This work presents the first prototype of the Smart Pipe, a compact and intelligent wireless node hosting miniaturized sensors, embedded in a flange, for distributed and real-time monitoring of water contamination and for optimization of water treatment plants. Beyond pH and temperature, it features a low-cost and high-resolution (13 ppm, 11 ms response time) custom-designed 4-channel conductivity measurement circuit. Long-term operation and optimized on demand maintenance are achieved by the innovative combination of an impedance sensor measuring the thickness of sludge and biofilm depositing on microelectrodes with self-cleaning capabilities offered by UV photo-regeneration of nanometric TiO2 electrodes coatings. Finally, here we also demonstrate selfpowering of the unit by means of an energy harvesting control valve, regulating the flow in the water distribution network where an efficient installation of these sensors is today foreseeable.

Smart pipe: A miniaturized sensor platform for real-time monitoring of drinking water quality

Carminati, M.;Stefanelli, V.;Ferrari, G.;Sampietro, M.;Turolla, A.;Malavasi, S.;Antonelli, M.;PIFFERI, VALENTINA;
2017-01-01

Abstract

This work presents the first prototype of the Smart Pipe, a compact and intelligent wireless node hosting miniaturized sensors, embedded in a flange, for distributed and real-time monitoring of water contamination and for optimization of water treatment plants. Beyond pH and temperature, it features a low-cost and high-resolution (13 ppm, 11 ms response time) custom-designed 4-channel conductivity measurement circuit. Long-term operation and optimized on demand maintenance are achieved by the innovative combination of an impedance sensor measuring the thickness of sludge and biofilm depositing on microelectrodes with self-cleaning capabilities offered by UV photo-regeneration of nanometric TiO2 electrodes coatings. Finally, here we also demonstrate selfpowering of the unit by means of an energy harvesting control valve, regulating the flow in the water distribution network where an efficient installation of these sensors is today foreseeable.
2017
Conference Proceedings 2017 IEEE Workshop on Environmental, Energy, and Structural Monitoring Systems (EESMS)
978-1-5386-2816-4
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11311/1037055
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