Water Pipeline Monitoring System Using Flow Sensor Based on the Internet of Things

Pipe leakage is one of the most common problems in agriculture. Especially if the agricultural land is quite large, it will be challenging to determine the location if a leak occurs. Active sensors are not recommended because they do not follow the green computing concept (energy-efficient computing). This study is proposed to use a passive type sensor that is more energy efficient. This study will use a water flow sensor placed at several points in the irrigation pipe network. The water flow sensor was chosen because this sensor works passively and is very accurate in detecting changes in water flow, especially in flowing water. The sensor reading results will be sent using the Internet of Things with a Wi-Fi connection. The collected data results are processed on the server and displayed in an interface that makes it easy for users to monitor water flow through smartphones. The results of the tests that have been carried out show that the designed system has worked as expected. The system can detect the location of the leaking pipe flow and indicate the leaking pipe

Design and Implementation of Google Cloud Framework for Monitoring Water Distribution Networks

With urbanization and growing human population, water demand is constantly on the rise. Due to limited water resources, providing access to fresh potable water to the rising needs is challenging. Water distribution systems are the main arteries that supply fresh water to all the house-holds, offices and industries. Various factors such as excessive water pressure, aging or environmental disturbances, e.g., from road traffic, can all contribute to damage of water distribution pipelines and can result in leaks in water distribution networks (WDN). This could in turn result in financial loss and could pose additional challenges in providing potable water to the entire community, sometimes even leading to contaminant intrusion. Traditional leak detection methods such as visual inspections can detect leaks; however, this method is reactive in nature and can result in potentially losing large amounts of water before intervention strategies can be employed. On the other hand, hardware-based inspection techniques can accurately detect leaks, but are labor intensive, time consuming, expensive and effective only for short distances. Some existing software techniques are less expensive; however, their effectiveness depends on the accuracy of data collected and operating conditions. Modern existing leak detection techniques based on Internet of Things (IoT)—consisting of data collection sensor sub system, internet connectivity and a decision making sub system—alleviate many issues associated with hardware and software methods, however they are considered to scale poorly and face security issues, fault tolerance issues, inter-operability issues, insufficient storage and processing abilities to store and process large quantities of real time data captured by the sensor sub systems. As a potential solution to these issues, this thesis deals with the application of a cloud-based leak detection system within the overarching concept of IoT. A detailed design and implementation of Google Cloud Platform (GCP) which can provide scalable, secure data processing system to analyze both real-time and batch data collected from IoT devices monitoring a WDN is presented. To circumvent the issue of access to a live WDN, the proposed system uses emulators, python Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP) client running on a computer and a python HTTP client running on an IoT device (Raspberry Pi 3) to simulate live streams of acoustic pressure data from hydrophone sensors. Since the data itself was collected from a live WDN, the decision-making subsystem mimics results expected from live WDN data. The data ingestion layer on GCP incorporates two types of authentication: OAuth2.0 authentication and Application Program Interface (API) key authentication along with other GCP components using service account features to ensure end-to-end secure data processing. Decision support sub-system includes simple, yet powerful algorithm, namely the one class support vector machine (OCSVM) with non-linear radial basis function (RBF) kernel. It is shown in this thesis that GCP provides a scalable and fault tolerant infrastructure at every stage of data life cycle such as data ingestion, storage, processing and results visualization. The implementation in this thesis demonstrates the applicability of the leak detection IoT framework and the concept of a cloud based IoT solution for leak detection in WDN, which is the first demonstration of its kind to the author’s knowledge

Vibration Energy Harvesting for Wireless Sensors

Kinetic energy harvesters are a viable means of supplying low-power autonomous electronic systems for the remote sensing of operations. In this Special Issue, through twelve diverse contributions, some of the contemporary challenges, solutions and insights around the outlined issues are captured describing a variety of energy harvesting sources, as well as the need to create numerical and experimental evidence based around them. The breadth and interdisciplinarity of the sector are clearly observed, providing the basis for the development of new sensors, methods of measurement, and importantly, for their potential applications in a wide range of technical sectors

Online HEPA Filter Replacement

High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance (HEPA) filters serve an important role in safety of nuclear facilities and can be an important tool in safeguards verification of nuclear activities. This paper describes a new design for HEPA filter housing in nuclear facilities to reduce replacement time, improve safety, reduce worker dosage, and facilitate safeguards procedures post replacement. This design must meet the criteria of staying online during filter exchanges, assisting with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sampling practices, meeting the nuclear air and gas code specifications and relevant subsections, and adhering to the principles of ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable), for maintaining low radiation levels to maximize worker safety. Our new design focuses on improved safety while achieving an online filter exchange. Not only will an online filter exchange reduce facility downtime and save facilities money, it has the potential to offer increased worker safety, and provide easy filter access for IAEA officials who wish to conduct sampling and inspection for safeguards. It would effectively eliminate the need for a facility to shut down for filters to be replaced. In our research, we did not find any current designs on the market that can perform an online HEPA filter exchange. We also conducted research on sealing techniques to support the online system design. We have established a project relationship with Radiation Protection Systems (RPS), Inc.: a contracting company based out of Groton, Connecticut, USA which specializes in mobile HEPA filter and carbon pre-filter housings for nuclear applications. The technical information exchange and partnership with RPS may result in an actual product that could be installed in future nuclear power plants if the design can be proven to work in concept and function. It may also be possible to retrofit existing HEPA installations in some cases. The design includes a double door bag-in, bag-out design and operational procedure to maintain worker safety and allow for zero escape of radioactive volatiles or particulates into the air external to the facility enclosure. A combination of neoprene gasket, silicone gel, and brush sealing techniques are employed in the new design with continuity of airflow during the switch in mind. This innovative design improves safety as well as operational efficiency. The design team is cognizant of safeguards considerations and aimed the design towards facilitating access. In particular, in our new design access to HEPA filter for sampling is much easier which can potentially improve the frequency and quality of sampling during IAEA inspections. Likewise, the lower level of effort (therefore cost) in switching filters will encourage changing filters more frequently. This will lower the risk of filter failures caused by clogged or possibly faulty filters. In fact, the IAEA reported that âAIJInvestigators from other national laboratories have suggested that aging effects could have contributed to over 80 percent of these failures. âAI The prototype design features a HEPA filter train (2 HEPA filters connected by a gel-seal interface) that slide seamlessly through the housing on rollers while the nuclear facility is online, the first (old) filter being dislodged into a sealed bagging unit, and the second (new) filter being clamped into place using a cam shaft clamping mechanism. There are two areas of design innovation here that are particularly exciting. The gel-seal interface that connects the filters will provide an air tight gap between two filters while they are exchanged. The clamping system features a brush seal interface on top and bottom, to maintain airflow and mobility of the filter while facilitating a switch. Because extended radiation exposure may alter the properties of sealants and gaskets we are investigating the use of seals that can be replaced during these quick filter changes. The design prototype is a full-scale model, capable of housing a 12x24x12 inch HEPA filter. Currently, we have completed the design of the new housing unit, created a proof of concept build, as well as conducted the preliminary engineering analysis, cost analysis, and material selection of the final prototype. Manufacturing of the final housing is proceeding and upon completion will be validated with a set of rigorous testing procedures concerning sealing and safety of the system. These tests are standard industry practices and RPS will assist in performing the tests. Namely, ASME test FC-I- 3272, a test in which aerosol particles of 20 m, which are the most penetrating particle sizes (MPPS), are sent through the housing unit and penetration is monitored during an online switch. Further testing will include colored smoke being pumped through the unit to test sealing capabilities and to identify possible particulate buildup. Provided the tests show that the design is successful in maintaining air flow and safety during the filter exchange, methods of improvement for ease of use and the automation of the exchange process, improvements to continuity of knowledge, and radiation monitoring techniques will be investigated for a comprehensive final product design

NASA Tech Briefs, September 2012

Topics covered include: Beat-to-Beat Blood Pressure Monitor; Measurement Techniques for Clock Jitter; Lightweight, Miniature Inertial Measurement System; Optical Density Analysis of X-Rays Utilizing Calibration Tooling to Estimate Thickness of Parts; Fuel Cell/Electrochemical Cell Voltage Monitor; Anomaly Detection Techniques with Real Test Data from a Spinning Turbine Engine-Like Rotor; Measuring Air Leaks into the Vacuum Space of Large Liquid Hydrogen Tanks; Antenna Calibration and Measurement Equipment; Glass Solder Approach for Robust, Low-Loss, Fiber-to-Waveguide Coupling; Lightweight Metal Matrix Composite Segmented for Manufacturing High-Precision Mirrors; Plasma Treatment to Remove Carbon from Indium UV Filters; Telerobotics Workstation (TRWS) for Deep Space Habitats; Single-Pole Double-Throw MMIC Switches for a Microwave Radiometer; On Shaft Data Acquisition System (OSDAS); ASIC Readout Circuit Architecture for Large Geiger Photodiode Arrays; Flexible Architecture for FPGAs in Embedded Systems; Polyurea-Based Aerogel Monoliths and Composites; Resin-Impregnated Carbon Ablator: A New Ablative Material for Hyperbolic Entry Speeds; Self-Cleaning Particulate Prefilter Media; Modular, Rapid Propellant Loading System/Cryogenic Testbed; Compact, Low-Force, Low-Noise Linear Actuator; Loop Heat Pipe with Thermal Control Valve as a Variable Thermal Link; Process for Measuring Over-Center Distances; Hands-Free Transcranial Color Doppler Probe; Improving Balance Function Using Low Levels of Electrical Stimulation of the Balance Organs; Developing Physiologic Models for Emergency Medical Procedures Under Microgravity; PMA-Linked Fluorescence for Rapid Detection of Viable Bacterial Endospores; Portable Intravenous Fluid Production Device for Ground Use; Adaptation of a Filter Assembly to Assess Microbial Bioburden of Pressurant Within a Propulsion System; Multiplexed Force and Deflection Sensing Shell Membranes for Robotic Manipulators; Whispering Gallery Mode Optomechanical Resonator; Vision-Aided Autonomous Landing and Ingress of Micro Aerial Vehicles; Self-Sealing Wet Chemistry Cell for Field Analysis; General MACOS Interface for Modeling and Analysis for Controlled Optical Systems; Mars Technology Rover with Arm-Mounted Percussive Coring Tool, Microimager, and Sample-Handling Encapsulation Containerization Subsystem; Fault-Tolerant, Real-Time, Multi-Core Computer System; Water Detection Based on Object Reflections; SATPLOT for Analysis of SECCHI Heliospheric Imager Data; Plug-in Plan Tool v3.0.3.1; Frequency Correction for MIRO Chirp Transformation Spectroscopy Spectrum; Nonlinear Estimation Approach to Real-Time Georegistration from Aerial Images; Optimal Force Control of Vibro-Impact Systems for Autonomous Drilling Applications; Low-Cost Telemetry System for Small/Micro Satellites; Operator Interface and Control Software for the Reconfigurable Surface System Tri-ATHLETE; and Algorithms for Determining Physical Responses of Structures Under Load