Chloramine Residual Control System Abnormal Operation Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current chloramine control systems in water treatment struggle to accurately maintain stable chloramine concentrations and detect abnormal operations, leading to degradation and undesirable side-effects due to chloramine degradation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that automatically detect abnormal chloramine residual control by determining the rate of change in total chlorine concentration, engaging ammonia and chlorine at a 5:1 ratio, and initiating an alarm if the rate falls below a set threshold, using a controller and analyzers to maintain desired chloramine levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If chloramine is used as a secondary disinfectant instead of chlorine, then residual life is extended and disinfection byproduct formation is reduced, but chloramine naturally degrades over time in the distribution system
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously monitoring total chlorine concentration and detecting abnormal operations before they lead to complete chloramine degradation. The control system proactively identifies trends in chlorine concentration changes and triggers alerts or corrective actions before the chloramine residual becomes ineffective, thus preventing the degradation problem before it fully manifests.
2Stability of the object's composition
If chemical injection systems are used to control and produce stable forms of monochloramine, then chloramine degradation is prevented and desired concentration is maintained, but abnormal operation of the system can still result in chloramine degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously measuring total chlorine concentration in the distribution system and comparing it against expected values or trends. When the measured chlorine concentration deviates from the anticipated pattern (indicating abnormal operation), the system generates an alert or automatically adjusts chemical injection rates. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enhances system reliability by detecting and responding to abnormal operations that could lead to chloramine degradation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If current chloramine control systems increase chloramine residual over time, then degradation is prevented, but the systems cannot detect abnormal operation that still results in degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional mechanical or manual monitoring methods with automated electronic sensing and data analysis. Total chlorine concentration is continuously measured by electronic analyzers, and the control system uses algorithms to detect abnormal patterns in the data. This substitution of mechanical monitoring with automated sensing and computational analysis enables reliable detection of abnormal operations that would be difficult or impossible to detect through conventional means.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively maintains stable chloramine concentrations and quickly detects abnormal operations, preventing degradation and ensuring consistent water quality by triggering alarms for timely intervention.
Implementation Method 1
one or more analyzers in fluid communication with the water sampling assembly and configured to determine at least total chlorine concentration in the water samples
Implementation Method 2
engaging a supply of ammonia and a supply of chlorine to add both ammonia and chlorine to the body of water... to produce stable forms of monochloramine
Data Source
AI summary
A method of detecting abnormal operation includes: (a) determining residual chloramine concentration in a water sample obtained from the body of water; (b) determining an average rate of change in total chlorine concentration when the residual chloramine concentration is below a predetermined target chloramine concentration level; (c) automatically engaging a supply of ammonia and a supply of chlorine to add both ammonia and chlorine to the body of water at a weight ratio of chlorine to ammonia of 5:1 or less when the average rate of change in total chlorine concentration is below a first set rate of change in total chlorine concentration; and (d) initiating an alarm to indicate an abnormal operation of chloramine residual in the body of water if, after step c), an average rate of change in total chlorine concentration is below a second set rate of change in total chlorine concentration.