KR20200002380A - Real-time monitoring system and method for heavy metal concentrations in the water - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for monitoring an underwater heavy metal on site. The system for monitoring an underwater heavy metal comprises: a measuring unit (1) which is submerged in water so as to be ascended and descended at a water source (W) in order to measure the amount of an underwater heavy metal; a middle station (3) in which data measured by the measuring unit (1) are stored, and which analyzes whether pollution exists, and allows the measuring unit (1) to be ascended and descended underwater; and a remote management center (5) which processes heavy metal concentration data transmitted from the middle station (3) in a wired and wireless manner. Here, the measuring unit (1) includes a measurement unit (17) which is arranged underground and measures the amount of an underwater heavy metal by using radioactivity. In addition, the measurement unit (17) comprises: a main body (12); a radioactivity source (16) which is arranged after being spaced with a predetermined interval from the main body (12) to a lower portion; a connecting member (24) which connects the main body (12) to the radioactivity source (16), and forms a passage (P) through which water flows; and a radioactivity measurement unit (25) which is mounted on the inside of the main body (12), and measures a scattering level of the radioactivity projected from the radioactivity source, thereby measuring the amount of a heavy metal existing in the water flowing through the passage (P).

Description

Real-time monitoring system and method for heavy metal concentrations in the water}

The present invention relates to a heavy metal real-time monitoring system and method, and more particularly, to measure the concentration of heavy metal present in the water in a state of being located in water, in real time by quantifying the degree of scattering of radiation during the interaction between radiation and metal It is a technology that can monitor the concentration of heavy metals in real time by measuring and transmitting the measurement results to a remote control center.

The release of harmful hazardous chemicals, together with the urban concentration of the population due to industrial development, causes serious air, water and soil pollution problems.

Hazardous heavy metals such as arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), fluorine (F), selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) It does not decompose or become a stable compound, but remains mixed and contaminates water quality and soil. It can move and accumulate in human body through various foods such as fish depending on the food chain, which can cause disease.

In order to prevent pollution of heavy metals, a technology that can accurately measure the amount of harmful heavy metals entering the environment should be secured, and through this, strict regulation of environmental pollution should be implemented.

In particular, heavy metals contained in water, such as rivers and lakes, have a high fluidity and are easily transferred to a large area in a short time, thereby easily causing environmental pollution.

Therefore, it is necessary to accurately measure the amount of heavy metals remaining in the water, and based on this, it is necessary to efficiently manage the current status of heavy metals in the water as the environmental prediction, monitoring, and evaluation proceeds.

However, with the prior art, it is impossible to monitor or measure the amount of heavy metals in water in real time, and it is difficult to accurately measure the concentration of heavy metals flowing in water.

In addition, the heavy metal measuring device has a problem that it is difficult to measure by moving directly into the water due to the low volume of mobility because the mobility is large.

In addition, there is a problem that cannot measure in real time and can not quickly cope with heavy metal contamination in the water.

Patent application No. 10-2012-7011841 (name: polluted air collection system, polluted air collection device and method)

Therefore, the present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to measure the concentration of heavy metals present in the water in the state of being located in water, and to determine the degree of scattering of the radiation during the interaction between the radiation and the metal. It is a heavy metal real-time monitoring system that can quantify and measure in real time, and transmit the measurement results to a remote control center to monitor the concentration of heavy metal in the field in real time.

In order to achieve the above object, a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

A measurement unit 1 which is immersed in water so as to move up and down in a water source W and measures the amount of heavy metal in the water;

An intermediate station (3) for storing the data measured from the measuring unit (1), analyzing whether or not there is contamination, and raising and lowering the measuring unit (1) in water;

A remote management center 5 for processing heavy metal concentration data transmitted from the intermediate station 3 by wire or wireless manner,

The measuring unit 1 includes a measuring unit 17 disposed in the water and measuring the amount of heavy metal in the water by radioactivity.

The measuring unit 17 includes a main body 12; A radiation source 16 disposed below the body 12 by a predetermined distance; A connection member 24 connecting the main body 12 and the radiation source 16 to form a passage P through which water flows; Underwater heavy metal monitoring, including a radiation measuring unit 25 mounted inside the main body 12 to measure the scattering degree of radiation irradiated from the radiation source to measure the amount of heavy metal present in the water flowing through the passage (P) Provide a system.

Another embodiment of the present invention,

A main body 12 floating in water;

A radiation source 16 disposed below the body 12 by a predetermined distance;

A connection member 24 connecting the main body 12 and the radiation source 16 to form a passage P through which water flows; And

Underwater heavy metal monitoring, including a radiation measuring unit 25 mounted inside the main body 12 to measure the scattering degree of radiation irradiated from the radiation source to measure the amount of heavy metal present in the water flowing through the passage (P) Provide a system.

Field-type underwater heavy metal monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages.

First, while measuring the concentration of heavy metals contained in the water while being in the water, the radiation emitted from the lower radiation source due to the interaction between the radiation and the heavy metal is scattered and attenuated to quantify the amount of radiation reaching the measurement part in real time In addition, the measurement results can be sent to a remote control center to monitor the site's heavy metal concentration in real time.

Second, there is an advantage that the heavy metal measuring unit is connected to a floating deck, drooped in water by a certain depth, and moved up and down as necessary to easily measure the heavy metal of the corresponding depth.

Third, the heavy metal can be quantitatively measured, and the measured data can be transmitted in a wired or wireless manner, thereby real-time monitoring of field conditions even at a distance.

1 is a perspective view showing an underwater heavy metal monitoring system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the structure of the measurement unit shown in FIG. 1.
3 is a perspective view showing a measuring unit of the measuring unit shown in FIG.
4 is a side view showing an operating state of the measuring unit shown in FIG.
5 is a view schematically showing the structure of the intermediate station shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, the underwater heavy metal monitoring system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the underwater heavy metal monitoring system (1) proposed by the present invention includes a measuring unit (1) for measuring the heavy metal in the water source (W); An intermediate station 3 in which data measured from the measuring unit 1 is stored and analyzed for contamination; And a remote management center 5 for processing the radioactive data transmitted by the wired / wireless method from the intermediate station 3.

In the underwater heavy metal monitoring system having such a structure, the measuring unit 1 functions to detect radiation from a source included in the underwater heavy metal monitoring system as well as the radioactive material existing in the water source. That is, it detects radiation such as alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, X-rays emitted from a radiation source fixed directly below the measurement unit.

In more detail, the measurement unit 1 includes: a floating deck 11 floating on the surface of the water; A measuring unit 17 which is arranged to be lowered in the water by the buckle 11 and measures the amount of heavy metal in the water by the radiation source; And a driving unit 7 mounted on the float 11 to wind up or unwind the wire W connected to the measurement unit 17.

In the measurement part having such a structure, the sub-ball 11 means a sub-ball having a conventional structure as a structure that can float on the water surface by appropriate buoyancy.

In addition, the measuring unit 17 may measure the amount of heavy metal through the pulse signal emitted from the radiation measuring unit by detecting the attenuation degree of the radiation emitted from the radiation source such as alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, X-rays, and the like. .

The measurement unit 17 is described in more detail, the main body 12; A radiation source 16 disposed below the body 12 by a predetermined distance; A connection member 24 connecting the main body 12 and the radiation source 16 to form a passage P through which water flows; And a radiation measuring unit 25 mounted inside the main body 12 to measure the amount of scattered and attenuated radiation emitted from the radiation source to measure the amount of heavy metal present in the water flowing through the passage P. .

The radiation source 16 included in the measuring unit 17 includes an apparatus for emitting alpha rays α or beta rays β or gamma rays γ.

The radiation source is more suitable because the longer the half-life of the radioactive material and the greater the amount of radiation emitted, the higher the measurement efficiency can be.

As a source of α, radon (Rn-222), which is a natural radioactive element, has been used for a long time. Recently, polonium (Po-210) is also used. β-rays are relatively high in tritium, an artificial radioactive isotope of hydrogen. Cobalt (Co-60), cesium (Cs-137), etc. are mainly used as a gamma source.

As such, the radiation emitted from the radiation source 16 reaches the radiation measuring unit 25 through the passage P.

At this time, the radiation is scattered by collision with the heavy metal contained in the water in the process of passing through the passage (P), in this process only a part of the radiation reaches the radiation measuring unit 25.

In addition, the radiation measuring unit 25 may determine the heavy metal concentration in the water by quantifying the change in the count rate due to the change in the radiation dose.

The radiation measuring unit 25 may include various types of detectors, such as gas ionization box, solid scintillator type, semiconductor type, NaI (TI) detector, and the like.

In addition, such a measuring device is usually composed of a scintillator 14, a scintillation measuring unit 18, and an amplifier 22.

In other words, the detector is a method of measuring the radiation by using light (flash) generated by the interaction between the crystal in the scintillator or the semiconductor and the incident radiation. In other words, when radiation enters the scintillator or semiconductor crystal 14, secondary electrons are generated due to interaction between them, for example, photoelectric effect, compton scattering, and electron pair generation.

When these secondary electrons return to their normal state here, they generate a light called flash, which provides information about the energy of incident radiation because the intensity of the light is proportional to the energy lost by the secondary electrons in the crystal. ), Radiation energy spectrum measurement and radiation dose measurement are possible.

At this time, since the flash is weak, a photomultiplier (amplifier) 22 is used to convert the light into electrons on the photoelectric surface, and the electrons are obtained in the diode in proportion to the light intensity. The degree of heavy metal contamination can be determined by analyzing the generated pulse signal.

On the other hand, the measuring unit 17 is mounted to the floating float 11 floating on the water surface can be lowered if necessary to measure the degree of heavy metal contamination of a predetermined depth.

That is, it is possible by attaching the drive part 7 which raises and lowers the measurement unit 17. FIG.

The drive unit 7 includes a motor (Motor) 13 mounted to the lower portion of the float (11); It is connected to the rotary shaft of the motor 13 includes a winding shaft 15 for winding or unwinding the wire (W).

At this time, the motor 13 is preferably a stepping motor (Stepping motor) that can adjust the rotation angle, the rotation speed. And the motor 13 is adjusted by the control part of the intermediate station 3, and the wire W wound by the winding shaft 15 is wound up or unwound a predetermined number of times.

Therefore, when unwinding or winding the wire W, the radioactivity measuring unit 17 can measure the pollution degree of heavy metal at a target depth by raising or lowering in water.

In another embodiment, the water level sensor S may be mounted on the buckle 11, and the water level sensor S may be connected to the control unit of the intermediate station 3. Therefore, when the water level of the water source is changed, the water level sensor S detects this and transmits a signal to the controller of the intermediate station 3. In addition, the controller calculates the input water level value and transmits a signal to the motor 13 to wind or unwind the wire W so that the measurement unit 17 can automatically move up and down as the water level increases or decreases.

Therefore, the measuring unit 17 can stably measure the degree of contamination of the heavy metal at the set depth even when the water level is varied.

In addition, in case of drought, when there is almost no water level in the water source, the water level sensor S detects this because the measuring unit 17 touches the bottom of the water source and may cause damage to the control unit of the intermediate station 3. Send a signal. And, it can be guided to the manager by generating an alarm sound through the alarm unit of the intermediate station (S). Of course, it can also be delivered via SNS.

And, the radioactivity measuring unit 17 may be floated by the flow of water, etc., the guide bar 19 and the connection bar 20 is disposed to prevent this.

That is, a guide bar 19 disposed in the water source; A connection bar 20 having one end connected to the buckle 11 and the other end movably connected to the guide bar 19; A power supply unit 9 for supplying power to the radioactivity measuring unit 17; And a cable C connected to the intermediate station 3 to transmit and receive data.

The guide bar 19 may have a lower end fixed to the bottom surface of a water source such as a river or a lake and an upper end protruded from the water surface. Thus, the guide bar 19 can be fixed at a constant position.

In addition, the connection bar 20 is connected to each other by the guide bar 19 and the float 11 so that when the float 11 is raised and lowered along the guide bar 19.

That is, one end of the connecting bar 20 is connected to the buckle 11 and the other end is mounted with a ring 21, the ring 21 is inserted into the guide bar 19. At this time, the ring 21 has an inner diameter that can be moved up and down in the state inserted into the guide bar 19.

Therefore, even when water flows or the water level is fluctuated, the buckle 11 is connected to the guide bar 19 by the connecting bar 20, so that it can maintain its position without drifting, thereby stably maintaining the degree of heavy metal contamination at a certain point. Can be monitored.

And, the measuring unit 1 may be arranged in an appropriate number depending on the area of the water source. That is, one measurement part 1 may be arrange | positioned, and two or more measurement parts 1 may be arrange | positioned.

Meanwhile, the cable C may transmit and receive radioactive contamination information by connecting the measurement unit 17 and the intermediate station 3 adjacent to the water source.

The intermediate station 3 converts the data transmitted from the measurement unit 1 into a digital signal and processes it.

The intermediate station (3) includes a signal converter (32) for converting analog data received from the measuring unit (1) into digital; A control unit 30 for analyzing the radiation data to determine whether heavy metal is contaminated; It includes an output unit 46 for transmitting and receiving the analysis results of the control unit 30 to the remote management center (5).

In the intermediate station 3 of this structure, the signal converter 32 is a computer, notebook, smart phone, general mobile phone, PDA, measuring instrument or control device having a separate communication function and the like transmitted from the measuring unit 1 It refers to a comprehensive concept that includes a device or means for converting a digital signal that can be recognized by a device having the same information processing function.

The signal converter 32 as described above preferably employs a device or means such as a DSP chip having a conventional digital signal processing (DSP) function.

When the radiation data detected by the measuring unit 1 is converted into digital information by the signal converter 32, the digital information is transmitted to the control unit 30 of the intermediate station 3.

The control unit 30 receives the pulse signal detected by the measuring unit 1 to determine the degree of heavy metal contamination in the water, and stores the data in the storage unit 40, the radiation measurement unit in conjunction with the water level sensor (S) (17) can be raised and lowered.

In more detail, the controller 30 includes an input unit 34 to which radiation data is input; A logger unit 38 for quantitatively analyzing the input radiation data and converting it into heavy metal content; A storage unit 40 for storing data processed by the logger unit 38; An alarm unit 42 for generating an alarm when the heavy metal concentration exceeds a reference value; A time history management unit for history management according to time of stored data; The controller includes a programmable logic controller (PLC) 36 which controls by transmitting and receiving signals with the units, determines whether data is exceeded and indicates storage of data.

In the control unit having such a structure, the logger unit 38 performs a self test mode in an initial state to check whether it is in normal operation, and when there is no error, the logger unit 38 is switched to a measurement mode that can process data.

In this measurement mode, the logger unit 38 quantitatively analyzes the radiation data measured from the measurement unit 1.

The logger unit 38 calculates the heavy metal amount based on the analyzed radiation data.

That is, the initial radiation dose and the final radiation dose are compared, and it is determined that the heavy metal amount is contained by the difference.

In addition, the logger unit 38 sets environmental background values by measuring environmental data around the water source.

Then, the data analysis result is transmitted to the controller 36, the controller 36 provides the data to the storage unit 40 and stores the data, and determines whether the reference value is exceeded by the determination program of the controller itself.

In more detail, the storage unit 40 stores the data provided by the logger unit 38 hourly or daily. In this case, the data storage format may be in various formats, but is preferably stored in a text file format.

In addition, the storage of the data is preferably stored at the same period as the data measuring period of the logger unit 38.

In addition, the measurement unit 17 ascends and descends according to the water level. At this time, relationship data between the rotational speed of the winding shaft 15 of the motor 13 and the elevation height of the radioactivity measurement unit 17 may be stored.

The controller 36 calculates the data provided from the logger unit 38 to determine whether the heavy metal concentration exceeds the acceptable reference value.

In more detail, the controller 36 determines whether the reference value is exceeded by calculating the data provided from the logger unit 38 by using a pollution degree determination program pre-installed. At this time, the reference value is input in advance.

Accordingly, the controller 36 compares the preset reference value with the actual heavy metal concentration data received from the logger unit 38.

As a result of the comparison, when it is determined that the actual heavy metal concentration data has exceeded the reference value, the controller transmits a signal to the alarm unit 42.

In addition, the controller 36 grasps the depth by the signal transmitted from the water level sensor S, calculates the water level, and transmits a signal to the motor 13 to wind or unwind the wire W to measure the measurement unit ( 17) to automatically move up and down as the water level increases or decreases. Therefore, the measuring unit 17 can stably measure the heavy metal at the set depth even when the water level is varied.

In addition, in the case of drought, when there is almost no water level in the water source, the measurement unit 17 may malfunction or be damaged by touching the bottom of the water source, so that the controller 36 may receive a signal from the water level sensor S. The alarm may be guided to the administrator by generating an alarm sound through the alarm unit. Of course, it can also be delivered via SNS.

The alarm unit 42 generates an alarm when the reference value is exceeded or when the water depth is below a certain depth. In this case, the alarm may be generated in various forms, such as an alarm sound through a speaker, light emission through a warning light, and a warning message output on a monitor.

This alert allows the manager to recognize that the heavy metal concentration has exceeded the threshold.

Then, the time history management unit 44 manages the change over time of the heavy metal amount measured by interlocking with the storage unit 40. That is, by managing the initial heavy metal concentration data measured by the measuring unit 1 for each time to determine the degree of change of radiation.

The output unit 46 may transmit data analyzed by the control unit 30 to the remote management center 5 by an antenna. In this case, the transmission method may be a wired or wireless method, the wireless transmission means may include a short-range information communication means such as Bluetooth, Zigbee module, 4G, LTE, UWB, WiFi, WCDMA, USN, IrDA module.

As described above, the intermediate station 3 may analyze the heavy metal data transmitted from the measuring unit 17 to determine the degree of contamination and then transmit it to the remote management center 5 or the like.

At this time, not only one intermediate station 3 but also a plurality of stations may be arranged along a lake or a river.

As such, the heavy metal contamination information is transmitted to the remote management center 5 in a wired or wireless manner so that the water quality heavy metal situation of the site can be grasped in real time even at a remote site.

At this time, the object to which data is transmitted is not limited to the remote management center 5, but can also reach other mobile communication means. For example, it may include all mobile communication devices that provide a ubiquitous environment, such as mobile phones, smart phones, PDAs.

1: measuring part
3: intermediate station
5: remote management center
7: drive section
11: float
17: measuring unit

Claims (5)

A measurement unit 1 which is immersed in water so as to move up and down in a water source W and measures the amount of heavy metal in the water;
An intermediate station (3) for storing the data measured from the measuring unit (1), analyzing whether or not there is contamination, and raising and lowering the measuring unit (1) in water;
A remote management center 5 for processing heavy metal concentration data transmitted from the intermediate station 3 by wire or wireless manner,
The measuring unit 1 includes a measuring unit 17 disposed in the water and measuring the amount of heavy metal in the water by radiation,
The measuring unit 17 includes a main body 12; A radiation source 16 disposed below the body 12 by a predetermined distance; A connection member 24 connecting the main body 12 and the radiation source 16 to form a passage P through which water flows; Underwater heavy metal monitoring, including a radiation measuring unit 25 mounted inside the main body 12 to measure the scattering degree of the radiation irradiated from the radiation source to measure the amount of heavy metal present in the water flowing through the passage (P) system. A main body 12 floating in water;
A radiation source 16 disposed below the body 12 by a predetermined distance;
A connection member 24 connecting the main body 12 and the radiation source 16 to form a passage P through which water flows; And
Underwater heavy metal monitoring, including a radiation measuring unit 25 mounted inside the main body 12 to measure the scattering degree of the radiation irradiated from the radiation source to measure the amount of heavy metal present in the water flowing through the passage (P) system. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The radiation measuring unit 25 includes a gaseous or solid scintillator or a semiconductor detector, and uses an optical or electronic amplifier to amplify the flash (light) emitted from the detector. The method of claim 1,
The measuring unit 17 of the measuring unit 1 is arranged to be lowered to a floating deck 11 floating on the surface of the water, and the measuring unit 17 is a driving unit 7 provided in the floating unit 11. Underwater heavy metal monitoring system that is raised and lowered when the wire (W) is wound or unwound by being connected by a wire (W). The method of claim 1,
The intermediate station 3 includes a signal converter 32 for converting analog data received from the measuring unit 1 into digital; A control unit 30 for analyzing the radiation data to determine whether heavy metal is contaminated; An output unit 46 for transmitting and receiving the analysis result of the control unit 30 to the remote management center (5),
The control unit 30 includes an input unit 34 to which radiation data is input; A logger unit 38 for quantitatively analyzing the input radiation data and converting it into a heavy metal content; A storage unit 40 for storing data processed by the logger unit 38; An alarm unit 42 for generating an alarm when the heavy metal concentration exceeds a reference value; A time history management unit for history management according to time of stored data; Underwater heavy metal monitoring system including a programmable logic controller (PLC) for controlling by transmitting and receiving signals with the units, determining whether or not exceeding the reference value of the data, and directs the storage of the data.

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