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US 6,757,623 B2Granted
Flow transport analysis method and system
AssigneeAds
InventorsJames S. Schutzbach, Patrick L. Stevens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for analyzing flow of a substance in a sewer system determines a first flow velocity at a first location and a second flow velocity at a second location. Using a processor, the travel time between the two locations is determined using only the flow velocities and a constant. The travel time may then be used to provide a substantially accurate determination of net flow between the two locations.
Claims22
A method of analyzing flow of a substance in a sewer network comprising:
- collecting first data representative of a first flow velocity of a substance at a first location in a sewer network;
- collecting second data representative of a second flow velocity of the substance at a second location in the sewer network;
- and
- determining, by a processor, a travel time corresponding to a time required for the substance to travel between the first location and the second location, using the first data, the second data, and a constant,
- wherein the step of determining does not require additional data relating to a distance or characteristics of the sewer network.
2 more elements
A system for analyzing flow of a substance between a first location and a second location within a sewer network, comprising:
- a first meter capable of detecting a first flow velocity at a first location within a sewer network;
- and
- a second meter capable of detecting a second flow velocity at a second location within the sewer network;
- wherein the first meter and the second meter are in communication with a processor, and the processor is programmed to derive a travel time of a flow from the first location to the second location using the first flow velocity, the second flow velocity, and a constant, and
- wherein the processor does not require additional data relating to a distance or characteristics of the sewer network.
2 more elements
A method of analyzing flow of a substance in a sewer network, comprising:
- collecting, using a plurality of upstream flow meters in a sewer network, a plurality of upstream flow volume data points, each corresponding to each upstream flow meter over a period of time;
- collecting, using a downstream flow meter in the sewer network, a downstream flow volume data point;
- determining a travel time corresponding to travel of a substance between an upstream location and a downstream location in the sewer network, the downstream location corresponding to the downstream flow meter, such that that the determining is performed using the plurality of upstream flow volume data points, the downstream flow volume data point, and a constant, without requiring additional data relating to the sewer network or the substance.
A method of analyzing flow of a substance between a first location and a second location in a sewer network, comprising:
- collecting a first set of flow volume data at a first location in a sewer network over a plurality of time increments;
- collecting a second set of flow volume data at a second location in the sewer network over the plurality of time increments;
- identifying a first distribution of the first set of flow volume data over time;
- identifying a second distribution of the second set of flow volume data over time;
- identifying a constant corresponding to a relation of the first distribution and the second distribution;
- detecting a first flow velocity at the first location;
- detecting a second flow velocity at the second location;
- and
- determining a transport time corresponding to transport of a substance from the first location using the first flow velocity, the second flow velocity, and the constant, wherein the determining step does not require additional data relating to a distance or characteristics of the sewer network.
6 more elements
A method of analyzing flow of a substance in a sewer network, comprising:
- collecting, using a plurality of upstream flow meters in a sewer network, a plurality of sets of upstream flow volume data, each corresponding to each upstream flow meter over a period of time;
- collecting, using a downstream flow meter in the sewer network, a set of downstream flow volume data over the period of time;
- identifying a plurality of upstream distributions, each corresponding to a set of upstream flow volume data over time;
- identifying downstream distribution corresponding to the set of downstream flow volume data over time;
- identifying a constant corresponding to a relation of the upstream distributions and the downstream distribution;
- detecting a first flow velocity at a upstream location;
- detecting a second flow velocity at a downstream location corresponding to the downstream flow meter;
- and
- determining a transport time corresponding to transport of a substance from the upstream location to the downstream location using the first flow velocity, the second flow velocity, and the constant, wherein the determining step does not0 require additional data relating to a distance or characteristics of the sewer network.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.