Controller and control system for a pressure reducing valve

Abstract

A controller adjusts the output pressure (P 2 ) of a pressure reducing valve supplying water to a consumer region. The controller includes a clock and aims to reduce output pressure, whilst still providing a minimum required pressure at a critical point (CP) in the region, by adjusting the output pressure in accordance with both the flow rate into the consumer region and with time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A controller for adjusting the output pressure of a pressure reducing valve supplying fluid to a consumer region, wherein the controller comprises:
 a flow rate input for receiving a flow rate signal from a flow rate sensor for fluid flowing into the consumer region through the pressure reducing valve, and a data-generating unit arranged to generate data representative of the flow rate of fluid flowing into the consumer region through the pressure reducing valve in accordance with the flow rate signal;   a control output for providing a signal to adjust the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve;   a clock providing data representative of time;   a data storage memory storing parameters representing a time-dependent relationship between the flow rate of fluid flowing into the consumer region and a required output pressure from the pressure reducing valve in order to establish a desired minimum fluid pressure at a critical point in the consumer region; and   a processing system configured to process (i) the data representative of the flow rate, (ii) the data representative of time, and (iii) the stored parameters, and to cause a signal to be provided from the control output for adjusting the pressure reducing valve to provide the required output pressure corresponding to the flow rate and the time.   
     
     
         2 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the stored parameters are representative of a relationship between the flow rate of fluid and the required output pressure from the pressure reducing valve, which varies as a function of one or more variables selected from the group consisting of: time of day, day of the week, day of the month, week of the year, month of the year, season of the year, day of the year, and time of the year. 
     
     
         3 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the stored parameters are in respect of discrete intervals covering an entire day, for each of a number of successive days. 
     
     
         4 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the stored parameters cover an entire year. 
     
     
         5 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the stored parameters are used in a function that is evaluated by the processing system of the controller. 
     
     
         6 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the stored parameters are in the form of a lookup table. 
     
     
         7 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a communications module and is configured to use the communications module at intervals to establish communication with a data processing system, remote from the controller, and to receive updated parameters for storing in the data storage memory, the updated parameters representing an updated time-dependent relationship between the flow rate of fluid flowing into the consumer region and a required output pressure from the pressure reducing valve. 
     
     
         8 . The controller of  claim 7 , wherein the communications module is adapted for wireless communication. 
     
     
         9 . The controller of  claim 7 , wherein the updated parameters cover a period of at least a week. 
     
     
         10 . The controller of  claim 7 , wherein the updated parameters cover a period of time that is greater than any of the intervals at which the controller is configured to establish communication with the remote data processing system. 
     
     
         11 . The controller of  claim 7 , wherein the updated parameters cover a period of time and are received as incremental changes to the stored parameters for that period of time. 
     
     
         12 . The controller of  claim 7 , wherein the controller:
 comprises an output pressure input for receiving an output pressure signal from an output pressure sensor, and an output-pressure-data-generating unit arranged to generate data representative of the output pressure from the pressure reducing valve in accordance with the output pressure signal;   comprises a logger configured to log the data representative of the flow rate of water flowing into the consumer region and data representative of the output pressure from the pressure reducing valve, with time stamp data; and   is configured to use the communications module at intervals to communicate the logged data to the remote data processing system.   
     
     
         13 . The controller of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the controller comprises an input pressure input for receiving an input pressure signal from an input pressure sensor, and an input-pressure-data-generating unit arranged to generate data representative of the input pressure to the pressure reducing valve in accordance with the input pressure signal; and   the logged data communicated to the remote data processing system includes the data representative of the input pressure.   
     
     
         14 . A system for adjusting the output pressure of a pressure reducing valve supplying water to a consumer region, comprising:
 a pressure reducing valve;   a pilot valve for the pressure reducing valve; and   a controller for adjusting the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve,   wherein the controller comprises:   a flow rate input for receiving a flow rate signal from a flow rate sensor for fluid flowing into the consumer region through the pressure reducing valve, and a data-generating unit arranged to generate data representative of the flow rate of fluid flowing into the consumer region through the pressure reducing valve in accordance with the flow rate signal;   a control output for providing a signal to adjust the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve, the control output being connected to the pilot valve for the pressure reducing valve;   a clock providing data representative of time;   a data storage memory storing parameters representing a time-dependent relationship between the flow rate of fluid flowing into the consumer region and a required output pressure from the pressure reducing valve in order to establish a desired minimum fluid pressure at a critical point in the consumer region; and   a processing system configured to process (i) the data representative of the flow rate, (ii) the data representative of time, and (iii) the stored parameters, and to cause a signal to be provided from the control output for adjusting the pressure reducing valve to provide the required output pressure corresponding to the flow rate and the time.   
     
     
         15 . A method of adjusting the output pressure of a pressure reducing valve supplying fluid to a consumer region, the method comprising a controller:
 receiving a flow rate signal from a flow rate sensor for fluid flowing into the consumer region through the pressure reducing valve;   generating, from the flow rate signal, data representative of the flow rate of fluid flowing into the consumer region through the pressure reducing valve;   storing parameters representing a time-dependent relationship between the flow rate of fluid flowing into the consumer region and a required output pressure from the pressure reducing valve in order to establish a desired minimum fluid pressure at a critical point in the consumer region;   processing (i) the data representative of the flow rate, (ii) data representative of time, and (iii) the stored parameters, to determine a required output pressure from the pressure reducing valve corresponding to the flow rate and the time; and   outputting a signal for adjusting the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve according to the determined required output pressure.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising the controller outputting the signal for adjusting the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve to a pilot valve for the pressure reducing valve. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the stored parameters are representative of a relationship between the flow rate of fluid and the required output pressure from the pressure reducing valve, which varies as a function of one or more variables selected from the group consisting of: time of day, day of the week, day of the month, week of the year, month of the year, season of the year, day of the year, and time of the year. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the stored parameters are in respect of discrete intervals covering an entire day, for each of a number of successive days. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the parameters are stored in the form of a lookup table. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the controller:
 using a communications module at intervals to establish communication with a data processing system, remote from the controller; and   receiving and storing updated parameters, the updated parameters representing an updated time-dependent relationship between the flow rate of fluid flowing into the consumer region and a required output pressure from the pressure reducing valve.