Determining the Liquid Phase Turbidity of Multiphase Wastewater

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining liquid phase turbidity of multiphase wastewater. A turbidity sensor is provided with multiphase wastewater, such as by placement of the sensor in a reaction chamber, and generates a signal in response to a detected turbidity of the wastewater. The generated signal is sampled to produce a plurality of signal samples. The samples are compared to a threshold, and a turbidity of the wastewater is determined based on samples falling within the threshold. The threshold may be determined based on a statistical analysis of the plurality of samples, or may be set to a predetermined value. The wastewater may be provided by placing the turbidity sensor in a flocculation chamber, and a control signal generated based on the determined turbidity of the wastewater. This control signal may be used to adjust the amount of a chemical, such as a coagulant, introduced into the wastewater.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This patent application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 726,637, filed November 15, 2012, entitled "SYSTEM ANDMETHODS OF DETERMINING LIQUID PHASE TURBIDITY OF MULTIPHASE WASTEWATER," which is hereby incorporated by reference The disclosure of this application is incorporated in its entirety. technical field [0003] The present invention relates generally to wastewater treatment, and more particularly to systems and methods for wastewater treatment that determine the liquid phase turbidity of multiphase wastewater and adjust the level of chemicals added to the wastewater based on the liquid phase turbidity. quantity. Background technique [0004] Chemically treating wastewater to reduce pollutants is used in many industrial processes to allow reuse of wastewater and to ensure that wastewater discharges meet required environmental quality standards. The type of treatment employed depe...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, by the time an increase in turbidity or chemical composition of the wastewater is detected, the amount of treatment agent present in the reaction tank may have deviated significantly from its optimal level

Furthermore, since the contaminant levels of incoming wastewater can vary over time, measurements of samples reflecting wastewater introduced to the tank hours ago may not provide an accurate estimate of how much treatment agent needs to be added to the tank at the current moment. instruct

Settling or flotation effluent sample measurements may thus provide an inaccurate indication of how much treatment chemical needs to be added to the incoming wastewater

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