Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems for accurate measurement of the bulk modulus of a fluid in a fluid distribution system. An apparatus comprises a pipe, a first endcap, and a second endcap defining a cylindrical cavity, a means for filling the cylindrical cavity with a fluid sample, and a vibrational sensor coupled to an end plate of the second endcap and communicatively connected to a water property measurement system. The vibrational sensor is operable to, subsequent to the filling of the cylindrical cavity with the fluid sample, send a signal representative of sensed vibrations in the end plate of the second endcap to the water property measurement system while an end plate of the first endcap is excited. The water property measurement system computes a frequency response function from the signal and determines a bulk modulus value for the fluid sample based on the frequency response function.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for accurate time delay estimation using coherent averaging. A plurality of out-of-bracket acoustical impulses are generated in a pipe segment of a fluid distribution system. Signal data representing the acoustical impulses sensed at two locations along the pipe segment are recorded. Precise timings for the generation of the acoustical impulses are obtained, and the acoustical impulses in the signal data recorded from the first location are averaged based on the precise timings to produce a near-sensor average impulse. Similarly, the acoustical impulses in the signal data recorded from the second location are averaged based on the same precise timings to produce a far-sensor average impulse. A time delay between arrival of the plurality of out-of-bracket acoustical impulses at the first and second locations is estimated from the timing of the near-sensor average impulse and the far-sensor average impulse.

Abstract: A sensor system can include a sensor module including a vibration sensor; a processor module including a power supply and a processor PCB, the processor module connected in electrical communication with the sensor module by a first cable; and an antenna module including an antenna, the antenna module connected in electrical communication with the processor module by a second cable.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for performing high-resolution assessment of the condition of pipes of a fluid distribution system using in-bracket excitation. Acoustical impulses are generated in a pipe at two excitation locations along the pipe while signal data is recorded from two acoustic sensors, at least one of the excitation locations being located in-bracket of the two acoustic sensors. A first time delay between the arrival of the acoustical impulses at the two acoustic sensors is computed from the signal data recorded during generation of the impulses at the first excitation location, and a second time delay between the arrival of the impulses at the two sensors is computed from the signal data recorded during generation of the impulses at the second excitation location.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for providing high-resolution assessment of the condition of pipes of a fluid distribution down to the individual pipe stick. An acoustic sensor is placed in acoustical communication with a pipe at one end of a target segment. An acoustical wave is generated in the pipe at a first out-of-bracket excitation location while signal data is recorded from the acoustic sensor. Timing information regarding the arrival at the acoustic sensor of reflections of the acoustic wave from pipe joints in the target segment is extracted from the recorded signal data, and a time delay between reflections from consecutive pipe joints is computed. An acoustic propagation velocity in a pipe stick between the consecutive pipe joints is then computed based on the time delay and a length of the pipe stick. A condition of the pipe stick is determined based on the computed acoustic propagation velocity.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems for accurate measurement of the bulk modulus of a fluid in a fluid distribution system. An apparatus comprises a pipe, a first endcap, and a second endcap defining a cylindrical cavity, a means for filling the cylindrical cavity with a fluid sample, and a vibrational sensor coupled to an end plate of the second endcap and communicatively connected to a water property measurement system. The vibrational sensor is operable to, subsequent to the filling of the cylindrical cavity with the fluid sample, send a signal representative of sensed vibrations in the end plate of the second endcap to the water property measurement system while an end plate of the first endcap is excited. The water property measurement system computes a frequency response function from the signal and determines a bulk modulus value for the fluid sample based on the frequency response function.

Abstract: A hydrant assembly includes a fire hydrant including a barrel, the barrel defining a barrel axis extending from a top barrel end of the barrel to a bottom barrel end of the barrel; and a vibration sensor enclosed within the fire hydrant, the vibration sensor defining a sensor axis extending from a first sensor end of the vibration sensor to a second sensor end of the vibration sensor, the sensor axis defining an angle relative to the barrel axis, the angle less than ninety degrees.

Abstract: A hydrant assembly includes a fire hydrant including a barrel, the barrel defining a barrel axis extending from a top barrel end of the barrel to a bottom barrel end of the barrel; and a vibration sensor enclosed within the fire hydrant, the vibration sensor defining a sensor axis extending from a first sensor end of the vibration sensor to a second sensor end of the vibration sensor, the sensor axis defining an angle relative to the barrel axis, the angle less than ninety degrees.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for performing high-resolution assessment of the condition of pipes of a fluid distribution system using in-bracket excitation. Acoustical impulses are generated in a pipe at two excitation locations along the pipe while signal data is recorded from two acoustic sensors, at least one of the excitation locations being located in-bracket of the two acoustic sensors. A first time delay between the arrival of the acoustical impulses at the two acoustic sensors is computed from the signal data recorded during generation of the impulses at the first excitation location, and a second time delay between the arrival of the impulses at the two sensors is computed from the signal data recorded during generation of the impulses at the second excitation location.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for accurate time delay estimation using coherent averaging. A plurality of out-of-bracket acoustical impulses are generated in a pipe segment of a fluid distribution system. Signal data representing the acoustical impulses sensed at two locations along the pipe segment are recorded. Precise timings for the generation of the acoustical impulses are obtained, and the acoustical impulses in the signal data recorded from the first location are averaged based on the precise timings to produce a near-sensor average impulse. Similarly, the acoustical impulses in the signal data recorded from the second location are averaged based on the same precise timings to produce a far-sensor average impulse. A time delay between arrival of the plurality of out-of-bracket acoustical impulses at the first and second locations is estimated from the timing of the near-sensor average impulse and the far-sensor average impulse.

Abstract: A hydrant assembly includes a fire hydrant including a barrel, the barrel defining a barrel axis extending from a top barrel end of the barrel to a bottom barrel end of the barrel; and a vibration sensor enclosed within the fire hydrant, the vibration sensor defining a sensor axis extending from a first sensor end of the vibration sensor to a second sensor end of the vibration sensor, the sensor axis defining an angle relative to the barrel axis, the angle less than ninety degrees.

Abstract: A nozzle cap includes a cap body, the cap body defining a cap axis extending from a first body end of the cap body to a second body end of the cap body; and a vibration sensor attached to the cap body, the vibration sensor defining a sensor axis extending from a first sensor end of the vibration sensor to a second sensor end of the vibration sensor, the sensor axis aligned perpendicular to the cap axis.

Abstract: A method for creating a pressure pulse in a fluid system with a noisemaker, the method includes opening a valve of the noisemaker to allow a fluid of the fluid system to flow through a valve cavity of the noisemaker, the valve disposed within the valve cavity, the noisemaker connected in fluid communication with the fluid system; closing the valve of the noisemaker to abruptly interrupt the flow of the fluid through the valve cavity; and repeatedly opening and closing the valve to generate a pulsating flow to the fluid system.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for predicting the amount of buildup in a pipe of a fluid distribution system by evaluating a loss of acoustic energy from a sound source over a distance of the pipe. An acoustic energy in an acoustical wave travelling in the fluid of a pipe is measured at a first location and a second location, and an estimated damping factor for the segment of pipe between the first and second locations is computed based on a comparison of the acoustic energy measured at the first location and the second location. A residual attenuation for the segment of the pipe is determined from a difference between the estimated damping factor and a theoretical damping factor for the pipe based on a material comprising a pipe wall, and an amount of buildup in the pipe is estimated based on the residual attenuation.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for time-synchronizing sample data from independent recording devices utilizing samples tagged from a highly accurate time source. Datasets comprising samples representing a signal over a period of time are received from separate recording devices. A number of samples in each dataset are tagged indicating that the sample was taken immediately after a pulse in a PPS signal from a highly accurate time source onboard the recording device. The indices of the PPS-tagged samples, along with corresponding time values, are extracted from the datasets, and a set of common time values between the datasets is determined. A pair of frames of a specific length are extracted from each dataset aligned on the PPS-tagged samples corresponding to the common time values and comparative analysis is performed on the pair of frames.

Abstract: Examples of receiving and analyzing data for predicting pipe attenuation within a fluid distribution system are disclosed. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a method for receiving and analyzing data for predicting pipe attenuation within a fluid distribution system includes: receiving predetermined criteria for a specific pipe-soil combination; calculating attenuation data of the specific pipe-soil combination based on the predetermined criteria; employing the attenuation data to produce a colormap of sound attenuation; and determining a propagating distance for the specific pipe-soil combination based on the colormap and a predetermined frequency.

Abstract: A nozzle cap includes a cap body, the cap body defining a cap axis extending from a first body end of the cap body to a second body end of the cap body; and a vibration sensor attached to the cap body, the vibration sensor defining a sensor axis extending from a first sensor end of the vibration sensor to a second sensor end of the vibration sensor, the sensor axis aligned perpendicular to the cap axis.

Abstract: Disclosed are technologies for a communication system for a utility infrastructure system. The communication system includes a host configured to aggregate and collect utility data. The communication system also includes a remote, battery-powered node connected to a utility device of the utility infrastructure system. According to some examples, the node is configured to initiate a first communication message to the host via a first type of communication channel. The first type of communication channel is short message service (SMS), and the first communication message includes the utility data. The node is also configured to receive a SMS reply from the host, wherein the SMS reply includes information for communicating with the host via a second type of communication channel.

Abstract: Examples of analyzing data for a distribution pipe network within a fluid distribution system are disclosed. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a method for analyzing data for a distribution pipe network within a fluid distribution system includes: receiving acoustic data from a plurality of nodes for a plurality of pipe segments; determining a characteristic frequency range for each pipe segment; decomposing the characteristic frequency range into a plurality of frequency sub-bands; building a leak sensitivity model based on the plurality of frequency sub-bands; and implementing a correlation schedule with the plurality of nodes based on a selection of the plurality of frequency sub-bands.

Abstract: Examples of analyzing data for a distribution pipe network within a fluid distribution system are disclosed. In one implementation, a method for analyzing data for a distribution pipe network includes: collecting a first and a second acoustic data set from a first node; collecting a first and a second acoustic data set from a second node; aggregating the first and the second acoustic data set from the first node; aggregating the first and the second acoustic data set from the second node for a plurality of samples based on a synchronization error range; calculating a plurality of correlation signals between each data set from the first node and the second node for the synchronization error range; and determining a time correction based on a correlation signal with a maximum strength of the plurality of correlation signals.