METHOD OF DETECTING WATER LEAKS IN WATER SUPPLY NETWORK AND SHUTTING OFF ITS SUPPLY Russian patent published in 2024 - IPC E03B7/02 F17D5/02 G01M3/16 

FIELD: housing and communal services.

SUBSTANCE: method consists in detection of water leaks in the water supply network and disconnection of its supply. Moisture occurrence is detected by means of paired moisture-sensitive sensors placed in places of possible water leaks. Information on moisture availability from each of the paired moisture-sensitive sensors is automatically transmitted through a communication network of data transmission to a programmable relay of the control unit. From the programmable relay of the control unit, a signal is transmitted to the actuating relay of the control unit, and from the actuating relay of the control unit, a command is transmitted to the shut-off device to cut off the water supply. In places of possible water leaks, acoustic sensors are additionally placed, an unmanned aerial vehicle is used. For an unmanned aerial vehicle, a plan for flying around sections of the water supply network is formed, in which a frequency and a route are included, and on which a power supply unit, a thermal imaging camera and a control unit with a programmable and actuating relay are placed. Occurrence of leakage is additionally fixed by characteristic noise by acoustic sensors. Information on occurrence of characteristic leakage noise from acoustic sensors in automatic mode is transmitted to programmable relay of control unit by means of communication network, which receives this information during the next flight by the unmanned aerial vehicle of the sections of the water supply network. Further, in the programmable relay of the control unit in the automatic mode, the signals from the moisture-sensitive and acoustic sensors are analysed by means of software, and only after receiving signals simultaneously from paired moisture-sensitive sensors and from the acoustic sensors in the programmable relay of the control unit in the automatic mode, an emergency signal is generated and transmitted through a cable connection to the actuating relay of the control unit. After receiving the emergency signal in the actuating relay of the control unit in automatic mode, forming and immediately sending, via the data communication network, simultaneously a command to the electric drives of the shut-off devices to cut off the water supply in this network section and a command to turn on the thermal imaging camera through a cable connection for accurate determination of the leak point. Point of leakage is determined by a thermal imaging camera by the spot of temperature deviation from the background value on the surface of the earth. Information on the spot in the form of coordinates and photographic materials is automatically transmitted through a cable connection to the actuating relay of the control unit. Then, a signal is generated in the control unit actuating relay in automatic mode and sent by means of a communication network of data transmission to a resource supplying organization for taking measures to eliminate leakage.

EFFECT: higher reliability, validity and efficiency of leak detection, higher accuracy of determining the location of a leak in water supply network.

1 cl, 1 dwg