Monitoring system

A method of monitoring a fluid at a site, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring the fluid with at least one sensor to provide data indicative of a characteristic of the fluid;
• storing the data and processing the data at the site in accordance with predetermined rules to determine if the data, and therefore the characteristic of the fluid, meets a predetermined criterion, and for determining whether the data needs to be transmitted to a centralised control station;
• establishing a data transmission link between the processor and the centralised control station and transmitting the data over the link so the data is transmitted in bulk when the rules determine the data needs to be transmitted to the station;
• receiving the transmitted data with a server and a data store at the centralised control station so the data can be utilised by a user via the Internet;
• and
• providing an event indication if the predetermined criterion is not met so remedial action can be taken.

A monitoring system for a trade/industrial waste water plant which has a collection tank for collecting waste water, a mixing tank for receiving the waste water from the collection tank and in which the pH of the waste water is adjusted, a settling tank for receiving the waste water from the mixing tank, the settling tank having a pump for pumping the waste water from the settling tank to drain, the system comprising:

• a sensor for measuring the pH level of the waste water in the mixing tank or the settling tank, and for providing data indicative of the pH level;
• a processor at the plant for receiving the data from the sensor and for storing the data in a storage, the processor being programmed with predetermined rules and being for applying the predetermined rules to determine if the data, and therefore the pH level, meets a predetermined criterion, and being for determining whether the data needs to be transmitted to a centralised control station;
• a communication device for establishing a data transmission link between the processor and the centralised control station and for transmitting the data over the link so the data can be transmitted in bulk when the rules determine the data needs to be transmitted to the station;
• a server and data store at the centralised control station for receiving and storing the data so the data can be utilised by a user via the Internet;
• and
• an event indicator for providing an indication if the pH level does not meet the predetermined criterion so remedial action can be taken.

A method of monitoring a trade/industrial waste water plant which has a collection tank for collecting waste water, a mixing tank for receiving the waste water from the collection tank and in which the pH of the waste water is adjusted, a settling tank for receiving the waste water from the mixing tank, the settling tank having a pump for pumping the waste water from the settling tank to drain, the method comprising the steps of:

• measuring the pH level of the waste water in the mixing tank or the settling tank with a sensor, and providing data indicative of the pH level;
• storing the data and processing the data at the plant in accordance with predetermined rules to determine if the data, and therefore the pH level, meets a predetermined criterion, and for determining whether the data needs to be transmitted to a centralised control station;
• establishing a data transmission link between the processor and the centralised control station and transmitting the data over the link in bulk when the rules determine the data needs to be transmitted to the station;
• receiving the transmitted data with a server and data store at the centralised control station so the data can be utilised by a user via the Internet;
• and
• providing an event indication if the pH level does not meet the predetermined criterion so remedial action can be taken.

A monitoring system for cooling towers of an air conditioning system, the monitoring system comprising:

• a sensor for sensing the pH level of water in the cooling tower, and providing data indicative of the pH level;
• a sensor for measuring the temperature of the water in the cooling tower, and providing data indicative of the temperature;
• a sensor for measuring the conductivity of the water in the cooling tower, and providing data indicative of the conductivity;
• a processor associated with towers for receiving the data from the sensors, storing the data in a storage, and for applying predetermined rules to determine whether the pH level, temperature and conductivity fall within prescribed limits, and for determining whether the data needs to be forwarded to a centralised control station;
• a communication device for establishing a data transmission link between the processor and the centralised control station and for transmitting the data over the link so the data can be transmitted in bulk when the rules determine the data needs to be transmitted to the station;
• a server and a data store at the centralised control station for receiving and storing the data for utilisation by a user via the Internet;
• and
• an event indicator for providing an indication if the prescribed limits are not met so remedial action can be taken.

A method of monitoring cooling towers of an air conditioning system, the method comprising:

• sensing the pH level of water in the cooling tower, and providing data indicative of the pH level;
• measuring the temperature of the water in the cooling tower, and providing data indicative of the temperature;
• measuring the conductivity of the water in the cooling tower, and providing data indicative of the conductivity;
• storing and processing the data at the cooling towers in accordance with predetermined rules to determine whether the pH level, temperature and conductivity fall within prescribed limits, and for determining whether the data needs to be forwarded to a centralised control station;
• establishing a data transmission link between the processor and the centralised control station and transmitting the data over the link so the data can be transmitted in bulk when the rules determine the data needs to be transmitted to the station;
• receiving the transmitted data by a server and a data store at the centralised control station for utilisation by a user via the Internet;
• and
• providing an indication event if the prescribed limits are not met so remedial action can be taken.

A monitoring system for monitoring a refrigeration unit, the monitoring system comprising:

• a sensor for sensing air temperature within the unit and providing data indicative of the air temperature;
• a processor at the unit for receiving the data from the sensor and for storing the data, the processor being programmed with predetermined rules and being for applying the predetermined rules to determine if the data, and therefore the air temperature, meets a predetermined criterion, and being for determining whether the data needs to be transmitted to a centralised control station;
• a communication device for establishing a data transmission link between the processor and the centralised control station and for transmitting the data over the link so the data is transmitted in bulk when the rules determine the data needs to be transmitted to the station;
• a server and a data store at the centralised control station for receiving and storing the data so the data can be utilised by a user via the Internet;
• and
• an event indicator for providing an indication if the criteria is not met so remedial action can be taken.

A method of monitoring a refrigeration unit, the method comprising:

• sensing air temperature within the unit and providing data indicative of the air temperature;
• storing and processing at the unit the data in accordance with predetermined rules to determine if the data, and therefore the air temperature, meets a predetermined criterion, and for determining whether the data needs to be transmitted to a centralised control station;
• establishing a data transmission link between the processor and the centralised control station and transmitting the data over the link so the data is transmitted in bulk when the rules determine the data needs to be transmitted to the station;
• receiving the transmitted data by a server and a data store at the centralised control station for so the data can be utilised by a user via the Internet;
• and
• providing an event indication if the criteria is not met so remedial action can be taken.