Systems and methods for measuring a parameter of a landfill including a barrier cap and wireless sensor systems and methods

• US 20050207848A1
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Original Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Inventors: Johnson, James T., Svoboda, John M., Kunerth, Dennis C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,187,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/129.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/083 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/30 Testing of optical devices, constituted by fibre optics or optical waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/00 Investigating the elasticity of structures, e.g. deflection of bridges or air-craft wings G01M9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure

Abstract

A method of measuring a parameter of a landfill including a cap, without passing wires through the cap, includes burying a sensor apparatus in the landfill prior to closing the landfill with the cap; providing a reader capable of communicating with the sensor apparatus via radio frequency (RF); placing an antenna above the barrier, spaced apart from the sensor apparatus; coupling the antenna to the reader either before or after placing the antenna above the barrier; providing power to the sensor apparatus, via the antenna, by generating a field using the reader; accumulating and storing power in the sensor apparatus; sensing a parameter of the landfill using the sensor apparatus while using power; and transmitting the sensed parameter to the reader via a wireless response signal. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill is also provided.

Claims

1. A method of measuring a parameter of a landfill including a cap, without passing wires through the cap, the method comprising:

burying a sensor apparatus in the landfill prior to closing the landfill with the cap;

providing a reader capable of communicating with the sensor apparatus via radio frequency;

placing an antenna above the barrier, spaced apart from the sensor apparatus;

coupling the antenna to the reader either before or after placing the antenna above the barrier;

providing power to the sensor apparatus, via the antenna, by generating a field using the reader;

accumulating and storing power in the sensor apparatus;

sensing a parameter of the landfill using the sensor apparatus while using power; and

transmitting the sensed parameter to the reader via a wireless response signal.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sensor apparatus includes a plurality of sensors.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sensor apparatus includes a capacitor and wherein accumulating and storing power comprises storing power in the capacitor.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sensor apparatus comprises a processor, a radio frequency detector coupled to the processor, a radio frequency transmitter coupled to the processor, and a plurality of sensors coupled to the processor.

5. A method of measuring a parameter of a landfill including a cap, without passing wires through the cap, the method comprising:

burying a sensor apparatus in the landfill prior to closing the landfill with the cap, the sensor apparatus including a processor, a radio frequency detector coupled to the processor, a radio frequency transmitter coupled to the processor, and a sensor coupled to the processor;

providing a reader capable of communicating with the sensor apparatus via short range telemetry communication;

placing an antenna above the barrier, spaced apart from the sensor apparatus;

coupling the antenna to the reader either before or after placing the antenna above the barrier;

providing power to the sensor apparatus, via the antenna, by generating a field using the reader;

accumulating and storing power in the sensor apparatus from the field;

sensing a parameter of the landfill using the sensor apparatus while using power; and

transmitting the sensed parameter to the reader via a wireless response signal

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 and comprising sensing subsurface moisture using the sensor apparatus.

7. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the processor has an active state and a sleep state, and wherein, in response to power being provided from the antenna, the processor switches to the active state.

8. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the processor has an active state and a sleep state, wherein the sensor apparatus includes a capacitor, wherein accumulating and storing power comprises storing power in the capacitor, and wherein, after transmitting the sensed parameter, the processor switches to the sleep state and the capacitor accumulates energy for use in subsequent sensing.

9. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the processor has an active state and a sleep state, wherein the sensor apparatus includes a capacitor, wherein accumulating and storing power comprises storing power in the capacitor other than when sensing, and wherein, after transmitting the sensed parameter, the processor switches to the sleep state and the capacitor accumulates energy for use in subsequent sensing.

10. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein sensing a parameter comprises sensing temperature.

11. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein sensing a parameter comprises sensing pressure.

12. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein sensing a parameter comprises sensing contamination.

13. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein sensing a parameter comprises sensing radiation.

14. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein sensing a parameter comprises sensing water potential.

15. A method in accordance with claim 5 and comprising burying a sensor apparatus below the cap and burying another sensor apparatus above the cap, and wherein water flux through the cap is determined using the two sensor apparatus.

16. A method in accordance with claim 5 and comprising burying a sensor apparatus below the cap and burying another sensor apparatus above the cap, and wherein providing power comprises providing power to both sensor apparatus at the same time.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the sensor apparatus are generally lined up one on top of the other.

18. A method in accordance with claim 16 and comprising addressing one sensor apparatus, using the reader, while power is being provided to both sensor apparatus.

19. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the sensor apparatus are each arranged to be located under the antenna.

20. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the sensor is an analog sensor, and wherein the processor includes an on-board analog-to-digital converter coupled to the analog sensor.

21. A method in accordance with claim 7 and further comprising causing the sensor apparatus to revert to the sleep state in response to the transmitting to the reader.

22. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the reader sends a command to the sensor apparatus at a frequency of between about 125 kHz to 134 kHz.

23. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the reader is stationary.

24. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the reader is mobile.

25. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill including a cap, without passing wires through the cap, the system comprising:

a sensor apparatus configured to be buried in the landfill under the cap;

a reader capable of communicating with the sensor apparatus via radio frequency; and

an antenna configured to be placed above the barrier, spaced apart from the sensor apparatus and to be coupled to the reader either before or after placing the antenna above the barrier, the reader being configured to provide power to the sensor apparatus, via the antenna, by generating a field, the sensor apparatus being configured to accumulate and store power from the field, the sensor apparatus being configured to sense a parameter of the landfill while using power, and the sensor apparatus being configured to transmit the sensed parameter to the reader via a wireless response signal.

26. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein the sensor apparatus includes a plurality of sensors.

27. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein the sensor apparatus includes a capacitor and wherein the sensor apparatus is configured to accumulate and store power in the capacitor.

28. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein the sensor apparatus comprises a processor, a radio frequency detector coupled to the processor, a radio frequency transmitter coupled to the processor, and a plurality of sensors coupled to the processor.

29. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill including a cap, without passing wires through the cap, the system comprising:

a sensor apparatus configured to be buried in the landfill under the cap, the sensor apparatus including a processor, a radio frequency detector coupled to the processor, a radio frequency transmitter coupled to the processor, and a sensor coupled to the processor;

a reader capable of communicating with the sensor apparatus via radio frequency; and

an antenna configured to be placed above the barrier, spaced apart from the sensor apparatus and to be coupled to the reader either before or after placing the antenna above the barrier, the reader being configured to provide power to the sensor apparatus, via the antenna, by generating a field, the sensor apparatus being configured to accumulate and store power from the field, the sensor apparatus being configured to sense a parameter of the landfill while using power, and the sensor apparatus being configured to transmit the sensed parameter to the reader via a wireless response signal.

30. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 29 wherein the sensor is a sensor configured to sense subsurface moisture.

31. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 29 wherein the processor has an active state and a sleep state, and wherein, in response to power being provided from the antenna, the processor switches to the active state.

32. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 29 wherein the processor has an active state and a sleep state, wherein the sensor apparatus includes a capacitor configured to accumulate and store power and wherein, after transmitting the sensed parameter, the processor switches to the sleep state and the capacitor accumulates energy for use in subsequent sensing.

33. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 29 wherein the processor has an active state and a sleep state, wherein the sensor apparatus includes a capacitor configured to accumulate and store power and wherein, after transmitting the sensed parameter, the processor switches to the sleep state and the capacitor accumulates energy for use in subsequent sensing.

34. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 29 wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

35. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 29 wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

36. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 29 wherein the sensor is configured to sense contamination by a predetermined contaminant.

37. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 29 wherein the sensor is a radiation sensor.

38. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 29 wherein the sensor is a water potential sensor.

39. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 29 and comprising a sensor apparatus below the cap, a sensor apparatus above the cap, and wherein water flux through the cap is determined using the two sensor apparatus.

40. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 29 and comprising a sensor apparatus below the cap, a sensor apparatus above the cap, and wherein power is selectively provided to both sensor apparatus at the same time.

41. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 40 wherein the sensor apparatus are generally lined up one on top of the other.

42. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 40 wherein the reader selectively addresses one sensor apparatus while power is being provided to both sensor apparatus.

43. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 40 wherein the sensor apparatus are each arranged to be located under the antenna.

44. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 29 wherein the sensor is an analog sensor, and wherein the processor includes an on-board A/D converter coupled to the analog sensor.

45. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 31 wherein the sensor apparatus is configured to switch to the sleep state in response to transmitting to the reader.

46. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 29 wherein the reader is configured to selectively send a command to the sensor apparatus at a frequency of between about 125 kHz to 134 kHz.

47. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 29 wherein the reader is stationary and includes a modem.

48. A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill in accordance with claim 29 wherein the reader is mobile.