SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING NORMAL LEVELS OF BACTERIA IN WATER USING A MULTIPLE ANGLE LIGHT SCATTERING (MALS) INSTRUMENT
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring normal levels of bacteria in liquid, the system comprising:
- an optical axis;
a target zone, the optical axis intersecting the target zone;
at least one light source configured to generate a light beam and direct the light beam through the target zone;
an optic lens system configured to collect light scattered by a particle associated with the bacteria in the liquid medium in the target zone and direct the scattered light to at least one detector, the detector configured to detect the light and generate a digital signal; and
a computer system coupled with the detector, the computer system configured to execute a set of programmed instructions to identify and classify the particle and generate an alarm, the instructions causing the computer system to;
extract events from the digital signal,calculate the similarity between the extracted event and a known event,classify the event based on the similarity,calculate a plurality of count rates for the classification type,store the plurality of count rates,calculate a trend in the stored plurality of count rates, andgenerate an alarm if the trend is undesirable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A particle detection system to identify and classify particles is programmed to capture digitized images of the particle generated by directing a light source through a fluid that includes the particle. The particle scatters the light and the scattered light is detected using a detector. The detector creates a digital signal corresponding to the particle, which is used by the system to generate Bio-Optical Signature. This Bio-Optical Signature can then be used to classify the event, or particle. Count rate and trends of the classified particles are monitored to detect a change that is representative of the overall health safety of the water or by knowing the levels of bacteria in process water, such as Reverse Osmosis (RO) feed water, reject brine, and product water, the operator may better monitor the life and condition of the RO membrane.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring normal levels of bacteria in liquid, the system comprising:
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an optical axis; a target zone, the optical axis intersecting the target zone; at least one light source configured to generate a light beam and direct the light beam through the target zone; an optic lens system configured to collect light scattered by a particle associated with the bacteria in the liquid medium in the target zone and direct the scattered light to at least one detector, the detector configured to detect the light and generate a digital signal; and a computer system coupled with the detector, the computer system configured to execute a set of programmed instructions to identify and classify the particle and generate an alarm, the instructions causing the computer system to; extract events from the digital signal, calculate the similarity between the extracted event and a known event, classify the event based on the similarity, calculate a plurality of count rates for the classification type, store the plurality of count rates, calculate a trend in the stored plurality of count rates, and generate an alarm if the trend is undesirable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. In a system comprising a multi-angle light scattering device, a detector configured to detect scattered light generated by the multi-angle light scattering device and to generate a digital signal, and a computer system coupled with the detector, a method of monitoring liquid for normal micro-organism levels comprising;
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monitoring the liquid with the multi-angle light scattering device; in the computer, classifying detected particles; in the computer, generating a plurality of count rates for classes of particles associated with target micro-organisms; in the computer, generating a trend analysis for the target micro-organisms based on the count rates; and in the computer, generating an alarm if the trend analysis indicates an undesirable change in the normal count rate for the target micro-organism. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification