Portable gas monitor

• US 9,592,543 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2012
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elkins Earthworks, LLC
• Original Assignee: Elkins Earthworks, LLC
• Inventors: Elkins, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Sasaki, Shogo
• Application Number:
  US13/567,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20120297868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 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: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 1/00 Dumping solid waste
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/07 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/08 Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/0875 determining specific fluid parameters
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 7/00 Methods or devices for drawing- off gases with or without subsequent use of the gas for any purpose
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 9/007 by detecting gases or particles representative of underground layers at or near the surface analysing earth materials G01N33/24; analysing gases per se G01N

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 communicate wirelessly with one another. The control unit and/or measuring unit can include 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 configured for periodic well field testing to enable a user to test a plurality of different landfill wells one at a time and configured for measuring a plurality of properties of fluid flowing in each of the tested landfill wells, said handheld portable monitor configured to enable the user to easily and conveniently carry said handheld portable monitor to a testing site of the landfill well to be tested, said handheld portable monitor having a total weight of less than 20 pounds and a total volume of less than 500 cubic inches, said handheld portable monitor including a plurality of connectors that enable at least a portion of said handheld portable monitor to be removably connected to the landfill well to be tested and then disconnected from the tested landfill well and then later connected to another landfill well to be tested, said handheld portable monitor including a sensor arrangement to obtain and to measure said plurality of properties of said fluid flowing in the tested landfill well, said sensor arrangement including at least one pressure sensor and at least one chemical analyzer, said handheld portable monitor including a heating system to heat at least one component of said sensor arrangement of said handheld portable monitor selected from the group consisting of said at least one pressure sensor and said at least one chemical analyzer, said plurality of properties of said fluid flowing in the tested landfill well to be measured including two or more properties selected from the group consisting of well pressure, well temperature, LEL, UEL, well fluid composition, and composition ratio, said heating system including a microprocessor, a thermocouple and a heating element, said microprocessor activating said heating element when said microprocessor obtains information from said thermocouple that a temperature detected by said thermocouple is at or below a predefined low level temperature, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes G.P.S. software and hardware for obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for the tested landfill well.

2. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor deactivates said heating element when said microprocessor obtains information from said thermocouple that a temperature detected by said thermocouple is at or above a predefined high level temperature.

3. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 1, wherein said heating system includes at least three of said thermocouples, said microprocessor activating said heating element when said microprocessor obtains information from a majority of said thermocouples that a temperature detected by said majority of said thermocouples is at or below a predefined low level temperature.

4. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 3, wherein said microprocessor deactivates said heating element when said microprocessor obtains information from said majority of said thermocouples that a temperature detected by a majority of said thermocouples is at or above a predefined high level temperature.

5. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 1, wherein said handheld portable monitor consists only of two separate units selected from the group consisting of a handheld portable control unit and a handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable control unit monitors and controls one or more functions of said handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable measuring unit configured to be removably connected to the tested landfill well during testing of the tested landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit including a measuring unit housing, said measuring unit housing at least partially containing said at least one pressure sensor and said at least one chemical analyzer, said measuring unit housing including said plurality of connectors, said handheld portable control unit configured to be physically disconnected from the landfill well during testing of the landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit having a weight of less than 10 pounds and has a volume of less than 300 cubic inches, said handheld portable control unit having a weight of less than 5 pounds and has a volume of less than 100 cubic inches, said handheld portable measuring unit including said at least one pressure sensor, said handheld portable control unit absent said at least one pressure sensor.

6. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 1, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a RFID detection system or a barcode scanning system.

7. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 5, wherein said handheld portable measuring unit includes a processor that processes information to generate one or more results from the processed information which results are selected from the group consisting of LEL of fluid, UEL of fluid, concentration ratio of methane to carbon dioxide, and concentration ratio of balance gas to oxygen.

8. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 2, wherein said handheld portable monitor consists only of two separate units selected from the group consisting of a handheld portable control unit and a handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable control unit monitors and controls one or more functions of said handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable measuring unit configured to be removably connected to the tested landfill well during testing of the tested landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit including a measuring unit housing, said measuring unit housing at least partially containing said at least one pressure sensor and said at least one chemical analyzer, said measuring unit housing including said plurality of connectors, said handheld portable control unit configured to be physically disconnected from the landfill well during testing of the landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit having a weight of less than 10 pounds and has a volume of less than 300 cubic inches, said handheld portable control unit having a weight of less than 5 pounds and has a volume of less than 100 cubic inches, said handheld portable measuring unit including said at least one pressure sensor, said handheld portable control unit absent said at least one pressure sensor.

9. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 4, wherein said handheld portable monitor consists only of two separate units selected from the group consisting of a handheld portable control unit and a handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable control unit monitors and controls one or more functions of said handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable measuring unit configured to be removably connected to the tested landfill well during testing of the tested landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit including a measuring unit housing, said measuring unit housing at least partially containing said at least one pressure sensor and said at least one chemical analyzer, said measuring unit housing including said plurality of connectors, said handheld portable control unit configured to be physically disconnected from the landfill well during testing of the landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit having a weight of less than 10 pounds and has a volume of less than 300 cubic inches, said handheld portable control unit having a weight of less than 5 pounds and has a volume of less than 100 cubic inches, said handheld portable measuring unit including said at least one pressure sensor, said handheld portable control unit absent said at least one pressure sensor.

10. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 8, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a G.P.S. system, a RFID detection system, barcode scanning system or combinations thereof, said G.P.S. system including G.P.S. software and hardware for obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for the tested landfill well.

11. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 9, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a G.P.S. system, a RFID detection system, barcode scanning system or combinations thereof, said G.P.S. system including G.P.S. software and hardware for obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for the tested landfill well.

12. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 7, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a G.P.S. system, a RFID detection system, barcode scanning system or combinations thereof, said G.P.S. system including G.P.S. software and hardware for obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for the tested landfill well.

13. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 10, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a G.P.S. system, a RFID detection system, barcode scanning system or combinations thereof, said G.P.S. system including G.P.S. software and hardware for obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for the tested landfill well.

14. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 11, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a G.P.S. system, a RFID detection system, barcode scanning system or combinations thereof, said G.P.S. system including G.P.S. software and hardware for obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for the tested landfill well.

15. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 12, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a G.P.S. system, a RFID detection system, barcode scanning system or combinations thereof, said G.P.S. system including G.P.S. software and hardware for obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for the tested landfill well.

16. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 13, wherein said handheld portable measuring unit includes a processor that processes information to generate one or more results from the processed information which results are selected from the group consisting of LEL of fluid, UEL of fluid, concentration ratio of methane to carbon dioxide, and concentration ratio of balance gas to oxygen.

17. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 14, wherein said handheld portable measuring unit includes a processor that processes information to generate one or more results from the processed information which results are selected from the group consisting of LEL of fluid, UEL of fluid, concentration ratio of methane to carbon dioxide, and concentration ratio of balance gas to oxygen.

18. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 16, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a RFID detection system or a barcode scanning system.

19. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 17, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a RFID detection system or a barcode scanning system.

20. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 15, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a RFID detection system or a barcode scanning system.

21. A handheld portable monitor configured for periodic well field testing to enable a user to test a plurality of different landfill wells one at a time and configured for measuring a plurality of properties of fluid flowing in each of the tested landfill wells, said handheld portable monitor configured to enable a the user to easily and conveniently carry said handheld portable monitor to a testing site of the landfill well to be tested, said handheld portable monitor having a total weight of less than 20 pounds and a total volume of less than 500 cubic inches, said handheld portable monitor including a plurality of connectors that enable at least a portion of said handheld portable monitor to be removably connected to the landfill well to be tested and then disconnected from the tested landfill well and then later connected to another landfill well to be tested, said handheld portable monitor including a sensor arrangement to obtain and to measure said plurality of properties of said fluid flowing in the tested landfill well, said sensor arrangement including at least one pressure sensor and at least one chemical analyzer, said plurality of properties of said fluid flowing in the tested landfill well to be measured including two or more properties selected from the group consisting of well pressure, well temperature, LEL, UEL, well fluid composition, and composition ratio, said handheld portable monitor includes G.P.S. software and hardware for obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for the tested landfill well to be tested or that has been tested, said handheld portable monitor includes a processor that processes information to generate one or more results from the processed information which results are selected from the group consisting of LEL of fluid, UEL of fluid, concentration ratio of methane to carbon dioxide, and concentration ratio of balance gas to oxygen, a microprocessor of said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable monitor configured to receive information and is configured to process such information and to generate one or more types of information that is selected from the group consisting of said LEL of fluid, said UEL of fluid, said concentration ratio of methane to carbon dioxide, said concentration ratio of balance gas to oxygen, and a LEL value for one or more components in said landfill gas.

22. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 21, wherein said handheld portable monitor consists only of two separate units selected from the group consisting of a handheld portable control unit and a handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable control unit monitors and controls one or more functions of said handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable measuring unit configured to be removably connected to the tested landfill well, said handheld portable control unit configured to be physically disconnected from the landfill well during testing of the landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit including a measuring unit housing, said measuring unit housing at least partially containing said at least one pressure sensor, said at least one chemical analyzer, said measuring unit housing including said plurality of connectors, said handheld portable control unit is a tablet PC, a palm PC, a PDA, or a smartphone device, said handheld portable measuring unit having a size, shape and weight that enables a the user to easily and conveniently carry said handheld portable measuring unit to the tested landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit having a weight of less than 10 pounds and has a volume of less than 300 cubic inches, said handheld portable control unit having a weight of less than 5 pounds and has a volume of less than 100 cubic inches, said handheld portable measuring unit including said at least one pressure sensor, said handheld portable control unit absent said at least one pressure sensor.

23. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 22, said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable monitor includes one or more components selected from the group consisting of three pressure sensors and three chemical analyzers, said sensor arrangement including a controller arrangement, each of said pressure sensors is configured to measure a different pressure, said controller arrangement used to control each of said pressure sensors to enable said handheld portable monitor to simultaneously measure three different fluid pressures from the tested landfill well, each of said chemical analyzers configured to measure a concentration of a component in said fluid from the tested landfill well, said chemical analyzers configured to measure a concentration of methane, carbon dioxide and oxygen in said fluid from the tested landfill well, said pressures including an applied vacuum on the tested landfill well, a differential vacuum on the tested landfill well, and an available vacuum.

24. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 22, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a heating system to heat one or more components of said sensor arrangement of said handheld portable monitor, said heating system including a microprocessor, a thermocouple and a heating element, said microprocessor activating said heating element when said microprocessor obtains information from said thermocouple that a temperature detected by said thermocouple is at or below a predefined low level temperature.

25. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 24, wherein said microprocessor deactivates said heating element when said microprocessor obtains information from said thermocouple that a temperature detected by said thermocouple is at or above a predefined high level temperature, said heating system includes at least three of said thermocouples, said microprocessor activating said heating element when said microprocessor obtains information from said majority of said thermocouples that a temperature detected by said majority of said thermocouple is at or below a predefined low level temperature.

26. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 23, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a heating system to heat one or more components of said sensor arrangement of said handheld portable monitor, said heating system including a microprocessor, a thermocouple and a heating element, said microprocessor activating said heating element when said microprocessor obtains information from said thermocouple that a temperature detected by said thermocouple is at or below a predefined low level temperature.

27. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 26, wherein said microprocessor deactivates said heating element when said microprocessor obtains information from said thermocouple that a temperature detected by said thermocouple is at or above a predefined high level temperature, said heating system includes at least three of said thermocouples, said microprocessor activating said heating element when said microprocessor obtains information from said majority of said thermocouples that a temperature detected by said majority of said thermocouples is at or below a predefined low level temperature.

28. A handheld portable monitor configured for periodic well field testing of a plurality of different landfill wells and configured for measuring a plurality of properties of fluid flowing in the tested landfill wells, said handheld portable monitor including a plurality of connectors that enable at least a portion of said handheld portable monitor to be removably connected to the landfill well to be tested and then disconnected from the tested landfill well and then later connected to another landfill well to be tested, said handheld portable monitor configured to enable a user to easily and conveniently carry said handheld portable monitor to a testing site of the landfill well to be tested, said handheld portable monitor having a total weight of less than 20 pounds and a total volume of less than 500 cubic inches, said handheld portable monitor including a sensor arrangement to obtain and to measure said plurality of properties of said fluid flowing in the tested landfill well, said sensor arrangement including at least one pressure sensor and said at least one chemical analyzer, said plurality of properties of said fluid flowing in the tested landfill well including two or more properties selected from the group consisting of well pressure, well temperature, LEL, UEL, well fluid composition, and composition ratio, said handheld portable monitor includes G.P.S. software and hardware for obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for the tested landfill well to be tested or that has been tested, said handheld portable monitor consisting only of 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 handheld portable measuring unit configured to be removably connected to the tested landfill well, said handheld portable control unit configured to be physically disconnected from the landfill well during testing of the landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit including said at least one pressure sensor, said at least one chemical analyzer, and said plurality of connectors, said handheld portable control unit is a tablet PC, a palm PC, a PDA, or a smartphone device, said handheld portable measuring unit having a size, shape and weight that enables a user to easily and conveniently carry said handheld portable measuring unit to the tested landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit having a weight of less than 10 pounds and has a volume of less than 300 cubic inches, said handheld portable control unit having a weight of less than 5 pounds and has a volume of less than 100 cubic inches, said handheld portable measuring unit including said at least one pressure sensor, said handheld portable control unit absent said at least one pressure sensor.

29. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 28, wherein said handheld portable measuring unit includes a processor that processes information to generate a plurality of results from the processed information which results are selected from the group consisting of LEL of fluid, UEL of fluid, concentration ratio of methane to carbon dioxide, and concentration ratio of balance gas to oxygen, a microprocessor of said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable measuring unit configured to receive information and is configured to process such information and to generate a plurality of information, said plurality of information includes information that is selected from the group consisting of said LEL of fluid, said UEL of fluid, said concentration ratio of methane to carbon dioxide, said concentration ratio of balance gas to oxygen, and a LEL value for one or more components in said landfill gas.

30. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 29, said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable measuring unit includes one or more components selected from the group consisting of three pressure sensors and three chemical analyzers, said sensor arrangement including a controller arrangement, each of said pressure sensors is configured to measure a different pressure, said controller arrangement used to control each of said pressure sensors to enable said handheld portable monitor to simultaneously measure three different fluid pressures from the tested landfill well, each of said chemical analyzers configured to measure a concentration of a different component in said fluid from the tested landfill well, said chemical analyzers configured to measure a concentration of methane, carbon dioxide and oxygen in said fluid from the tested landfill well, said controller arrangement used to control each of said chemical analyzers to enable said handheld portable monitor to simultaneously measure three different components in said fluid from the tested landfill well, said pressures including an applied vacuum on the tested landfill well, a differential vacuum on the tested landfill well, and an available vacuum.

31. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 30, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a heating system to heat one or more components of said sensor arrangement of said handheld portable monitor, said heating system including a microprocessor, a thermocouple and a heating element, said microprocessor activating said heating element when said microprocessor obtains information from said thermocouple that a temperature detected by said thermocouple is at or below a predefined low level temperature.

32. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 31, wherein said microprocessor deactivates said heating element when said microprocessor obtains information from said thermocouple that a temperature detected by said thermocouple is at or above a predefined high level temperature, said heating system includes at least three of said thermocouples, said microprocessor activating said heating element when said microprocessor obtains information from said majority of said thermocouples that a temperature detected by said majority of said thermocouples is at or below a predefined low level temperature.

33. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 32, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a RFID detection system or a barcode scanning system.

34. A handheld portable monitor configured for periodic well field testing to enable a user to test a plurality of different landfill wells one at a time and configured for measuring a plurality of properties of fluid flowing in each of the tested landfill wells, said handheld portable monitor configured to enable the user to easily and conveniently carry said handheld portable monitor to a testing site of the landfill well to be tested, said handheld portable monitor having a total weight of less than 20 pounds and a total volume of less than 500 cubic inches, said handheld portable monitor including a plurality of connectors that enable at least a portion of said handheld portable monitor to be removably connected to the landfill well to be tested and then disconnected from the tested landfill well and then later connected to another landfill well to be tested, said handheld portable monitor including a sensor arrangement to obtain and to measure said plurality of properties of said fluid flowing in the tested landfill well, said sensor arrangement including at least one pressure sensor and at least one chemical analyzer, said plurality of properties of said fluid flowing in the tested landfill well to be measured including two or more properties selected from the group consisting of well pressure, well temperature, LEL, UEL, well fluid composition, and composition ratio, said handheld portable monitor includes G.P.S. software and hardware for obtaining G.P.S. coordinates for the landfill well to be tested or that has been tested, said handheld portable monitor includes wireless technology to enable said handheld portable monitor to communicate with one or more systems selected from the group consisting of the internet, a mobile phone system, a network computer, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and a PDA, said handheld portable monitor includes a processor that processes information to generate one or more results from the processed information, a microprocessor of said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable monitor configured to receive information and is configured to process such information and to generate one or more types of information that is selected from the group consisting of said LEL of fluid, said UEL of fluid, said concentration ratio of methane to carbon dioxide, said concentration ratio of balance gas to oxygen, and a LEL value for one or more components in said landfill gas.

35. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 34, wherein said handheld portable monitor consists only of two separate units selected from the group consisting of a handheld portable control unit and a handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable control unit monitors and controls one or more functions of said handheld portable measuring unit, said handheld portable measuring unit configured to be removably connected to the tested landfill well, said handheld portable control unit configured to be physically disconnected from the landfill well during testing of the landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit including a measuring unit housing, said measuring unit housing at least partially containing said at least one pressure sensor and said at least one chemical analyzer, said measuring unit housing including said plurality of connectors, said handheld portable control unit is a tablet PC, a palm PC, a PDA, or a smartphone device, said handheld portable measuring unit having a size, shape and weight that enables the user to easily and conveniently carry said handheld portable measuring unit to the tested landfill well, said handheld portable measuring unit having a weight of less than 10 pounds and has a volume of less than 300 cubic inches, said handheld portable control unit having a weight of less than 5 pounds and a volume of less than 100 cubic inches.

36. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 35, wherein said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable monitor includes one or more components selected from the group consisting of a plurality of said pressure sensors and a plurality of said chemical analyzers, said sensor arrangement including a controller arrangement, each of said pressure sensors is configured to measure a different pressure, said controller arrangement used to control each of said pressure sensors to enable said handheld portable monitor to simultaneously measure different fluid pressures from the tested landfill well, each of said chemical analyzers configured to measure a concentration of a component in said fluid from the tested landfill well such that at least two different concentrations of said components in said fluid are measured, said chemical analyzers configured to measure a concentration of methane, carbon dioxide and oxygen in said fluid from the tested landfill well, said pressures including an applied vacuum on the tested landfill well, a differential vacuum on the tested landfill well, and an available vacuum.

37. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 36, wherein said handheld portable measuring unit includes a heating system to heat one or more components of said sensor arrangement of said handheld portable measuring unit, said heating system including a microprocessor, a thermocouple and a heating element, said microprocessor activating said heating element when said microprocessor obtains information from said thermocouple that a temperature detected by said thermocouple is at or below a predefined low level temperature.

38. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 35, wherein said handheld portable control unit includes a display screen and a plurality of button positioned under said display screen.

39. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 35, wherein said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable monitor includes three of said pressure sensors, said controller arrangement used to control each of said pressure sensors to enable said handheld portable monitor to simultaneously measure three different fluid pressures from the tested landfill well.

40. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 36, wherein said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable monitor includes of said three pressure sensors, said controller arrangement used to control each of said pressure sensors to enable said handheld portable monitor to simultaneously measure three different fluid pressures from the tested landfill well.

41. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 39, wherein said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable monitor includes three of said chemical analyzers, each of said chemical analyzers configured to measure a concentration of a component in said fluid from the tested landfill well such that at least three different concentrations of said components in said fluid are measured.

42. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 40, wherein said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable monitor includes three of said chemical analyzers, each of said chemical analyzers configured to measure a concentration of a component in said fluid from the tested landfill well such that at least three different concentrations of said components in said fluid are measured.

43. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 34, wherein said handheld portable measuring unit includes a processor that processes information to generate a plurality of results from the processed information, said results are selected from the group consisting of LEL of fluid, UEL of fluid, concentration ratio of methane to carbon dioxide, and concentration ratio of balance gas to oxygen, a microprocessor of said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable measuring unit configured to receive information and is configured to process such information and to generate a plurality of information, said plurality of information includes information that is selected from the group consisting of said LEL of fluid, said UEL of fluid, said concentration ratio of methane to carbon dioxide, said concentration ratio of balance gas to oxygen, and a LEL value for one or more components in said landfill gas.

44. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 35, wherein said handheld portable measuring unit includes a processor that processes information to generate a plurality of results from the processed information, said results are selected from the group consisting of LEL of fluid, UEL of fluid, concentration ratio of methane to carbon dioxide, and concentration ratio of balance gas to oxygen, a microprocessor of said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable measuring unit configured to receive information and is configured to process such information and to generate a plurality of information, said plurality of information includes information that is selected from the group consisting of said LEL of fluid, said UEL of fluid, said concentration ratio of methane to carbon dioxide, said concentration ratio of balance gas to oxygen, and a LEL value for one or more components in said landfill gas.

45. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 36, wherein said handheld portable measuring unit includes a processor that processes information to generate a plurality of results from the processed information, said results are selected from the group consisting of LEL of fluid, UEL of fluid, concentration ratio of methane to carbon dioxide, and concentration ratio of balance gas to oxygen, a microprocessor of said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable measuring unit configured to receive information and is configured to process such information and to generate a plurality of information, said plurality of information includes information that is selected from the group consisting of said LEL of fluid, said UEL of fluid, said concentration ratio of methane to carbon dioxide, said concentration ratio of balance gas to oxygen, and a LEL value for one or more components in said landfill gas.

46. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 34, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a RFID detection system or a barcode scanning system.

47. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 35, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a RFID detection system or a barcode scanning system.

48. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 36, wherein said handheld portable monitor includes a RFID detection system or a barcode scanning system.

49. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 34, wherein said handheld portable control unit includes a display screen and a plurality of buttons positioned under said display screen.

50. The handheld portable monitor as defined in claim 36, wherein said handheld portable control unit includes a display screen and a plurality of buttons positioned under said display screen.

51. A handheld portable monitor designed for periodic well field testing to enable a user to test a plurality of different landfill wells one at a time and for measuring a plurality of properties of fluid flowing in each of the tested landfill wells, said handheld portable monitor including a plurality of connectors that enable at least a portion of said handheld portable monitor to be removably connected to the landfill well to be tested and then disconnected from the tested landfill well and then later connected to another landfill well to be tested, said handheld portable monitor including a sensor arrangement to obtain and to measure said plurality of properties of said fluid flowing in the tested landfill well, said sensor arrangement including at least one pressure sensor and at least one chemical analyzer, said handheld portable monitor including a heating system to heat at least one component of said sensor arrangement of said handheld portable monitor selected from the group consisting of said at least one pressure sensor and said at least one chemical analyzer, said plurality of properties of said fluid flowing in the tested landfill well to be measured including two or more properties selected from the group consisting of well pressure, well temperature, LEL, UEL, well fluid composition, and composition ratio, said heating system including a microprocessor, a thermocouple and a heating element, said microprocessor activating said heating element when said microprocessor obtains information from said thermocouple that a temperature detected by said thermocouple is at or below a predefined low level temperature, said sensor arrangement in said handheld portable monitor includes a controller arrangement, three pressure sensors and three chemical analyzers, and each of said pressure sensors is designed to measure a different pressure, said controller arrangement used to control each of said pressure sensors to enable said handheld portable monitor to simultaneously measure three different fluid pressures from the tested landfill well, each of said chemical analyzers designed to measure a concentration of a component in said fluid from the tested landfill well, said chemical analyzers designed to measure a concentration of methane, carbon dioxide and oxygen in said fluid from the tested landfill well, said pressures including an applied vacuum on the tested landfill well, a differential vacuum on the tested landfill well, and an available vacuum.