Method and apparatus to monitor and control a water system

Abstract

A system for providing treated water includes a water treatment unit including an inlet water quality probe, a worker bed, a probe to measure a parameter of water from the worker bed, a polisher bed connected downstream from the worker bed and having a probe to measure a parameter of water from the polisher bed, and a flow meter upstream of the worker bed or downstream of the polisher bed. A controller in communication with the flow meter and the probes is configured to receive data from same. A remote server in communication with the local water treatment unit is configured to receive data from the local water treatment unit. The controller or the server may determine a cumulative flow total, a billing cycle flow total, a current exchange flow total, a contaminant load, or a remaining capacity of the water treatment unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing treated water, the system comprising:
 a local water treatment unit including   an inlet water quality probe disposed to measure at least one inlet water parameter of feedwater to be treated, the inlet water quality probe including a conductivity sensor and a temperature sensor,   a worker bed having ion exchange media contained therein, and disposed to receive the feedwater to be treated,   a worker probe disposed to measure at least one worker water parameter of water from the worker bed, the worker probe including a worker conductivity sensor and a worker temperature sensor,   a polisher bed having ion exchange media contained therein, and fluidly connected downstream from the worker bed,   a polisher probe disposed to measure at least one polisher water parameter of water from the polisher bed, the polisher probe including a polisher conductivity sensor and a polisher temperature sensor,   a flow meter positioned at least one of upstream of the worker bed and downstream of the polisher bed and configured to measure flow data of water introduced into the first local water treatment unit,   a controller in communication with the flow meter, the inlet water quality probe, the worker probe, and the polisher probe, the controller configured to receive the flow data from the flow meter, the at least one measured inlet water parameter from the inlet water quality probe, the at least one worker water parameter from the worker probe, and the at least one polisher water parameter from the polisher probe;   a server remote from and in communication with the local water treatment unit, the server configured to receive from the local water treatment unit, at least one of the flow data, the at least one measured inlet water parameter, the at least one worker water parameter, and the at least one polisher water parameter, at least one of the controller and the server further configured to determine at least one of a cumulative flow total based on an aggregate of the flow data, a billing cycle flow total based on the flow data during a billing cycle through the local water treatment unit, a current exchange flow total based on the flow data during a current service period of the worker bed, a contaminant load based on the at least one inlet water parameter, and a remaining capacity of the local water treatment unit based at least on the contaminant load.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second local water treatment unit including   a second inlet water quality probe disposed to measure at least one inlet water parameter of a second feedwater to be treated in the second local water treatment unit, the second inlet water quality probe including a second conductivity sensor and a second temperature sensor,   a second worker bed having ion exchange media contained therein, and disposed to receive the second feedwater to be treated,   a second worker probe disposed to measure at least one water parameter of water from the second worker bed, the second worker probe including a second worker conductivity sensor and a second worker temperature sensor,   a second polisher bed having ion exchange media contained therein, and fluidly connected downstream from the second worker bed,   a second polisher probe disposed to measure at least one polisher water parameter of water from the second polisher bed, the second polisher probe including a second polisher conductivity sensor and a second polisher temperature sensor,   a second flow meter positioned at least one of upstream the second worker bed and downstream of the second polisher bed and configured to measure flow data of water introduced into the second local water treatment unit;   a second controller in communication with the second flow meter, the second inlet water quality probe, the second worker probe, and the second polisher probe, the second controller configured to receive the flow data from the second flow meter, the at least one measured inlet water parameter from the second inlet water quality probe, the at least one worker water parameter from the second worker probe, and the at least one polisher water parameter from the second polisher probe.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second water treatment unit is remote from and in communication with the server, the server further configured to receive from the second local water treatment unit, at least one of the flow data from the second flow meter, the at least one measured inlet water parameter from the second inlet water quality probe, the at least one worker water parameter from the second worker probe, and the at least one polisher water parameter from the second polisher probe. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein one of the second controller and the server is configured to determine at least one of a cumulative flow total of the second water treatment unit based on an aggregate of the flow data through the water second water treatment unit, a second billing cycle flow total based on the flow data during a second billing cycle through the second water treatment unit, a current exchange flow total based on the flow data during a current service period of the second worker bed, a second contaminant load based on the at least one inlet water parameter of the second feedwater, and a remaining capacity of the second local water treatment unit based at least on the second contaminant load. 
     
     
         5 . The system of any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the local water treatment unit further includes an inlet pressure sensor disposed to monitor a pressure of the feedwater to the water treatment unit and an outlet pressure sensor disposed to monitor a pressure of the treated water from the water treatment unit, and wherein the controller is further configured to receive inlet pressure data from the inlet pressure sensor and outlet pressure data from the outlet pressure sensor and generate an alarm if a difference in the pressure of the feedwater relative to the pressure of the treated water is above a differential pressure setpoint. 
     
     
         6 . The system of any one of  claims 1 - 5 , wherein the local water treatment unit further includes a leak detect module disposed to detect a leak or moisture from the water treatment unit, and wherein the controller is further configured to generate an indication if the leak detection module detects moisture. 
     
     
         7 . The system of any one of  claims 1 - 6 , wherein the controller further comprises a Bluetooth® interface operatively configured to wirelessly transmit data over a personal area network. 
     
     
         8 . A method for providing treated water for a predetermined period of time, the method comprising:
 treating water in a water treatment unit during the predetermined period of time to produce treated water;   during the predetermined period of time, measuring a volume of the provided treated water utilizing a sensor positioned in the water treatment unit;   during the predetermined period of time, monitoring a parameter of water to be treated in the water treatment unit utilizing a water quality sensor positioned in the water treatment unit;   calculating a difference between the measured volume of the provided treated water during the predetermined period of time and a baseline volume of treated water to be provided during the predetermined period of time; and   determining a fee adjustment for providing the treated water based on the calculated difference between the measured volume of the provided treated water and the baseline volume of treated water to be provided.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising predicting a remaining service life of the water treatment unit based on at least one of the measured volume of the provided treated water provided during the predetermined period of time and the monitored parameter, and wherein the monitored parameter relates to a conductivity of the water to be treated. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining a cumulative volume of treated water provided by the water treatment unit; and   determining a remaining service life of the water treatment unit based at least on the cumulative volume of treated water and on the monitored parameter during the predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining a cumulative volume of treated water provided by the water treatment unit; and   determining a remaining service life of the water treatment unit based at least on the cumulative volume of treated water and a treatment capacity of the water treatment unit.   
     
     
         12 . The method of any one of  claims 8 - 11 , further comprising scheduling service of the water treatment unit if the remaining service life is less than a service-initiating life of the water treatment unit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of any one of  claims 8 - 12 , further comprising calculating an average of the value of the monitored parameter of the water to be treated during the predetermined period of time and utilizing an average value of the monitored parameter as the actual value of the monitored parameter in the act of determining the fee adjustment. 
     
     
         14 . The method of any one of  claims 8 - 13 , further comprising:
 monitoring a parameter of the provided treated water; and   if the monitored parameter of the provided treated water is outside of a desired range, performing at least one of: generating an alarm, sending a notification to a user, and scheduling service of the water treatment unit.   
     
     
         15 . The method of any of  claims 8 - 13 , further comprising monitoring pressure across a pre filter of the water treatment unit and initiating service of the water treatment unit if the monitored pressure exceeds a predetermined differential pressure limit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of any of  claims 8 - 16 , further comprising making data indicative of one or more of: cumulative volume of water to be treated during the predetermined period of time, expected volume of water to be treated during the predetermined period of time, parameter of the water to be treated during the predetermined period of time, and expected value of the parameter of the water to be treated during the predetermined period of time available via a web portal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of any of  claims 8 - 16 , further comprising determining a schedule for service of the water treatment unit without input from a user of the treated water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of any of  claims 8 - 17 , further comprising transmitting data indicative of the volume of the water to be treated and data indicative of the value of the monitored parameter of the water to be treated to a central server remote from the water treatment unit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of any one of  claims 8 - 18 , wherein monitoring the parameter of water to be treated comprises monitoring a conductivity of the water to be treated. 
     
     
         20 . A method for providing treated water over a first predetermined period of time, the method comprising:
 directing a first feedwater to be treated through a first water treatment unit to produce a first treated water, the first water treatment unit including ion exchange media;   during the first predetermined period of time, monitoring a parameter of the first feedwater;   during the first predetermined period of time, monitoring at least one of a volume of the first feedwater directed through the water treatment unit and the first treated water;   transmitting to a server disposed remotely from the first water treatment unit, data indicative of at least one of the volume of the first feedwater and the volume of the first treated water, and data indicative of the monitored parameter;   determining a base fee for providing the first treated water during the first predetermined period of time based on at least one of an expected volume of the first feedwater to be treated during the first predetermined period of time and an expected value of the parameter of the water to be treated during the first predetermined period of time, and   determining a fee adjustment based on the base fee and a difference between the monitored volume of the first feedwater and the expected volume of the first feedwater to be treated.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising
 directing a second feedwater to be treated through a second water treatment unit to produce a second treated water, the second water treatment unit disposed remotely from the first water treatment unit and including ion exchange media;   during a second predetermined period of time, monitoring a parameter of the second feedwater;   during the second predetermined period of time, monitoring at least one of a volume of the second feedwater directed through the second water treatment unit and a volume of the second treated water;   transmitting to the server disposed remotely from the second water treatment unit, data indicative of at least one of the volume of the second feedwater and the volume of the second treated water, and data indicative of the monitored parameter of the second feedwater;   determining a second base fee for providing the second treated water during the predetermined period of time based on at least one of an expected volume of the second feedwater to be treated and an expected value of the parameter of the second feedwater to be treated during the second predetermined period of time, and   determining a second fee adjustment based on the second base fee and a difference between the monitored volume of the second feedwater and the expected volume of the second feedwater to be treated.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the monitored parameter of the first feedwater represents a conductivity of the first feedwater, and wherein determining the fee adjustment is further based on a difference between the conductivity of the first feedwater and an expected conductivity of the first feedwater. 
     
     
         23 . The method of any one of  claims 20 - 22 , wherein the monitored parameter of the second feedwater represents a conductivity of the second feedwater, and wherein determining the second fee adjustment is further based on a difference between the conductivity of the second feedwater and an expected conductivity of the second feedwater. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising determining a remaining treatment capacity of the first water treatment unit based on at least one of a cumulative volume of the first feedwater and the conductivity of the first feedwater directed through the first water treatment unit during the first predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         25 . The method of any one of  claims 22 - 24 , further comprising determining a remaining treatment capacity of the second water treatment unit based on at least one of a cumulative volume of the second feedwater and the conductivity of the second feedwater directed through the second water treatment unit during the second predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         26 . A method of remotely monitoring water treatment units, the method comprising:
 receiving at a central server, data from a first water treatment unit that produces a first treated water delivered to a first facility disposed remotely from the central server, the data representative of at least one of a volume of a first feedwater to be treated in the first water treatment unit, a volume of the first treated water, and a conductivity of the first feedwater, during a first predetermined period;   receiving at the central server, data from a second water treatment unit that produces a second treated water delivered to a second facility that is disposed remotely from the first facility and the central server, the data representative of at least one of a volume of a second feedwater to be treated in the second water treatment unit, a volume of the second treated water, and a conductivity of the second feedwater, during a second predetermined period;   determining a first base fee for providing the first treated water over the first predetermined period based on at least one of an expected volume of the first feedwater to be treated and an expected value of the conductivity of the first feedwater;   determining a second base fee for providing the second treated water over the second predetermined period based on at least one of an expected volume of the second feedwater to be treated and an expected value of the conductivity of the second feedwater;   determining a first fee adjustment for providing the first treated water based on the first base fee and a difference between an actual and the expected volume of the first feedwater; and   determining a second fee adjustment for providing the second treated water based on the second base fee and a difference between an actual and the expected volume of the second feedwater.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising determining a remaining treatment capacity of the first water treatment unit based on at least one of a cumulative volume of the first feedwater and the conductivity of the first feedwater directed through the first water treatment unit. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising determining a remaining treatment capacity of the second water treatment unit based on at least one of a cumulative volume of the second feedwater and the conductivity of the second feedwater directed through the second water treatment unit. 
     
     
         29 . The method of any of  claims 26 - 28 , further comprising initiating a first service requirement for the first water treatment unit based on a cumulative volume of the first feedwater treated in the first treatment unit. 
     
     
         30 . The method of any one of  claims 26 - 28 , wherein determining the first fee adjustment is further based on the conductivity of the first feedwater during the first predetermined period. 
     
     
         31 . The method of any of  claims 26 - 28 , further comprising initiating a second service requirement for the second water treatment unit based on a cumulative volume of the second feedwater treated in the second treatment unit. 
     
     
         32 . The method of any one of  claims 26 - 28 , wherein determining the second fee adjustment is further based on the conductivity of the second feedwater during the second predetermined period. 
     
     
         33 . The method of any one of  claims 26 - 28 , further comprising generating a route for a service provider to service the first water treatment unit and the second water treatment unit based at least in part on locations of each of the first facility and the second facility.