A SYSTEM FOR EFFICIENT WATER DISTRIBUTION IN URBAN AREAS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for efficient water distribution in urban areas, designed to optimize water usage, reduce wastage, and ensure equitable distribution through advanced sensor technologies, real-time data analytics, and adaptive control mechanisms. The system integrates a network of smart sensors placed throughout the water distribution infrastructure to monitor parameters such as water pressure, flow, and quality. These sensors send real-time data to a central control unit (CCU), which analyzes the data and adjusts the operation of pumps, valves, and pressure levels dynamically to meet demand and prevent over-pressurization or inadequate supply. The system also features advanced leak detection capabilities, early identification of anomalies, and automated maintenance processes to minimize water loss and reduce repair times. Smart meters installed at the consumer level provide real-time usage feedback, promoting water conservation and optimizing overall distribution efficiency. This integrated approach ensures sustainable water management, reduces energy consumption, and enhances the resilience of urban water supply networks.

Specification

Description:In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. Several features described hereafter can each be used independently of one another or with any combination of other features. An individual feature may not address all of the problems discussed above or might address only some of the problems discussed above. Some of the problems discussed above might not be fully addressed by any of the features described herein.

The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an exemplary embodiment. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth.

Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits, systems, networks, processes, and other components may be shown as components in block diagram form in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

Also, it is noted that individual embodiments may be described as a process that is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed but could have additional steps not included in a figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination can correspond to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function.

The word "exemplary" and/or "demonstrative" is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, any aspect or design described herein as "exemplary" and/or "demonstrative" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent exemplary structures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms "includes," "has," "contains," and other similar words are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising" as an open transition word without precluding any additional or other elements.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" or "an instance" or "one instance" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The present invention relates to an advanced water distribution system that leverages real-time data collection, adaptive pressure control, and energy-efficient technologies to optimize the delivery of water to urban areas. This system addresses key challenges such as water wastage, energy inefficiency, leaks, and unequal distribution in urban water supply networks.

The system is composed of a network of pipes and valves for transporting water from the source (such as a reservoir or treatment plant) to various urban locations. This network is equipped with a series of smart sensors strategically placed along the distribution infrastructure, capable of measuring parameters such as water pressure, flow rate, temperature, and quality in real-time. The collected data is transmitted wirelessly to a central control unit (CCU), which processes the data and makes real-time decisions to optimize the system's performance.

The invention employs three distinct embodiments to illustrate the versatility and applicability of the system in different urban contexts. These embodiments demonstrate the system's adaptability to various environmental, operational, and consumer-specific conditions.

In the first embodiment, the water distribution network is configured to serve a medium-sized urban area, with sensors deployed at critical points along the pipeline network, including junctions, entry points to residential and commercial zones, and at the main pump stations. The central control unit (CCU) is connected to all the sensors, which continuously transmit data on water flow, pressure, and quality.

The CCU utilizes real-time data analytics to monitor the system's health and adapt the pressure levels accordingly. The system is designed to prioritize areas with high water demand or low pressure by adjusting the pump speeds and controlling the valves remotely to direct more water to those zones. Additionally, the CCU can detect sudden anomalies or leakages by comparing the real-time data against predicted models of normal flow, and trigger automated alerts to the maintenance team for immediate repair actions.

This embodiment aims to optimize water delivery across the entire urban area, reducing the risk of wastage by dynamically adjusting pressure to match demand, ensuring that high-demand areas receive adequate water while preventing over-pressurization in low-demand zones. Furthermore, the system's adaptability helps reduce the need for manual interventions, offering both operational cost savings and improved water conservation.

The second embodiment focuses on the integration of smart metering at the consumer level, within both residential and commercial premises, to monitor individual water consumption. In this embodiment, each consumer is equipped with an IoT-enabled smart water meter that provides real-time data on water usage, which is sent to the central control unit via the Internet.

The CCU analyzes the consumption patterns from all connected meters and generates usage reports, which can be used to identify areas of high consumption and potential inefficiencies. By correlating consumer data with the overall distribution system data, the CCU can optimize water delivery to ensure equitable distribution. Furthermore, the system can send real-time feedback to consumers about their water usage, encouraging more water-conscious behaviors such as reducing consumption during peak demand periods.

This embodiment allows for dynamic pricing schemes based on water usage during high-demand periods, which can incentivize users to reduce their consumption during peak hours. The combination of real-time consumer data and network-wide optimization helps promote water conservation while improving the overall efficiency of the system.

The third embodiment focuses on the system's advanced leak detection and automated maintenance features. Sensors placed at various strategic locations in the water distribution network, such as along pipelines and at valve control points, monitor the flow and pressure of water. By using machine learning algorithms to analyze real-time sensor data, the system can detect irregularities that indicate a leak, such as unexpected drops in pressure or sudden shifts in flow rate patterns.

Upon detecting a potential leak, the CCU can automatically trigger an alert and isolate the affected pipeline section using remotely-controlled valves. This minimizes the amount of water lost and allows the maintenance team to address the issue quickly without needing to manually search for the leak. In more severe cases, the system can automatically re-route water through other parts of the network to maintain pressure in other areas while the leak is being repaired.

In addition to leak detection, the system can monitor and predict the maintenance needs of the infrastructure by analyzing the historical performance of the pipes and valves. By identifying weak points in the system, such as areas prone to corrosion or overuse, the system can generate preventative maintenance schedules, reducing the likelihood of major failures and extending the lifespan of the infrastructure.

The overall operation of the system is governed by a highly integrated architecture that enables constant communication between sensors, smart meters, and the central control unit. The system operates autonomously in most cases, adjusting water pressure, flow, and distribution in response to real-time data without requiring manual intervention. However, operators can monitor the system remotely and override automated processes if necessary, allowing for human oversight in critical situations.

The central control unit, which can be housed in a central water management facility, receives data from all networked components and uses advanced data processing algorithms to optimize performance. The system's software is capable of learning from historical data and adjusting its operations accordingly, allowing it to improve its efficiency and accuracy over time. The system is designed to be scalable and adaptable, able to accommodate the specific needs of various urban areas, from smaller cities to larger metropolitan regions.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other changes in the preferred embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter to be implemented merely as illustrative of the invention and not as limitation. , Claims:1.A system for efficient water distribution in urban areas, comprising:
a network of pipes and valves for transporting water to various urban areas;
a plurality of sensors positioned along the water distribution network to monitor parameters including flow rate, pressure, temperature, and water quality;
a central control unit configured to receive data from the sensors, analyze the data, and optimize water distribution in real-time based on demand and system conditions;
adaptive pressure control mechanisms that adjust the pressure of water delivered through the pipes based on real-time demand.

2.The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors are Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled devices that wirelessly communicate with the central control unit.

3.The system of claim 1, wherein the central control unit uses machine learning algorithms to predict water demand and optimize the flow and pressure in the distribution network.

4.The system of claim 1, further comprising a leak detection mechanism that analyzes flow data from the sensors to detect leaks in the distribution network and triggers an alert to the central control unit for corrective action.

5.The system of claim 1, wherein the central control unit can isolate sections of the distribution network in response to detected leaks or other anomalies.

6.The system of claim 1, further comprising smart meters installed at consumer endpoints that provide real-time feedback on water consumption and help the system optimize water distribution based on individual usage patterns.

7.The system of claim 1, wherein the pumps and motors used in the distribution network are energy-efficient and adjust their operation based on real-time water demand to minimize energy consumption.

8.The system of claim 1, wherein the system is designed to prioritize water delivery to areas experiencing higher demand or lower water pressure.

9.The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of providing data analytics and usage reports to both consumers and utility operators, enabling informed decision-making and water conservation.

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