Budget Expense Justification: Online Suspended Solids and Sludge Monitoring Sensors

Budget Expense Justification: Online Suspended Solids and Sludge Monitoring Sensors

Scope

Purchase new online solids optimization equipment. These instruments are used to effectively and effortlessly monitor suspended solids and sludge blanket levels allowing the system to operate without fear of a loading event upsetting the system.

Justification

The new instrument(s) will allow the operators to monitor the status of solids within process in real-time. Automating solids measurement frees up operators to focus on other tasks and provides consistency in operations with the elimination of variation from sludge judge measurement and inconsistent return sludge/wasting sludge cycles.

Expense

Item / Cost
SOLITAX turbidity and Suspended Solids Sensor with wiper - CAT# LXV423.99.00100 / $ 4,029.00
SOLITAX Sensor WarrantyPlus Instrument Protection and Service – CAT# WRTUPGSOLITAX / $ 880.00
Fixed-point mounting hardware - CAT# LZX414.00.10000 / $ 424.00
SONATAX Sludge Level Probe with pivot mounting hardware - CAT# 5773000 / $ 2,860.00
Sonatax sc WarrantyPlus Instrument Protection and Service - CAT# WRTUPGSONATAXSC / $ 760.00
sc200 Universal Controller with two digital sensor inputs - CAT# LXV404.99.00552 / $ 1,687.00
sc200 WarrantyPlus Instrument Protection and Service - CAT # WRTUPGSC200 / $ 217.00
Total (before tax and shipping) / $ 10,857.00

Return

· Monitoring suspended solids levels for return/waste activated sludge allows the plant to optimize the amount of sludge returned and wasted. Minimizing the amount of clear water sent to the digesters can save the plant thousands in hauling costs over the year.

· No two sludge judge measurements are ever equal. Monitoring the sludge blanket in real-time provides an exact indication of where the blanket lies and allows the clarifier to operate effectively, avoiding unwanted flocculation or removal of clear water from the tank.

· Monitoring suspended solids levels in a dewatering process not only allows the plant to minimize the amount of water sent away for hauling, but also saves the plant in polymer costs by dosing the precise amount of polymer to achieve a solid sludge cake.

· Plants operating with biological nutrient removal processes must know the solids to bacteria ratio in real time. Having too much or not enough solids can be detrimental to the entire process, resulting in process failures. Real-time solids measurements eliminate the need for constant spot checks, ensuring the plant is always running optimally.

Sincerely,