Key points
Accurate gas dosing and the ability to control the feed to match changing conditions are vital for water treatment applications such as pH control using CO2 or removing iron with oxidation. From the outset, the system requires accurate sizing and, combined with precise control enabled by automation, this will ensure product quality as well as a cost-effective process in the long term.
Greg Wainhouse, Industry Account Manager for Water Applications at Bürkert, explains how to ensure an accurate and cost-effective gas feed system.
Accuracy is a key requirement for feeding gas in a water treatment process. This ranges from applications that require neutralisation of pH levels with carbon dioxide, removing iron or manganese to create process water, or oxygenating wastewater to assist the bacterial breakdown process.
Imprecise gas insertion can result in reduced process performance and a lower quality end-product. Moreover, excess gas use can significantly increase process costs over the long term.
Achieving an optimal gas feed requires accurate and responsive control, and this starts with accurate sizing of the metering and control system. The fundamental requirement for measurement of gases present in water is a precise calculation of inlet pressure, referred to as P1, outlet pressure, referred to as P2, as well as the flow rate. Together, these values are used to accurately size the system’s mass flow meter (MFM) and control valves.
Sizing the system
Within a mass flow controller, the gas flows through a control valve orifice with a smaller diameter than the main pipe. This creates a pressure drop as the flow rate becomes proportional to the downstream outlet pressure, following Bernoulli’s principle that states an increasing fluid speed creates a corresponding decrease in static pressure. This explains the importance of clarifying either the P1 (inlet pressure) or P2 (outlet pressure) to determine the potential flow rate.
Confirming the accuracy of these values is as important for optimising an existing system as it is for specifying a new application. It’s not unusual for a customer site to use a mass flow meter or controller that hasn’t been correctly sized at the outset and is therefore inaccurate and unable to achieve the required flow rate.
Usually, the site’s engineers know the inlet feed pressure, though rarely the outlet figure, but a flow control specialist will be able to assist with accurate sizing and required flow rate calculation.
As well as pressure and flow rate, it’s also vital to understand the precise gas volume to achieve the desired results for a given application. With this understood, a flow control partner can also support the calibration process to confirm accuracy of the sensors specific to the gases involved.
Controlling the gas feed
Assuming the ability to accurately measure gas flow, precisely controlling the feed is the next step. If gas pressure, flow rate and temperature are constant, fixed manual control of gas flow can be sufficient. However, this situation is a rare occurrence.
Taking a CO2 infusion application, for example, as the gas is fed in and volume of CO2 in the host container decreases, inlet pressure also decreases, impacting flow rate accordingly. Opening the mass flow controllers orifice will increase flow rate, but maintaining accuracy across this control process requires automation to achieve the required precision.
Even more basic applications with a lower dependence on gas feed accuracy require human knowledge of mechanical valve control. However, this places greater reliance and time requirements for on-site operation by engineers, as opposed to time saving, automated control.
Managing flow also depends on the changing gas levels in the water. Controlling pH, for example, can require precise adjustment based on feedback from a probe. Accurate and repeatable results rely on a rapid control response according to the changing conditions, which can only be achieved without impacting throughput by an automated process.
Automation also enables faster and more accurate documentation, removing the time requirement and potential for inaccuracies in reporting. Applications in food and beverage, for example, demand frequent data recording with evidence of accuracy from calibration records to meet national standards. While an automated system ensures a robust process, it also reduces costs in the long term, compared to human data logging.
Automated metering and control solution
While an experienced systems integrator might only require an accurate mass flow meter to achieve these benefits, OEMs and end-users can benefit from assistance in sizing, as well as a full package of flow system components including metering, larger control valves and sensors.
Bürkert’s engineers can provide a comprehensive system that is tailored to specific requirements and designed with all the components supplied in-house to ensure compatibility and optimum performance.
This service will not only achieve an accurate gas control system to meet the application’s conditions, but it will also reduce the long term costs in raw materials, human resources and maintenance.
Kirsty Anderson
Bürkert Fluid Control Systems
Tel: +44 (0)1285 648761 Â Fax: +44 (0)1285 648721
Web: www.burkert.co.uk
Email: kirsty.anderson@burkert.com
Burkert Fluid Control Systems
- 01285648720
- sales.uk@burkert.com
- http://www.burkert.com/
- Fluid Control Centre 1 Bridge End Gloucestershire Cirencester GL7 1QY GB
About us
Bürkert is present in thirtyfive countries around the world. We also work with a large network of distributors and partners, which means we are as close as possible to our customers. This global presence ensures full service and support to all of our customers in every country around the world. Research is the lifeblood of our company.
At Bürkert, we are never satisfied with the status quo and are continually seeking new technologies and solutions for our customers. Every year, our people develop new and highly advanced products and solutions, ranging from integrated process measurement and control units to the most sophisticated systems used in pharmaceutical research. To be a market leader, we are also an R&D leader.
Therefore, our investment in research & development is one of the highest in our industry. In our research centres in Germany and France, 150 people are committed to working for a common future for our company and our customers. We are committed to offering our expertise wherever it is needed, anywhere in the world. This global presence ensures that our advances in fluid control technology are also global.
What we do in a nutshell
Manufacture of process equipment. One of the few manufacturers to provide solutions for the complete control loop.
Where we supply to
UK Ireland, Europe
Industries we supply to
Food and Beverage, Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Toiletries, Water and Wastewater
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