Systems and methods for automated control of mixing and aeration in treatment processes

Abstract

A system and method for automatically controlling aeration and mixing processes are disclosed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for automatically controlling a mixing process based upon at least one dynamically-measured parameter, comprising:
 a probe for dynamically measuring at least one parameter of a substance,   a control panel in communication with the probe, wherein the control panel receives data from the probe representing the measurement of the at least one parameter,   a programmable logic controller in communication with the control panel, and   a mixer in communication with the control panel,   wherein the system is configured to activate the mixer upon measurement of a first mixing parameter characteristic of a dynamically-measured parameter and to deactivate the mixer upon measurement of a second mixing parameter characteristic of a dynamically-measured parameter.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the substance is wastewater that is stored in a containment unit. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the mixer comprises a nozzle in connection with a source of pressurized gas, wherein the nozzle comprises a fluid passage having a plurality of outlets, and wherein the fluid passage is configured to release pressurized gas from the outlets in intermittent bursts to mix the wastewater. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one secondary first mixing parameter characteristic and at least one secondary second mixing parameter characteristic, wherein in response to detection or calculation of the secondary first mixing parameter characteristic the mixer is activated, and wherein, in response to detection or calculation of a secondary mixing parameter characteristic, the mixer is deactivated. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a second probe for dynamically measuring at least one second parameter of the substance. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the dynamically-measured parameters measured by the probe and the system's historical cycle data are stored by the control panel. 
     
     
         7 . A method for controlling the mixing of a substance based upon dynamically-measured data, the method comprising the steps of:
 measuring at least one parameter of the substance;   activating mixing of the substance upon measurement of a first mixing parameter characteristic of a measured parameter; and   deactivating mixing of the substance upon measurement of a second mixing parameter characteristic of a measured parameter.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the substance that is stored in a containment unit is wastewater. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising activating mixing of the wastewaster in response to detection of a secondary first mixing parameter characteristic of a measured parameter instead of in response to the first mixing parameter characteristic if the secondary first mixing parameter characteristic is detected before the first mixing parameter characteristic and deactivating mixing of the wastewater in response to detection of a secondary second mixing parameter characteristic of a measured parameter instead of the second mixing parameter characteristic if the secondary second mixing parameter characteristic is detected before the second mixing parameter characteristic. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising storing historical data concerning treatment cycles, wherein the historical data comprises at least some measured parameters. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising utilizing the historical data to perform predictive analysis for a treatment process.