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com) Kyungsue Han, Walter Johnson, Jiwoon Kim, Francesca Little, Pol Perov, Natalia Perova, James Porter Suffolk University: Boston, MA 02114 (wjohnson@suffolk.edu)
Objective
Our goal was to develop and test a wireless methane detection system for monitoring of methane production in landfills and septic systems. Nitrogen in septic systems is a problem on Cape Cod because the majority of sewage is handled by septic systems. We were interested in measuring methane levels produced by septic systems to determine if sufficient quantities were available for capture and reuse in the system to remove nitrogen.
Schematic of system
sensor is connected to an amplifier board which then transfers the signal to a radio frequency mote for transmission to the base computer in a nearby building. box that supplies poser to the sensor and amplifier circuit. The layout is shown in the diagram.
System Description
Sensor and Amplifier
The sensor head has a range of 0 to
RF Crossbow Mote
The microcomputer /RF transmitter
5% methane and constitutes half of a Wheatstone bridge circuit. The output voltage is about 10mV per % methane. part of the amplifier board which amplifies the differential signal by 10 or 100 times (gain controlled by a switch). The output goes to an input of the analog to digital converter board MDA300 which is attached to the Crossbow mote MICA2.
(mote) sends data at 433 MHz to a base computer located in an office about 50m away.
low-power mode in which it sleeps most of the time (low power) and awakes every 5 minutes for 30 seconds to take measurements and send data. It can run several months on two 1.5 V AA batteries. the mote battery voltage, humidity, and temperature inside the mote box.
fixed to the top of the battery box to maintain the +6V and the -6V needed by the electronics. In full sun, each panel can supply up to 70mA at 7V. The largest drain was the +6V battery source so this was monitored using one of the analog inputs to the MDA300 board attached to the mote. panels are sufficient to keep the batteries charged even in harsh winter conditions.
Voltage
250
200
Sewage (gal)
150
100
50
Time
Feb-14
Sensor Voltage vs Time
1.3 1.2 1.1 1 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 adc0 (v)
Time
Future plans
We will use a temperature controlled box with air (no methane) to study changes in output voltage as a function of temperature and time over a period of months. This will allow us to check the drift of the sensor and determine the time intervals needed for recalibration. We will also place a thermocouple at the location of the methane sensor as an additional input to the mote to monitor ambient temperatures inside the septic tank. This will help in understanding methane production inside the septic system in different environmental conditions.
Conclusion
We have developed and demonstrated a solar-powered wireless methane data collection system. The data are consistent with sewage flow conditions as stated by the septic test facility. This device will allow the facility to determine detailed behavior of different types of septic systems and test the viability of collection and reuse of methane to eliminate nitrogen from septic systems. Acknowledgements: We are very appreciative of the assistance of personnel at the Barnstable County Alternative Septic System Test Center