Abstract:
The invention provides a method of measuring the flow rate of fluid through a gate member (22) attached to a pipeline (20). The pipeline including a flow meter (26) upstream and adjacent the gate member (22). The flow meter providing a flow output to measure the fluid flow through the flow meter. The method includes steps of monitoring the flow output (QTPFM) from the flow meter; monitoring the gate opening position (d) of gate member (22); determining a relationship or algorithm for the flow rate (Q) using calculations derived from system identification techniques based on data received from the monitoring of the flow output from the flow meter (26) and data received from the monitoring of the gate opening position (d); and once the relationship or algorithm has been determined, using the relationship or algorithm to subsequently measure said flow rate (Q).
Abstract:
The present invention provides a flow meter (100) for a pipe or open channel (102). The flow meter (100) has a longitudinal member (114) adapted to be inserted into the pipe or open channel (102) but free of any internal wall of pipe or open channel (102). The longitudinal member (114) has a plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers (120, 122) located there around with each pair of acoustic transducers (120, 122) having a transmitting transducer and a receiving transducer. The transmitting transducer sends an acoustic signal to the internal wall of pipe or open channel (102) and the receiving transducer receives the reflected acoustic signal.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of detecting a buildup of silt (32) in a pipe or open channel (14) of a fluid flow network. The pipe or open channel has a system with at least one set of velocity sensors (V1.. V8) to measure flow velocities at predetermined horizontal levels (50... 58). The method includes the steps of computing the flow using the measured flow velocities and cross- sectional areas for each flow layer, and summing the flows to provide a total flow, monitoring the measured flow velocities and storing the flow velocities to detect any ongoing reduction in the flow velocity of at least the lowermost velocity sensor (V1) to provide an indication of a buildup of silt in the pipe or open channel.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method of demand management for fluid networks. The method includes the steps of providing a computer controlled fluid network for delivery of fluid to at least one customer (14), maintaining a real time database (16) within the computer controlled fluid network of predetermined parameters, requesting a flow rate and time of delivery of said fluid from the fluid network through a user interface (22) to a customer (20), determining, using predetermined parameters from the real time database (16), the availability (24) of providing delivery of fluid from the fluid network to the customer (14) based on hydraulic capacity of the fluid network, and, if the hydraulic capacity is available, calculating parameters (38) using the real time database (16) to deliver fluid to the customer (14) through the computer controlled fluid network.
Abstract:
A method of determining the surface level of an area subject to flood, furrow or surface irrigation. The method includes the steps of providing at least one measuring cup positioned below the surface level but within the area and providing a water level sensor within or integrated with the at least one measuring cup. The levels provided by the water level sensor are used to calculate the surface level by determining the inflection point between the rapid increase of the monitored levels when the front of irrigation water passes the water level sensor. A further aspect of the disclosure is the provision of a soil moisture sensor, said sensor comprising an auger adapted to be inserted into the ground with minimum soil disturbance, said auger having means for measuring soil moisture..
Abstract:
The invention discloses a loss detection system to determine and monitor containment losses for open channel networks (10). The system includes at least first and second flow regulators (26, 28) to allow flow of liquid into and out of at least one pool (10) respectively. First and second flow sensors co-operate with respective flow regulators (26, 28) and a computational means communicates with flow regulators (26, 28) and the flow sensors to control operation of flow regulators (26, 28). The computational means determines the containment losses by calculating the measured flow into at least one pool (10) through at least first flow regulator (26) and subtracting the measured flow out of at least one pool (10) through at least second regulator (28).
Abstract:
The invention discloses a method of predicting the fluid level at a predetermined location in a fluid flow network (10) having at least one regulator (16, 18) to control the flow of fluid along fluid flow network (10). The method includes the steps of collecting data based on timed measurements of fluid levels upstream (24, 28) of at least one regulator (16, 18), fluid levels downstream (26, 29) of at least one regulator (16, 18) and the opening position (30, 32) of at least one regulator (16, 18), and using data analysis (40) to provide a model based on the data whereby the model will provide prediction of fluid level at the predetermined location based on timed measurements of fluid levels upstream (24, 28) of at least one regulator (16, 18) and the opening position (30, 32) of at least one regulator (16, 18).
Abstract:
The invention provides a method of ascertaining the refill point or target deficit (234) to determine the need to irrigate a crop (236) using a computer-based system. The method including the steps of monitoring soil moisture directly (242), and/or indirectly (238), of the crop using field measurements to compute a soil moisture deficit (230), monitoring the thermal activity of leaf temperature of at least one plant of the crop allowing determination of crop water stress index (232), and interacting the results of said soil moisture deficit (230) and said thermal activity monitoring (232) to derive said refill point or target deficit (230).
Abstract:
The invention provides a method of delivery of fluid to at least one customer (114) through a computer controlled fluid network (100). The fluid network (100) has a plurality of regulators to control the flow of fluid along the fluid network (100) to deliver a predetermined amount of fluid to at least one customer (114). The network (100) includes a first control system (102) for opening and closing the regulators under computer control. The first control system (102) collects data based on timed measurements of fluid levels upstream and downstream of respective regulators and the opening positions of respective regulators, using data analysis to provide respective models for prediction of respective fluid levels between regulators. A second control system (104) that is a supervisory layer interacting with the first control system (102) to provide adjustments to the controlling of the regulators by the first control system (102) based on constraint and future flow load. A third control system interacting with the first (102) and second (104) control systems. The third control system (106) processing fluid delivery requests the at least one customer (114) to provide a flow load delivery schedule (118) based on the hydraulic capacity of the fluid network.
Abstract:
The invention provides a cable drive device (10) including a linear drive member (12), and a cable drum (14) attached to a support bracket (30, 32) adapted to be affixed to a surface. The cable drum (14) has an axle (26) supported by the support bracket (30, 32) to allow rotation of the cable drum (14). The cable drum (14) has a cable (42) affixed at either end of said linear drive member (12) and tautly wrapped around the cable drum (14). The cable drum (14) is located between the ends of the linear drive member (12) to, in use, allow the linear drive member (12) to e guided through the bracket (30, 32) to move the linear drive member (12) longitudinally when the axle (26) is rotated.