Time synchronized leak detection system
AssigneeKamstrup A/S
InventorSune Hoveroust Dupont
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Fluid consumption meter comprising a noise detection module for leak detection measurements and a control device comprising a bi-directional communication unit. The control comprises a time synchronization module for time synchronization of leak detection measurements with an external device via the bi-directional communication unit with a time synchronization error of less than 1000 micro seconds. The control device is arranged to receive a leak detection control signal from an external device and to start the leak detection measurements at a point in time specified the received leak detection control signal.
Claims19
A fluid consumption meter configured to measure a flow rate of a fluid and comprising:
- a noise detection module for leak detection measurements, and
- a control device comprising a bi-directional communication unit;
- wherein the control device further comprises a time synchronization module for time synchronization of leak detection measurements with an external device via the bi-directional communication unit with a time synchronization error of less than 1000 micro seconds;
- and
- wherein the control device is arranged to receive a leak detection control signal from the external device via said bi-directional communication unit, to start leak detection measurements at a point in time specified in measurement synchronization information comprised in the received leak detection control signal, and to transmit leak detection measurement data from said leak detection module via said bi-directional communication unit.
A method for leak detection in a water utility distribution network comprising an external device or remote control and a plurality of leak detection sensors having a noise detection module for leak detection, and a control device comprising a bi-directional communication unit and comprising a time synchronization module for time synchronization of noise detection with a time synchronization error of less than 1000 micro seconds, the method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting from the external device or remote control to the plurality of leak detection sensors a leak detection control signal comprising detection synchronization information specifying a point in time for starting noise detections;
- receiving in the plurality of leak detection sensors the leak detection control signal;
- starting in the plurality of leak detection sensors noise detections at the point in time specified in the detection synchronization information comprised in the received leak detection control signal, whereby noise detections in the plurality of leak detection sensors are time synchronized;
- sending from the plurality of leak detection sensors to the external device or remote control noise detection data detected by the noise detection module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.