Sistema automatizado de macromedição para redes de abastecimento de água.

Abstract

The water scarcity experienced in various parts of the planet demands the rapid development of new technologies aimed at preserving this resource. As a tool to combat waste, consumption measurement is an excellent tool, and specifically, macro-measurement in supply networks serves to reduce loss rates in distribution and detect anomalies in consumption. However, the instruments used for this purpose still have a high cost, which limits their widespread use. In an effort to provide an efficient and less expensive tool for macro-measurement to be applied in supply networks, this work sought to develop an automated macro-measurement system using the NodeMCU 1.0 controller and the YF-DN50 flow sensor, enabling remote monitoring of water consumption. The meter was calibrated in the laboratory to obtain a new conversion factor pulses/liter and was subsequently installed in a sub-branch of the water supply network at the main campus of UFCG, serving the CQ and CR buildings. For value comparison, micrometers were also installed at the water entry points of both buildings. The online ThingSpeak platform was chosen for data storage and monitoring. This allowed the development of a low-cost and easily applicable system. Additionally, after two months of measurements, a consumption pattern for the sub-branch was obtained, detecting reservoir replenishment periods for the buildings, peak consumption days, and water usage outside the buildings not measured by the micrometers. The developed system has broad potential for monitoring flow rates and consumption in supply networks and represents a significant step towards affordable and effective solutions for preserving water resources in a world where water scarcity is a growing reality.