Distribution Monitoring
Flow + Pressure + Leak Detection Telemetry
Distribution monitoring telemetry tracks fluid integrity across the lunar water network using eight flow meters, twelve branch and main pressure transducers, and acoustic emission sensors. Unmitigated lunar radiation demands radiation-tolerant sensor electronics, while strict reliability constraints require no-moving-part ultrasonic flow meters to achieve a 100,000-hour mean time between failures over a 20-year lifetime. Acoustic sensors leverage Ark structural transmission paths alongside mass-balance calculations to identify leaks down to 5 grams per hour. Drawing 5 watts with a 3-kilogram total mass, the instrumentation performs real-time anomaly detection to trigger rapid line isolation during pressure or flow loss.
Distributed flow meters, pressure transducers, and leak-detection sensors monitoring the entire water network.
Purpose
Distributed flow meters, pressure transducers, and leak-detection sensors monitoring the entire water network.
Context
Child of L2-WTR-DIST in L1-WTR water processing chain
Principles
- ▸Coriolis or ultrasonic flow meters (no moving parts)
- ▸Pressure transducers at every branch + main
- ▸Leak detection via mass balance and acoustic sensors
- ▸Real-time anomaly detection triggers isolation
- ▸Long-mission sensor drift tracked
Typical implementations
- ▸ISS Internal Thermal Control System monitoring heritage
- ▸Industrial leak-detection systems (terrestrial)
- ▸Acoustic emission leak sensors
Lunar considerations
- ▸Rad-tolerant sensor electronics
- ▸Flow meter with no moving parts preferred
- ▸Acoustic sensors leverage Ark structural transmission paths
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Distributed flow meters, pressure transducers, and leak-detection sensors monitoring the entire water network. |
| flow meters | 8 |
| pressure sensors | 12 |
| leak detection threshold g per hr | 5 |
Physical
| mass kg | 3 |
| materials | Ultrasonic flow transducers, Pressure cells, Acoustic emission sensors |
| vacuum compatibility | True |
Operational
| power consumption w | 5 |
| thermal range c | -40, 70 |
| lifetime years | 20 |
| mtbf hours | 100000 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Network status telemetry
- Isolation trigger on leak detection
Requires
- Sensor mounting taps
- Sensor power (~5 W)
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Distribution Monitoring" (L3-WTR-DIST-MON). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-WTR-DIST-MON
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.