Implementation of predictive alum dose control systems
Date
2014
Authors
Mussared, A.
Chow, C.
Holmes, M.
Van Leeuwen, J.
Kaeding, U.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Conference paper
Citation
Proceedings of the 77th WIOA Victorian Water Industry Operations Conference & Exhibition, 2014, pp.91-97
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
77th WIOA Victorian Water Industry Operations Conference & Exhibition (2 Sep 2014 - 4 Sep 2014 : Bendigo, Victoria)
Abstract
Water treatment plant (WTP) operators and managers are continuously seeking ways to improve the efficiency of treatment processes to generate cost savings and achieve desired water quality outcomes. Optimisation of the coagulant dosing step at conventional water treatment plants will potentially achieve both of these objectives. Ensuring that the optimum coagulant dose is consistently applied to variable quality raw water will not only result in water quality improvement, but should also generate chemical cost savings where potential overdosing of coagulant is minimized. Optimisation of the coagulation process at Adelaide metropolitan WTPs is currently aided through the use of a coagulant dose prediction model. The key advantage of the model is that it uses relatively simple water quality input data (UV absorbance at 254nm, colour and turbidity) to generate dose predictions, and as such is very useable operationally. However, currently the model is used offline for routine (weekly) or ad hoc prediction of coagulant dose in response to water quality changes, and is not being used to full advantage as an on-line feed forward control to optimise the coagulation process. This project involved developing the existing offline and manual coagulant dose prediction model to an online and automatic predictive alum dose control system (PADCS). This paper describes the key stages of this work, which included the trialling and optimisation of online instruments to reliably measure the model input parameters UV254 and colour, assessment of the system by comparison to actual plant doses, and other implementation steps, such as development of a quality control procedure for the new system. Use of the new PADCS online allows operators to observe rapid water quality and coagulant demand changes as they happen, so changes can be made proactively to these events.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
Copyright 2014 The Authors