Patents Assigned to Loci Controls, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10576514
    Abstract: A control system for controlling extraction of landfill gas, comprising: at least one sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of landfill gas; at least one flow control mechanism disposed in well piping and configured to control flow of the landfill gas through the well piping; and at least one processor configured to: obtain a measured concentration of a first gas in landfill gas; determine whether the measured concentration of the first gas is either less than a first threshold concentration or greater than a second threshold concentration; when it is determined that the measured concentration is less than the first threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to reduce flow rate of landfill gas; and when it is determined that the concentration is greater than the second threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to increase the flow rate of landfill gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Joseph G. Michels, Peter Quigley, Ian Martin
  • Patent number: 10556259
    Abstract: Devices and techniques related to landfill gas extraction are disclosed. A technique for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill through a gas extraction system is described. The method may include measuring a plurality of values indicating conditions associated with the landfill; computing, based at least in part on the plurality of values and on a model of the landfill, a predicted future state of the landfill; determining, based at least in part on the predicted future state of the landfill, one or more control parameters for one or more respective control devices configured to control operation of the gas extraction system; applying the one or more control parameters to the one or more respective control, and with the one or more control devices, controlling extraction of the landfill gas from the landfill based, at least in part, on the one or more respective control parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Melinda Sims, Nathan Pallo, Ian Martin
  • Publication number: 20200016640
    Abstract: A system for extracting landfill gas from a landfill is provided. According to some embodiments, a control system for landfill gas extraction is provided. The control system uses a throttle to control flow of landfill gas extracted from the landfill. The throttle is actuated in use to vary the flow of gas between a well and a gas collection system, in accordance with a control algorithm that adjusts flow as a parameter in controlling gas extraction. The throttle is configured to ensure that there is at least some flow of landfill gas from the landfill to a gas output throughout operation. The extraction system provides an efficient system for landfill gas extraction, while mitigating a risk of creating undesired or unpleasant conditions and/or of violating regulations during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Hale, Keith Hale, Melinda Sims
  • Patent number: 10449579
    Abstract: A control system for controlling extraction of landfill gas, the system comprising: at least one sensor; at least one flow control mechanism; and at least one processor configured to perform: obtaining a first measure of energy content in a first portion of landfill gas; controlling the at least one flow control mechanism to increase a flow rate of landfill gas; after the controlling, obtaining a second measure of energy content in a second portion of landfill gas; when it is determined that the second measure of energy content is greater than the first measure of energy content, controlling the at least one flow control mechanism to increase the flow rate of landfill gas; and when it is determined that the second measure of energy content is less than the first measure of energy content, controlling the at least one flow control mechanism to decrease the flow rate of landfill gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Joseph G. Michels, Peter Quigley, Ian Martin
  • Patent number: 10449578
    Abstract: Devices and techniques related to landfill gas extraction are disclosed. A technique for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill through a gas extraction system is described. The method may include measuring a plurality of values indicating conditions associated with the landfill; computing, based at least in part on the plurality of values and on a model of the landfill, a predicted future state of the landfill; determining, based at least in part on the predicted future state of the landfill, one or more control parameters for one or more respective control devices configured to control operation of the gas extraction system; applying the one or more control parameters to the one or more respective control, and with the one or more control devices, controlling extraction of the landfill gas from the landfill based, at least in part, on the one or more respective control parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Melinda Sims, Nathan Pallo, Ian Martin
  • Patent number: 10400560
    Abstract: A control system for controlling extraction of landfill gas, the system comprising: at least one atmospheric pressure sensor configured to measure atmospheric pressure; at least one flow control mechanism disposed in well piping and configured to control flow of the landfill gas through the well piping; and at least one processor configured to perform: obtaining a first atmospheric pressure; obtaining a second atmospheric pressure value; determining whether the second atmospheric pressure value is greater than the first atmospheric pressure value; when it is determined that the second atmospheric pressure value is greater than the first atmospheric pressure value, controlling the at least one flow control mechanism to decrease the flow rate of landfill gas; and when it is determined that the second atmospheric pressure value is less than the first atmospheric pressure value, controlling the at least one flow control mechanism to increase the flow rate of landfill gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Joseph G. Michels, Peter Quigley, Ian Martin
  • Publication number: 20180304323
    Abstract: Devices and techniques related to landfill gas extraction are disclosed. A technique for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill through a gas extraction system is described. The method may include measuring a plurality of values indicating conditions associated with the landfill; computing, based at least in part on the plurality of values and on a model of the landfill, a predicted future state of the landfill; determining, based at least in part on the predicted future state of the landfill, one or more control parameters for one or more respective control devices configured to control operation of the gas extraction system; applying the one or more control parameters to the one or more respective control, and with the one or more control devices, controlling extraction of the landfill gas from the landfill based, at least in part, on the one or more respective control parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Melinda Sims, Nathan Pallo, Ian Martin
  • Patent number: 10029290
    Abstract: Devices and techniques related to landfill gas extraction are disclosed. A technique for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill through a gas extraction system is described. The method may include measuring a plurality of values indicating conditions associated with the landfill; computing, based at least in part on the plurality of values and on a model of the landfill, a predicted future state of the landfill; determining, based at least in part on the predicted future state of the landfill, one or more control parameters for one or more respective control devices configured to control operation of the gas extraction system; applying the one or more control parameters to the one or more respective control, and with the one or more control devices, controlling extraction of the landfill gas from the landfill based, at least in part, on the one or more respective control parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Campanella, Melinda Sims, Nathan Pallo, Ian Martin
  • Publication number: 20170216893
    Abstract: Devices and techniques related to landfill gas extraction are disclosed. A technique for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill through a gas extraction system is described. The method may include measuring a plurality of values indicating conditions associated with the landfill; computing, based at least in part on the plurality of values and on a model of the landfill, a predicted future state of the landfill; determining, based at least in part on the predicted future state of the landfill, one or more control parameters for one or more respective control devices configured to control operation of the gas extraction system; applying the one or more control parameters to the one or more respective control, and with the one or more control devices, controlling extraction of the landfill gas from the landfill based, at least in part, on the one or more respective control parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Melinda Sims, Nathan Pallo, Ian Martin
  • Publication number: 20170216891
    Abstract: Devices and techniques related to landfill gas extraction are disclosed. A technique for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill through a gas extraction system is described. The method may include measuring a plurality of values indicating conditions associated with the landfill; computing, based at least in part on the plurality of values and on a model of the landfill, a predicted future state of the landfill; determining, based at least in part on the predicted future state of the landfill, one or more control parameters for one or more respective control devices configured to control operation of the gas extraction system; applying the one or more control parameters to the one or more respective control, and with the one or more control devices, controlling extraction of the landfill gas from the landfill based, at least in part, on the one or more respective control parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Campanella, Melinda Sims, Nathan Pallo, Ian Martin
  • Publication number: 20170216892
    Abstract: Devices and techniques related to landfill gas extraction are disclosed. A technique for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill through a gas extraction system is described. The method may include measuring a plurality of values indicating conditions associated with the landfill; computing, based at least in part on the plurality of values and on a model of the landfill, a predicted future state of the landfill; determining, based at least in part on the predicted future state of the landfill, one or more control parameters for one or more respective control devices configured to control operation of the gas extraction system; applying the one or more control parameters to the one or more respective control, and with the one or more control devices, controlling extraction of the landfill gas from the landfill based, at least in part, on the one or more respective control parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Melinda Sims, Nathan Pallo, Ian Martin