Patent Publication Number: US-7711489-B1

Title: Trident probe groundwater exchange system

Description:
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     This invention (Navy Case No. 096456) is assigned to the United States Government and is available for licensing for commercial purposes. Licensing and technical inquiries may be directed to the Office of Research and Technical Applications, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego, Code 2112, San Diego, Calif., 92152; voice (619) 553-2778; email T2@spawar.navy.mil. Reference Navy Case Number 096456. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The Trident Probe Groundwater Exchange System is generally in the field of groundwater evaluation. 
     Typical groundwater evaluation relies upon mathematical models based on lithology, which are inaccurate. 
     A need exists for groundwater evaluation tools and/or methods that do not rely upon inaccurate mathematical models. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       All FIGURES are not drawn to scale. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a Trident Probe Groundwater Exchange System. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a Trident Probe Groundwater Exchange System. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a Trident Probe Groundwater Exchange System. 
         FIG. 4A  is a flowchart of a method of operating one embodiment of a Trident Probe Groundwater Exchange System apparatus. 
         FIG. 4B  is a flowchart of a method of operating one embodiment of a Trident Probe Groundwater Exchange System apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Described herein is Trident Probe Groundwater Exchange System. 
     Definitions 
     The following acronym(s) are used herein: 
     Acronym(s): 
     GPS—Global Positioning System 
     GW—Groundwater 
     SW—Surface Water 
     TPGWES—Trident Probe Groundwater Exchange System 
     The trident probe groundwater exchange system includes a plurality of sensors and a processor. The system identifies areas of groundwater exchange by measuring and comparing characteristics (e.g., temperature and conductivity) of groundwater and surface water. In one embodiment, samples are taken after the system identifies areas of groundwater exchange. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a trident probe groundwater exchange system. As shown in  FIG. 1 , trident probe groundwater exchange system (TPGWES)  100  comprises groundwater (GW) conductivity sensor  110 , GW temperature sensor  112 , GW sampler  114 , surface water (SW) conductivity sensor  120 , SW temperature sensor  122 , SW sampler  124 , support member  130 , air hammer  132 , push rod  134 , global positioning system (GPS)  136 , processor  140 , GPS data link  142 , sensor data link  144 , sampling mechanism  150 , GW sample hose  160  and SW sample hose  162 . 
     Support member  130  comprises a strong, rigid, corrosion-resistant material such as plastic, stainless steel, composite, wood and a combination of the like. Support member  130  is designed to provide mechanical support for the plurality of sensors and samplers of TPGWES  100 . GW conductivity sensor  110 , GW temperature sensor  112 , GW sampler  114 , SW conductivity sensor  120 , SW temperature sensor  122  and SW sampler  124  are operatively coupled to support member  130 . 
     GW conductivity sensor  110 , GW temperature sensor  112  and GW sampler  114  are designed to be driven into a ground beneath surface water, while SW conductivity sensor  120 , SW temperature sensor  122  and SW sampler  124  are designed to remain above the ground beneath surface water. GW conductivity sensor  110  is designed to obtain the conductivity of groundwater and output information regarding such. GW temperature sensor  112  is designed to obtain the temperature of groundwater and output information regarding such. GW sampler  114  is designed to obtain groundwater samples and output them to a sample container. SW conductivity sensor  120  is designed to obtain the conductivity of surface water and output information regarding such. SW temperature sensor  122  is designed to obtain the temperature of surface water and output information regarding such. GW sampler  124  is designed to obtain surface water samples and output them to a sample container. 
     Air hammer  132  is operatively coupled to support member  130 . Air hammer  132  is designed to drive the plurality of GW sensors and sampler into a ground beneath surface water using well-known air hammer principles. Push rod  134  comprises a strong, rigid, corrosion-resistant material such as plastic, stainless steel, composite, wood and a combination of the like. Push rod  134  is operatively coupled to air hammer  132  and is designed to help manually drive groundwater sensors into a ground beneath surface water. In one operational embodiment, a person exerts force on push rod  134  to drive the plurality of GW sensors and sampler into a ground beneath surface water. In one embodiment, a person holds push rod  134  and air hammer  132  drives the plurality of GW sensors and sampler into a ground beneath surface water. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , GPS  136  is operatively coupled to push rod  134 . Those skilled in the art shall recognize that GPS  136  can be operatively coupled to other components of TPGWES  100  without departing from the scope or spirit of the TPGWES  100  so long as GPS  136  remains above water during operation. GPS  136  is designed to provide accurate global positioning information to processor  140  using well-known satellite and GPS technology. 
     Sampling mechanism  150  is operatively coupled to GW and SW samplers  114 ,  124  via GW sampling hose  160  and SW sampling hose  162 , respectively. Sampling mechanism  150  is designed to obtain groundwater and surface water samples. Sampling mechanism  150  comprises sample pump  152  and manifold/sample containers  154 . Sample pump  152  is operatively coupled to GW sampling hose  160  and SW sampling hose  162 . Sample pump  152  is operatively coupled to manifold/sample containers  154 . Sample pump  152  is designed to draw groundwater from GW sampler  114  via GW sampling hose  160 . In addition, sample pump  152  is designed to draw surface water from SW sampler  124  via SW sampling hose  162 . Sample pump  152  inputs surface water and groundwater to manifold/sample containers  154  so that surface water is retained in separate sample containers from groundwater. Such samples can be used for additional water testing. 
     Processor  140  is designed to receive and compare sensor information from the plurality of sensors (e.g., GW conductivity sensor  110 , GW temperature sensor  112 , SW conductivity sensor  120  and SW temperature sensor  122 ). Processor  140  is operatively coupled to GPS  136  and the plurality of sensors (e.g., GW conductivity sensor  110 , GW temperature sensor  112 , SW conductivity sensor  120  and SW temperature sensor  122 ) via data links  142 ,  144 . Specifically, GPS  136  is operatively coupled to processor  140  via GPS data link  142 ; and GW conductivity sensor  110 , GW temperature sensor  112 , SW conductivity sensor  120  and SW temperature sensor  122  are operatively coupled to processor  140  via sensor data link  144 . Data links  142 ,  144  can be any well-known data link device such as fiber optic, copper wire, infrared, Bluetooth™ and radio frequency. In one embodiment, sensor data link  144  is located partially internal to push rod  134  and air hammer  132 , which helps prevent damage to sensor data link  144 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a trident probe groundwater exchange system. TPGWES  100  of  FIG. 2  is substantially similar to TPGWES  100  of  FIG. 1 , and thus, similar components are not described again. As shown in  FIG. 2 , TPGWES  100  is positioned for operational mode. Specifically, GW sensors and sampler (i.e., GW conductivity sensor  110 , GW temperature sensor  112  and GW sampler  114 ) are located in ground  270  beneath surface water body  274 . Thus, GW sensors and sampler can perform the tasks of sensing and sampling groundwater. SW sensors and sampler (i.e., SW conductivity sensor  120 , SW temperature sensor  122  and SW sampler  124 ) are located in above ground  270  and near surface water floor  272 , which is beneath surface water body  274 . Thus, SW sensors and sampler can perform the task of sensing and sampling surface water. GPS  136  is located in above-surface-water-region  276 , which is above surface water body  274 . Thus, GPS  136  can obtain global positioning location data. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a trident probe groundwater exchange system. TPGWES  300  of  FIG. 3  is substantially similar to TPGWES  100  of  FIG. 1 , and thus, similar components are not described again. As shown in  FIG. 3 , TPGWES  300  further includes optional sensors  380 , which are operatively coupled to processor  140  via sensor data links. Exemplary optional sensors  380  include GW pH sensor, SW pH sensor, GW oxygen sensor, SW oxygen sensor, GW ultraviolet fluorescence sensor and SW ultraviolet fluorescence sensor. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , sampling mechanism  150  comprises sample pump  152 , selector valve  356  and plurality of sample containers  358 . Sample pump  152  is operatively coupled to selector valve  356 . SW or GW samples are pumped into one of the plurality of sample containers  358  depending on the position of selector valve  356 . When the position of selector valve  356  changes, a different one of the plurality of sample containers  358  receives SW or GW samples. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are flowcharts of methods of operating one embodiment of a trident probe groundwater exchange system. Certain details and features have been left out of the flowcharts of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  that are apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a procedure may consist of one or more sub-procedures or may involve specialized equipment or materials, as known in the art. While Procedures  410  through  430  shown in the flowcharts are sufficient to describe one embodiment of the present invention, other embodiments of the invention may utilize procedures different from those shown in the flowcharts. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A , at Procedure  410 , the method inserts a trident probe groundwater exchange system into a groundwater exchange interface in a unique location. After Procedure  410 , the method proceeds to Procedure  420 . At Procedure  420 , the method calculates differences between the groundwater and surface water parameters. In one embodiment of Procedure  420 , the method calculates differences between GW/SW conductivity and temperature parameters. After Procedure  420 , the method proceeds to Procedure  430 . At Procedure  430 , the method identifies potential groundwater discharge locations using data from the previous procedure. After Procedure  430 , the method ends. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4B , an embodiment of procedure  430  of  FIG. 4A  is depicted in greater detail. Procedure  430  comprises sub-procedures  432  to  440 . At Procedure  432 , the method determines whether the data from Procedure  420  of  FIG. 4A  has any significant deltas (i.e., changes). If so, the method proceeds to Procedure  434 , else the method proceeds to Procedure  438 . At Procedure  434 , the method enables a “Possible Groundwater Discharge” alert. After Procedure  434 , the method proceeds to Procedure  436 . At Procedure  436 , the method enables additional sampling. In one embodiment of Procedure  436 , the method enables SW/GW sampling. In one embodiment of Procedure  436 , the method enables pH sampling. After Procedure  436 , the method proceeds to Procedure  440  where the method returns to Procedure  410  of  FIG. 4A . At Procedure  438 , the method disables a “Possible Groundwater Discharge” alert. After Procedure  438 , the method proceeds to Procedure  440  where the method returns to Procedure  410  of  FIG. 4A .