above ground or underground) telemetric hydrant will provide significant progress and enable:

- reduction of management and maintenance costs

- higher quality monitoring and a greater amount of collected data such as water quality and pressures on individual parts of the water supply system

- collecting and sending data according to a predetermined regime

- low energy consumption

- a large number of readings of measured quantities

- the possibility of remote information collection

- possibility of remote access to TH or TCP via data collection software

Telemetry hydrants enable constant monitoring or measurements on the water supply system, transfer of that data to SCADU and GIS while indicating geolocated places and the frequency of repeated losses on the system.

List of used call signs

1 - Sensor

2 - PLC (Programmable Logic Computer)

3 - Modem

4 - Antenna

5 - Photovoltaic cells

6 - Battery charging and consumption regulator

7 - Rechargeable battery

8 - Wire connection with the sensor

9 - Transparent wall

10 - Road cover

11 - Road cover housing

12 - Detachable housing

13 - Hydrant working case

14 - Housing for underground placement of the device

Claims (6)

1. Telemetry hydrant that includes the housing of the above-ground water hydrant (13), measuring device-sensor (1), rechargeable battery (7), photovoltaic cells (5), modem (3), PLC (2) and charging regulator (6), characterized by the fact that the hydrant housing, as a separate and separable part, is fitted with a housing in which the listed devices are located, the function of which is to read the value of sensors (1), or more of them, installed in the working part of the hydrant housing (13) and which are in contact with the media, forward it to the PLC (2), which processes the received data according to the given program and forwards it to the modem (3), which transmits the data to the target computer via a wireless connection. 2. The telemetry hydrant specified in claim 1, characterized by the fact that it uses a rechargeable battery (7) to power all devices, which is replenished by means of a charge regulator (6) with current obtained from photovoltaic cells (5) that are located on the upper part of the hydrant and exposed to daylight through a transparent wall that protects photovoltaic cells (5) and devices from the atmosphere. 3. Telemetry hydrant that includes the housing of the above-ground water hydrant (13), measuring device-sensor (1), rechargeable battery (7), photovoltaic cells (5), modem (3), PLC (2) and charging regulator (6), indicated by the fact that in the working housing of the hydrant (13), the specified devices are located, whose function is to transmit the reading value of the sensor (1), or several of them, installed in the working part of the housing of the hydrant (13) and which are in contact with the medium, to the PLC (2) which processes the received data according to the given program and forward it to the modem (3) which transmits the data to the target computer via a wireless connection. 4. The telemetry hydrant specified in claim 3, characterized by the fact that all devices are powered by a rechargeable battery (7) which is replenished by means of a charge regulator with current obtained from photovoltaic cells (5) which are located on the upper part of the hydrant and are exposed to daylight through a transparent the wall that protects photovoltaic cells (5) and devices from the atmosphere. 5. Telemetry hydrant that includes the housing of the underground water hydrant (13), measuring device-sensor (1), rechargeable battery (7), modem (3), PLC (2) and charging regulator (6), indicated that in chambers of the road cover housing (11), the listed devices located in a separate insulated housing whose function is to read the value of the sensor (1), or several of them, installed in the working part of the hydrant housing (13) and which are in contact with the medium, forward to the PLC ( 2) which processes the received data according to the given program and forward it to the modem (3) which transmits the data to the target computer via a wireless connection. 6. The telemetry hydrant specified in claim 5, characterized by the fact that it uses a rechargeable battery (7) to power all devices, which is replenished by means of a charging regulator (6) with current obtained from photovoltaic cells (5) that are located on the upper side of the road cover (10) ) which closes the chamber in which the telemetry hydrant is located and exposed to daylight through a transparent wall that protects photovoltaic cells (5) and devices from the atmosphere.