Flocculation State Determination via Laser Scattering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the optimal chemical dosage for flocculation treatment in wastewater and sludge processing are unstable and prone to errors, leading to inadequate or excessive flocculant addition, which affects water quality and dewatering efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A flocculation state determination method using a laser-based monitoring system that calculates a change index from the light reception intensity of scattered light, allowing for continuous adjustment of flocculant addition to achieve a stable and optimal flocculation state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the addition amount of flocculants is determined based on operator experience or bench-scale test results, then the chemical dosage can be adjusted, but the determination is qualitative and requires more time to achieve situation improvement or may even worsen the dewatering effects due to incorrect operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual operator judgment and bench-scale testing with an automated optical measurement system. The light reception sensor continuously measures scattered light intensity from particles in real-time, automatically determining flocculation state without requiring operator experience or time-consuming bench tests. This substitution of mechanical/optical measurement for human judgment resolves the contradiction by providing both high precision and rapid response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous monitoring of flocculation state through real-time light reception measurement. Instead of periodic bench-scale tests or intermittent operator checks, the system continuously measures scattered light intensity and automatically adjusts chemical dosage. This continuous action eliminates time delays and ensures optimal control, resolving the contradiction between determination accuracy and time consumption.
2Reliability
If the chemical dosage is increased to ensure adequate flocculation, then the removal of turbidity and organic matter improves, but the flocculants may leak to subsequent stages and potentially increase the load in subsequent treatment and cause contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a closed-loop feedback control system where the light reception sensor continuously monitors flocculation state and feeds this information back to the chemical dosage control. The system automatically adjusts flocculant addition based on real-time measurement of scattered light intensity, ensuring optimal dosage without excess. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by preventing both insufficient and excessive dosing, thereby eliminating flocculant leakage while maintaining effective flocculation.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the chemical dosage is decreased to reduce flocculant leakage, then the cost and load on subsequent treatment decrease, but the removal of turbidity and organic matter becomes inadequate, resulting in deterioration of the water quality of the treated liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control system continuously measures flocculation state via light reception and automatically adjusts chemical dosage to maintain optimal levels. This prevents both excessive dosing (which causes leakage) and insufficient dosing (which deteriorates water quality). The real-time feedback ensures the minimum effective dosage is always applied, resolving the contradiction between reducing flocculant leakage and maintaining water quality.
4Measurement precision
If the flocculation state is monitored using a flocculation index generated from the amplitude of light reception signal intensity, then the particle diameter distribution state can be estimated, but the flocculation index may fluctuate and the relationship between required chemical dosage and flocculation index becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from light reception amplitude (which fluctuates) to light reception integral value (area under the curve). The integral value represents the total scattered light energy over time and provides a more stable, less fluctuating parameter that maintains better correlation with particle size and flocculation state. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by providing both measurement precision and control stability.
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
This method enables accurate determination of the flocculation state over a wide range of particle diameters, stabilizing the control of chemical dosage and improving the efficiency of water treatment and sludge dewatering.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating laser light into the liquid and determining a flocculation state of the particles based on a light reception intensity of scattered light that results from the laser light being scattered by the particles
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3~4A
AI summary
Provided is a flocculation state determination method in which a liquid containing particles is irradiated with laser light and the flocculation state of the particles is determined on the basis of the light reception intensity of scattered light that results from the laser light being scattered by the particles, wherein the flocculation state of the particles is determined on the basis of the value of a change index that indicates a change in the light reception intensity.