Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system in a specific environment – Chemical analysis
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-17
2001-12-18
Hoff, Marc S. (Department: 2857)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system in a specific environment
Chemical analysis
C702S030000, C702S031000, C702S188000, C210S634000, C210S638000, C210S660000, C210S141000, C700S270000, C700S271000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332110
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related to the field of water treatment, and in particular, to a method of monitoring advanced separation and/or ion exchange processes by use of the world wide web allowing review of data collected and complied asynchronously from a web server.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well recognized that nearly every aspect of manufacturing, as well as life itself, is dependant upon water. Water includes an infinite combination of cations and anions, metals, turbidity, dissolved solids, and so forth, all of which combine to form unique water chemistries. Technology provides the ability to adjust, reduce, or remove such constitutes which can effectively prepare water for use in a particular application. Proper water treatment provides an economically way of conditioning water to a predetermined quality level as required for the particular application.
For instance, municipal water may be obtained from any source, including seawater, all of which can be made potable by use of proper water treatment equipment. A reverse osmosis system, with minimal pretreatment, is capable of lowering the total dissolved solids of sea water into drinking water. Despite the sophistication of pretreatment, improper monitoring can allow seawater to quickly foul membranes. However, if the fouling is monitored properly, the membranes can be easily cleaned and the system will continue to run a design specifications. If the fouling is not detected quickly through proper monitoring, the membranes can be irreparably damaged requiring partial or total membrane replacement. The cost of unplanned membrane replacement, not including the revenues typically associated with down time, can make such a system cost prohibitive.
As yet another example, water is also required for steam generation in nuclear reactors. The boilers operate at a super heat which requires a very high quality of water, such as that produced by ion exchange. In this situation, it is critical that the process system is monitored properly to avoid expensive boiler cleanings and the associated down time. Such systems may also include the need to monitor hazardous boiler chemicals, such as hydrazine, requiring highly qualified personnel.
Yet another example of a manufacturer requiring very advanced separation and/or ion exchange processes are the manufacturers of microprocessors. This type of manufacturing requires an ultra-pure water quality. Again it is most critical that the water treatment process system is monitored properly to avoid latent defects in the microprocessors.
Thus, no matter what water is used for, if it requires advanced separation and/or ion exchange processes to obtain the quality required, proper monitoring of the equipment is absolutely critical. It is well recognized that the better the monitoring, the water treatment system will operate economically and reliably.
One of the problems with maintaining advanced processing equipment is a need for highly qualified individuals. Employment of a full time staff is costly and can be problematic since such monitoring is repetitively and highly qualified individuals can easily become bored. For this reason, all advanced separation processes include a large assortment of strategically placed sensors that are typically incorporated into a computer system capable of comparing the sensor values against a pre-set quality level. However, if the operator does not recognize a particular alarm condition, the elaborate array of monitoring equipment is useless.
In an effort to lessen this well recognized problems, systems have been developed for use in transferring information to a remote site for back-up monitoring of the employee's duties. However, a simple remote monitor maintains the requirement that the individual monitoring the equipment is capable of determining, what he believes, is a controllable situation. This exposes a company to the expertise of a particular employee and unless the equipment owner has a secondary source to verify operation of the equipment, loss product, loss profit, and down time will still occur.
Thus, what is lacking in the art, is a means for monitoring advanced separation and/or ion exchange processes in a cost effective manner by highly trained personnel providing the consumer with a real time analysis and economic progression of their particular equipment that can be viewed and verified at any time and from any location having access to the Internet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention is a method of monitoring advanced separation and/or ion exchange processes through the collection of data which is manipulated to generate preconfigured performance, maintenance, quality assurance, quality control, regulatory, cost reports, performance graphing and historical trends. The data is collected from sensors located at an equipment site and transferred to a remote located by use of the Internet where all data received can be used for the generation of reports also accessible by Internet connection.
The reports, graphs and information are viewed online or downloaded by use of a web browser. The method allows a single location to monitor countless customers with each customer capable of reviewing information relevant to their equipment, all information is kept confidential by use of appropriate account names, protocols and passwords.
Thus, an objective of the instant invention is to provide a method of compiling information from a plurality of sensors mounted to advanced separation and/or ion exchange processing equipment to generate plant process, operating and economic information accessible in near real time, from any location having access to the Internet.
Another objective of the instant invention is to provide a system that operates independent of all system controls wherein no feedback is possible to the programmable logic controller or control system and to transfer such information by a local Internet provider to a consolidating Internet address.
Yet another objective of the instant invention is to provide an Internet monitoring system that can be viewed online or offline providing alarms by the use of current and historical records, providing scheduled and predicted maintenance requirements by the use of the current and historical records; providing emergency notification of failures, shutdowns, critical parameters, membrane damage by the use of electronic mail, pager, and/or human voice calling. The data is acquired from either a data capture module or by use of an improved PLC interface. Sensors are arranged to provide logical functional groupings for review and analysis (e.g. pretreatment, RO/MF train #1, /MF train #2, post treatment, ion exchange and so forth. Specific water treatment configurations include the normalization, calculations applicable to the monitoring and performance and analysis of membrane systems.
Another objective of the instant invention is to provide a method of monitoring advanced separation and/or ion exchange processes in a relatively moderate cost to the consumer while providing information that is accurate, dependable, and near real-time by use of relatively simply architecture.
Another objective of the instant invention is to provide a method of monitoring advanced separation and/or ion exchange processes which is independent and/or complimentary of the existing monitoring system.
The further objective of this invention is to provide a widely understood user interface between the underlying data generated by a process system such as the production of ultra pure water for semiconductor manufacturing and the corporate managers ultimately responsible for the entire facility's operation. Although many commercially available systems make data available from process systems over the Internet, heretofore these systems have been difficult to learn to manipulate in a facile manner. The present invention overcomes these limitations by presenting data in the context of the by now familiar web browser such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer. This data is furtherm
Hoff Marc S.
McHale & Slavin
PerLorica, Inc.
Vo Hien
LandOfFree
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