Portable gas monitor

• US 8,168,121 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elkins Earthworks, LLC
• Original Assignee: Elkins Earthworks, LLC
• Inventors: Elkins, Charles D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sasaki, Shogo
• Application Number:
  US11/634,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20080127726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,974 Days
• Field of Search: 422/83, 422/94, 702/2, 702/6, 702/23, 702/24, 700/266, 4051291-12995, 731/520.1, 731/521.8, 731/524.2
• US Class Current: 422/83
• 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. A handheld portable monitor for periodic well field testing of landfill wells and for measuring one or more properties of fluid flowing in the landfill wells, said handheld portable monitor including a connector that enables at least a portion of said handheld portable monitor to be removably connected to the landfill well, said handheld portable monitor including a sensor arrangement to obtain and measure one or more properties of a fluid flowing in the landfill well, said handheld portable monitor including a heating element to heat one or more components of said sensor arrangement of said handheld portable monitor, said properties of said fluid flowing in the landfill well including a property selected from the group consisting of well pressure and well fluid composition, said handheld portable monitor includes a handheld portable control unit and a separate handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable control unit monitors and controls one or more functions of said handheld portable measuring unit, said sensor arrangement of said handheld portable monitor is at least partially positioned in said handheld portable measuring unit, said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable measuring unit including one or more pressure sensors, a fluid coupling device, and one or more chemical analyzers, said fluid coupling device enables fluid flow from the landfill well to said one or more chemical analyzers, said one or more pressure sensors, or combinations thereof, said handheld portable measuring unit is able to simultaneously detect three or more pressures from the landfill well by said one or more pressure sensors, said pressures including an applied vacuum on said landfill well, a differential vacuum on said landfill well, and an available vacuum, said handheld portable measuring unit including three of said pressure sensors.

2. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 1, wherein said heating element is manually activated by a switch, automatically activated by a temperature sensor, or combinations thereof.

3. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable monitor includes three pressure sensors, each of said pressure sensors designed to measure a pressure to enable said handheld portable monitor to measure three or more fluid pressures from the landfill well.

4. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 1, wherein said handheld portable control unit and said handheld portable measuring unit wirelessly communicate with one another.

5. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 1, wherein said handheld portable control unit is a tablet PC, a palm PC, a PDA, or a smartphone device.

6. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable measuring unit includes a microprocessor and a plurality of said chemical analyzers to measure the presence and concentration of three or more gases selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide, said microprocessor receiving data from said chemical analyzers and is configured to process such data to provide information on said presence and concentration of said three or more gasses.

7. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 1, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes G.P.S. software and hardware for obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for said landfill well to be tested or that has been tested.

8. A handheld portable landfill gas monitor for periodic well field testing of landfill wells, said handheld portable landfill gas monitor comprising a handheld portable control unit and a handheld portable measuring unit, said portable control unit including an arrangement to wirelessly monitor and control one or more functions of said handheld portable measuring unit from a location remote from said handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable measuring unit including a connector to enable said handheld portable measuring device to be removably connected to the landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit including a sensor arrangement to obtain and measure one or more properties of a gas flowing in the landfill well, said properties of said gas flowing in the landfill well including a property selected from the group consisting of well pressure and well gas composition, said sensor arrangement including a microprocessor, one or more pressure sensors and a plurality of chemical analyzers, said plurality of chemical analyzers designed to measure the presence and concentration of three or more gases in a landfill gas selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide, said microprocessor receiving data from said chemical analyzers and is configured to process such data to provide information on said presence and concentration of said three or more gasses, said handheld portable measuring unit obtaining information for a LEL measurement of said landfill gas, said microprocessor of said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable landfill gas monitor receives information and is configured to process such information and provides a LEL value for one or more components in said landfill gas based at least partially on said LEL measurement.

10. The handheld portable landfill gas monitor as defined in claim 8, wherein said handheld portable measuring unit includes a heating element to heat one or more internal components of said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable measuring unit.

11. The handheld portable landfill gas monitor as defined in claim 8, wherein said handheld portable control unit is a tablet PC, a palm PC, a PDA, or a smartphone device.

12. The handheld portable landfill gas monitor as defined in claim 8, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes G.P.S. software and hardware for obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for said landfill well to be tested or that has been tested.

9. A handheld portable landfill gas monitor for periodic well field testing of landfill wells, said handheld portable landfill gas monitor comprising a handheld portable control unit and a handheld portable measuring unit, said portable control unit including an arrangement to wirelessly monitor and control one or more functions of said handheld portable measuring unit from a location remote from said handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable measuring unit including a connector to enable said handheld portable measuring device to be removably connected to the landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit including a sensor arrangement to obtain and measure one or more properties of a gas flowing in the landfill well, said properties of said gas flowing in the landfill well including a property selected from the group consisting of well pressure and well gas composition, said sensor arrangement including a microprocessor, one or more pressure sensors and a plurality of chemical analyzers, said plurality of chemical analyzers designed to measure the presence and concentration of three or more gases in a landfill gas selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide, said microprocessor receiving data from said chemical analyzers and is configured to process such data to provide information on said presence and concentration of said three or more gasses, said handheld portable measuring unit is able to simultaneously detect three or more pressures from the landfill well by said one or more pressure sensors, said pressures including an applied vacuum on said landfill well, a differential vacuum on said landfill well, and an available vacuum, said handheld portable measuring unit including three of said pressure sensors.

13. A handheld portable landfill gas monitor for periodic well field testing of landfill wells, said handheld portable landfill gas monitor comprising a handheld portable control unit and a handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable control unit including an arrangement to wirelessly monitor and control one or more functions of said handheld portable measuring unit from a location remote from said handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable measuring unit including a connector that enables at least a portion of said handheld portable measuring unit to be removably connected to the landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit including a sensor arrangement to obtain and measure one or more properties of a gas flowing in the landfill well, said properties of said gas flowing in the landfill well including a property selected from the group consisting of well pressure and well gas composition, said sensor arrangement including a microprocessor, one or more pressure sensors, a plurality of chemical analyzers, and a fluid coupling device, said plurality of chemical analyzers measure the presence and concentration of three or more gases in a landfill gas selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide, said microprocessor receiving data from said chemical analyzers and is configured to process such data to provide information on said presence and concentration of said three or more gasses, said fluid coupling device is detachably connected to the landfill well, said fluid coupling device enables gas flow from the landfill well to one or more components selected from the group consisting of said chemical analyzers and said pressure measurement component, said portable control unit includes a tablet PC, a palm PC, a PDA, or a smartphone device, said handheld portable measuring unit is able to simultaneously detect three or more pressures from the landfill well by said one or more pressure sensors, said pressures including an applied vacuum on said landfill well, a differential vacuum on said landfill well, and an available vacuum, said handheld portable measuring unit including three of said pressure sensors.

14. The handheld portable landfill gas monitor as defined in claim 13, wherein said handheld portable measuring unit includes a plurality of heating elements to heat a plurality of components of said sensor arrangement of said handheld portable measuring unit.

15. The handheld portable landfill gas monitor as defined in claim 14, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes G.P.S. software and hardware for obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for said landfill well to be tested or that has been tested.

16. A handheld portable landfill gas monitor for periodic well field testing of landfill wells, said handheld portable landfill gas monitor comprising a handheld portable control unit and a handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable control unit including an arrangement to wirelessly monitor and control one or more functions of said handheld portable measuring unit from a location remote from said handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable measuring unit including a connector that enables at least a portion of said handheld portable measuring unit to be removably connected to the landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit including a sensor arrangement to obtain and measure one or more properties of a gas flowing in the landfill well, said properties of said gas flowing in the landfill well including a property selected from the group consisting of well pressure and well gas composition, said sensor arrangement including a microprocessor, one or more pressure sensors, a plurality of chemical analyzers, and a fluid coupling device, said plurality of chemical analyzers measure the presence and concentration of three or more gases in a landfill gas selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide, said microprocessor receiving data from said chemical analyzers and is configured to process such data to provide information on said presence and concentration of said three or more gasses, said fluid coupling device is detachably connected to the landfill well, said fluid coupling device enables gas flow from the landfill well to one or more components selected from the group consisting of said chemical analyzers and said pressure measurement component, said portable control unit includes a tablet PC, a palm PC, a PDA, or a smartphone device, said measuring unit obtains information for a LEL measurement of said landfill gas, said measuring uniting including a transmission to transmit data to said handheld portable landfill gas monitor, said microprocessor of said sensor arrangement receives information from said measuring unit and is configured to process such information and provides a LEL value for one or more components in said landfill gas based at least partially on said LEL measurement.

17. A handheld portable landfill gas monitor for periodic well field testing of landfill wells, said handheld portable landfill gas monitor comprising a handheld portable control unit and a handheld portable measuring unit that can be carried by a tester to the landfill well for testing the landfill well, said handheld portable control unit including an arrangement to wirelessly monitor and control one or more functions of said handheld portable measuring unit from a location remote from said handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable measuring unit including a connector that enables at least a portion of said handheld portable monitor to be removably connected to the landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit including a sensor arrangement to obtain and measure one or more properties of a gas flowing in the landfill well, said properties of said gas flowing in the landfill well including a property selected from the group consisting of well pressure and well gas composition, said sensor arrangement including a microprocessor, one or more pressure sensors, a plurality of chemical analyzers, and a plurality of fluid coupling devices, said plurality of chemical analyzers measure the presence and concentration of more than three gases in a landfill gas, three of said gases that can be measured by said chemical analyzers are carbon dioxide, methane and oxygen, one or more other additional gases are selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide, said microprocessor receiving data from said chemical analyzers and is configured to process such data to provide information on said presence and concentration of said gasses, said plurality of fluid coupling devices detachably connected to the landfill well, said plurality of fluid coupling devices enable gas flow from the landfill well to one or more components selected from the group consisting of said chemical analyzers and said one or more pressure sensors, said portable measuring unit including an arrangement to wirelessly transmit data to said handheld portable control unit regarding chemical analysis by one or more components selected from the group consisting of said plurality of chemical analyzers and said one or more pressure sensors, said handheld portable control unit having a weight of less than about 5 lbs and a volume that is less than about 100 cubic inches, said handheld portable control unit being a handheld device selected from the group consisting of a tablet PC, a palm PC, a PDA and a smartphone 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 landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit and handheld portable control unit having a combined weight of less than about 20 lbs and a combined volume of less than about 500 cubic inches, said handheld portable measuring unit obtains information for a LEL measurement of said landfill gas, said measuring uniting including a transmission to transmit data to said handheld portable landfill gas monitor, said microprocessor of said sensor arrangement receives information from said measuring unit and is configured to process such information and provides a LEL value for one or more components in said landfill gas based at least partially on said LEL measurement.

19. The handheld portable landfill gas monitor as defined in claim 17, wherein said handheld portable measuring unit includes a heating element to heat one or more components of said sensor arrangement of said handheld portable measuring unit, said heating element configured and positioned relative to said sensor arrangement to maintain said one or more components of said sensor arrangement of said portable measuring unit at a temperature of above 30°

F.

21. The handheld portable landfill gas monitor as defined in claim 17, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes G.P.S. software and hardware for obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for said landfill well to be tested or that has been tested.

24. The handheld portable landfill gas monitor as defined in claim 17, including a single carrying device to portably pack both said handheld portable control unit and said handheld portable measuring unit, said single carrying device selected from the group consisting of a backpack and a brief case.

18. A handheld portable landfill gas monitor for periodic well field testing of landfill wells, said handheld portable landfill gas monitor comprising a handheld portable control unit and a handheld portable measuring unit that can be carried by a tester to the landfill well for testing the landfill well, said handheld portable control unit including an arrangement to wirelessly monitor and control one or more functions of said handheld portable measuring unit from a location remote from said handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable measuring unit including a connector that enables at least a portion of said handheld portable monitor to be removably connected to the landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit including a sensor arrangement o obtain and measure one or more properties of a gas flowing in the landfill well, said properties of said gas flowing in the landfill well including a property selected from the group consisting of well pressure and well gas composition, said sensor arrangement including a microprocessor, one or more pressure sensors, a plurality of chemical analyzers, and a plurality of fluid coupling devices, said plurality of chemical analyzers measure the presence and concentration of more than three gases in a landfill gas, three of said gases that can be measured by said chemical analyzers are carbon dioxide, methane and oxygen, one or more other additional gases are selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide, said microprocessor receiving data from said chemical analyzers and is configured to process such data to provide information on said presence and concentration of said gasses, said plurality of fluid coupling devices detachably connected to the landfill well, said plurality of fluid coupling devices enable gas flow from the landfill well to one or more components selected from the group consisting of said chemical analyzers and said one or more pressure sensors, said portable measuring unit including an arrangement to wirelessly transmit data to said handheld portable control unit regarding chemical analysis by one or more components selected from the group consisting of said plurality of chemical analyzers and said one or more pressure sensors, said handheld portable control unit having a weight of less than about 5 lbs and a volume that is less than about 100 cubic inches, said handheld portable control unit being a handheld device selected from the group consisting of a tablet PC, a palm PC, a PDA and a smartphone 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 landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit and handheld portable control unit having a combined weight of less than about 20 lbs and a combined volume of less than about 500 cubic inches, said handheld portable measuring unit is able to simultaneously detect three or more pressures from the landfill well by said one or more pressure sensors, said pressures including an applied vacuum on said landfill well, a differential vacuum on said landfill well, and an available vacuum, said handheld portable measuring unit including three of said pressure sensors.

20. The handheld portable landfill gas monitor as defined in claim 18, wherein said handheld portable measuring unit includes a heating element to heat one or more components of said sensor arrangement of said handheld portable measuring unit, said heating element configured and positioned relative to said sensor arrangement to maintain said one or more components of said sensor arrangement of said portable measuring unit at a temperature of above 30°

F.

22. The handheld portable landfill gas monitor as defined in claim 20, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes G.P.S. software and hardware for obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for said landfill well to be tested or that has been tested.

23. The portable landfill gas monitor as defined in claim 22, wherein said handheld portable measuring unit obtains information for a LEL measurement of said landfill gas, said measuring uniting including a transmission to transmit data to said handheld portable landfill gas monitor, said microprocessor of said sensor arrangement receives information from said measuring unit and is configured to process such information and provides a LEL value for one or more components in said landfill gas based at least partially on said LEL measurement.

25. The handheld portable landfill gas monitor as defined in claim 23, including a single carrying device to portably pack both said handheld portable control unit and said handheld portable measuring unit, said single carrying device selected from the group consisting of a backpack and a brief case.