32
Asa Parker Geovanny Rodriguez Jase Skellie Cow Power MOM (Monitoring and Operating Module) CVPS Contacts: David Dunn Rob Nelson Faculty Mentor: Josh Bongard
Asa Parker
Geovanny Rodriguez
Jase Skellie
Cow Power MOM(Monitoring and Operating Module)
CVPS Contacts:
David Dunn
Rob Nelson
Faculty Mentor:
Josh Bongard
CVPS Cow Power™
A renewable energy program that supports Vermont dairy farms
On-site electricity generators run on methane from cow manure
Four farms produce 8 million KWh annually (enough for about 750 homes)
Provides a new income stream for farmers, while reducing manure odor and water quality impacts
How digesters work…
Our Project at Green Mountain Dairy
Collects system data from digester and displays it in farm office (~ 750 feet away)
Has an alarm system that notifies someone when there is a problem with the system (cell phone call)
The Original Problem…
Monitoring system = manual inspection sensors
Many components can shut the system down – locating the problem is difficult
Adjusting generator output is a manual task learned through experience
Design Goals
Display system data remotely
Gather necessary data to automate generator output adjustments
Create a self-diagnostic alarm system to alert someone when there is a problem
Other Goals
The solution needs to be:
Adaptable and expandable
User-friendly and appealing
Reliable – farmers need to trust the system
Discarded Design Concepts
TabletsFunction: system data is displayed on tablet
PCs, carried by farm workersDrawbacks: burdensome, reliability (range,
battery life)
FaxFunction: system data is faxed to office at
regular intervalsDrawbacks: little improvement over existing
solution, no alarm
SmartphoneFunction: system data is displayed on
smartphone, carried by farm workers
Drawbacks: Expensive monthly access fees
Web SiteFunction: system data is served to a Web site,
accessible anywhere
Drawbacks: limited alarming capability, security issues
Design Road Map
October 25, 2007:
Final Concept
Design Road Map
October 25, 2007:
Final Concept
December 12, 2007:
Autodialer discovered
Design Road Map
December 13, 2007:
PLC & QuickPanel quote received
October 25, 2007:
Final Concept
December 12, 2007:
Autodialer discovered
Design Road Map
December 13, 2007:
PLC & QuickPanel quote received
October 25, 2007:
Final Concept
December 12, 2007:
Autodialer discovered
February 18, 2008:
We’re going to need lots of help!
Design Road Map
December 13, 2007:
PLC & QuickPanel quote received
October 25, 2007:
Final Concept
December 12, 2007:
Autodialer discovered
March 27, 2008:
Flow meters won’t work
February 18, 2008:
We’re going to need lots of help!
Design Road Map
December 13, 2007:
PLC & QuickPanel quote received
October 25, 2007:
Final Concept
December 12, 2007:
Autodialer discovered
March 27, 2008:
Flow meters won’t work
February 18, 2008:
We’re going to need lots of help!
April 4, 2008:
Watlow sensors don’t have outputs
Design Road Map
December 13, 2007:
PLC & QuickPanel quote received
October 25, 2007:
Final Concept
December 12, 2007:
Autodialer discovered
March 27, 2008:
Flow meters won’t work
February 18, 2008:
We’re going to need lots of help!
April 15, 2008:
Success!!! Proof of Concept
April 4, 2008:
Watlow sensors don’t have outputs
Our Design
The “brain” of the installed system
All sensor outputs collected here
Sensitive to low flow rates, low pressure
Insertion style – least invasive, easy to install
PLC = Programmable Logic Controller
Robust, Industrial strength computer
Combines visualization and control (like a PC)
No hard drive, no moving parts = more reliable
Converts text strings to speech
Automatically makes phone calls
Range = 2 miles Eliminated the need to
bury 750 feet of cable
Noting special, just an old PC
Only job is to display QuickPanel screenshot
System is completely functional without it
What we would do next…
Fully integrate our project into the existing digester system
Add sensors
Set up a database/Web site
Lessons Learned
Don’t be afraid to change a design The most simple things can turn out to
be the most complicated (and vice versa)
Don’t expect to get help from a company unless you:
a) Give them money
b) Pretend like you’re going to buy something from them
A Special Thanks
Robinson Sales, INC.
The LEEN Company
Kevin Mahoney
Dave Dunn and Rob Nelson
Josh Bongard
Bill Rowell, owner of GMD
