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 Tablets Function: system data is displayed on tablet PCs, carried by farm workers Drawbacks: burdensome, reliability (range, battery life) Fax Function: system data is faxed to office at regular intervals Drawbacks: little improvement over existing solution, no alarm

Smartphone Function: system data is displayed on smartphone, carried by farm workers Drawbacks: Expensive monthly access fees Web Site Function: 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