Remote water quality monitoring systems and techniques
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- monitoring water associated with at least one of a water source, water purification facility, water distribution facility, or water treatment facility;
operating a number of monitoring units remotely positioned with respect to one another to at least partially perform the monitoring, the units each including several different types of sensors to detect correspondingly different characteristics of the water, a processing subsystem and a two-way communication subsystem;
for each of the units, processing signals corresponding to the different characteristics with the processing subsystem;
for one of the units, detecting an abnormal condition by executing diagnostic logic; and
communicating the abnormal condition to a host with the two-way communication subsystem for the one of the units.
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Abstract
One embodiment involves a method for monitoring water associated with at least one of a water purification, distribution, or treatment facility. The method includes operating a number of monitoring units remotely positioned with respect to one another to at least partially perform the monitoring, the units each including several different types of sensors to detect correspondingly different characteristics of the water, a processing subsystem, and a two-way communication subsystem. For each of the units, the method includes processing signals corresponding to the different characteristics with the processing subsystem. Additionally, for one of the units, the method includes detecting an abnormal condition by executing diagnostic logic and communicating the abnormal condition to a host with the two-way communication subsystem for the one of the units.
112 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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monitoring water associated with at least one of a water source, water purification facility, water distribution facility, or water treatment facility;
operating a number of monitoring units remotely positioned with respect to one another to at least partially perform the monitoring, the units each including several different types of sensors to detect correspondingly different characteristics of the water, a processing subsystem and a two-way communication subsystem;
for each of the units, processing signals corresponding to the different characteristics with the processing subsystem;
for one of the units, detecting an abnormal condition by executing diagnostic logic; and
communicating the abnormal condition to a host with the two-way communication subsystem for the one of the units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method, comprising:
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monitoring water associated with at least one of a water source, water purification facility, water distribution facility, or water treatment facility;
operating a number of monitoring units remotely positioned with respect to one another to at least partially perform the monitoring, the units each including several sensors, a processing subsystem, and a communication subsystem;
with at least one of the units;
sensing pH, oxidation reduction potential, chlorine content, and radiation content of the water with the sensors and providing corresponding sensor signals;
determining an abnormal condition of the water as a function of the sensor signals with the processing subsystem; and
communicating the abnormal condition to another device with the communication subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A system for monitoring a water network comprising:
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a number of monitoring units positioned at different locations in the network, the monitoring units each including sensors to detect chlorine content, a pH level, oxidation reduction potential, and radiation content of water in the water network, a processing subsystem and a two-way communication subsystem; and
a host computer having a processor and memory;
wherein each of the units is operable to;
process signals from the sensors with the processing subsystem;
detect an abnormal condition by executing diagnostic logic, wherein the diagnostic logic compares data relationships between the processed signals corresponding to at least two different characteristics; and
communicate the abnormal condition to the host computer with the two-way communication subsystem.
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20. A device for detecting radiation in a supply of water comprising:
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a first radiation detector inside a conduit for contact with the water;
a second radiation detector outside the conduit for establishing a baseline radiation level for reference; and
a processor for processing signals from the first and second radiation detectors to determine the level of radiation in the water. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method, comprising:
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monitoring water associated with at least one of a water source, water purification facility, water distribution facility, or water treatment facility;
operating a number of monitoring units remotely positioned with respect to one another to at least partially perform the monitoring, the units each including one or more sensing devices to detect correspondingly different characteristics of the water and a local data processor;
the local data processor receiving data representing the characteristics from the sensing devices;
the local data processor analyzing the data; and
the local data processor communicating the data via a two-way communication system to a central computing system. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A device for detecting radiation in water flowing through a conduit, comprising:
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a first radiation detector positioned inside the conduit and contained in a housing that extends inwardly from a wall defining the conduit;
a second radiation detector outside the conduit for determining ambient radiation levels; and
a processor for processing signals from the first and second radiation detectors to determine the level of radiation in the water. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification