Automated ground water monitoring and analysis system

• US 20020023479A1
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David A. Hoffman, Russell W. Burge, Scott R. Burge
• Original Assignee: David A. Hoffman, Russell W. Burge, Scott R. Burge
• Inventors: Burge, Russell W., Burge, Scott R., Hoffman, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,247,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1886 using probes, e.g. submersible probes, buoys

Abstract

An automated computer controlled ground water system for monitoring and analysis for an analyte, has a sampling device in a well casing with a valve and sensor to provide a predetermined sample volume, a treatment assembly to prepare a calibration standard, a calibration assembly to provide a standard of known concentration and volume, an analytical assembly to analyze for analyte concentration, and a communication system to receive analysis data and transmit it to a cognizant agency.

Claims

1. An automated computer controlled monitoring system for determining the concentration of an analyte of interest in ground water, comprising:

a sampling device within a well casing and comprising valve means and water level sensor means to provide a ground water sample of predetermined volume,

a treatment assembly to receive the sample from the sampling device, said treatment assembly comprising means to provide a calibration standard for the analytical assembly, and one of (a) a treatment cartridge to filter the sample and a calibration sensor, (b) a source of analyte-free water connected with the treatment assembly,

a calibration assembly to add a standard of predetermined concentration of the analyte and volume to the water from the treatment assembly,

an analytical assembly comprising instrumentation for analysis of analytes of interest,

sensor means in the analytical assembly for sensing concentration of the analyte in the sample, and

means to receive analysis and assay data from the analytical module to transmit the data to a cognizant agency.

2. An automated monitoring system according to claim 1, and further comprising a calibration loop for establishing a predetermined amount of standard solution.

3. An automated monitoring system according to claim 1, and further comprising:

means to provide a matrix modifier, and

a valved loop defining a volume of matrix modifier introduced into the sample chamber.

4. An automated system according to claim 1, wherein the sampling assembly is disposed in a sampling module,

the treatment assembly is disposed in a treatment module with a sample treatment cartridge and a calibration sensor, and

the analytical assembly is disposed in an analytical module.

5. An automated monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein:

the analytical and calibration assemblies are disposed in a casing separate from the monitoring well casing to provide improved environmental control, ease of maintenance and security.

6. An automated monitoring system according to claim 1, and further comprising means for stirring the ground water sample to enhance volatilization of concentration of the analyte in the sample.

7. An automatic monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein trichloroethylene is the analyte of interest, and monitoring and analysis are performed utilizing an optrode assembly and procedure.

8. An automated computer-controlled method for determining concentration of an analyte of interest in ground water, the method comprising the steps of:

collecting and transporting a ground water sample from a well casing to a preparatory treatment assembly,

performing one of (a) passing said water sample through filtering media in a treatment assembly to remove the analyte of interest, (b) supplying water having no analyte therein from an external source,

passing water from an external source to a calibration assembly for addition of a calibration standard,

passing the water sample with the calibration standard therein to the analytical module for analysis,

analyzing one of (a) the sample, (b) the standard, by instrumentation appropriate for the analyte of interest, and recording analysis results,

transporting fluids from said analytical assembly to disposal means, and

relaying analysis data from the analytical assembly to a communication system for transmission to a cognizant agency.

9. A method according to claim 8, and further comprising:

introducing calibration standards into a standard container and transporting the standard by a sample vessel.

10. A method according to claim 8, and further comprising the step of:

calibrating said instrumentation for analysis by providing a predetermined amount of standard solution via a calibration loop and passing it into the sample chamber.

11. A method according to claim 10, and further comprising:

passing the sample from a well casing to a calibration system to prepare blanks or standards for addition of the standard directly for use in the analytical assembly.

12. A method according to claim 8, and further comprising the steps of:

introducing the sample in a sample vessel until a lower sensor is satisfied, and

adding water to the sample vessel from a water treatment cartridge until an upper water level sensor in the sample vessel is satisfied to provide a predetermined dilution.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein the analyte of interest is trichloroethylene and said instrumentation for analysis comprises an optrode assembly.