On-line Monitoring Equipment Research Articles

Research on Producing Low-power Low-voltage DC Power Supply with High-voltage Power Bus

The online monitoring equipment installed on the high-voltage power bus is supported by reliable and stable DC power, which cannot be obtained from industrial low-voltage AC power or chemical battery. This paper presents a circuit based on the principle of electromagnetic induction to obtain low-voltage low-power DC power supply from high voltage power bus. The circuit consists of energy-acquired coil, the rectifier and regulator circuit, and the shunt coils. This power supply can work with small current in the bus, also it can output stable DC voltage in the case of large current in the bus by starting shunt coil. The experimental data indicates that the output voltage of the power supply are 3.3V and 5V, the output power is greater than 120 mW and the bus starting current is less than 5A, all these can suffice for the online monitoring equipment.

The Design of Vibration Monitoring System Based on PC104 Bus

In practical production, to guarantee the high quality vibration equipment safe operation, abnormal vibration problems of vibration equipment must be detected early. The paper studies the abnormal vibration equipment vibration monitoring technology. It uses PC 104 communication bus in vibration equipment operation condition monitoring on the basis of research vibrating structure of fatigue crack detection technology, and develops the corresponding vibration equipment on-line monitoring system and off-line test system, for maintenance guiding, prevent accidents, prolonging life provides technical support.

Design of on-line river water quality monitoring systems using the entropy theory: a case study

The design of a water quality monitoring network is considered as the main component of water quality management including selection of the water quality variables, location of sampling stations and determination of sampling frequencies. In this study, an entropy-based approach is presented for design of an on-line water quality monitoring network for the Karoon River, which is the largest and the most important river in Iran. In the proposed algorithm of design, the number and location of sampling sites and sampling frequencies are determined by minimizing the redundant information, which is quantified using the entropy theory. A water quality simulation model is also used to generate the time series of the concentration of water quality variables at some potential sites along the river. As several water quality variables are usually considered in the design of water quality monitoring networks, the pair-wise comparison is used to combine the spatial and temporal frequencies calculated for each water quality variable. After selecting the sampling frequencies, different components of a comprehensive monitoring system such as data acquisition, transmission and processing are designed for the study area, and technical characteristics of the on-line and off-line monitoring equipment are presented. Finally, the assessment for the human resources needs, as well as training and quality assurance programs are presented considering the existing resources in the study area. The results show that the proposed approach can be effectively used for the optimal design of the river monitoring systems.

Real‐time detection of intentional chemical contamination in the distribution system

The first casualties after an intentional contamination event are currently identified by physicians or other health care providers because the onset of symptoms occurs well after exposure. One approach to mitigating this potential disaster includes online monitoring of drinking water distribution systems. Four credible‐threat drinking water contaminants (aldicarb, sodium arsenate, sodium cyanide, and sodium fluoroacetate) were added to tap water and analyzed at different concentrations to determine their detectability in a distribution system. Bench‐top analysis and online monitoring equipment were used to measure pH, chlorine residual, turbidity, and total organic carbon values before and after introduction of these contaminants. Results indicate that all four contaminants can be detected at relatively low concentrations. Three of the four contaminants were detected below a concentration that would cause significant health effects.

Haemodialysis with on-line monitoring equipment: tools or toys?

On-line monitoring of chemical/physical signals during haemodialysis (HD) and bio-feedback represents the first step towards a 'physiological' HD system incorporating adaptive and logic controls in order to achieve pre-set treatment targets. Discussions took place to achieve a consensus on key points relating to on-line monitoring and bio-feedback, focusing on the clinical applications. The relative blood volume (BV) reduction during HD can be monitored by optic devices detecting the variations in concentration of haemoglobin/haematocrit. BV changes result from an equilibrium between ultrafiltration and the refilling capacity. However, BV reduction has little power in predicting intra-HD hypotensive episodes, while the combination of the patient-dialysate sodium gradient, the relative BV reduction between the 20th and 40th minute of HD, the irregularity of the profile of BV reduction over time and the heart rate decrease from the start to the 20th minute of HD predict intra-HD hypotension with a sensitivity of 82%, a specificity of 73% and an accuracy of 80%. A bio-feedback system drives the relative BV reduction according to desired values by instantaneously changing the ultrafiltration rate and the dialysate conductivity. This system has proved to reduce the incidence of intra-HD hypotension episodes significantly. Ionic dialysance and the patient's plasma conductivity can be calculated easily from on-line inlet and outlet dialysate conductivity measurements at two different steps of dialysate conductivity. Ionic dialysance is equivalent to urea clearance corrected for recirculation and is a tool for continuously monitoring the dialysis efficiency and detecting early problems with the delivery of the prescribed dose of dialysis. Given the strict and linear relationship between conductivity and sodium content, the conductivity values replace the sodium concentration values and this permits the development of a conductivity kinetic model, by means of which sodium balance can be achieved at each dialysis session. The conductivity kinetic model has been demonstrated to improve intra-HD cardiovascular stability in hypotension-prone patients significantly. Ionic dialysance is also a useful tool to monitor vascular access function, as it can be used to obtain serial measurements of vascular access blood flow. On-line urea monitors provide detailed information on intra-HD urea kinetics and delivered dialysis dose, but they are not in widespread use because of the costs related to the disposable materials (e.g. urease cartridge). The body temperature monitor measures the blood temperature at the arterial and venous lines of the extra-corporeal circuit and, thanks to a bio-feedback system, is able to modulate the dialysate temperature in order to influence the patient's core body temperature, which can be kept at constant values. This is associated with improved intra-HD cardiovascular stability. The module can also be used to quantify total recirculation. On-line monitoring devices and bio-feedback systems have evolved from toys for research use to tools for routine clinical application, particularly in patients with clinical complications. Conductivity monitoring appears the most versatile tool, as it permits quantification of delivered dialysis dose, achievement of sodium balance and surveillance of vascular access function, potentially at each dialysis session and without extra cost.

ON-LINE ACQUISITION OF PLANT RELATED AND ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS (PLANT MONITORING) IN GERBERA: DETERMINING PLANT RESPONSES

For on-line plant monitoring equipment to be functional in commercial glasshouse horticulture, relations between sensor readings and plant responses on both the short (days) and long term (weeks) are required. For this reason, systems were installed to monitor rockwool grown gerbera plants on a minute-to-minute basis from July 2002 until April 2003. Data collected included, amongst others, crop transpiration from lysimeter data (2 m2), canopy temperature using infrared sensors, rockwool water content, and greenhouse climatic parameters, such as global radiation and temperature. By combining data from lysimeter and water content, changes in crop fresh weight could be calculated on a daily basis. Both transpiration and daily fresh weight production were better related to light integral as measured inside the greenhouse, than outside the greenhouse. The contribution of heating pipes underneath the canopy to transpiration could be estimated with the system. From the relation between daily FW production and previous day light integral, a light use efficiency of ca. 10-g FW/MJ solar radiation as measured inside the greenhouse was calculated. Water use efficiency was on average 25 g FW/L. A 3-4 day drying cycle did not affect flower production. The results underline the importance of knowledge on the adaptation and tolerance of crops to stressful conditions, in order to be able to use plant monitoring under grower conditions effectively.

On-line monitoring equipment for wastewater treatment processes: state of the art

A (non-exhaustive) survey of new and existing technologies for the monitoring of wastewater treatment plants is presented. Emphasis is given to the way these sensors can provide insight in the ongoing (bio-) processes. Three different uses for sensors can be found: for monitoring (operator support), in automatic control systems and as tools for plant auditing/optimization/modelling by consultants. From this, sensors have been classified in two basic types: (i) reliable, simple and low maintenance sensors for day-to-day monitoring and control and (ii) advanced, higher maintenance sensors that are used in auditing, model calibration and optimisation. The paper is organized according to the typical unit processes of biological wastewater treatment systems: anaerobic digestion, activated sludge, nutrient removal and sedimentation. Attention is drawn to a number of practical problems associated with the use of sophisticated sensors in the harsh (dirty) conditions of wastewater treatment processes. The use of autocalibration and built-in sensor checks, cleaning systems and reliable sample preparation units is illustrated. The paper ends with a discussion of the applicability of the different sensors.

Development of an emissions inventory model for mobile sources

Traffic represents one of the largest sources of primary air pollutants in urban areas. As a consequence, numerous abatement strategies are being pursued to decrease the ambient concentrations of a wide range of pollutants. A mutual characteristic of most of these strategies is a requirement for accurate data on both the quantity and spatial distribution of emissions to air in the form of an atmospheric emissions inventory database. In the case of traffic pollution, such an inventory must be compiled using activity statistics and emission factors for a wide range of vehicle types. The majority of inventories are compiled using ‘passive’ data from either surveys or transportation models and by their very nature tend to be out-of-date by the time they are compiled. Current trends are towards integrating urban traffic control systems and assessments of the environmental effects of motor vehicles. In this paper, a methodology for estimating emissions from mobile sources using real-time data is described. This methodology is used to calculate emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO 2), oxides of nitrogen (NO x ), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOC), particulate matter less than 10 μm aerodynamic diameter (PM 10), 1,3-butadiene (C 4H 6) and benzene (C 6H 6) at a test junction in Dublin. Traffic data, which are required on a street-by-street basis, is obtained from induction loops and closed circuit televisions (CCTV) as well as statistical data. The observed traffic data are compared to simulated data from a travel demand model. As a test case, an emissions inventory is compiled for a heavily trafficked signalized junction in an urban environment using the measured data. In order that the model may be validated, the predicted emissions are employed in a dispersion model along with local meteorological conditions and site geometry. The resultant pollutant concentrations are compared to average ambient kerbside conditions measured simultaneously with on-line air quality monitoring equipment.

Monitoring the physiological status in bioprocesses on the cellular level.

The trend in bioprocess monitoring and control is towards strategies which are based on the physiological status of the organism in the bioprocess. This requires that the measured process variables should be biologically meaningful in order to apply them in physiologically based control strategies. The on-line monitoring equipment available today mostly derives information on the physiological status indirectly, from external variables outside the cells. The complementary approach reviewed here is to analyse the microbial cells directly, in order to obtain information on the internal variables inside the cells. This overview covers methods for analysis of whole cells (as a population or as a single cell), for groups of cellular components, and for specific compounds which serve as markers for a certain physiological status. Physico-chemical separation methods (chromatography, electrophoresis) and reactive analysis can be used to analyse elemental and macromolecular composition of cells. Spectroscopic methods (mass, dielectric, nuclear magnetic, infrared, and Raman) have only recently been applied to such complex multicomponent mixtures such as microbial cells. Spectroscopy and chemical separation methods produce large amounts of data, which can often be used in the best way by applying chemometrics. Some of the methods can yield information not just on the average of the microbial cell population, but also on the distribution of sub-populations. The suitability of the methods for on-line coupling to the bioprocess is discussed. Others not suitable for on-line coupling can be established in routine off-line analysis procedures. The information gained by the methods discussed can mainly be used to establish better knowledge of the basis for monitoring and control strategies. Some are also applicable in real-time monitoring and control.

Infrared detection of transformer insulation degradation due to accelerated thermal aging

Regular monitoring of the paper insulation of electrical windings is necessary to ensure safe and reliable operation of oil-paper insulated electrical transformers. The degradation of the paper insulation due to thermal aging yields furanic derivatives which are specific to the paper and cannot be produced by general oxidation of the oil. The concentration of such furan compounds in the oil gives an accurate indication of the condition of the paper insulation. Normally, off-line methods such as HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) are applied to periodically assess the furan concentration within oil samples which have been extracted from the transformer. We report experimental findings on the production of the furan compound FFA (furfuraldehyde) in an oil-paper system subject to accelerated thermal aging. Our approach is based on IR spectroscopy. This technique could lay the basis for the construction of direct online monitoring equipment suitable for monitoring of transformer winding insulation.

Effective data validation of high-frequency data: Time-point-, time-interval-, and trend-based methods

Real-time systems for monitoring and therapy planning, which receive their data from on-line monitoring equipment and computer-based patient records, require reliable data. Data validation has to utilize and combine a set of fast methods to detect, eliminate, and repair faulty data, which may lead to life-threatening conclusions. The strength of data validation results from the combination of numerical and knowledge-based methods applied to both continuously-assessed high-frequency data and discontinuously-assessed data. Dealing with high-frequency data, examining single measurements is not sufficient. It is essential to take into account the behavior of parameters over time. We present time-point-, time-interval-, and trend-based methods for validation and repair. These are complemented by time-independent methods for determining an overall reliability of measurements. The data validation benefits from the temporal data-abstraction process, which provides automatically derived qualitative values and patterns. The temporal abstraction is oriented on a context-sensitive and expectation-guided principle. Additional knowledge derived from domain experts forms an essential part for all of these methods. The methods are applied in the field of artificial ventilation of newborn infants. Examples from the real-time monitoring and therapy-planning system VIE-VENT illustrate the usefulness and effectiveness of the methods.

Simultaneous Biokinetic Characterization of Heterotrophic and Nitrifying Populations of Activated Sludge with an On-Line Respirographic Biosensor

The more stringent requirements imposed on wastewater treatment systems result in an increasing demand for on-line monitoring equipment for these processes. The paper presents the modification of a fully operational respirographic biosensor to allow simultaneous and on-line biokinetic characterization of both BOD-removal and nitrification capacities of activated sludge. For this characterization, advantage is taken of the calibration measurements that are performed regularly (every 2-3 h) during normal operation of this biosensor. The injection of a well chosen calibration mixture of readily biodegradable BOD and ammonia to a small activated sludge filled bioreactor results in oxygen uptake rate profiles that are interpreted in the framework of a mathematical model that describes the combined oxygen consumption for BOD removal and nitrification. Model identification gives rise to biokinetic parameters (max. conversion rates and affinity constants) that are indicative of the different metabolic capacities of the activated sludge. It is shown that this information can be used to assess the effect of injected wastewater samples on the sludge condition, e.g. adaptation or inhibition, and allows one to follow the change in relative abundance of heterotrophic and nitrifying populations. Special attention is paid to the proper composition of the calibration solution. Especially the ratio between NOD and BOD is found to be critical. With the aid of simulation, sub-optimal experimental designs are proposed that allow reliable estimation of the biokinetic parameters. Finally, validation of the proposed design is given with experimental data.

Automated chromatography in research — a link between laboratory and process analysis

The purpose of pilot plants is to collect data at minimal cost. The analyses required must be cost-effective, fast, flexible and constantly available. Neither central analytical laboratories nor peocess analyzers are suitable for the purpose. The polarization of laboratory analysis and process analysis is discussed and ad-hoc instrumental systems for pilot plants are described. The on-line monitoring equipment is constructed from commercially available instruments or parts for continuous use attended by the plant operator or laboratory staff responsible for optimizing the process. These on-line methods (mainly chromatographic) are based on proven methods of laboratory analysis. Used equipment can be returned to the research laboratory. The recommended mode of action has the advantage that analytical experience is gained as the pilot develops and is ultimately used for the production plant.