One aspect of the measurement and control of waste water and other fluids that is not always fully understood is the front-end sensing of the parameters to be measured.
The choice of waste water management-specific software and hardware is certainly a major factor that enables modern systems to ably match the growth in complexity of waste water management in Australia.
The importance of the integrity and reliability of the sensors, from a relatively simple loop powered pressure transmitter to more complex analytical instruments, is vital to precisely monitor the status of conditions in remote applications.
Apart from ensuring that the signals and data received from field sensors are totally valid, eliminating ‘in field’ sensor faults and reducing costly field maintenance procedures is essential to reducing plant operation costs.
Bestech Australia, a specialist in measurement sensors, has addressed the issue of the front end of measurement systems in waste water and similar industrial applications, and has recently introduced a new range of sensors which provide reliable, precision performance with a surprisingly economical price tag.
An example is the new MeasureX MRL23 Submersible Level Transmitter with Teflon-coated housing and cable for submersion in highly corrosive fluids and environments.
The MRL23 sensor, or pressure transmitter, is available in ranges from 0 to 500m H2O full scale.
Output signal options include 4/20mA, 0/5V and 0/10V; the standard precision grade is 0.5 per cent FS, however, precision grade options up to 0.1 per cent FS are available.
The MRL23 withstands overpressure up to 300 per cent of full scale, and long-term stability is rated at less than 0.1 per cent FS/year.
The ISO protection rating of MRL23 is IP67 or IP68 by selection, and the pressure transmitter may be used with any fluid compatible with PTFE, n-Butyronitrile or fluoro-rubber, and ceramics.
The vented gauge pressure reference is enabled by a subminiature tube encased in the special PTFE-coated cable.
The MeasureX MRL23 corrosion proof transmitter is only one of many new sensors in the MeasureX range.
Hydrostatic pressure sensors for use in non-aggressive fluids with submersible cable, with or without rugged termination housing and with or without an integral LCD digital display, are available in a wide range of sensitivities to match many applications.
Bestech also claims to have addressed the problem of remotely located sensors where the direct connection by cable to a ‘host’ computer, or other monitoring device, is impossible or impractical. Bestech offers several alternatives in this regard.
One approach is to feed the signal from a MeasureX pressure transmitter to a BeanDevice wireless digital transmitter which converts the analogue signal to a digital code and transmits the signal via radio link to a BeanGateway receiver.
The BeanGateway is in turn connected to a computer via an Ethernet interface.
An alternative lower-cost radio transmission system is available within the ALMEMO array of instruments, sensors, transmitters and software.
The ALMEMO system transmits sensor signals via a remote radio transmitter/receiver pair.
The intelligent connector is plugged to the sensor and the logged data is transmit
ted via interface cable or wireless Bluetooth to a base receiver connected to a computer.
A relatively new solution for measuring and logging water level remotely is to transmit the level signal via the internet (GPRS), or via an SMS or email to a mobile phone.
The solution is available in the new series of Keller GSM2 remote data loggers and transmitters.For more information on all of these products go to www.bestech.com.au
