Hydrometer Design Based on Thin-Film Resistive Sensor for Water Measurement in Residential Buildings

Abstract

Because of economic, population, and consumption patterns changes, the use of freshwater has increased significantly in the last 100 years. Notably, measurement is essential to encourage water conservation. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the applicability of a thin-film resistive sensor (bend sensor) with different coatings for implementation in individualized water measurement systems. The motivation of this work is to propose a volumetric meter using flow control valves that ordinarily are already present in a building’s hydraulic installations. Methodologically, the following are presented: the system developed for the electromechanical and thermal characterization of the sensor, the sensor computational simulation performed using Ansys® software, and for the electronic circuit designed in LTSpice® software, the artificial neural network used to estimate the flow and the volume estimates from the trapezoidal pulses. The results obtained allowed us to assess that, taking into account the type of coating, the sensor coated with polyester has better behavior for the proposed hydrometer. In addition, this evaluation allowed us to conclude that the bend sensor demonstrated its feasibility to be used as a transducer of this novel type of volumetric meter and can be easily inserted inside a hydraulic component, such as a flow control valve, for example.

Proposition of water meter for buildings based on a thin-film resistive sensor: electromechanical and thermal characterizations

“…However, it is possible to verify some studies that demonstrate the applicability of this type of sensor for this purpose. For example, Fan et al [21] employ the sensor to monitor the airflow velocity in real-time, helping to save energy consumption in a wastewater treatment process; Xu et al [22] report a way to monitor water flow in pipelines using a flexible resistive film; Srinivasan, Sen, Kumar and Sabebu [23] use the sensor as a cantilever beam for flow measurement for moderate flow applications; Stewart, Fox and Harnett [24] developed a velocity sensor using the bend sensor for application in streams; Gonçalves, Medeiros, and Barbosa [25] presented a study of the resistive sensor application to measure the flow of water through the comparison between the results of experimental electromechanical characterization with a computer simulation, and these same authors [26] also proposed an adaptation of the valves commonly present in residential hydraulic systems, using a bend sensor, and demonstrated a new methodology for measuring the volume of water consumed in autonomous units.…”

Parameter Optimization of Centrifugal Pump Splitter Blades with Artificial Fish Swarm Algorithm

“…Pumping systems consume about 9% of the world's electricity; therefore, high efficiency has always been a constant requirement for pump geometry design [1][2][3]. The low specific speed centrifugal pump is widely used in small and micro feeding, as well as conveying occasions, because of its small flow and high head characteristics [4].…”