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System and method for analyzing water samples in a water processing facility

  • US 9,618,438 B2
  • Filed: 07/09/2013
  • Issued: 04/11/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for isolating and analyzing a plurality of water and coagulant chemical samples in a water processing facility, the system comprising:

  • an isolatable chamber for receiving the water and coagulant samples wherein the isolatable chamber further comprises a closable outlet valve located at the bottom of the chamber and an inlet located in a region proximate to the top of the chamber wherein;

    the inlet is configured to receive a first sample comprising water and a first quantity of a coagulant chemical at a first time period;

    the system comprises the first sample;

    the closeable outlet valve and the inlet are configured to isolate the first sample in the chamber from the rest of the water processing facility at a second time period, whereby the first sample in the chamber can become sufficiently quiescent to allow gravitational settling of suspended particles in the first sample in the chamber;

    the closable outlet valve is configured to release the first sample at a third time period;

    the inlet is configured to receive a second sample comprising water and a second quantity of the coagulant chemical at a fourth time period, wherein the second quantity is different from the first quantity;

    the system comprises the second sample; and

    the outlet valve and the inlet are configured to isolate the second sample from the rest of the water processing facility at a fifth time period;

    an optical detector configured to view and characterize the sizes of a plurality of suspended particles;

    in a region of the first sample in the chamber at the second time period; and

    in a region of the second sample in the chamber at the fifth time period,wherein the first sample region and the second sample region protrude into the chamber;

    a controller comprising a processor and software wherein the controller is configured to;

    send signals that open and close the outlet valve;

    receive particle size information from the optical detector, wherein the particle size information comprises;

    the characterized suspended particle sizes in the first sample at a first time point, wherein the first time point is during the second time period;

    the characterized suspended particle sizes in the first sample at a second time point, wherein the second time point is during the second time period;

    the characterized suspended particle sizes in the second sample at a third time point, wherein the third time point is during the fifth time period; and

    characterized suspended particle sizes in the second sample at a fourth time point, wherein the fourth time point is during the fifth time period;

    wherein;

    the first time period, the second time period, the third time period, the fourth time period, and the fifth time period occur sequentially; and

    the first time point, the second time point, the third time point, and the fourth time point occur sequentially; and

    produce a report showing suspended particle size as a function of time and coagulant chemical quantity;

    whereby coagulant dosing is adjusted according to the report.

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