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US 10,534,377 B2Granted
Automation of water flow in networks
AssigneeSchweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsDavid J. Dolezilek, Amandeep Singh Kalra
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a control system for a water network. The control system includes a plurality of remotely-located monitoring and or monitoring and automatic control stations each including an automation controller for local control and automation, and each in communication via a dual-ring communication topology for system or wide-area control. The dual-ring facilitates redundant peer-to-peer data exchange to provide upstream and downstream water flow and water quality information. Systems described herein may calculate flow differential based on water flow data from each of the monitoring stations, and control flow based on the calculated flow differential.
Claims20
A water flow control system comprising:
- a plurality of adjustable gates, wherein each adjustable gate is adjustable to control the flow of water within one of a plurality of water channels;
- a plurality of flow sensors, wherein each flow sensor measures flow data of one of the plurality of water channels;
- a plurality of flow monitoring stations, wherein each flow monitoring station is associated with one of the plurality of water channels to receive flow data from an associated flow sensor and transmit control signals to an associated adjustable gate,
- wherein one of the flow monitoring stations serves as a flow control station to receive flow data from and transmit commands to others of the plurality of flow monitoring stations;
- and
- a dual-ring redundant communications network supporting two different protocols, comprising:
- a first communication ring that connects each of the plurality of flow monitoring stations in a ring topology that facilitates communication via a bi-directional peer-to-peer communications protocol, and
- a second communication ring that enables the flow control station to transmit commands to others of the plurality of flow monitoring stations via centralized client-server communications.
5 more elements
A water flow control system, comprising:
- a flow control station including:
- a control automation controller, and
- a control communications device with a plurality of communication ports to facilitate communication via at least a peer-to-peer communication protocol and via client-server communications;
- a first flow monitoring station including:
- a first station communications device with a plurality of communication ports to facilitate communication via at least the peer-to-peer communication protocol and via the client-server communications,
- a first flow sensor to measure water flow within a first water channel and transmit flow data to the flow control station via the first station communications device, and
- a first adjustable water flow control device to control water flow within the first water channel based on control signals received from the flow control station;
- a second flow monitoring station including:
- a second station communications device with a plurality of communication ports to facilitate communication via at least the peer-to-peer communication protocol and via the client-server communications,
- a second flow sensor to measure water flow within a second water channel and transmit flow data to the flow control station via the second station communications device, and
- a second adjustable water flow control device to control water flow within the second water channel based on control signals received from the flow control station;
- and
- a dual-ring communications network providing redundant communication channels for peer-to-peer and centralized client-server communications comprising:
- peer-to-peer communications channels operating in a ring topology to facilitate bi-directional peer-to-peer communication between each of the control communications device, the first station communications device, and the second station communications device, and
- client-server communications channels facilitating client-server communication from the control communication device to each of the first station communications device and the second station communications device.
12 more elements
A wide-area water flow control system, comprising:
- a flow control station including:
- a control automation controller,
- a first plurality of communication devices to facilitate communication via a peer-to-peer communication protocol, and
- a second plurality of communication devices to facilitate communication via client-server communications;
- a plurality of flow monitoring stations that each include:
- a station communications device with a plurality of communication ports to facilitate communication via at least the peer-to-peer communication protocol and the client-server communications,
- a flow sensor to measure water flow within a water channel and transmit flow data to the flow control station via the station communications device, and
- an adjustable water flow control device to control water flow within the water channel based on control signals received from the flow control station;
- a peer-to-peer communication ring connecting the flow control station and the plurality of control monitoring stations in a ring topology;
- and
- a client server communication ring facilitating client-server server client communications from the control communication device to each of the plurality of flow monitoring stations.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.