阅读说明：本技术 估算配送网中损失的流体的量 (Estimating the amount of fluid lost in a distribution network ) 是由 H·泰布尔勒 于 2021-04-14 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种估算在流体配送网(1)中损失的流体的量的方法,所述方法包括以下步骤：对于给定测量周期的每一时间区间,采集主流体计(CCQ)所进行的并代表在所述时间区间期间经由主管道(3)配送的流体的量的主测量,并且对于每一副流体计(CCi),采集由所述副流体计进行的并代表在所述时间区间期间经由所述副流体计连接到的副管道(4)配送的流体的量的副测量；计算等于主测量和诸副测量总和之差的测量差；确定给定测量周期内诸测量差中的最小值；基于该最小值来估算在给定测量周期内损失的流体的量。(A method of estimating the amount of fluid lost in a fluid distribution network (1), the method comprising the steps of: -acquiring, for each time interval of a given measurement cycle, a main measurement made by a main fluid meter (CCQ) and representative of the amount of fluid dispensed via the main conduit (3) during said time interval, and, for each secondary fluid meter (CCi), a secondary measurement made by said secondary fluid meter and representative of the amount of fluid dispensed via a secondary conduit (4) to which said secondary fluid meter is connected during said time interval; calculating a measurement difference equal to the difference between the primary measurement and the sum of the secondary measurements; determining a minimum value of the measurement differences within a given measurement period; the amount of fluid lost in a given measurement period is estimated based on the minimum value.)

1. An estimation method for estimating the amount of fluid lost in a fluid distribution network (1), said fluid distribution network (1) comprising a primary duct (3) to which a primary fluid meter (CCQ) is connected and a secondary duct (4) to which a secondary fluid meter (CCi) is connected and which is subordinate to said primary duct (3), said estimation method comprising the following steps, which are repeated in consecutive measuring periods, which are themselves subdivided into time intervals:

-for each time interval of a given measurement cycle, acquiring a main measurement made by said main fluid meter (CCQ) and representative of the amount of fluid dispensed via said main pipe (3) during said time interval, and for each secondary fluid meter (CCi), acquiring a secondary measurement made by said secondary fluid meter and representative of the amount of fluid dispensed via a secondary pipe (4) to which said secondary fluid meter is connected during said time interval;

for each time interval of said given measurement period, calculating a measurement difference equal to the difference between said primary measurement and the sum of the secondary measurements;

determining a minimum value of the measurement differences within the given measurement period;

estimating an amount of fluid lost during the given measurement period based on the minimum value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of fluid lost during the given measurement period is estimated to be equal to the minimum value multiplied by the number of time intervals included in the given measurement period.

3. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein for each secondary fluid meter (CCi), a first secondary measurement representative of the amount of fluid dispensed via the secondary duct (4) to which said secondary fluid meter (CCi) is connected during a first time interval of said given measurement period is estimated by using the following formula:

wherein:

j is the given measurement period;

k is the number of time intervals in each measurement period;

Δi_{j_0}is the first secondary measurement;

Ci_jis a total secondary measurement representative of the total amount of fluid dispensed via the secondary duct (4) to which the secondary fluid meter is connected, up to the start of the given measurement cycle;

Ci_j+1is a total secondary measurement representing the total amount of fluid dispensed via the secondary conduit to which the secondary fluid meter is connected, up to the beginning of a measurement period following the given measurement period;

Δi_{j_k}are secondary measurements of time intervals of said given measurement period subsequent to said first time interval.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein for said main fluid meter (CCQ), a first main measurement representative of the amount of fluid dispensed via said main conduit (3) during a first time interval of said given measurement cycle is estimated by using the following formula:

wherein:

j is the given measurement period;

k is the number of time intervals in each measurement period;

ΔCCQ_{j_0}is the first primary measurement;

CQ_jis a total main measurement representative of the total amount of fluid dispensed via the main conduit by the beginning of the given measurement period;

CQ_j+1is a total main measurement representative of the total amount of fluid dispensed via the main conduit up to the start of a measurement period following the given measurement period;

ΔCCQ_{j_k}are primary measurements of time intervals of said given measurement period subsequent to said first time interval.

5. The method of any preceding claim, wherein each measurement period has a duration of one day, and wherein each time interval has a duration of one hour.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said main fluid meter (CCQ) and said secondary fluid meter (CCi) are water meters.

7. An apparatus comprising both a communication module (10) arranged to receive primary measurements by the primary fluid meter (CCQ) and secondary measurements by the secondary fluid meter (CCi), and a processor module (11) arranged to perform the method of any preceding claim.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the apparatus is an information system (6), or a gateway (Gm), or a data concentrator, or a regional intelligent fluid meter (CCQ).

9. A computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 to perform the steps of the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6.

10. A computer-readable storage medium on which the computer program of claim 9 is stored.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of fluid distribution networks comprising smart meters.

Background

Modern water meters, also known as "smart" water meters, typically include a measuring device for measuring the water consumption of the facility, and it also includes a processor module and a communication module.

The processor module enables the water meter to perform a number of functions and in particular to analyse various data, for example relating to the water consumption of the facility, the billing of the consumer, the status of the water distribution network, or indeed the operation of the water meter itself.

The communication module enables the meter to communicate with an Information System (IS) of a network administrator, possibly via a data concentrator, a gateway, or indeed another meter (e.g., a regional intelligent meter). The communication module may perform any type of communication, and for example, communication via a 2G, 3G, 4G, Cat-M or NB-IoT type cellular network, communication using a remote (LoRa) protocol, radio communication using the Wize standard operating at a frequency of 169 megahertz (MHz), and so forth.

It is important to be able to estimate the amount of water lost in the distribution network in order to be able to detect and locate leaks when this amount of water lost is abnormally high.

Several methods have been envisaged to estimate the amount of water lost in a water distribution network, but none of them is fully satisfactory.

One of these methods consists in relying on an index equal to the ratio between the volume of water dispensed and the volume of water consumed measured by the water meters of the network. However, this method cannot distinguish between water loss due to legitimate leaks, and legitimate unmetered water consumption drawn by public service departments (fire brigades, swimming pools, etc.), or even water theft (although they may be problematic, this does not require taking urgent action to repair elements of the water distribution network).

Object of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to accurately estimate the amount of fluid lost in a fluid distribution network.

Disclosure of Invention

To achieve this object, an estimation method is provided for estimating the amount of fluid lost in a fluid distribution network comprising a primary conduit to which a primary meter is connected and a secondary conduit subordinate to said primary conduit and to which a secondary meter is connected, the estimation method comprising the following steps which are repeated in consecutive measurement periods which are themselves subdivided into time intervals:

-for each time interval of a given measurement cycle, acquiring a main measurement made by a main fluid meter and representative of the amount of fluid dispensed via the main pipe during said time interval, and, for each secondary fluid meter, acquiring a secondary measurement made by said secondary fluid meter and representative of the amount of fluid dispensed via the secondary pipe to which said secondary fluid meter is connected during said time interval;

for each time interval of a given measurement cycle, calculating a measurement difference equal to the difference between the main measurement and the sum of the secondary measurements;

determining the minimum of the measurement differences within a given measurement period;

estimate the amount of fluid lost in a given measurement period based on the minimum.

The minimum of the measurement differences is a very accurate estimate of the amount of fluid lost in the fluid distribution network during a duration equal to the duration of a time interval. The method of the invention enables this estimation to exclude both unmetered fluid consumption by legitimate draws and stolen fluid consumption.

There is also provided a method as described above, wherein the amount of fluid lost in a given measurement period is estimated to be equal to the minimum value multiplied by the number of time intervals involved in the given measurement period.

There is also provided a method as described above, wherein for each secondary fluid meter, a first secondary measurement representative of the amount of fluid dispensed via the secondary conduit to which the secondary fluid meter is connected during a first time interval of a given measurement cycle is estimated by using the following formula:

wherein:

j is a given measurement period;

k is the number of time intervals in each measurement period;

Δi_{j_0}is a first secondary measurement;

C_ijis a total secondary measurement representing the total amount of fluid dispensed via the secondary conduit to which the secondary fluid meter is connected, up to the start of a given measurement cycle;

Ci_j+1is a total secondary measurement representing the total amount of fluid dispensed via the secondary conduit to which the secondary fluid meter is connected, up to the start of a measurement period following a given measurement period;

Δi_{j_k}are secondary measurements for time intervals subsequent to the first time interval for a given measurement period.

There is also provided a method as above, wherein for the main fluid meter a first main measurement representative of the amount of fluid dispensed via the main conduit during a first time interval of a given measurement cycle is estimated by using the following formula:

wherein:

j is a given measurement period;

k is the number of time intervals in each measurement period;

ΔCCQ_{j_0}is the first primary measurement;

CQ_jis a total main measurement representing the total amount of fluid dispensed via the main conduit by the start of a given measurement cycle;

CQ_j+1is a total main measurement representing the total amount of fluid dispensed via the main conduit up to the start of a measurement period following a given measurement period;

ΔCCQ_{j_k}are primary measurements for time intervals of a given measurement period that are subsequent to the first time interval.

There is also provided a method as described above, wherein each measurement period has a duration of one day, and wherein each time interval has a duration of one hour.

There is also provided a method as described above, the primary and secondary fluid meters being water meters.

The invention also provides an apparatus comprising both a communication module arranged to receive primary measurements by a primary fluid meter and secondary measurements by a secondary fluid meter and a processor module arranged to perform the method described above.

There is also provided an apparatus as described above, being an information system, or a gateway, or a data concentrator, or a regional intelligent flow table.

There is also provided a computer program comprising instructions for causing the apparatus to perform the steps of the method described above.

A computer-readable storage medium is also provided, on which the above-mentioned computer program is stored.

The invention may be better understood in view of the following description of specific non-limiting embodiments of the invention.

Drawings

Reference is made to the accompanying single figure:

fig. 1 shows a water distribution network in which the invention is implemented.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1, in this example, the method of the invention for estimating the amount of fluid lost in a fluid distribution network is implemented in a water distribution network 1 for supplying water to a "region" 2, i.e. to a geographical area having a plurality of water facilities, each of which is located, for example, in a house, restaurant, shop or the like.

The water distribution network 1 has a main pipe 3 and a secondary pipe 4, each connected to a respective different water installation 5.

The water distribution network 1 also has an Information System (IS)6 of a water distribution network administrator, a gateway Gm and an ultrasonic water meter 7.

IS 6 has an application server 8, a remote (LoRa) network server (LNS)9, and a first communication module 10.

The application server 8 comprises a first processor module 11 comprising at least a first processor component adapted to execute instructions of a program for performing certain steps of the evaluation method described below. As an example, the first processor component may be a processor, a microcontroller, or indeed a programmable logic circuit such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

The LNS server 9 is used, inter alia, to manage the communication with all gateways Gm and with all water meters 7 to which the LNS server 9 is connected. The LNS server 9 communicates directly with the gateway Gm and communicates with the water meter 7 via the gateway Gm. In order to communicate with the gateway Gm, the LNS server 9 uses a first communication module 10, and in this example, the first communication module 10 is used to perform radio communication that transmits LoRa protocol frames.

The gateway Gm is a LoRa gateway. The variable m is in the range of 1 to P.

Each gateway Gm includes a communication module enabling it to communicate with the LNS server 9 by radio communication transmitting LoRa protocol frames and to communicate with the water meter 7 by radio communication using the LoRa protocol.

All communication between the IS 6 and the water meter 7, either uplink or downlink, IS via the gateway Gm.

The water meter 7 comprises a main water meter CCQ, which is a regional smart meter, and a plurality of secondary water meters CCi, which are the respective smart meters of the consumer.

The main water meter CCQ is connected to the main conduit 3. A respective secondary water meter CCi is connected to each secondary conduit 4. The variable i varies over a range 1 to N, where N is the number of secondary pipes 4 and therefore the number of secondary water meters CCi.

The secondary conduits 4 are subordinate to the main conduit 3, i.e. they are both connected to the main conduit 3 downstream of the main water meter CCQ: downstream from the main water meter CCQ, the main pipe 3 is divided into a bundle of secondary pipes 4.

In this example, the term "upstream" means on the side of the distribution network, while the term "downstream" means on the side of the water installation 5.

Each water meter 7 includes a second communication module 14 enabling it to communicate by radio using the LoRa protocol. Each water meter 7 further comprises a second processor module 15, the second processor module 15 comprising at least one second processor component adapted to execute instructions of a program. By way of example, the second processor component may be a processor, a microcontroller, or indeed a programmable logic circuit such as an FPGA or ASIC.

The method of the invention seeks to estimate the amount of water lost in the distribution network 1 between the main meter CCQ and the sub-meters CCi, i.e. in the area of the distribution network 1 located downstream of the main meter CCQ and upstream of each sub-meter CCi.

The method comprises a number of steps which are repeated in consecutive measuring periods, each measuring period being subdivided into time intervals. In this example, the measurement period has a duration of one day (and starting from midnight), and each time interval has a duration of one hour. Each measurement cycle thus comprises 24 time intervals.

For each time interval of a given measurement period j, i.e. for each hour of a given day j, and for each secondary water meter CCi, the first processor module 11 of the application server 8 of the IS 6 collects a secondary measurement by said secondary water meter CCi, which secondary measurement represents the quantity of water dispensed via the secondary pipe 4 to which said secondary water meter CCi IS connected during said time interval. The secondary measurement IS transmitted by the second communication module 14 of the secondary water meter CCi via one of the gateways Gm to the first communication module 10 of the IS 6.

These secondary measurements are included in the load curve (referenced Chi) received by the first processor module 11 (once a day, several times a day) from each secondary water meter CCi. The load curve Chi is written as Ci_jReference index and consecutive index difference (called "delta", Δ i)_{j_1}To Δ i_{j_23}) And (4) forming.

Each index increment Δ i_{j_k}Is a secondary measurement made by the secondary meter CCi on a given day j. This pair of measurements represents the amount of water delivered to the secondary installation 5 connected to the secondary pipe 4 during the (k +1) th time interval, e.g. by the connectionMeasured by the secondary water meter CCi connected to the secondary pipe 4. In this example, the secondary measurements are the volume of water (expressed as xxx, xxx cubic meters (m)³))。

Thus, by way of example, between 2 and 3 am, i.e. during a third time interval given a day j, the secondary water meter CCi measures dispensing of a quantity equal to Δ i via the secondary pipe 4 to which it is connected_{j_2}The amount of water. Reference index Ci_jIs a total secondary measurement representing the total amount of water that has been dispensed via the secondary pipe 4 to which the secondary water meter CCi is connected, up to the beginning of a given day j.

For a day j +1 after the given day j, and for each pair of water meters CCi, the first processor module 11 also collects a total secondary measurement of the quantity of water dispensed via the secondary water pipe 4 to which the secondary water meter CCi is connected, up to the beginning of the day j +1 after the given day j.

For each time interval of a given day j, the first processor module 11 also collects CQ writes_jReference index and write as Δ CCQ_{j_1}To Δ CCQ_{j_23}The consecutive index increments of (a) constitute a load curve ChQ.

Increment of each index Δ CCQ_{j_k}Is the main measurement made by the main water meter CCQ. This main measurement represents the amount of water dispensed via the main conduit 3 during the (k +1) th time interval. The main measurement is the volume of water (expressed as xxx, xxx m)³). The master measurement IS transmitted by the second communication module 14 of the master water meter CCQ via one of the gateways Gm to the first communication module 10 of the IS 6.

Reference index CQ_jIs a total main measurement representing the total amount of water dispensed via the main conduit 3 until the beginning of a given day j.

For a day j +1 after the given day j, the first processor module 11 also collects a total main measurement CQ representing the amount of water that has been dispensed via the main pipe 3 by the start of the day j +1 after the given day j_j+1。

It should be observed that, for each of the secondary water meters CCi, the first processor module 11 does not directly receive a first secondary measurement representative of the quantity of water dispensed via the secondary pipe 4 to which the secondary water meter CCi is connected during a first time interval of a given measurement cycle (i.e. between midnight and 1 am of a given day j).

This first secondary measurement Δ i_{j_0}Is estimated using the following formula:

wherein:

k is the number of time intervals in each measurement period (in this example, K-24);

Δi_{j_0}is a first secondary measurement;

Ci_jis a total secondary measurement representing the total amount of water dispensed via the secondary pipe 4 to which the secondary water meter CCi is connected, up to the start of a given measurement period (i.e. a given day j);

Ci_j+1is a total secondary measurement representing the total amount of water dispensed via the secondary pipe 4 to which said secondary water meter CCi is connected, up to the beginning of a measurement cycle following a given measurement cycle;

Δi_{j_k}are secondary measurements for time intervals subsequent to the first time interval for a given measurement period.

Likewise, the first processor module 11 does not directly receive a first main measurement representative of the amount of water dispensed via the main conduit 3 during a first time interval of a given measurement cycle.

The first primary measure is estimated using the following formula:

wherein:

k is the number of time intervals in each measurement period (in this example, K-24);

ΔCCQ_{j_0}is the first primary measurement;

CQ_jis a total main measurement representing the total amount of water dispensed via the main conduit, up to the start of a given measurement cycle;

CQ_j+1is to represent that the given is cut offThe beginning of the measuring period, after the measuring period, of the total main measurement of the total amount of water dispensed via the main conduit;

ΔCCQ_{j_k}are primary measurements for time intervals of a given measurement period that are subsequent to the first time interval.

For each time interval of a given measurement cycle, the first processor module 11 then calculates a measurement difference equal to the difference between the main measurement (made by the main meter) and the sum of the secondary measurements (each made by one of the secondary meters).

Thereafter, the first processor module 11 determines the minimum of the measurement differences over the measurement period.

For a given day j, the minimum of the measurement differences is thus equal to:

it should be recalled that N is the number of secondary water meters CCi "connected" to the main water meter CCQ.

In the case of a leak, the water is considered to be continuously lost. Based on this minimum, the first processor module 11 estimates the amount of water that has been lost in a given measurement period, i.e. the volume of water lost per day.

The amount of water lost in a given measurement period is equal to this minimum value multiplied by the number of time intervals involved in a given measurement period.

Thereby:

VQ ═ k.vp, i.e. for K ═ 24, VQ ═ 24.VP

Where VQ is the amount of water lost in a given measurement period (i.e. in a given day j) and where VP is the minimum of the measurement differences.

The first processor module 11 thus determines the volume of water lost per day in the region 2 of the main water meter CCQ.

The minimum of the measurement differences is usually obtained at night and is a very accurate estimate of the amount of water lost over a duration equal to the duration of a time interval.

In particular, since water leaks are a long-term and persistent phenomenon, and since the flow rate is substantially constant, it is known that the amount of water detected as being greater than this minimum corresponds to the consumption of unmetered water drawn legally (usually by public service departments) or to the water being stolen. Taking into account the minimum of the measurement differences thus makes it possible to eliminate from the estimate any legal draws or stolen unmetered water consumption.

The first processor module 11 then compares the daily lost water volume with a predetermined threshold value VS. In this example, the predetermined threshold VS is a threshold that can be set.

Limited water loss is a normal and common phenomenon in water distribution networks. In general, a "nominal" water loss rate of the water distribution network is observed in the range of 5% to 10% of the water dispensed.

However, if the volume of water lost per day is greater than a predetermined threshold, the first processor module 11 detects that the water loss is abnormal and this water loss may correspond to a large and problematic water leak. The first processor module 11 generates an alarm message to schedule an action for repairing the damaged element of the network from which the leak originated.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments, but covers any variant falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

The method of the present invention may be implemented in whole or in part in devices other than IS and for example in gateways, data concentrators, regional smart meters, and the like.

The measurement period need not necessarily be days and the time interval need not necessarily be hours.

Communications between the meters, gateways, and IS may be performed using any type of communications technology and any type of protocol.

The invention can be implemented in a pipe network for distributing fluids other than water: gas, oil, etc.