The drinking water facility in the city of Gordon, Texas, was struck by lightning, causing damage to its online instruments. Thinking long-term and desiring the latest technology available, the city took this opportunity to upgrade its online instrumentation with a range of new, continuous monitoring systems, including chlorine analyzers, pH monitoring, temperature monitoring, and turbidity monitoring. Selected criteria needed to be met, however, including:
Total chlorine measurement on two sample lines
- Monochloramine along with total chlorine and pH measurements on one sample line
- pH and temperature measurement on all three sample lines
- Turbidity on all three sample lines
- All values had to be reportable
- All measurements available with Modbus® communications for the plant's central SCADA system
- Regular instrument measurement verifications and calibrations
- Easy access to sensors, reagents and photometers to limit maintenance difficulties and facilitate regular
calibrations and verifications - Easy installation
- A full-service supplier who can handle startup/commissioning and training, as well as ensure SCADA communications are functioning
- Fast turnaround on the project
As always, immediate budget and long-term cost of ownership were factors in the selection process. In addition, the project had space limitations. Not only was the horizontal and vertical wall space fixed, but the depth of the area was limited, as equipment that protruded too far from the wall would interfere with the workspace at the lab bench.
Swan Analytical USA Inc. was chosen to supply the instrumentation after offering a competitive package deal that included a timely rapid startup and product training. Also importantly, there were design elements of the Swan package that met the aforementioned criteria without creating issues with the space limitations.
All of the instruments fit properly in the space allotted due to the fact that Swan's analyzer design allowed for multiple parameters to be monitored from each analyzer. The operators and SCADA systems can receive pH, temperature, total chlorine, and monochloramines, all from a single Swan Codes II CC and two Codes II TC analyzers connected to three sample lines. Turbidity values are also available to the SCADA system via Modbus communications from separate SWAN Turbiwell analyzers.
There was a simple hookup of the water sample lines as well as the lines to carry the sample to drain. Modbus communication cards were easily connected. In addition, the Swan design met the plants' needs regarding operator ease-of-use
due to the availability of all sensors, photometers and reagent handling on the front panel of the analyzer.
Also, since the analyzers are pretested as complete systems and pre-mounted on polycarbonate panels, four screw-mounting points for each analyzer were all that was needed to position the analyzers on the wall. Finally, the use of solid-state verification kits for turbidity optics and chlorine colorimeters were a convenience that saved operator maintenance time and added value to the package.
Startup, SCADA communications testing and thorough operator training were accomplished in one day, and all systems are online and serving the city of Gordon, Texas, as planned. From the formal quote to the completed project, the timeframe was 37 days.
Swan Analytical USA Inc. is an exhibitor at WEFTEC.14 and can be found at Booth 1519. For more information, visit www.swan-analytical-usa.com.
