FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method of ash level monitoring for Electrostatic
Precipitator. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved system for
monitoring the ash level for electrostatic precipitators in manufacturing plants.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a thermal power plant electrostatic precipitator is used for collecting fly ash
from exhaust gas or flue gas from the furnace. This reduces pollution of the
atmosphere. The hoppers at the bottom of Electrostatic Precipitator collect the
fly ash and the ash is disposed to silos periodically by wet or dry ash handling
system. The ash level measurement sensors probes level sensors fixed on the
hoppers at a definite level.
Signal wires from all the level sensors are run to a centralized level monitoring
system. This results an increase in the number of cables to be used between the
level sensors and the level monitoring system, which enhances the initial
including the maintenance cost of the plant.
A method for wireless data transfer between first and second multimedia
devices connected via a wireless connection operated according to a first
wireless standard or to a second wireless standard, which are different
from and/or not compatible with each other. The method includes: choosing
the first wireless standard or the second wireless standard as a chosen
wireless standard; processing connection commands, connection parameters,
and/or connection data to obtain processed connection commands,

processed connection parameters, and/or process connection data of the
chosen wireless standard; and sending the process connection commands,
process connection parameters, and/or process connection data out via
the-wireless connection according to the chosen wireless standard. The
method thus enables a seamless switching from one wireless standard to
another wireless standard, wherein upper layers do not notice the switching.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to propose an improved system for
monitoring the ash level for an electrostatic precipitator, which eliminates the
disadvantages of prior art.

Another object of the invention is to propose an improved system for monitoring
the ash level for an electrostatic precipitator, which adapts Zigbee based wireless
technology to communicate between the level sensors and the central monitoring
system.
A further object of the invention is to propose an improved system for
monitoring the ash level for an electrostatic precipitator, which adapts micro-
controller based sensors and a software protocol thereby reduces the cable
requirement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly there is provided an improved system for monitoring the ash level
for electrostatic precipitators (ESP) in manufacturing plants, the system providing
wireless communication interface between the field-level controllers and the
plant-level controller of the ESP, the system comprising:
- a plurality of sensor electronics means (01, 02, 03, 04) connectable to a
Zigbee coordinator (05), the sensor electronics means comprising a
plurality of level sensor, Zigbee stack, Radio Frequency (RF) module
including a plurality of Zigbee end device (07, 08); and
- a centralized ash-level control and monitoring device (06) operably
connectable to the Zigbee coordinator (05) for receiving data in respect of
the status of the level sensors via Zigbee protocol and display the
processed data enabling operational control.

The proposed invention reduces the cables and maintenance difficulties by using
Zigbee based wireless technology to communicate between the level sensors and
the centralized level monitoring system. In addition, a portable handled device
can be used to monitor and control the sensors from remote locations.
Hardware and software is required to establish Zigbee technology for interfacing
communication between the level sensors and the centralized monitoring system.
The proposed invention provides level sensor electronics with Zigbee stack and
RF module. This invention includes implementation of hardware and software.
The hardware of aforesaid shall be micro-controller based for the sensors
including the data acquisition system. This data acquisition system collect status
of various level sensors through Zigbee wireless technology based
communication.
The system of the invention allows any number of portable handheld devices to
be used for monitoring the level sensors from multiple remote locations.
The invention eliminates the usage of screened PTFE signal cables between the
sensors and level indicators, and provides flexibility for additional level sensors to
be included in the system without any hardware change in the centralized
monitoring device. The invention eliminates additional wiring layout changes at
the sensor side, and integrates multiple sensor readings to a single centralized
location. The software for establishing the Zigbee wireless communication is
stored in a Flash program memory. The Flash program memory is a part of the
Micro-controller in the sensor electronics means and the Zigbee coordinator. The
system is thus enabled for transmitting and receiving data frames using Zigbee

protocol. The micro controllers allow remote operation and control of the ESP,
resulting in reduction of operation manpower.
This invention can be used in the level indicators for bulk materials in the
hoppers, silos, coal bunkers, etc. of thermal power plants, cement plants, steel
plants and glass plants.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
Figure 1 - shows a schematic diagram of the improved system of the invention.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure - 1 shows a schematic of the improved system. According to the
invention, the signal from the level sensors are processed and are fed to the
Zigbee end devices (07, 08). The level sensors together with the Zigbee stack,
RF module along with requisite electronics forms the sensor electronics means
(01, 02, 03, 04) of the system. The Zigbee end devices (07, 08) forms a part of
the sensor electronics means. The Zigbee sensor electronics means [01, 02, 03,
04] are connected to a Zigbee coordinator [05] at the ground level using Zigbee
wireless technology. The Zigbee coordinator (5) collects the status of various
level sensors through Zigbee wireless technology based communication. The
Zigbee coordinator (05) transmits the status of the level sensors to the
centralized Ash level control and monitoring device [06] in the ESP control room.

The sensor electronics means [01, 02, 03, 04] and the Zigbee coordinator [05]
are micro-controller based systems. The hardware and software for the micro-
controller based system establishes zigbee protocol for communicating between
the level sensors and the centralized monitoring device [06].
The various ash levels and error status of all the hoppers can be displayed for
trouble shooting and maintenance in the centralized monitoring device (06).
Portable handheld devices with Zigbee Full Function Devices [07, 08] are used
for monitoring the sensors from the multiple remote locations.

WE CLAIM :
1. An improved system for monitoring ash level for electrostatic precipitators
(ESP) in manufacturing plants, the system providing interfaces for the
field level controllers and the plant level controller of the (ESP) for
communication over a wireless network, the system comprising:
- a plurality of electronic of sensor (01,02,03, 04) connectable to a Zigbee
coordinator (05), the electronic sensors having a plurality of level sensor,
a Zigbee stack, a RF-module including a plurality of Zigbee end device
(07,08);
- a centralized ash-level control and monitoring device (06) operably
connectable to Zigbee coordinator (05) for receiving data in respect of the
status of the level sensors for display of the processed data enabling
operational control,
wherein a networking feature of the Zigbee protocol is enabled to achieve
a reliable wireless communication between the field level sensors and the
central monitoring system,

wherein each end device/node is capturing and disseminating its own
data, and servesing as a relay for other nodes, and wherein a flash
program memory is embedded in the system enabling the Zigbee wireless
communication, the system is characterized by comprising an embedded
microcontroller.

ABSTRACT

TITLE : AN IMPROVED SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE ASH LEVEL FOR
ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATORS (ESP) IN MANUFACTURING PLANTS
The invention relates to an improved system for monitoring the ash level for
electrostatic precipitators (ESP) in manufacturing plants, the system providing
wireless communication interface between the field-level controllers and the
plant-level controller of the ESP, the system comprising, a plurality of sensor
electronics means (01, 02, 03, 04) connectable to a Zigbee coordinator (05), the
sensor electronics means comprising a plurality of level sensor, Zigbee stack, RE-
module including a plurality of Zigbee end device (07, 08); and a centralized ash-
level control and monitoring device (06) operably connectable to the Zigbee
coordinator (05) for receiving data in respect of the status of the level sensors
via Zigbee protocol and display the processed data enabling operational control.