Ultra-high accuracy elevation and pressure telemetry devices are used to develop an autonomous, self-calibrating hydraulic piping network computer simulation model. Virtual pressure reducing valve (PRV) model elements force a local downstream calibration of the model using the pressure telemetry data, overcoming the potential ill conditioned state when simulating wide ranging, real world operational conditions. This technique also creates a smaller solution set for calibration optimization algorithms such as machine learning. Additional benefits of this technique include the ability to ignore complex facilities such as pump stations, water storage tanks, and control valves enabling a more rapid development of the real-time water piping network computer simulation model.

Ultra-high accuracy elevation and pressure telemetry devices are used to develop an autonomous, self-calibrating hydraulic piping network computer simulation model. Virtual pressure reducing valve (PRV) model elements force a local downstream calibration of the model using the pressure telemetry data, overcoming the potential ill conditioned state when simulating wide ranging, real world operational conditions. This technique also creates a smaller solution set for calibration optimization algorithms such as machine learning. Additional benefits of this technique include the ability to ignore complex facilities such as pump stations, water storage tanks, and control valves enabling a more rapid development of the real-time water piping network computer simulation model.

A system (15) regulates a temperature of fluid in a sector of a fluid distribution network, including a feed line (11) transporting fluid from a thermal energy source (3) to a thermal energy consumer (7) within the sector and a return line (13) transporting fluid back. A bypass line (17) connects the return line to the feed line, mixing fluid from the return line into the feed line. A pump is at the bypass line. A temperature sensor determines a temperature of fluid in the feed line downstream of the bypass line. A pressure sensor determines an uncontrolled pressure difference between the feed line and the return line, or an uncontrolled pressure difference correlated therewith. A control unit controls the speed of the pump with a closed-loop control for achieving a target feed line temperature based on the determined temperature, and a feed-forward control compensating fluctuations of the pressure difference.

A system (15) regulates a temperature of fluid in a sector of a fluid distribution network, including a feed line (11) transporting fluid from a thermal energy source (3) to a thermal energy consumer (7) within the sector and a return line (13) transporting fluid back. A bypass line (17) connects the return line to the feed line, mixing fluid from the return line into the feed line. A pump is at the bypass line. A temperature sensor determines a temperature of fluid in the feed line downstream of the bypass line. A pressure sensor determines an uncontrolled pressure difference between the feed line and the return line, or an uncontrolled pressure difference correlated therewith. A control unit controls the speed of the pump with a closed-loop control for achieving a target feed line temperature based on the determined temperature, and a feed-forward control compensating fluctuations of the pressure difference.

The present invention discloses a node flow optimization distribution method for improving the accuracy of transient hydraulic simulation of a water supply in-series pipeline. The present invention optimizes the flow distribution coefficients of intermediate nodes to minimize the impact thereof on the calculation and analysis of transient flow. Further, the simplified error generated by the node flow distribution can be quantified and evaluated by the control threshold of the simplified errors to achieve effective control of the simplified process. In addition, the simplified operation of the method of the present invention is carried out sequentially from the intermediate node with the smallest simplified error, which effectively overcomes the potential defect of the conventional node flow distribution that leads to a significant reduction in the accuracy of the model, and can ensure the reliability and accuracy of the simplified operation of the same-diameter in-series pipeline.

A control mechanism scheduler for a water resource infrastructure receives operating data and disturbance data, the operating data describing infrastructure components of the water resource infrastructure, the disturbance data comprising a disturbance signal describing a disturbance expected to disturb the water resource infrastructure. The control mechanism scheduler generates classes for disturbance signals, generates simulations of the water resource infrastructure, and generates schedules of setpoints for control mechanisms actuable to control the infrastructure components of the water resource infrastructure in accordance with approaching a predetermined objective.

A drinking water supply system includes a drinking water line system, a plurality of drinking water withdrawal points connected to the drinking water line system, at least one sensor which is designed to determine measuring values, and a central control device which is designed to receive and evaluate the measuring values determined by the at least one sensor. The system also includes a presence detector designed to determine information about the presence of a person, or an acoustic sensor designed to measure measuring values for the volume. The central control device is designed to control the drinking water supply system as a function of the information about the presence of a person or as a function of the measured values for the volume. A method for controlling such a drinking water supply system and a computer program that causes the method to be carried out are also provided.

A drinking water supply system includes a drinking water line system, a plurality of drinking water withdrawal points connected to the drinking water line system, at least one sensor which is designed to determine measuring values, and a central control device which is designed to receive and evaluate the measuring values determined by the at least one sensor. The system also includes a presence detector designed to determine information about the presence of a person, or an acoustic sensor designed to measure measuring values for the volume. The central control device is designed to control the drinking water supply system as a function of the information about the presence of a person or as a function of the measured values for the volume. A method for controlling such a drinking water supply system and a computer program that causes the method to be carried out are also provided.

An apparatus and method for laying pipe in a ditch. The apparatus comprises a mobile platform having a longitudinal central axis. A support extends from the mobile platform and includes a cradle. The cradle supports a weight of a pipe segment in alignment with the central longitudinal axis of the mobile platform as the pipe laying apparatus transports the pipe segment to a location where the pipe segment is to be placed and as the pipe laying apparatus offloads the pipe segment at the location where the pipe segment is to be placed in the ditch.

An electronic sensing and allocation system is provided for a distributed water infrastructure containing a plurality of differing appliances. The system may receive, from at least one sensor upstream of the plurality of differing appliances, a plurality of signals indicative of water usage within the distributed water infrastructure. The system may output a first indication of a first volume of water together with an indicator attributing the first volume of water to a first rate schedule, and output a second indication of a second volume of water together with an indicator attributing the second volume of water to a second rate schedule. The system may enable billing of the first and second volumes of water to a consumer at differing rates based on differing uses.