1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for the monitoring and identification of non-revenue utility leaks.
2. Description of Related Art
Presently, many utility providers visually read utility meters to determine utility consumption. However, reading utility meters does not provide an indication as to whether the utility was actually consumed at an endpoint. Many utility losses occur before a utility reaches the utility meter of a residence or business. These utility losses can occur in the form of leaks in the utility line, such as water leaks from a water line, and are indicative of main leaks. In the industry, these utility losses are referred to as “non-revenue leaks” because they occur before the utility reaches the utility of a residence or business. Although some non-revenue leak is acceptable, it is not desirable and results in lost profits for utility providers.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system to identify where a non-revenue leak is occurring in a utility system.
The present invention provides a method for utility monitoring to ascertain unidentified utility consumption, having the steps of: a) providing a utility; b) passing the utility through a primary meter; c) supplying the utility to a plurality of secondary meters after the utility passes through the primary meter; d) measuring a first amount of the utility passing through the primary meter over a first time period; e) measuring the sum of the utility supplied to the plurality of secondary meters over the first time period; and f) determining a difference between the first amount of the utility and the sum of the utility supplied to the plurality of secondary meters over the first time period, wherein the difference is an amount of unidentified utility consumption. The unidentified utility consumption comprises a leak between the primary meter and one or more of the plurality of secondary meters. The utility is at least one of water, gas or electricity.
The present invention further provides the additional steps of: g) measuring a second amount of the utility passing through the primary meter over a second time period after the first time period; h) measuring the sum of the utility supplied to the plurality of secondary meters over the second time period; i) determining a difference between the second amount of the utility and the sum of the utility supplied to the plurality of secondary meters over the second time period, wherein the difference is an amount of unidentified utility consumption; and j) calculating the difference between step f) and step i) to determine an amount of disparity between the amount of unidentified utility consumption between the first and second time periods.
Further, a plurality of primary meters and a plurality of secondary meters are provided with the present invention wherein a respective plurality of secondary meters is in communication with a respective primary meter. The utility is provided and passed through the plurality of primary meters and the utility is then supplied to the plurality of secondary meters. The first amount of the utility passing through each primary meter is measured over a first time period and the sum of the utility supplied to each respective plurality of secondary meters over the first time period is measured. The difference between the first amount of the utility passed through each primary meter and the sum of the utility supplied to each respective plurality of secondary meters over the first time period is determined to calculate unidentified utility consumption. The first time period is at a time of day of typically low utility consumption, such as, from between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Further, the primary and secondary meters can be automatic reading utility meters that may be remotely read. The automatic reading utility meters can be on a fixed network. Additionally, the automatic reading utility meters may contain a real time clock to allow for synchronized readings. The automatic reading utility meters can be remotely read by a passing vehicle with a transceiver attached thereto.
With the present invention, the utility is provided to an area that is made up of a plurality of districts. Each district is provided with at least one primary meter and a respective plurality of secondary meters in communication with the at least one primary meter. The utility is provided and passed through the at least one primary meter in each district, and the utility is then supplied to the respective plurality of secondary meters in connection with the at least one primary meter in each district. The first amount of the utility passing through the at least one primary meter is measured over a first time period and the sum of the utility supplied to each respective plurality of secondary meters over the first time period is measured. The difference between the first amount of the utility passed through the at least one primary meter and the sum of the utility supplied to each respective plurality of secondary meters over the first time period is determined to calculate unidentified utility consumption. As such, the amount of unidentified utility consumption can be determined in each district. A master utility meter may be provided and connected to the at least one primary meter of two or more districts. The master utility meter identifies a sum amount of the utility passed through the at least one primary meter of two or more districts. Each district may be further divided into two or more zones, wherein at least one primary meter is provided and connected to each zone. Each zone may also contain a valve to control the supply of utility to the plurality of secondary meters contained therein.
The present invention also provides a system for utility monitoring to ascertain unidentified utility consumption. The system has a utility, a primary meter, and a plurality of secondary meters. With the system, a first amount of a utility passed through the primary meter at a first time period is measured and the sum of the utility supplied to the plurality of secondary meters over the first time period is measured. The difference between the first amount of the utility and the sum of the utility supplied to the plurality of secondary meters over the first time period is determined to identify an amount of unidentified utility consumption. The first time period is at a time of day of typically low utility consumption. Further, the primary and secondary meters are automatic reading utility meters and can be remotely read by a passing vehicle with a transceiver attached thereto. Further, the automatic reading utility meters may contain a real time clock to allow for synchronized readings.
In the case of water or gas, the secondary meters 30 are in fluid communication with the primary meter 20 via pipes P. The secondary meters 30 are arranged in parallel to the primary meters 20. Primary meters 20 are in fluid communication with the master utility meter 50 via pipes P′ and the primary meters 20 are arranged in parallel to the master meter 50. Master meter 50 is in fluid communication with the utility 10 via a pipe P″.
As discussed above, the object of the present invention is to identify where a non-revenue leak is occurring in a utility system. In other words, the present invention allows for the identification of an area of unidentified utility consumption. This task is accomplished as described more fully herein. As shown in
Next, a first amount of the utility 10 passing through the primary meter 20 over a first time period is measured. Then, the sum of the utility 10 supplied to the plurality of secondary meters 30 over the first time period is measured. The difference between the first amount of the utility and the sum of the utility supplied to the plurality of secondary meters 30 over the first time period is determined. The difference is an amount of unidentified utility consumption. The unidentified utility consumption is a non-revenue leak between the primary meter 20 and one or more of the plurality of secondary meters 30.
In one embodiment, the first time period is at a time of day of typically low utility 10 consumption, such as from between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. This allows for a decrease in the amount of false determinations of unidentified utility consumption because there are few customers using a given utility 10 between those hours. For instance, if water is the utility 10 being monitored for unidentified utility consumption, fewer residential customers are awake and using water between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., and more preferably between say 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. Additionally, with a non-fixed network system, less traffic between those hours allows for easier remote readings of the primary meter 20 and the secondary meters 30.
Further, with the present invention, a second amount of the utility 10 passing through the primary meter 20 over a second time period after the first time period is measured. The sum of the utility 10 supplied to the plurality of secondary meters 30 over the second time period is then measured. The difference between the second amount of the utility 10 and the sum of the utility 10 supplied to the plurality of secondary meters 30 over the second time period is determined. The difference is an amount of unidentified utility consumption. The unidentified utility consumption is a non-revenue leak between the primary meter 20 and one or more of the plurality of secondary meters 30. The difference between the first amount of the utility 10 and the sum of the utility 10 supplied to the secondary meters 30 over the first time period and the difference between the second amount of the utility 10 and the sum of the utility 10 supplied to the plurality of secondary meters 30 over the second time period is then calculated to determine an amount of disparity between the amount of unidentified utility consumption between the first and second time periods.
As illustrated in
As further illustrated in
Further, as shown in
Additionally, in a further embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in
In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, in either a fixed network system or non-fixed network system, a reading of an amount of utility 10 supplied to a plurality of secondary meters 30 at a first time point, such as 1:00 a.m., is generated simultaneously by all of the secondary meters 30 in a district 40. The readings are either remotely read by a transceiver (in a non-fixed network system) or automatically transmitted to a centralized authority (in a fixed network system). Then, a reading of an amount of utility 10 supplied to each of the same plurality of secondary meters 30 at a later and second time point, such as 3:00 a.m., is generated simultaneously by all of the secondary meters 30 in a district 40. The readings are either remotely read by a transceiver (in a non-fixed network system) or automatically transmitted to a centralized authority (in a fixed network system). The difference between the sum of readings of the secondary meters 30 at the two time points is compared to the reading of the amount of the utility 10 passed through the respective primary meter 20 of the district 40 between the two time points. Any ascertained difference is indicative of a non-revenue leak. As discussed above, the primary 20 and secondary meters 30 contain a real time clock to allow for synchronized readings. The simultaneous readings of the primary meter 20 and secondary meters 30 assist in determining non-revenue leak of a given utility 10.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a reading of an amount of utility 10 supplied to a plurality of secondary meters 30 at a first time point, such as 1:00 a.m., is generated simultaneously by all of the secondary meters 30 in a district 40. Then, a reading of an amount of utility 10 supplied to each of the same plurality of secondary meters 30 at a later and second time point, such as 3:00 a.m., is generated simultaneously by all of the secondary meters 30 in a district 40. Then, all of the readings are either remotely read by a transceiver (in a non-fixed network system) or automatically transmitted to a centralized authority (in a fixed network system). The difference between the sum of readings of the secondary meters 30 at the two time points is compared to the reading of the amount of the utility 10 passed through the respective primary meter 20 of the district 40 between the two time points. Any ascertained difference is indicative of a non-revenue leak. In some instances an amount of non-revenue leak may be acceptable, say for example, less than ten percent of the volume of fluid through the primary meter 20. However, a non-revenue leak greater than this volume may require attention and be indicative of a water main break. In such an instance an alarm may be issued to the utility. As discussed above, the primary meter 20 and secondary meters 30 contain a real time clock to allow for synchronized readings. The simultaneous readings of the primary meter 20 and secondary meters 30 assist in determining non-revenue leak of a given utility 10.
The present invention also provides a system for utility monitoring to ascertain unidentified utility consumption. The system has a utility 10, a primary meter 20, and a plurality of secondary meters 30. With the system, a first amount of a utility 10 passed through the primary meter 20 at a first time period is measured and the sum of the utility supplied to the plurality of secondary meters 30 over the first time period is measured. The difference between the first amount of the utility 10 and the sum of the utility 10 supplied to the plurality of secondary meters 20 over the first time period is determined to identify an amount of unidentified utility consumption. The first time period is at a time of day of typically low utility consumption. Further, the primary meter 20 and secondary meters 30 are automatic reading utility meters that can be remotely read by a passing vehicle with a transceiver attached thereto. Further, the primary meter 20 and secondary meters 30 contain a real time clock to allow for synchronized readings.
The present invention as described above can be used to determine the leak of any type of utility or fluid, such as water, gas, electricity or petroleum with the use of a respective type of meter.
Having described the presently preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that it may otherwise be embodied within the scope of the appended claims.