In recent years, several leak detection systems have emerged both domestically and internationally, playing a crucial role in identifying water leaks in main supply pipelines. For instance, the leak detection system developed by Kay Company in the U.S. is powerful but expensive, with large units that limit its widespread adoption in households and smaller organizations. Similarly, the F-series leak detector from a Chinese company lacks networking capabilities and does not support multiple alarm functions such as phone calls, SMS, or email notifications, which significantly restricts its application scope. Therefore, there is a clear need for a low-power, cost-effective device that can be widely adopted by both individuals and organizations, especially for detecting leaks near the water supply terminal. This would help prevent accidental damage and ensure timely maintenance, thereby reducing the wastage of water resources.
**1. System Networking and Overall Design**
The system network consists of a central monitoring module and multiple on-site monitoring nodes, forming a comprehensive water leakage monitoring network. The central monitoring module is responsible for receiving and processing data, and it can trigger alarms through various methods such as phone calls, SMS, and sound/light alerts, ensuring prompt repair of any leaking area. The on-site monitoring nodes are designed to accurately detect and identify the location of leaks at the water supply terminal. When a leak is detected, the data transmission module sends an alert to the central system, which then notifies the maintenance personnel. The overall system design is illustrated in Figure 1.
**2. Hardware Design of the On-Site Monitoring Node**
The monitoring node includes an embedded industrial control module, an ultrasonic flow detection module, a pyroelectric human body detection module, a wireless transceiver circuit, a sound and light alarm circuit, and a solenoid valve control circuit. The hardware components are shown in Figure 2.
**2.1 Embedded Industrial Control Module M2080**
The M2080-U20 is a cost-effective MiniARM industrial control module that uses the LPC2220 industrial-grade embedded microcontroller. It integrates an ARM minimum system, Ethernet/CAN/USB controllers, and Flash memory into a compact module. It comes pre-installed with the μC/OS-II real-time operating system, along with basic drivers, middleware libraries (including FAT file management, Ethernet, CAN-bus, USB Device/Host/OTG, CF/SD/MMC card support, ZLG500, GPRS/CDMA modules), and features bus protection design for excellent EMC performance and stability.
**2.2 Ultrasonic Flow Detection Module**
**2.2.1 Principle of Ultrasonic Flow Monitoring**
Ultrasonic flow monitoring utilizes a non-intrusive or clamped ultrasonic sensor installed on existing pipelines or as a pipe section. The basic structure is shown in Figure 3. Ultrasonic waves enter the pipe and liquid through a wedge made of plastic or metal. According to Snell’s law, the initial sound wave generates transverse and longitudinal waves at the steel pipe interface. The transverse wave enters the liquid, while the longitudinal wave is fully reflected. Once inside the liquid, the wave becomes a longitudinal wave and is received by the second ultrasonic transducer through the opposite wall and acoustic wedge. The signal from transducer 1 to 2 is forward, and the reverse is backward.
The time difference method measures the flow rate by calculating the time difference between the forward and reverse propagation of the ultrasonic pulse in the liquid. The specific calculation formula and measurement method are detailed in relevant literature.
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