Wastewater treatment is an essential activity for preserving the environment and public health. However, these systems are complex and require careful operation to ensure the quality of the treated water.
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) can be an effective solution for improving the efficiency and safety of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). It allows for the monitoring of key process parameters in real time, enabling the rapid and accurate identification and correction of problems.
A study developed and presented at the 31st National Congress on Sanitation and Environment by Above-Net in partnership with Hydrosolution evaluated the impact of IoT Industrial monitoring on the productivity of a mobile wastewater treatment plant. The study results showed that intelligent monitoring can be an effective tool for improving the productivity of wastewater treatment plants.
In the study, a wastewater treatment plant with Bioreactor membrane technology was connected to a controller and equipped with several sensors. The results showed that the monitoring technology helped reduce unexpected shutdowns by 27%, increased productivity by 30%, and extended membrane lifespan by increasing operation within the working range 95% of the time.
Methodology
For the study, vacuum sensors for the membrane, current sensors for the booster pump and backwash, and a digital water meter were installed to measure negative pressure (TMP), pump currents, and effluent production flow – respectively.
The monitoring system uses cross-condition alarms to interpolate information from multiple non-existent sensors. For example, the membrane fouling level is estimated from the pump current and transmembrane pressure. The maximum allowable pressure is also monitored.
An intuitive control panel allows for real-time visualization of all parameters, including effluent production and process trends. This enables fine-tuning of parameters to improve system performance.
Conclusion
Industrial IoT monitoring enabled the cross-referencing of information from different sensors for the immediate identification of problems in the operation of the wastewater treatment plant. This made it possible to anticipate problems and make adjustments in a short period of time, which contributed to increased productivity and the lifespan of the treatment plant.
The system also allows for real-time visualization of all operational parameters, enabling the quick and efficient identification and correction of problems.
Furthermore, industrial IoT monitoring can be used to predict plant failures. Trend analysis of the data collected by monitoring can allow the identification of patterns that may indicate the occurrence of future failures.
Application
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