Accurately measuring water consumption in individual apartments within condominiums is a longstanding challenge. Traditional systems often require costly and invasive installation of meters in each unit. Existing solutions are prone to wear, interference from pipe debris, and inaccuracies due to varying water conditions like temperature and pressure.
Core Features
This invention introduces a streamlined system to measure water flow for each apartment using small, durable sensors placed along a vertical riser pipe. It offers two sensor types:
- Temperature Pulse Sensors: These detect water flow speed by measuring the time it takes for heat pulses to travel between embedded thermometers.
- Magnetic Rotor Sensors: These use a rotating magnetic element powered by water flow to measure speed.
Both sensor types are compact, water-resistant, and easily integrated into existing infrastructure using a single cable.
Benefits
- Cost-Effective: Requires minimal structural alterations and uses low-cost sensors.
- High Precision: Measures even slight variations in water flow, from a dripping tap to multiple showers running simultaneously.
- Durability: The system avoids wear and tear by eliminating moving parts exposed to water, ensuring longevity.
- Ease of Use: Data from all floors is transmitted via a single cable to a central computer for real-time monitoring and analysis.
Impact
This system enables fair water billing and promotes resource conservation by providing precise and continuous flow data. Its scalable design can be adapted to various residential setups, supporting environmental sustainability and reducing water waste. By simplifying installation and maintenance, it lowers costs and enhances accessibility for widespread adoption.