PORTABLE GAS MONITOR

• US 20100192683A1
• Filed: 04/13/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elkins Earthworks, LLC
• Original Assignee: Elkins Earthworks, LLC
• Inventors: Elkins, Charles D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,163,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/152.18
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 1/00 Dumping solid waste
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/10 Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements

Abstract

A portable monitor used to measure landfill gas and landfill well parameters. The portable monitor includes a control unit and a measuring unit that can communication wirelessly with one another. The control unit and/or measuring unit can includes a heating arrangement to increase the temperature of one or more components in the control unit and/or measuring unit in cold environments.

Claims

1. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of monitoring a landfill well comprising:

a. providing a portable monitor, said portable monitor including a portable control unit and a portable measuring unit, said portable measuring unit including at least one heating element designed to heat at least one internal component of said portable measuring unit, said portable control unit designed to monitor and control at least one function of said portable measuring unit, said portable measuring unit including at least one pressure measurement component and at least one chemical analyzer;

b. detachably connecting said portable measuring unit to a plurality of ports on said well;

c. monitoring and controlling at least one function of said portable measuring unit from a remote location by said portable control unit, and;

d. disconnecting and removing said portable measuring unit from said well after testing of said well is completed.

22. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein said portable control unit and said portable measuring unit wirelessly communicate with one another.

23. The method defined in claim 21, including the step of measuring the presence and concentration of at least three gases, at least three of said gases are selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and combinations thereof.

24. The method defined in claim 22, including the step of measuring the presence and concentration of at least three gases, at least three of said gases are selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and combinations thereof.

25. The method as defined in claim 21, including the step of simultaneously detecting at least three pressures from a well, said pressures including static well pressure, available well pressure, and applied well pressure.

26. The method as defined in claim 24, including the step of simultaneously detecting at least three pressures from a well, said pressures including static well pressure, available well pressure, and applied well pressure.

27. The method as defined in claim 21, including the step of obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for the well.

28. The method as defined in claim 26, including the step of obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for the well.

29. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein said portable control unit is a handheld device selected from the group consisting of a tablet PC, a palm PC, a PDA and a blackberry device.

30. The method as defined in claim 28, wherein said portable control unit is a handheld device selected from the group consisting of a tablet PC, a palm PC, a PDA and a blackberry device.

31. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein said portable measuring unit has a size, shape and weight that enables a user to easily and conveniently carry said portable measuring unit to the well, said portable measuring unit having a weight of less than about 20 lbs and a volume that is less than about 500 cubic inches.

32. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein said portable measuring unit has a size, shape and weight that enables a user to easily and conveniently carry said portable measuring unit to the well, said portable measuring unit having a weight of less than about 20 lbs and a volume that is less than about 500 cubic inches.

33. A method of monitoring a plurality of landfill wells comprising:

a. providing a portable monitor, said portable monitor including a portable control unit and a portable measuring unit, said portable control unit having a weight of less than about 5 lbs and a volume that is less than about 100 cubic inches, said portable control unit being a handheld device selected from the group consisting of a tablet PC, a palm PC, a PDA and a blackberry device, said portable measuring unit having a size, shape and weight that enables a user to easily and conveniently carry said portable measuring unit to the well, said portable measuring unit having a weight of less than about 20 lbs and a volume that is less than about 500 cubic inches, said portable measuring unit including at least one pressure measurement component, a plurality of chemical analyzers, and a plurality of fluid coupling devices, said fluid coupling devices designed to enable flow fluid from said landfill well to at least one of said chemical analyzers, said at least one pressure measurement component, and combinations thereof;

b. detachably connecting said portable measuring unit to a plurality of ports on a first landfill well, said step of detachably connecting includes detachably connecting said fluid coupling devices to different locations on said first landfill well;

c. wirelessly monitoring and controlling by said portable control unit at least one function of said portable measuring unit from a location remote from said portable measuring unit, said plurality of chemical analyzers in said portable measuring unit designed to measure the presence and concentration of at least three gases in a landfill gas, at least three of said gases that can be measured by said chemical analyzers are selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and combinations thereof;

d. wirelessly transmitting data from said portable measuring unit to said portable control unit regarding chemical analysis by said plurality of chemical analyzers, said at least one pressure measurement component, and combinations thereof;

e. detaching said portable measuring unit from said plurality of ports on a first landfill well after testing of said first landfill well is completed;

f. detachably connecting said portable measuring unit to a plurality of ports on a second landfill well, said step of detachably connecting includes detachably connecting said fluid coupling devices to different locations on said second landfill well, said second landfill well remotely positioned from said first landfill well; and

,

g. repeating steps c-e for said second land fill well.

34. The method as defined in claim 33, including the step of simultaneously detecting at least three pressures from a well, said pressures including static well pressure, available well pressure, and applied well pressure.

35. The method as defined in claim 33, including the step of heating at least component of said portable measuring unit while said portable measuring unit is detachably connected to said landfill well and is testing said landfill well, said step of heating maintaining said at least component of said portable measuring unit at a temperature of above 30°

F.

36. The method as defined in claim 34, including the step of heating at least component of said portable measuring unit while said portable measuring unit is detachably connected to said landfill well and is testing said landfill well, said step of heating maintaining said at least component of said portable measuring unit at a temperature of above 30°

F.

37. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein said portable control unit, said portable measuring unit, or combinations thereof obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for said landfill well prior to testing, during testing, after testing, and combinations thereof of said landfill well.

38. The method as defined in claim 36, wherein said portable control unit, said portable measuring unit, or combinations thereof obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for said landfill well prior to testing, during testing, after testing, and combinations thereof of said landfill well.

39. The method as defined in claim 36, including the step of obtaining information for a LEL measurement of said landfill gas.

40. The method as defined in claim 36, including the step of packing said portable control unit and said portable measuring unit into a single carrying device selected from the group consisting of a backpack and a brief case.