AUTOMATION
IMPROVE WATER QUALITY
BURKERT
IMPROVING PROCESS WATER QUALITY THROUGH
AUTOMATION
Process water often has to be modified to
meet the required quality standards, either as
part of a manufacturing process or to prevent
corrosion, microbiological build-up or scale
formation. Monitoring a combination of pH,
chlorine, reduction potential (ORP), temperature
and conductivity is the first step in achieving
the optimum process conditions. Combined
with precision flow measurement and control
circuits, the quality of process water can be
achieved and documented. Fixed ratio control requires the quality of both
the raw water and the pure water to remain
consistent. To achieve this, flowmeters are used
on both lines and a control valve is used to
deliver the correct ratio for the blended water.
The alternative is to use a water quality monitor
that is set up to measure a parameter, such as
conductivity. This monitor is linked to the water
supply valves via a control loop that regulates
the blending proportionally and can therefore
compensate for variations in supply quality.
From cooling towers to craft breweries, process
water has a wide variety of uses and each
application has different demands. Water quality
is often controlled using a blending process that
combines two sources of water of known quality
to produce the required process quality. This can
be achieved either by ratio control or quality
control procedures. Designing and creating these control systems
requires considerable expertise to ensure
that they perform reliably and are properly
integrated with the surrounding control
infrastructure. Process control experts at Bürkert
have created an extensive range of compatible
flow control and quality measurement products
that can be combined to deliver an optimised
quality control system that can be scaled to suit
any process.
Preventing corrosion and the deposition in
cooling towers for example can be achieved
through the careful blending of treated and raw
water to create the right balance for make-up
water used to maintain system levels.
Water blending also has a significant effect on
consumables such as beer, where the taste is
affected by the water composition going into
the fermentation process, so monitoring and
maintaining a high-quality source of process
water is essential.
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PECM Issue 33
Systems can be designed around pneumatic or
electrical valve actuation and in-line sensors,
using either a stand-alone process controller
such as those offered by Bürkert or using PLC
control that is incorporated within the wider
process environment. Smaller systems can be
pre-assembled from standard products and
bench-tested prior to installation, while larger,
more complex designs can be individually
designed and kitted to ensure smooth
integration.
Bürkert Fluid Control
Systems is one of the
leading manufacturers of
control and measuring
systems for fluids and gases.
The products have a wide
variety of applications and
are used by breweries and
laboratories as well as in
medical engineering and
space technology.
The company employs
over 2,500 people and has
a comprehensive network
of branches in 36 countries
world-wide.
Tel: +44 (0)1285 648720
Web: www.burkert.co.uk