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INSTRUMENTATION AND AUTOMATION EXPERIENCES IN WASTEWATER-TREATMENT FACILITIES
Citation:
Molvar, A., J. Roesler, R. Wise, AND R. Babcock. INSTRUMENTATION AND AUTOMATION EXPERIENCES IN WASTEWATER-TREATMENT FACILITIES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-76/198.
Description:
This report describes the results of a nationwide survey of instrumentation and automation experiences in fifty wastewater-treatment plants. The data show that the average wastewater-treatment plant spent about 3% of the construction costs for installed instruments. This is about half the instrument utilization rates of water supply and chemical process plants. Sensors measuring mechanical or physical properties showed satisfactory performance records and were very popular. Sensors measuring chemical parameters tended to be unreliable and were subject to continued fouling from solids deposition, slime buildup and precipitation. Automatic process control is only occasionally utilized in wastewater treatment, but it performs well with sensors that have good performance records. Approximately 20% of the visited facilities were used for data-logging computers, and 90% of these facilities were satisfied with their systems. Process and supervisory control computers are not well established in dry weather treatment plants, but computers are being effectively utilized in stormwater control centers.