SMART MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AT THE DELIVERY POINT OF A FLUID

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for measuring at least one physical, chemical or biological parameter of a fluid, flowing in a pipe belonging to a fluid-distribution network, the device being installed in a cut on the pipe at the fluid delivery point, the pipe thus including a first section and a second section, the device including at least one sensor provided with a measurement end. The device also includes: a body including an opening forming a flow line, and at least one insertion recess capable of receiving the measurement end of the at least one sensor, the insertion recess opening into the flow line; an attachment unit arranged to connect a first end of the flow line with an end of the first section and a second end of the flow line with an end of the second section, to allow the fluid to flow through the flow line.

Claims

1. A device for measuring at least one physical, chemical or biological parameter of a fluid (9), in particular of water or gas, flowing in a pipe belonging to a fluid distribution network, this device being intended to be installed as cutoff on said pipe at the point of delivery of the fluid, said pipe thus comprising a first section and a second section, this device comprising at least one sensor (11, 12) provided with a measurement end, further comprising: a body (21) comprising an opening forming a flow pipe (22), and at least one insertion housing (31, 32, 33) capable of receiving said measurement end of the at least one sensor (11, 12), the insertion housing (31, 32, 33) emerging in the flow pipe (22), fixing means (221, 222) arranged to connect: a first end (223) of the flow pipe (22) to an end of the first section, a second end (224) of the flow pipe (22) to an end of the second section, so as to allow the fluid (9) to flow through the flow pipe (22), a smart module (4) capable of: triggering at least one measurement by the at least one sensor (11, 12) at determined time intervals, diagnose an anomaly of at least one physical, chemical or biological parameter of the fluid (9) as a function of at least one measured value, the smart module (4) comprising: communication means (5) capable of carrying out a computerized communication between the smart module and a remote computer terminal, the smart module (4) being arranged to transmit to the computer terminal information relating to the diagnosed anomaly, a component capable of parameterizing or configuring the device by the remote computer terminal using the communication means (5).

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said component is capable of parameterizing: a sampling frequency of the at least one sensor (11, 12), and/or a frequency of transmission of measurement data to the remote computer terminal, and/or a type of processing or an action when an event or an anomaly is detected.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor consists of sensors.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an electric battery (62) linked to an energy management module (61) capable of transferring electrical energy to the smart module (4).

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the energy management module (61) is linked to a storage battery (62) and to an additional energy supply system.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the additional energy supply system is arranged to harvest kinetic energy produced by the flow of the fluid (9) in the flow duct (22) using a turbine.

7. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the additional energy supply system is arranged to harvest energy via a temperature differential between the pipe and a roadway manhole cover.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the average internal section (S) of the flow pipe (22) is substantially identical to the average internal section of the pipe.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the instant of the transmission of the information relating to the diagnosed anomaly is determined by the instant at which said anomaly is diagnosed.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication means (5) comprise at least one transmitter compatible with reception means available within the geographic perimeter of the distribution network, allowing a two-way communication between the smart module and the remote computer terminal.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a modular support element (3) arranged to make it possible to position at least one sensor (11, 12) in such a way that its measurement end is received in the at least one insertion housing (31, 32, 33), this modular support element (3) comprising fixing means for the at least one sensor (11, 12) capable of holding the at least one sensor in a measurement position in which the at least one sensor (11, 12) is capable of measuring the at least one physical, chemical or biological parameter of the fluid (9) flowing through the flow duct (22).

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measurement frequency of the at least one sensor (11, 12) is parameterizable, and wherein this measurement frequency can be parameterized separately for each of the sensors (11, 12) when the device comprises several sensors.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an additional energy supply system capable of harvesting energy present in the environment in which the device is installed, a system for converting this harvested energy into electrical energy and a power supply system (61, 62) capable of powering the device with this electrical energy.

14. A method for installing a device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a step of cutting of the pipe so as to produce an opening therein and form the first section and the second section, a step of positioning of the device by alignment of the first end (223) of the flow pipe (22) with an end of the first section and of the second end (224) of the flow pipe (22) with an end of the second section, a step of fixing of the device in the aligned position described in the preceding step using the fixing means (221, 222).

15. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor consists of sensors.

16. The device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an electric battery (62) linked to an energy management module (61) capable of transferring electrical energy to the smart module (4).

17. The device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising an electric battery (62) linked to an energy management module (61) capable of transferring electrical energy to the smart module (4).

18. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the average internal section (S) of the flow pipe (22) is substantially identical to the average internal section of the pipe.

19. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the average internal section (S) of the flow pipe (22) is substantially identical to the average internal section of the pipe.

20. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the average internal section (S) of the flow pipe (22) is substantially identical to the average internal section of the pipe.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE AND OF EMBODIMENTS

[0060] Other advantages and particular features of the invention will become apparent on reading the detailed description of nonlimiting implementations and embodiments, and the attached FIG. 1 which represents an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention.

[0061] Since the embodiments described hereinbelow are nonlimiting, it will notably be possible to consider variants of the invention comprising only a selection of features described, isolated from the other features described (even if this selection is isolated in a sentence comprising other features), if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art. This selection comprises at least one feature, preferably functional without structural details, or with only some of the structural details if this part alone is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0062] FIG. 1 represents the device according to a currently preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0063] In this example, the device comprises a body 21 enclosing, notably, sensors 11, 12, an electrical power supply system 61, 62, communication means 5 and a smart module 4.

[0064] Flow Pipe

[0065] The body 21 consists of a flow pipe 22 through which a fluid 9 flows (from left to right in FIG. 1). The flow pipe 22 is represented with partial cutaway revealing the interior of the flow pipe 22 in a region in which the sensors 11, 12 are located (see later).

[0066] The flow pipe 22 consists here of a tubular element of internal diameter S, for example made of polyvinyl chloride.

[0067] Assembly of the Device with a Pipe

[0068] The flow pipe 22 comprises two opposing ends 223, 224 extending out of the body 21. Threads 221, 222 are formed on the outer surface of the flow pipe 22 at its ends 223, 224. These screw-forming threads 221, 222 constitute fixing means making it possible to assemble the device with respective pipe sections, for example via coupling elements comprising a nut-forming internal threaded part.

[0069] These fixing means 221, 222 are used to assemble the flow pipe 22 in an inline position in a pipe. For example, a section of the pipe is cut over a length corresponding substantially to the length of the flow pipe 22, the flow pipe 22 is aligned with the pipe such that the flow pipe 22 is situated in place of the cut section, then the device is fixed via the fixing means 221, 222 and suitable couplings.

[0070] When the device is thus installed, the flow pipe 22 constitutes a part of the pipe such that, when a fluid 9 flows in the pipe from a point A situated upstream of the device to a point B situated downstream of the device, this fluid 9 flows through the flow pipe 22.

[0071] Sensors

[0072] The flow pipe 22 is represented secured to a modular support element 3 (FIG. 1). The modular support element 3 comprises orifices aligned with orifices of substantially identical dimension which are produced in the flow pipe 22. These orifices are insertion housings 31, 32, 33 arranged to receive sensors 11, 12. The insertion housing 33 is represented without sensor in FIG. 1.

[0073] The sensors 11, 12 are fixed to the modular support element 3 by any suitable fixing means which depend for example on the manufacture thereof. For example, the sensors 11, 12 have a partially threaded body making it possible to position them and screw them onto a nut formed in the insertion housings 31, 32, and lock nuts are used to hold the sensors 11, 12.

[0074] Referring to FIG. 1, the sensors 11, 12 are fixed in a position in which their measurement end, that is to say the end comprising a means sensitive to a parameter of the fluid 9, is situated inside the flow duct 22.

[0075] The sensors 11, 12 are preferably mounted tightly in the insertion housings 31, 32, for example by the use of O-ring seals, in order to avoid any of the fluid 9 penetrating into the space of the body 1 in which the smart module 4 is notably located.

[0076] The modular support element 3 is arranged to make it possible to mount one or more sensors in a modular fashion. Plugs can be provided to block the insertion housings not accommodating any sensor.

[0077] The sensors 11, 12 are for example sensors for measuring one or more physical properties of the water (e.g. volume, flow velocity, flow rate, pressure, noise level, etc.) or even sensors for measuring the quality of the water by quantifying chemical or biological parameters (e.g. temperature, chlorine, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, redox potential, organic substances, micro-pollutants, metals, disinfectant by-products, etc.).

[0078] The sensors 11, 12 are connected to the smart module 4 by connection to the input/output manager 41.

[0079] Power Supply

[0080] The power supply system 61, 62 supplies electrical energy to the sensors 11, 12, to the communication means 5, to the smart module 4 and to electronic modules, for example conditioning, computation and storage electronic modules (not represented).

[0081] The power supply system 61, 62 ensures the supply of a current-stabilized voltage required by each of these modules, means and sensors.

[0082] The power supply system preferably comprises an electrical battery 62 linked to an energy management module 61 capable of transferring electrical energy to the smart module 4.

[0083] In an alternative embodiment, the energy management module 61 is linked to a storage battery 62 and to an additional energy supply system. In a nonlimiting manner, this system is an energy harvester, for example harvesting kinetic energy produced by the flow of the fluid 9 in the flow duct 22 using a turbine, or using energy harvested with a temperature differential between the duct and the cover of a roadway manhole.

[0084] Communication

[0085] The communication means 5 are arranged to exchange data between the smart module and a remote computer terminal or access point (private radio receiver or public network).

[0086] The remote computer terminal is for example situated in premises of the supplier of the fluid 9.

[0087] The communication means 5 are of a type capable of formatting data to be transmitted from the smart module to the computer terminal or access point and of decoding data received in accordance with a protocol for exchanging frames with the access point.

[0088] The communication means 5 can comprise a module for securing exchanges by techniques of encryption or authentication type.

[0089] Smart Module

[0090] The smart module 4, forming a processing unit, preferably comprises a processor and a memory that are capable of processing measurement data produced by the sensors 11, 12 and of scheduling the tasks to be performed by each of the components linked to the smart module 4.

[0091] Preferably, the smart module 4 comprises a real-time operating system and software codes capable of performing sophisticated processing operations, for example:

[0092] conditioning signals measured by the sensors 11, 12,

[0093] storing time-stamped samples for each measured parameter (configurable depth),

[0094] detecting events on each temporal series of sensor measurements,

[0095] specific processing such as: [0096] triggering the sending of a temporal series when an event or an anomaly is detected, [0097] applying, for example, statistical functions or spectral methods to a signal for a consolidation in models used by the operator of the device.

[0098] The smart module also includes a component capable of parameterizing or configuring the device.

[0099] For example, parameterizings can be performed by a computer terminal connected to the device locally via a physical connection, and parameterizings can be performed by a remote computer terminal communicating with the smart module using communication means 5 as described above.

[0100] Examples of remote actions are:

[0101] loading a specific processing code,

[0102] sampling frequency of the sensors 11, 12,

[0103] frequency of transmission of measurement data to a remote computer terminal,

[0104] type of processing or action when an event or an anomaly is detected,

[0105] updating of embedded software,

[0106] etc.

[0107] Obviously, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and many improvements can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the different features, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with one another according to various combinations in as much as they are not mutually incompatible or exclusive.