How to Get Started in Social Media for Art League City
Remote monitoring control
1. Remote Monitoring and
Control of Landfill Systems
SWANA 2005 Winter Conference
Presented by:
Curtis D. Madsen, P.E.
David L. Boudry, Master Electrician
Integrated
Environmental Solutions
2. Background
Landfill (LF) leachate management in the past:
Isolated control panels at each device
Typical devices:
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Leachate sump pumps
Transfer pump recirculation areas
Actuator valves
Leachate tank load-out facilities
Wet wells/Lift stations pumping to treatment plants
3. Background (cont.)
Site visit required to:
– Assess operational status (is it running?)
– Troubleshoot problems
– Make adjustments to control settings
Sensitive to lightning strikes and “downtime”
Recently, use of programmable logic controller
(PLC)−based control systems
4. Background (cont.)
PLC-based systems:
– Are Cost effective
– Typically require less downtime compared to previous
controls
– Are less labor intensive
– Can be networked together
– Enable “real-time” monitoring, troubleshooting, and
adjustments to set points
6. Historical Applications
Typical control technology historically used at
landfills has included:
Side slope riser sump pumps
– Typical controllers:
Printed circuit boards with transducers
Load-sensing controllers
– Site visit required to make adjustments/record
data/troubleshoot
– Data availability limited
– Sensitivity to lightning strikes
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10. Historical Applications (cont.)
Leachate load-out tanks/force-main facilities
– Typical controls
Same as SSR pumps
Float switches
– Site visit required to make adjustments/record
data/troubleshoot
11. Historical Applications (cont.)
Other components
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Data availability limited
Leachate distribution/recirculation pumps
Fail-safe valves
Leachate head wells
All require site visit to make adjustments/record
data/troubleshoot
12. PLC Applications
What is a PLC?
– Microprocessor, similar to that found in a PC, calculator, or
your automobile
– Extensively used to control manufacturing and treatment
processes
– Programmable, accepts directions, calculates, stores data,
gives commands to other equipment
– Can also accept directions:
Notification of alarm levels
Types of events to record
13. PLC Applications (cont.)
PLC can be programmed to:
– Track selected data and functions (reducing the effort
required to complete an annual environmental monitoring
report)
– Notify selected personnel of an alarm condition
PLC-based control systems allow the efficient and
flexible use of a Supervisory Control and Data
Acquisition (SCADA) system
14. PLC Applications (cont.)
What is SCADA?
SCADA enables a site operator to monitor and
control processes from a remote location
– Used to monitor and control any type of mechanical and
electrical equipment at LF facilities
15. PLC Applications (cont.)
A properly designed SCADA system reduces labor costs
by minimizing site visits for:
– Inspection
– Data collection/logging
– Making adjustments
PLC/SCADA systems allow:
– Real-time monitoring from your PC system – settings and
modifications
– Troubleshooting from your PC
– Increased equipment life – better preventive maintenance
– Automatic report generating feature
20. Controller Comparison
Four general types of controllers used at
landfills:
– Relay logic
– Load sensing
– Printed circuit boards
– Programmable logic controller
21. Controller Comparison (cont.)
Network operation expands system flexibility to
include:
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Pump run time
Motor cycles
Motor amperage
Condition of motor starter
Position of H-O-A switch
22. Controller Comparison (cont.)
– Ability to assess many fault conditions from an Internet
connection (office PC) – controls response/repair costs
– Recording of fault history log
– Daily data log (head levels)
– Flare run/shutdown log
– Remote determination on condition of the device, the
H-O-A Switch (if “manual” or “off” or “auto” setting)
25. Controller Comparison
Load Sensing
- Control based on amp draw of
motor
- Stand-alone device
- Only does one thing
- No communication ability
Relay
Logic
- Can be confused by voltage
fluctuations
- Time based feature does not
account for heavy rains or
seasonal changes
PLC
Printed
Circuit
Board
26. Controller Comparison
Printed Circuit
Boards
- Controlled by pressure
transducer
- Stand-alone device
Relay
Logic
Load
Sensing
- Controller may provide
"indication" of liquid level
- May have limited
communication ability
PLC
27. Controller Comparison
Programmable Logic
Controller
- Uses one or several, various
sensors (e.g., transducer) to
operate a device (e.g., pump)
- Operate as “stand-alone” or as
part of a “network”
Printed
Relay
Load
Circuit
Logic
Sensing
Board
- Stand-alone operation provides
run time, pump cycles, and
fault codes via in-field operator
interface
- Can operate as a network from
an Internet connection (office
PC)
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31. Summary Points of Comparison
Basic operations logic
– Minimal at best, for non-PLC controller
Controller adjustability
– Minimal at best, for non-PLC controller
System troubleshooting
– PLCs have a “fault code” system; other devices do not
32. Summary Points of Comparison (cont.)
Remote location requirements
– Non–PLC-based systems require site visit to assess
operation status, troubleshoot, or gather data
– With PLCs and SCADA, information can be accessed from
your office PC (or any Internet connection with Web-based
SCADA)
Advanced database/reporting/monitoring
capabilities
– Only available with PLCs and SCADA
33. Cost
Cost of PLC System is based on:
How many devices require control
Areal size of a facility
– Networking capability of PLC devices can control labor
costs
– Fiber optic or Ethernet radio options (lightning strike
protection) are available
Types of data required for daily operations
– Run time of pumps recirculating leachate
34. Costs (cont.)
Types of environmental monitoring reports
required
Competition among manufacturers
– Several marketplace manufacturers help to control costs of
PLCs