You may have seen the news earlier this year, Emerson’s Non-Contacting Radar Transmitters Improve Efficiency in Water, Wastewater and Process Industry Utility Applications. The news release highlighted the Rosemount 1208 level and flow non-contacting radar transmitter series that:
…help increase the operational efficiency of water, wastewater and process industry utility applications. The performance of the 1208 Series surpasses that of ultrasonic and hydrostatic devices by delivering reliable and accurate level and open channel flow measurements, enabling organizations to increase the efficiency of their operations and achieve environmental compliance.
There are many applications for level and flow measurement in processes with sludge and sediment. Wastewater sludge processing and oil & gas production are two examples of industries having to process sludge or sediment from the producing wells. Here are several applications for this measurement technology.
For processes with sludge tanks where the sludge has passed through the digester, it is transferred to a storage or buffer tank, where it is stored before it is sent to the dewatering process. The Rosemount 1208 level transmitter provides continuous and robust level measurements in the sludge storage tanks so that the sludge supply can be optimized, and plant operators can avoid unnecessary downtime while ensuring optimal feeding to the dewatering processes.
The collected sludge is sent to sludge gravity thickeners for dewatering. Here it undergoes a gravity-thickening process in which solid particles settle to the bottom. This transmitter provides a non-contacting and reliable level measurement of the inside of the sludge thickening tank, helping to protect the plant against overfilling and accurately monitoring effluent water levels and flow.
Further dewatering can occur in sludge drying beds where the sludge is spread on open beds of sand, where it dries through evaporation and drainage. This non-contacting transmitter provides continuous level measurement. Once dried, this sludge may be sent to sludge silos to be stored in silos for future applications, such as in agriculture or for use as construction material. Continuous and reliable measurements help to use silos without the risk of overfilling.
The dried sludge may also be used as an energy source to assist water treatment plants in becoming self-sufficient by generating their own electricity. Level measurement can help accurately monitor the entire sludge handling process, from wastewater to sludge to gas. Or, it can be sent to the sludge disposal process to optimize the sludge process flow.
Basic sediment & water (BS&W) come from the well along with the oil and gas produced for oil and gas production operations. Separators separate the gas, oil, water, and sediment, such as sand. This settled sand and other sediment collects at the bottom of these separator vessels. The level of sand in the separator needs careful monitoring to ensure it does not cause pump abrasion due to sand being drawn through the lines and into the pumps.
As the settled sand and sediment layer builds in the vessel’s base, an alarm is required to alert operators that the critical level has been reached, so cleaning may be scheduled before the sediment is drawn into lines.
Visit the Rosemount 1208 Level and Flow Transmitter – Non-Contacting Radar page for more information on specifications, features, parts, and options.
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