REMOTE REMEDIATION MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20070162245A1
• Filed: 01/11/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Simons, Richard, Costea, Emil
• Granted Patent: US 7,414,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/100
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/70 by removing radon
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0256 injecting test signals and analyzing monitored process response, e.g. injecting the test signal while interrupting the normal operation of the monitored system; superimposing the test signal onto a control signal during normal operation of the monitored system

Abstract

Systems and methods for remotely testing the operational status of a remediation system installed within a building or structure are disclosed. An illustrative remote monitoring system can include a sensor adapted to sense at least one characteristic of the remediation system, an interface in communication with the sensor, a gateway in communication with the interface, and a remote computer located away from the building or structure. The interface can be configured to convert sensor signals received from the sensor into an output signal having a format or platform supported by the gateway. The remote computer can include an interface that can be used by a servicing agent to transmit and receive signals to and from the gateway for monitoring and testing the operation of the remediation system.

Claims

1. A remote monitoring system for remotely testing a remediation system installed within a building or structure, the remote monitoring system comprising:

a sensor adapted to sense at least one characteristic of the remediation system;

an interface in communication with the sensor;

a gateway in communication with the interface; and

a remote computer located away from the building or structure, the remote computer adapted to transmit and receive signals to and from the gateway for monitoring the remediation system.

2. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is a pressure or flow sensor.

3. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said at least one characteristic is airflow.

4. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said at least one characteristic is pressure.

5. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the interface is adapted to convert sensor signals received from the sensor into a format or platform supported by the gateway.

6. The remote monitoring system of claim 5, wherein said format or platform is an ENVIRACOM platform.

7. The remote monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the remote computer includes a graphical user interface for sending test signals to the remediation system and analyzing the output signals from the interface in communication with said sensor.

8. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the gateway is connected to the remote computer via the Internet.

9. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the interface and gateway comprise a single component.

10. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the interface and gateway comprise separate components.

11. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said remediation system is a vapor intrusion remediation system.

12. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said remediation system is a water remediation system.

13. A remote monitoring system for remotely testing at least one remediation system installed within a building or structure, each remediation system including a ventilation fan and an exhaust conduit, the remote monitoring system comprising:

a sensor adapted to sense the presence of airflow within the exhaust conduit;

an interface in communication with the sensor and a switching means for operating the ventilation fan between an on and off position, the interface adapted to convert sensor signals received from the sensor into an output signal; and

a gateway in communication with the interface, the gateway adapted to transmit said output signal to a remote computer located away from the building or structure;

wherein the remote computer includes a means for sending test signals to actuate the ventilation fan between said on and off positions and a means for analyzing the output signals received from the sensor.

14. A method of remotely testing at least one remediation system installed within a building or structure, each remediation system including a ventilation fan or pump, an exhaust conduit in communication with the ventilation fan or pump, and at least one sensor adapted to sense the presence of fluid flow within the exhaust conduit, the method comprising the steps of:

shutting down the ventilation fan or pump for a period of time;

sensing the presence of fluid flow through the exhaust conduit during the period of time that the ventilation fan or pump has been shut-down; and

transmitting a test report back to a remote computer located away from the building or structure.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a gateway and an interface in communication with the ventilation fan or pump and the at least one sensor, the interface adapted to convert sensor signals received from the sensor into output signals having a format or platform supported by the gateway.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of shutting down the ventilation fan or pump is accomplished automatically via a self-test mode of the gateway unit.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of sensing the presence of fluid flow through the exhaust conduit is accomplished using a pressure or flow sensor.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of causing the ventilation fan or pump to shut-down is accomplished via a relay switch connected to the ventilation fan or pump.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a test signal to the ventilation fan or pump causing the fan or pump to turn-on; and

measuring the response time required to bring the remediation system back to a fully operational or equilibrium state.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of analyzing the test report and dispatching a servicing agent to the building or structure if maintenance is required.