Method and Apparatus for Assessing the Consumption of a Medium in a Supply System

A method for assessing the consumption of a medium in a supply distribution system by using at least one consumption meter, in which by using the consumption values captured over time (Vcum) by the consumption meter, consumption flow values ({dot over (V)}) are determined for the medium, whereby using the consumption flow values ({dot over (V)}) a frequency distribution is generated by classifying the consumption flow values for generating the frequency distribution into consumption flow classes (Ci) that are defined by specifiable limit values, and the respective frequency of occurrence of consumption flow values ({dot over (V)}) are counted as entries in a consumption flow class (Ci) and whereby the consumption is assessed by an analysis of the frequency distribution,

• wherein, for the analysis of the frequency distribution for detecting a leakage of the medium, the number of consumption flow values ({dot over (V)}) within consumption flow classes is compared with the number of consumption flow values ({dot over (V)}) within at least one other consumption flow class.

The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency distribution is generated over a specifiable analysis interval.

The method of claim 1, wherein for the analysis of the frequency distribution, the number of consumption flow values ({dot over (V)}) is compared with specifiable threshold values.

The method of claim 3, wherein the threshold values are learned.

The method of claim 1, wherein for the analysis of the frequency distribution, a reference frequency distribution is generated and compared with a frequency distribution.

The method of claim 5, wherein the reference frequency distribution is learned by adding the consumption flow values ({dot over (V)}) that were determined to the reference frequency distribution.

The method of claim 1, wherein for the analysis of the frequency distribution, the relative number of consumption flow values ({dot over (V)}) is assessed with a membership function associated with this consumption flow value ({dot over (V)}) and the assessments of the membership functions of various consumption flow values ({dot over (V)}) are summarized for an assessment of the consumption.

The method of claim 1, wherein the consumption flow value ({dot over (V)}) is formed from the difference of two consumption meters.

The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed in a consumption meter or a data collection point.

The method of claim 1 wherein upon the detection of a leakage of the medium in the supply distribution system, the amount of the discharged medium is determined using the frequency distribution of the individual consumption values ({dot over (V)}).

A device for assessing the consumption of a medium in a supply distribution system by using at least one consumption meter, whereby the device has a memory for storing the consumption values ({dot over (V)}) of at least one consumption meter and a processing unit that is connected to the memory, which is equipped to assess the consumption with the help of the consumption values ({dot over (V)}) that were determined,

• wherein the processing unit is equipped to perform the method as recited in claim 1.

The device as recited in claim 11, wherein the device is integrated into a consumption meter.

A device as recited in claim 11, wherein the device is integrated into a data collection point which is connected to at least one consumption meter.