Tap water management system, tap water management device, tap water management method, and tap water management program recording medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10287756-B2
Application number	US-201515519896-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2015
Priority date	Oct 29, 2014
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

In order to keep the deterioration of water distribution pipes from progressing, a tap water management system is provided with: a water pressure detection unit for detecting the water pressure in at least one location in a water distribution pipe for carrying clean water from a water distribution site to a consumer. and transmitting the detection result as water pressure information; a deterioration detection unit for detecting deterioration in at least one location in a water distribution pipe, and transmitting the detection result as deterioration information; a water distribution planning unit for causing a water distribution plan that is a plan for water distribution pressure to be determined on the basis of information regarding past water demand; a deterioration-reducing water distribution planning unit for deciding, on the basis of the water distribution plan, the water pressure information, and the deterioration information. a deterioration-reducing water distribution plan according to the extent of deterioration; a water distribution pressure changing unit for changing the water distribution pressure of the water distribution pipe; and a water distribution pressure control unit for controlling the water distribution pressure changing unit on the basis of the deterioration-reducing water distribution plan.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tap water management system comprising:
water pressure detection unit configured to detect a water pressure in at least one location in a water distribution pipe for carrying clean water from a water distribution site to a consumer and transmit a detection result as water pressure information;
deterioration detection unit configured to detect deterioration of the water distribution pipe in at least one location and transmit a detection result as deterioration information;
water distribution plan unit configured to determine a water distribution plan that is a plan of a water distribution pressure based on past information of water demand;
deterioration-reducing water distribution plan unit configured to determine a deterioration-reducing water distribution plan according to a degree of deterioration based on the water distribution plan, the water pressure information, and the deterioration information;
water distribution pressure change unit configured to change the water distribution pressure in the water distribution pipe; and

water distribution pressure control unit configured to control the water distribution pressure change means based on the deterioration-reducing water distribution plan,
wherein the deterioration-reducing water distribution plan unit outputs water pressure transition information indicating a future water pressure fluctuation based on the water distribution plan, and the tap water management system further comprises:
water pressure divergence detection unit configured to detect divergence between a current water pressure and a planned water pressure based on information of the current water pressure in the water distribution pipe and the water pressure transition information, and output a detection result as water pressure divergence detection information; and
water distribution re-planning notification unit configured to instruct the deterioration-reducing water distribution plan unit to recreate a water distribution plan based on the water pressure divergence detection information.

2. A tap water management system comprising:
a water pressure measurement terminal;
a pipe vibration measurement terminal; and
a water distribution plan calculator,
wherein the water pressure measurement terminal at least includes:
water pressure detection unit configured to detect the water pressure in at least one location in a water distribution pipe for carrying clean water from a service reservoir to a consumer and transmit a detection result as water pressure information;
water pressure transition information storage unit configured to storage the water pressure transition information transmitted from the water distribution plan calculator; and
water pressure divergence detection unit configured to compare the water pressure information with the water pressure transition information, detect divergence between a current water pressure and a planned water pressure, and output a detection result as water pressure divergence detection information,

the pipe vibration measurement terminal includes deterioration detection unit configured to detect deterioration of the water distribution pipe in at least one location and transmit a detection result as deterioration information and
the water distribution plan calculator includes:
water distribution plan unit configured to determine a water distribution plan that is a plan of a water distribution pressure based on past information of water demand;
deterioration-reducing water distribution plan unit configured to determine a deterioration-reducing water distribution plan according to a degree of deterioration based on the water distribution plan, the water pressure information, and the deterioration information;
water distribution pressure change unit configured to change the water distribution pressure in the water distribution pipe; and
water distribution pressure control unit configured to control the water distribution pressure change means based on the deterioration-reducing water distribution plan.

3. The tap water management system according to claim 1 , wherein the deterioration-reducing water distribution plan is a plan by which an opening and closing speed of a valve directly or indirectly connected to the water distribution pipe is reduced when a deterioration degree of the water distribution pipe meets predetermined deterioration determination criteria.

4. The tap water management system according to claim 1 , wherein the deterioration-reducing water distribution plan is a plan by which the water pressure in the water distribution pipe is reduced by changing a water distribution route by a valve opening and closing control when a deterioration degree of the water distribution pipe meets predetermined deterioration determination criteria.

5. The tap water management system according to claim 1 , wherein the deterioration-reducing water distribution plan is a plan by which a margin for an unnecessary use of water is decreased so that the water pressure in the water distribution pipe is equal to or greater than a specified water pressure at a customer's premises and less than the previously planned water pressure when a deterioration degree of the water distribution pipe meets predetermined deterioration determination criteria.

6. The tap water management system according to claim 1 , wherein the deterioration-reducing water distribution plan is a plan by which a valve is controlled or application of pressure is controlled so as not to use the water distribution pipe and at the same time, information for promoting the exchange of the water distribution pipe is transmitted to a worker for maintaining the water distribution pipe network when a deterioration degree of the water distribution pipe meets predetermined deterioration determination criteria.

7. A tap water management device comprising:
water distribution plan unit configured to determine a water distribution plan that is a plan of a water distribution pressure in a water distribution pipe for carrying clean water from a service reservoir to a consumer based on past information of water demand;
deterioration-reducing water distribution plan unit configured to determine a deterioration-reducing water distribution plan according to a degree of deterioration based on the water distribution plan, water pressure information of the water distribution pipe, and deterioration information of the water distribution pipe; and
water distribution pressure control unit configured to control the water distribution pressure based on the deterioration-reducing water distribution plan,
wherein the deterioration-reducing water distribution plan unit outputs water pressure transition information indicating a future water pressure fluctuation based on the water distribution plan, and the tap water management system further comprises:
water pressure divergence detection unit configured to detect divergence between a current water pressure and a planned water pressure based on information of the current water pressure in the water distribution pipe and the water pressure transition information, and output a detection result as water pressure divergence detection information; and
water distribution re-planning notification unit configured to instruct the deterioration-reducing water distribution plan unit to recreate a water distribution plan based on the water pressure divergence detection information.

8. The tap water management system according to claim 2 , wherein
the water distribution plan calculator further comprises water distribution re-planning notification unit configured to instruct the deterioration-reducing water distribution plan unit to recreate a water distribution plan based on the water pressure

Assignees

• Nec Corp

Inventors

• Kobayashi Dai
• Kumura Takahiro
• Takahashi Masatake

Classifications

• E03B1/02 Primary

  for public or like main supply {for industrial use} · CPC title

• E03B1/00 Primary

  Methods or layout of installations for water supply (E03B3/00, E03B9/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• E03B7/075

  Arrangement of devices for control of pressure or flow rate · CPC title

• E03B7/003

  Arrangement for testing of watertightness of water supply conduits · CPC title

• E03B7/071 Primary

  Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off · CPC title