UK Focus i HOW DIGITAL MEASUREMENT CAN OPEN NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCED WASTEWATER TREATMENT
The need to better manage and conserve the world’s water supplies requires new levels of insight into how water is treated and discharged. In this article we look at how developments in digital measurement technologies can provide the data needed to maximize water quality in wastewater treatment processes.
ABB’s AWT420 digital dual-channel transmitter enables measurement of a variety of parameters in a single device
Wastewater treatment is a multi-stage process that involves a wide range of measurements needed to make sure that both the quality and quantity of discharged water meet increasingly strict regulatory requirements.
The process of restoring wastewater to an appropriate condition, fi t for discharge, requires knowledge of the condition of that water as it travels from the treatment plant inlet to the point of fi nal discharge.
Whilst previous measurement techniques have varied in their accuracy and effectiveness in being able to provide a reliable indication of conditions, the latest generation of digital continuous instruments and analyzers are helping to transform measurement performance. Collecting and transmitting a range of operational and diagnostic data, these devices offer the opportunity to get a clearer indication of process conditions that can be used to optimize treatment performance and demonstrate regulatory compliance.
Environmental advantages
Continuous water quality analyzers are providing the data to make sure that environmental regulations are met. Regulations designed to manage water quality that protect the environment, encompass everything from tackling the spread of invasive species to minimizing chemical and nutrient pollution. Both chemical and bacteriological pollution can tip the balance of aquatic ecosystems, affecting the full spectrum of aquatic life, from fi sh and amphibians through to plants.
The importance of returning high-quality water to the water cycle provides maximum availability when utilities withdraw water. The treatment and distribution of water are energy intensive. An important aspect of protecting the environment is optimizing processes and cutting carbon emissions in the treatment and distribution cycle.
Digital measurement and analysis of the wealth of data provided helps to assess current performance and identify ways that it can be improved to help companies minimize their environmental impact and comply with relevant rules and regulations.
Operational advantages
Digitalization gives a better overview of processes, enabling improved decision-making. Systems running analytical programs provide insights into key operations such as pH measurement and control. This analysis offers the ability to anticipate changing process trends, deal with potential anomalous conditions as they occur, and help the organization achieve higher-level operational and business objectives.
Maximizing the value of the data is increasingly enabled by advances in artifi cial intelligence and machine learning. Multiple streams of data are collected and analyzed to establish patterns of behavior and trends. These patterns and trends predict future outcomes, allowing utilities to operate more effi ciently.
Online measurement is the most common type of measurement used by water companies today. One of the great advantages of online continuous water analysis is the ability to respond quickly to changing conditions. This can deliver large-scale effi ciencies for water treatment works by enabling them to identify processes that may not be performing at their optimum and take necessary measures to address any problems.
Digital measurement and sensing equipment, together with advanced data processing techniques and increasingly capable computers, are creating what is effectively a ‘digital brain’. As
utility companies have upgraded instruments and systems over time, there has been scaled investment in the infrastructure to maximize the value of the data.
It is not only environmental legislation that motivates the use of continuous water analyzers. At the most basic level, plant managers can implement digitalization to improve their snapshot view and gain an understanding of what’s happening in their current operations. At the highest levels, the data is used strategically for improving customer satisfaction, balancing the allocation of capital, and supporting better decision-making in day-to-day business, fi nancial, and operational activities. In all cases, digitalization provides a platform for enabling more consistent operations without burdening users with the overhead or technicalities of a large data processing structure.
With digital instrumentation being used to measure an extensive
Online measurement using digital sensors helps to provide a wealth of real-time data that can be used to optimize water treatment processes and ensure regulatory compliance
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