Suspended solids measurement of wastewater

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11906426-B2
Application number	US-201917058618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2019
Priority date	Jun 29, 2018
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

The invention provides a method and a system for measuring suspended solids in wastewater, including: introducing an aqueous sample into a measurement system, comprising at least one length of tubing; pumping, using a pump, the aqueous sample through the at least one length of tubing; and measuring, using at least one optical sensor, a quantity of suspended solids in the aqueous sample wherein at least one optical sensor is coupled to the length of tubing in a position to measure the quantity of suspended solids while the aqueous sample is located in the at least one length of tubing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for measuring suspended solids in wastewater, comprising:
introducing an aqueous sample into a measurement system, comprising at least one length of tubing;
pumping, using a pump, the aqueous sample through the at least one length of tubing;
measuring, using at least one optical sensor, a quantity of suspended solids in the aqueous sample, wherein at least one optical sensor is coupled to the length of tubing in a position to measure the quantity of suspended solids while the aqueous sample is located in the at least one length of tubing; and
injecting, using another pump, a defoamer into the aqueous sample before the pumping, wherein an amount of the defoamer is based upon the measuring.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a progressive cavity pump.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous sample is effluent from a centrifuge of a dewatering process for wastewater treatment.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising providing instructions to a polymer dispensing system coupled to the centrifuge to adjust an amount of polymer dispensed within the centrifuge based upon the measuring.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one length of tubing comprises three lengths of vertical tubing connected by couplers allowing for alternating directions of flow of the aqueous sample within the lengths of tubing.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising injecting the defoamer into the aqueous sample at a location between a dewatering centrifuge and the at least one length of tubing.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement system comprises a pressure valve that releases gas pressure within the measurement system.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement system comprises at least one fitting selected from the group consisting of: a WYE fitting and a TEE fitting, positioned in the at least one length of tubing and wherein the optical sensor is located at the at least one fitting.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling, using a solenoid, a flow of the aqueous sample within the measurement system.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing instructions to introduce wash water into the measurement system.

11. A system for measuring suspended solids in wastewater, comprising:
at least one optical sensor;
at least one length of tubing;
at least one pump;
a memory device that stores instructions executable by the processor to:
introduce an aqueous sample into a measurement device comprising at least one length of tubing,
pump, using the at least one pump, the aqueous sample through the at least one length of tubing;
measure, using the at least one optical sensor, a quantity of suspended solids in the aqueous sample, wherein the at least one optical sensor is coupled to the length of tubing in a position to measure the quantity of suspended solids while the aqueous sample is located in the at least one length of tubing; and
inject, using another pump, a defoamer into the aqueous sample before the pumping, wherein an amount of the defoamer is based upon the measuring.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the pump comprises a progressive cavity pump.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the aqueous sample is effluent from a centrifuge of a dewatering process for wastewater treatment.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising providing instructions to a polymer dispensing system coupled to the centrifuge to adjust an amount of polymer dispensed within the centrifuge based upon the measuring.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one length of tubing comprises three lengths of vertical tubing connected by couplers allowing for alternating directions of flow of the aqueous sample within the lengths of tubing.

16. The system of claim 11 , further comprising injecting the defoamer into the aqueous sample at a location between a dewatering centrifuge and the at least one length of tubing.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the measurement system comprises a gas pressure valve that releases pressure within the measurement system.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the measurement system comprises at least one fitting selected from the group consisting of: a WYE fitting and a TEE fitting, positioned in the at least one length of tubing and wherein the optical sensor is located at the at least one fitting.

19. The system of claim 11 , further comprising controlling, using a solenoid, a flow of the aqueous sample within the measurement system.

20. A product for measuring suspended solids in wastewater, comprising:
a storage device having code stored therewith, the code being executable by the processor and comprising:
code that introduces an aqueous sample into a measurement device comprising at least one length of tubing,
code that pumps, using at least one pump, the aqueous sample through the at least one length of tubing;
code that measures, using at least one optical sensor, a quantity of suspended solids in the aqueous sample, wherein at least one optical sensor is coupled to the length of tubing in a position to measure the quantity of suspended solids while the aqueous sample is located in the at least one length of tubing; and
code that injects, using another pump, a defoamer into the aqueous sample before the pumping, wherein an amount of the defoamer is based upon the measuring.

Assignees

• Hach Co

Inventors

• Dabkowski Robert Francis

Classifications

• G01N21/532 Primary

  with measurement of scattering and transmission · CPC title

• C02F1/5209

  Regulation methods for flocculation or precipitation · CPC title

• C02F2209/10

  Solids, e.g. total solids [TS], total suspended solids [TSS] or volatile solids [VS] · CPC title

• G01N21/53 Primary

  within a flowing fluid, e.g. smoke · CPC title

• B01D21/32

  Density control of clear liquid or sediment, e.g. optical control {; Control of physical properties} · CPC title