Automatic fluid monitoring and sampling apparatus and method

An apparatus for monitoring at least one analyte in a fluid discharge on a real-time basis, and for measuring an actual discharge volume of the analyte loaded from the fluid discharge into a receiving fluid body, comprising;

• means for controlling said apparatus;
• power means for supplying power to said apparatus;
• said control means and said power means comprising an integral operating unit;
• flow sensing means for outputting signals related to the flow rate of a fluid discharge, said flow sensing means being connected to said integral operating unit;
• a sensor for detecting, in situ, said analyte in said discharge and for outputting signals related thereto, said sensor being connected to said integral operating unit;
• and
• said control means comprising a microprocessor, program memory and data memory, wherein:
• said program memory stores equations for calculating values of said analyte and flow rate values, and for calculating loading values on the basis of said analyte values and flow rate values;
• said microprocessor receives said signal related to flow rate from said flow sensing means and utilizes said program memory to calculate the flow rate of said discharge;
• said microprocessor receives said signals related to said analyte from said sensor and utilizes said program memory to calculate concentration values of said analyte based on said signals;
• said microprocessor utilizes said program memory to calculate loading values of said analyte on the basis of said calculated analyte concentration values and flow rate values;
• and
• said data memory stores analyte data, flow rate data and loading data.

An apparatus for automatically collecting samples from a fluid stream and for monitoring at least one analyte on a real-time basis, according to at least one mode of operation selected by a user, comprising:

• means for controlling said apparatus;
• a fluid sampling assembly having an inlet for receiving fluid from a fluid stream;
• power means for supplying power to said apparatus;
• said fluid sampling assembly, said control means and said power means comprising an integral operating unit;
• a fiber optic sensor for detecting values of said analyte in said fluid stream and for outputting signals related thereto, said fiber optic sensor being selectively connected to said integral operating unit;
• and
• said control means comprising a microprocessor, program memory and data memory, wherein:
• said program memory stores at least one equation for computing values of said analyte;
• said microprocessor receives said signals related to said analyte from said fiber optic sensor and utilizes said program memory to calculate values of said analyte based on said signals;
• said at least one mode of operation which may be selected by the user includes a first mode of operation in which sampling is initiated on the basis of time;
• and
• said data memory stores user-selected input parameters including operating mode selection data and sampling times, and further stores fluid sampling data and analyte data.