Groundwater monitoring system and method
First Claim
1. A groundwater monitoring system comprising:
- a borehole extending downwards through terra firma and defining a borehole head at grade;
a controller disposed proximally to the borehole head and comprising programmable electronic circuitry having a processor;
a rotatable cable drum positioned at the borehole head;
a movable probe disposed in the borehole and operably coupled to the drum via a cable, the drum rotatable in a first direction to raise the probe and in a second direction to lower the probe in the borehole;
a drive mechanism operable to rotate the drum in the first or second directions;
a first sonic transducer mounted at the borehole head;
a second sonic transducer mounted to the probe, the first and second sonic transducers in communication with the controller which is operable to measure a distance between the first and second transducers;
one of the first or second transducers being a transmitter operable to emit an acoustic wave which is received by the other of the first or second transducers being a receiver; and
a conductivity sensor mounted to the probe and operable to detect groundwater in the borehole;
wherein when the conductivity sensor detects the groundwater, the transmitter emits the acoustic wave which is received by the receiver and the controller converts a time delay between transmission and reception of the acoustic wave to a distance indicative of a surface level of the groundwater below grade.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a groundwater monitoring system and method. The system in one aspect uses sound-based distance measurement techniques to measure groundwater level with one transducer generating an acoustic burst and another receiving it. At least one sonic transducer is installed in each of a processor-based controller and traveling probe. The system may use an accelerometer and the pressure sensor installed in the probe to measure groundwater thickness. While the probe moves upward or downward in the groundwater, water properties measured by sensors installed on the probe and corresponding depths of the measuring spots to the groundwater surface level measured by the pressure sensor are recorded. The system measures and saves data, including groundwater level, groundwater thickness, and a depth-related profile of water properties. In certain embodiments, the probe includes a microprocessor operable to control the transducer and sensors mounted thereto and effect two-way communication with the controller.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A groundwater monitoring system comprising:
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a borehole extending downwards through terra firma and defining a borehole head at grade; a controller disposed proximally to the borehole head and comprising programmable electronic circuitry having a processor; a rotatable cable drum positioned at the borehole head; a movable probe disposed in the borehole and operably coupled to the drum via a cable, the drum rotatable in a first direction to raise the probe and in a second direction to lower the probe in the borehole; a drive mechanism operable to rotate the drum in the first or second directions; a first sonic transducer mounted at the borehole head; a second sonic transducer mounted to the probe, the first and second sonic transducers in communication with the controller which is operable to measure a distance between the first and second transducers; one of the first or second transducers being a transmitter operable to emit an acoustic wave which is received by the other of the first or second transducers being a receiver; and a conductivity sensor mounted to the probe and operable to detect groundwater in the borehole; wherein when the conductivity sensor detects the groundwater, the transmitter emits the acoustic wave which is received by the receiver and the controller converts a time delay between transmission and reception of the acoustic wave to a distance indicative of a surface level of the groundwater below grade. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A groundwater monitoring system comprising:
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an underground aquifer; a borehole extending underground between the aquifer and a borehole head at top located at a ground surface; a rotatable cable drum positioned at the borehole head and comprising a spool of cable; a drive mechanism coupled to the cable drum and operable to rotate the drum in opposing directions; a movable probe disposed in the borehole and operably coupled to the cable, the drum rotatable via the drive mechanism in a first direction to raise the probe and in a second direction to lower the probe in the borehole; a controller comprising programmable electronic circuitry including a processor and memory, the controller operably connected to and controlling operation of the drive mechanism; a stationary sonic transducer mounted at the borehole head; a movable sonic transducer mounted to the probe and spatially separable from the first sonic transducer, the stationary and moving transducers in communication with the controller; one of the stationary or movable sonic transducers being a transmitter emitting an acoustic wave which is received by the other transducer being a receiver; and a conductivity sensor mounted to the probe and operable to detect a groundwater in the borehole; and an accelerometer disposed in the probe, wherein when the probe contacts a hard surface at a bottom of the groundwater, the accelerometer becomes tilted which triggers the system to measure a thickness of the groundwater. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for monitoring groundwater, the method comprising:
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providing a probe having at least one sensor and an electronic controller with a processor and electric drive mechanism controlled by the processor, the drive mechanism operably coupled to the probe for lowering or raising the probe in a borehole having a top accessible at ground grade; the controller automatically lowering the probe down the borehole at a first speed with the drive mechanism; contacting and sensing groundwater in the borehole with the probe a first time; a sonic transmitter at the probe generating and directing an acoustic wave upwards in the borehole upon sensing the groundwater; receiving the acoustic wave with a sonic receiver at the top of the borehole; the controller automatically calculating a first time delay between transmission and reception; the controller automatically converting the first time delay into a first distance measured between the transmitter and receiver which is indicative of the groundwater level below grade; the controller automatically raising the probe out of the groundwater with the drive mechanism for a distance after sensing the groundwater the first time; and the controller automatically lowering the probe again with the drive mechanism to contact and sense the groundwater a second time, the probe being lowered at a second speed the second time which is slower than the first speed; the controller automatically calculating a second time delay between transmission and reception; and the controller automatically converting the second time delay into a second distance measured between the transmitter and receiver which is indicative of the groundwater level below grade. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method for monitoring groundwater, the method comprising:
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providing a probe having at least one sensor and an electronic controller with a processor and electric drive mechanism controlled by the processor, the drive mechanism operably coupled to the probe for lowering or raising the probe in a borehole having a top accessible at ground grade; the controller automatically lowering the probe down the borehole at a first speed with the drive mechanism; contacting and sensing groundwater in the borehole with the probe a first time; a sonic transmitter at the probe generating and directing an acoustic wave upwards in the borehole upon sensing the groundwater; receiving the acoustic wave with a sonic receiver at the top of the borehole; the controller automatically calculating a first time delay between transmission and reception; the controller automatically converting the first time delay into a first distance measured between the transmitter and receiver which is indicative of the groundwater level below grade; the controller automatically lowering the probe through the groundwater; engaging a bottom of the groundwater with the probe a first time, the probe changing from a vertical position to a tilted position; detecting the tilted position of the probe with an accelerometer mounted to the probe; the controller automatically determining a thickness of the groundwater between the surface level of the groundwater and the bottom of the groundwater. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification