METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REMOTE MONITORING OF FLUID QUALITY AND TREATMENT

• US 20100204924A1
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hach Company (Veralto Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hach Company (Veralto Corp.)
• Inventors: Scholpp, Charles, WOLFE, Thomas D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,958,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/25
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas

Abstract

The present invention provides a remote monitoring system for monitoring the operation of a fluid treatment system and/or the qualities, characteristics, properties, etc., of the fluid being processed or treated by the fluid treatment system. The system includes a remote computer that may be associated with a database that accesses data transmitted from the fluid treatment system with the data collected, acquired, etc., from one or more sensors placed in the fluid treatment system for measuring fluid quality and/or equipment operation in a fluid treatment system. The remote computer may then analyze or manipulate the data to generate an analysis result or analysis report that may be sent or communicated along with the data and/or any historical or expected information or data to a remote viewing device for viewing by a user. A method is further provided for the operation of the remote monitoring system of the present invention.

Claims

1. A remote monitoring system, comprising:

a remote computer for monitoring the fluid treatment system, the remote computer disposed at a first distant location from the fluid treatment system; and

an analyzer for manipulating data from the fluid treatment system being monitored by the remote computer, the analyzer disposed at a second distant location from the fluid treatment system; and

wherein the remote computer receives the data from one or more sensors placed in the fluid treatment system,

wherein the data is transmitted from the fluid treatment system to the remote computer using a mode of transmission, and

wherein the remote computer uses the analyzer to manipulate the data and generate an output.

2. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the fluid treatment system comprises a fluid treatment core facility, wherein the fluid treatment core facility is a fluid treatment facility for the distribution of potable drinking water to the public.

3. The remote monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the fluid treatment system further comprises a distribution system.

4. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the fluid treatment system comprises a fluid treatment core facility, wherein the fluid treatment core facility is a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).

5. The remote monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the fluid treatment system further comprises a collection system.

6. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said first and second distant locations are co-located.

7. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the remote computer is only connected or linked to the fluid treatment system via the mode of transmission.

8. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the remote computer comprises at least one of the following:

a computer, an Internet or web server, a database, or an ftp server.

9. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors detect or measure one or more of the following:

fluid temperature, chemical composition including total organic carbon (TOC), fluid quantity, flow rate, waste products, contaminants, conductivity, pH, pressure, turbidity, permeate flow, chlorine or fluorine concentrations, tank levels, or equipment status or operation.

10. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the mode of transmission is via one or more of the following:

the Internet, TCP/IP, Ethernet, file transfer protocol (ftp), email, such as SMTP, cellular phone network, radios or remote terminal units (RTU) coupled to radio frequency transmitters, satellite transmission, existing telephone or communication networks or wiring, a standard Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a wireless network, a wide area network (WAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), local area network (LAN), or metropolitan area network (MAN), a cable internet connection, short message system (SMS), or a dial-up modem.

11. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the data is transmitted from the fluid treatment system to the remote computer continuously, in real time, at periodic or selected intervals, on condition, or on demand by a user using the mode of transmission.

12. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the data is transmitted directly from the one or more sensors to the remote computer using the mode of transmission.

13. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the analyzer comprises a source code or a software program.

14. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the analyzer compares the data to expected or historical data or information.

15. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the analyzer manipulates the data continuously, in real time, at periodic or selected intervals, on condition, or on demand by a user.

16. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the output comprises one or more of the following:

data, alarm, analysis result, or analysis report.

17. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the fluid treatment system includes an electronic control system.

18. The remote monitoring system of claim 17, wherein the electronic control system is a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) or a Progammable Logic Controller (PLC).

19. The remote monitoring system of claim 17, wherein the data is transmitted from the electronic control system to the remote computer using the mode of transmission.

20. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a remote viewing device, wherein the output is downloaded or viewed by the remote viewing device.

21. The remote monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the remote viewing device is one or more of the following:

personal computer or terminal, web or Internet server, file transfer protocol (ftp) server, cell phone, pager, or handheld device.

22. The remote monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the output is sent or uploaded to the remote viewing device using a mode of communication.

23. The remote monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the output is sent or uploaded to the remote viewing device continuously, in real time, at periodic or selected intervals, on condition, or on demand by a user using the mode of communication.

24. The remote monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the mode of communication is one or more of the following:

Internet, facsimile, file transfer protocol (ftp), voice or text messaging, text to voice messages, electronic mail, pager, human voice calling, SMS messages, instant messaging or groupware protocols, public switched telephone network, cellular network, wireless or satellite communication, or radio communication.

25. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a database associated with the remote computer for storing the data.

26. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a local computer located at or near the fluid treatment system.

27. The remote monitoring system of claim 26, wherein the data is transmitted from the local computer to the remote computer using the mode of transmission.

28. A method for monitoring a fluid treatment system comprising the following steps:

a. providing a remote computer for monitoring the fluid treatment system, the remote computer disposed at a first distant location from the fluid treatment system the remote monitoring system having an analyzer;

b. transmitting data collected from one or more sensors in a fluid treatment system to the remote computer; and

c. generating an output based on the data, wherein the data is transmitted from the fluid treatment system to the remote computer using a mode of transmission, and wherein the remote computer uses the analyzer to generate the output.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the fluid treatment system comprises a fluid treatment core facility, wherein the fluid treatment core facility is a fluid treatment facility for the distribution of potable drinking water to the public.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the fluid treatment system further comprises a distribution system.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the fluid treatment system comprises a fluid treatment core facility, wherein the fluid treatment core facility is a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the fluid treatment system further comprises a collection system.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the remote computer is physically separated from the fluid treatment system at a distant location.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the remote computer is only connected or linked to the fluid treatment system via the mode of transmission.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein the remote computer comprises at least one of the following:

a computer, an Internet or web server, a database, or an ftp server.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more sensors detect or measure one or more of the following:

fluid temperature, chemical composition including total organic carbon (TOC), fluid quantity, flow rate, waste products, contaminants, conductivity, pH, pressure, turbidity, permeate flow, chlorine or fluorine concentrations, tank levels, or equipment status or operation.

37. The method of claim 28, wherein the mode of transmission is via one or more of the following:

the Internet, TCP/IP, Ethernet, file transfer protocol (ftp), email, such as SMTP, cellular phone network, radios or remote terminal units (RTU) coupled to radio frequency transmitters, satellite transmission, existing telephone or communication networks or wiring, a standard Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a wireless network, a wide area network (WAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), local area network (LAN), or metropolitan area network (MAN), a cable internet connection, short message system (SMS), or a dial-up modem.

38. The method of claim 28, wherein the data is transmitted from the fluid treatment system to the remote computer continuously, in real time, at periodic or selected intervals, on condition, or on demand by a user using the mode of transmission.

39. The method of claim 28, wherein the data is transmitted directly from the one or more sensors to the remote computer using the mode of transmission.

40. The method of claim 28, wherein the analyzer comprises a source code or a software program.

41. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of (d) comparing the data by the analyzer on the remote computer, wherein step (d) is performed prior to step (c).

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the analyzer compares the data to expected or historical data or information.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the analyzer compares the data continuously, in real time, at periodic or selected intervals, on condition, or on demand by a user.

44. The method of claim 28, wherein the output comprises one or more of the following:

data, alarm, analysis result, or analysis report.

45. The method of claim 28, wherein the fluid treatment system includes an electronic control system.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the electronic control system is a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) or a Progammable Logic Controller (PLC).

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the data is transmitted from the electronic control system to the remote computer using the mode of transmission.

48. The method of claim 28, wherein the data is transmitted from a local computer to the remote computer using the mode of transmission, wherein the local computer is located at or near the fluid treatment system.

49. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of (e) communicating the output to a remote viewing device using a mode of communication, wherein step (e) is performed after step (c).

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the remote viewing device is one or more of the following:

personal computer or terminal, web or Internet server, file transfer protocol (ftp) server, cell phone, pager, or handheld device.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the output is downloaded or viewed using the remote viewing device.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the output is sent or uploaded to the remote viewing device continuously, in real time, at periodic or selected intervals, on condition, or on demand by a user using the mode of communication.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein the mode of communication is one or more of the following:

Internet, facsimile, file transfer protocol (ftp), voice or text messaging, text to voice messages, electronic mail, pager, human voice calling, SMS messages, instant messaging or groupware protocols, public switched telephone network, cellular network, wireless or satellite communication, or radio communication.

54. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of (f) storing the data on a database associated with the remote computer.