G01D2204/12

Water meters having integrated pressure regulating systems and related methods
11035713 · 2021-06-15 · ·

Meters including a pressure regulating systems are provided. The pressure regulating system includes a pressure sensor configured to sense pressure of water flowing through the meter; an actuator coupled to the pressure sensor; an electronics module configured to receive pressure information related sensed pressure from the actuator and process the received pressure information; and a radio module coupled to the meter and configured to receive the processed sensor information from the electronics module, communicate the processed sensor information to a remote location and receive pressure adjustment information from the remote location. The received pressure adjustment information is used to adjust water pressure in the meter from the remote location.

Method and system for low sampling rate electrical load disaggregation

This disclosure relates generally to method and system for low sampling rate electrical load disaggregation. At low sampling rates, disaggregation of energy load is challenging due to unavailability of events and signatures of the constituent loads. The disclosed energy disaggregation technique receives aggregated load data from a utility meter and sequentially obtains training data for determining disaggregated energy load at low sampling rate. Dictionaries are used to characterize the different loads in terms of power values and time of operation. The obtained dictionary coefficients are treated as graph signals and graph smoothness is used for propagating the coefficients from the training phase to the test phase by formulating an optimization model. The derivation of the optimization model identifies the load of interest and estimate their power consumption based on optimization model constraints. This method achieves accuracy greater than 70% for the loads of interest at low sampling rates.

Systems and methods for re-commissioning a controlled device in a home area network

Systems and methods for preparing and re-commissioning a controlled device in a home area network are described. A utility meter is communicated with. An authentication key and encryption data for communicating with the utility meter may be determined. The authentication key and encryption data are sent to a controlled device. A set of translation rules for a message are determined. The translation rules are sent to the controlled device. The controlled device establishes a secure communication link with the utility meter using the authentication key and the encryption data. The controlled device receives a request to change power usage from the utility meter over the secure communication link. The controlled device translates the request to change power usage into control instructions using the translation rules.

Utility meter for use with distributed generation device

An integrated metering device allows a resource provider to control the output of a distributed generation device onto a resource distribution network or grid. The integrated metering device may include a communications module, a metrology module, an inverter and regulator device, and a transfer switch. A resource provider may communicate with the integrated metering device via the communications module and may control the inverter and regulator device or the transfer switch. The metrology module may monitor the energy provided by the distributed generation device to the grid and may send information about the generated energy to the resource provider via the communications module.

System for tracking water usage by category
11009895 · 2021-05-18 · ·

A system is provided for tracking, in a distributed water infrastructure, water usage by category. The system may comprise at least one processor configured to receive from at least one sensor associated with the distributed water infrastructure signals indicative of water usage in the distributed water infrastructure. The system may, based on the signals indicative of water usage, construct a plurality of profiles. The system may assign each profile to one of a plurality of water usage categories. The system may collect, from the at least one sensor, signals indicative of water usage for substantially all water delivered through the distributed water infrastructure in a time period. The system may construct a plurality of water usage profiles in the aggregate, encompassing substantially all water delivered through the distributed water infrastructure in the time period. The system may assign each constructed water usage profile to one of the plurality of water usage categories. The system may output, for display, water usage for the time period for each of the plurality of water usage categories.

User/appliance water signature
10983536 · 2021-04-20 · ·

A system is provided for tracking usage of a plurality of water appliances in a distributed water infrastructure. The system may comprise at least one processor configured to receive, from a location in the distributed water infrastructure upstream of the plurality of water appliances, historical water usage measurements; determine from the historical water usage measurements at least one unique water usage signature associated with each of the plurality of water appliances; receive, from the location in the distributed water infrastructure upstream of the plurality of water appliances, current water usage measurements; determine from the current water usage measurements at least one current water usage signature; compare the current water usage signature with at least one of the unique water usage signatures stored in memory to determine a match; and, based on the signature match, ascertain an identifier of a water appliance in current use.

Energy theft detection device

A device for detecting energy theft from a utility network configured to access energy data for utilities, generate energy results, identify an outlying utility in the energy results, access behavioral data, determine whether there is a likelihood of energy theft associated with the outlying utility, generate descriptive results from the behavioral data indicating the likelihood of energy theft, receive a response of whether the energy theft occurred, and refine operation of the detecting of energy theft of the device.

METHODS, SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES AND DEVICES FOR OPTIMIZING UTILITY CONSUMPTION ASSOCIATED WITH AT LEAST ONE PREMISES

A system for optimizing utility consumption associated with a premises is provided. The system may include a communication device, a processing device and a storage device. Further, the communication device may be configured for receiving utility consumption information, receiving premises information, receiving lifestyle information, and performing at least one of transmitting a utility recommendation associated with the premises to an electronic device and transmitting an actuation data to an appliance associated with the premises. Further, the processing device may be configured for analyzing each of the utility consumption information, the premises information and the lifestyle information and generating at least one of a utility recommendation and the actuation data based on the analyzing. Further, the storage device may be configured for storing each of the utility consumption information, the premises information, the lifestyle information and at least one of the utility recommendation and the actuation data.

GAS SHUTOFF DEVICE, AND RADIO DEVICE FOR GAS SHUTOFF DEVICE
20210054997 · 2021-02-25 ·

A gas meter according to the present invention includes flow rate measuring part that measures a flow rate of gas flowing through flow passage, shutoff valve that shuts off flow passage, wireless communicator that periodically performs wireless communication externally, and communication interval setting part that sets a communication interval in wireless communication. Communication interval setting part sets the communication interval according to the flow rate of gas measured by flow rate measuring part. By changing a setting of the communication interval according to the flow rate measured by flow rate measuring part, it is possible to enhance a responsiveness required according to the flow rate of gas measured by flow rate measuring part while a minimum necessary communication frequency is maintained. Accordingly, the power saving can be achieved and also convenience can be maintained.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC INTERLEAVING OF CYCLED LOADS IN A MICROGRID
20210057910 · 2021-02-25 ·

A method and apparatus for autonomous, automatic interleaving of cycled loads coupled to a grid. In one or more embodiments, the method comprises (i) determining, by a smart load coupled to a grid, a first grid stress value; (ii) comparing, by the smart load, the first grid stress value to an activation threshold; (iii) waiting, by the smart load, when the first grid stress value is less than the activation threshold, a delay period; (iv) determining, by the smart load and after the delay period ends, a second grid stress value; (v) comparing, by the smart load, the second grid stress value to the activation threshold; and (iv) activating, by the smart load, when the second grid stress value is less than the activation threshold.