Dosing control system and method

Abstract

A method and system of controlling addition of a treating agent based on a control function comprising a plurality of demand values is disclosed. Process parameters of a fluid to be treated are measured and one or more control signals are generated based on the measured process values and the control function. The control signals are used to actuate a treating agent dosing system and also used to monitor and compare the levels, status or condition of the treating agent. Additional features of the invention compensate for rain events.

1 . A method of controlling addition of a treating agent into a fluid comprising:
 measuring at a measurement site a process value of a process parameter of the fluid;   generating a first control signal based on a control function and the process value;   introducing an amount of the treating agent based on the first control signal into the fluid;   measuring at least one operating parameter of a source of the treating agent; and   generating an expected operating value of the source of the treating agent based at least partially on the first control signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring a plurality of process values of the process parameter. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising generating a plurality of control signals based on the control function and the plurality of process values. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising generating a plurality of expected operating values of the source of the treating agent based at least partially on the plurality of control signals. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising generating an alarm condition when a magnitude of a difference between at least one expected operating value and at least one measured operating parameter of the source of the treating agent exceeds a predetermined tolerance value. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control function comprises a plurality of demand values. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising modifying at least one demand value of the control function. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising generating an alternative control signal based at least partially on the modified demand value and a second measured process value of the process parameter. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the process parameter is representative of a concentration of an odorous species in the fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treating agent comprises at least one of a nitrate species and an alkaline. 
     
     
         11 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A computer-readable medium having computer-readable signals stored thereon that define instructions that, as a result of being executed by a controller, instruct the controller to perform a method of controlling addition of a treating agent into a fluid comprising acts of:
 generating a plurality of control signals based on a plurality of measured process values of a process parameter of a fluid and a plurality of demand values;   transmitting a plurality of control signals to at least one source of the treating agent disposed to introduce the treating agent into the fluid; and   generating at least one expected operating value of a source of the treating agent based at least partially on at least one of the plurality of control signals.   
     
     
         31 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 30 , further comprising computer-readable signals that define instructions of generating an array of expected operating values of the source of the treating agent based at least partially on the plurality of control signals. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , further comprising computer-readable signals that define instructions of storing a plurality of alternate demand values. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32 , further comprising computer-readable signals that define instructions of generating an alternate set of control signals. 
     
     
         34 . A system comprising:
 a sensor disposed to measure a concentration of an odorous species in a fluid and to transmit a first measurement signal corresponding to the measured concentration of the odorous species;   a source of a treating agent disposed to introduce at least one treating agent into the fluid; and   a controller in communication with the sensor and the source of the treating agent, the controller configured to receive the first measurement signal from the sensor and a second measurement signal corresponding to a measured parameter of the source of the treating agent, and further configured to transmit to the source of the treating agent at least one control signal based at least in part on a control function and the first measurement signal.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , further comprising a flow sensor disposed to measure a flow rate of at least one phase of the fluid and transmit a corresponding measured flow value, and the controller is further configured to generate a composite average flow curve based on the measured flow value, and to identify a triggering condition based on the composite average flow curve and a currently measured flow value. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the triggering condition is realized when a difference between the composite average flow curve and the currently measured flow value exceeds a predetermined tolerance value. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the control signal based at least partially on the triggering condition. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the control signal is at least partially defined by a duty cycle period having an active component and a dormant component, the active component energizing the source of the treating agent to introduce the at least one treating agent into the fluid. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the treating agent comprises at least one of a nitrate containing species and an alkaline material. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the triggering condition is indicative of a rainfall event.