THM Analysis Applications in Water Treatment

The Ash Probe is a portable instrument for measuring the ash content of coal, providing the user with highly accurate readings within seconds. Instantaneous readings can be made of coal quality on stockpiles, trains or trucks, allowing customers to check the quality of incoming coal supplies and specifications against their suppliers’ claims.

Widely used in the mining industry, it allows suppliers to verify the quality of their product and therefore have confidence that the delivery will be accepted by the client ensuring the agreed price per tonne is paid.

Ash Probe was the first portable product to be developed by Bretby Gammatech (now a part of Parker's Instrumentation Products Division) with the first one sold to a mine in South Wales. Since then, hundreds of Ash Probes have been delivered all around the world, with many of these customers also purchasing Ash Eye or Lab Ash equipment.

Like all Parker Bretby Gammatech’s products, the Ash Probe uses natural gamma radiation, with no radioactive sources.

The Ash Probe has been developed to withstand harsh environments and is therefore renowned for being extremely robust. It is currently being used in temperatures down to -50oC in Mongolia, China, as well as in temperatures over 40oC in many African countries.

  Ash Probe – features and benefits

• Simple to use, easy to calibrate
• Much quicker than conventional sampling and analysis
• More information on ash and ash variability
• Facilitates dispatch more quickly - reducing train standing time
• Enables increase of saleable tonnage - leading to increased revenue
• Reduces discard - leading to reduced disposal costs
• Reduces sampling effort - leading to reduced costs
• High resolution colour touch-screen display
• Multi language user interface with more languages being added all the time.

Pic. 1. Parker's Ash Probe with a display unit.

  How to operate the Ash Probe

The Ash Probe comprises two main parts: a probe and a display unit. To obtain an ash reading, the probe is pushed into the coal pile or truck to be tested. After a few seconds an ash result shows on the display unit.

In order to obtain an accurate assessment of the ash content of the whole pile (or wagon load) the probe is inserted at several locations. This is repeated until the desired precision level has been reached.

In Pile Mode up to 99 probings per pile can be made and data from up to 99 piles can be stored. In Truck Mode up to 12 probings per truck can be made and data from up to 600 trucks can be stored.

Calibration is readily achieved by the customer using the supplied calibration sample gathering equipment.

 

Accuracy

Tests on a wide range of coals from over twenty countries on five continents have shown that the Ash Probe can measure the ash content to closer than 1% (1σ) ash. In some cases better than 0.5% (1σ) accuracy has been achieved with high-grade anthracite.

  Applications

The Ash Probe is currently being used by customers around the world to provide quick testing for the ash content of: 

• Run-of Mine (ROM) coal
• Washed product (smalls, peas, beans, singles, doubles etc.)
• Screened coal (dry fines, PSF etc.)
• Slurry
• Blended products
• Final product (e.g. composite ash pile)
• Discard
• Unknown coals prior to blending
• Rail or truck deliveries to blending plants, power stations, coking plants and cement works

 

Download the Ash Probe product bulletin.

 

Article contributed by Gary Wain, piping products, product manager, Instrumentation Products Division Europe of Parker Hannifin.

 

 

 

 

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The quest to find and retain skilled machinists and engineers is harder than ever with Eurozone countries experiencing their lowest ever levels of unemployment.

Instrumentation Products Division Europe (IPDE) and Parker globally recognizes that providing competitive benefits is just one factor in achieving this. To develop a high performing and stable workforce we must engender the right values and behaviours coupled with a shared vision, supported by solid strategies and delivered through engaging leadership. But what about beyond this?

Apprentices will define and deliver our future.

In 2017, IPDE introduced its apprenticeship scheme aimed at attracting and developing the finest mechanical engineering apprentices in our regions, who will define and deliver our future for many years to come.

A mechanical apprenticeship within IPDE affords talented people the opportunity to ‘earn, learn and qualify’ and also prepares the foundations for a fantastic career in one of the world’s most successful organizations.

“Having worked with various apprenticeship schemes in my previous roles, I was keen to introduce this scheme into IPDE so that we can develop and grow our own talent from within. It also enables us to protect our business for the future as our most skilled professionals move into retirement.”

Andrew Spivey, General Manager of Parker Instrumentation Products Division Europe.

Former apprentices have made impressive progress.

IPDE has a strong track record of developing people through previous apprenticeship schemes. Former apprentices have made impressive progress in the organization and currently hold roles such as Division Supply Chain Manager; Production Manager; Lean Manager; Deputy Production Manager; Value Stream Champion; Senior Quality Engineer and Design Engineer.

Neil Shapland, Materials, Planning and Production Manager at IPDE, who began his career with Parker as a manufacturing apprentice 24 years ago, worked within several key areas including value stream manager roles and planning and production manager. He believes that his apprenticeship and the skills he learnt stood him in ideal ground to progress within the organization. He said:

"I am passionate about the manufacturing apprenticeship programme and the positive impact it will have on the business as a whole. I believe it provides the ideal opportunity to nurture and develop first class engineers, our next top manufacturing leaders and committed team members of the future."

Neil Shapland, Materials, Planning and Production Manager at Parker Instrumentation Products Division Europe.

Learn more about career programs at Parker and contact us to discuss your career path.

 

Article contributed by Michelle Liney, Group HR Manager, Instrumentation Products Division Europe of Parker Hannifin. 

 

 

 

 

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The quick, accurate, and inexpensive measurement of Trihalomethanes (THMs) creates numerous opportunities to improve the water treatment process. THM levels can be lowered throughout the distribution system and chemical usage can be optimized to save money. What’s more, quick process adjustments can be made to control THM formation when surface water Total Organic Carbon (TOC) characteristics alter due to seasonal or unusual weather conditions. Where before you might have had limited THM data, you can now greatly expand the sampling frequency and monitoring locations to help you better understand the THM formation characteristics of your water source, treatment process, and distribution system. 

Surface water supply matrix changes

Both human activities and seasonal changes can affect source water, altering the mineral characteristics of the water as well as the reactivity of its dissolved organic carbon. A water plant may observe no significant changes in the quantity of TOC due to seasonal events, but they may find their THM level has changed. Frequent measurements of THM can help operators better understand the reactivity changes of their source water. 

Coagulant evaluation test

A successful coagulation process depends on identifying the correct coagulant type and optimum dosage under suitable environmental conditions of pH and alkalinity such that the coagulant will remove the maximum TOC, UV254, and turbidity, and form easily settleable floc. However, without the ability to measure THM concentration of the finished water in real time, the plant operator will not know if the coagulation process has been optimized to also remove the maximum amount of THM precursors. With the ability to easily measure THM concentration in finished water, the plant operator can adjust the coagulation process to achieve minimal THM formation potential. Additionally, this allows the treatment plant to supply safe drinking water with the required level of disinfectant concentration while also maintaining lower DBP levels throughout the entire distribution system.

Real-time monitoring of THM sampling locations

Trihalomethane formation in water distribution systems is a function of water travel time, temperature, and physiochemical and biological characteristics of pipe deposits within the distribution system. The real-time monitoring of THM at different sampling locations will help water distribution operators to identify problematic inorganic/organic pipe deposits that cause increased levels of THM formation.

Water quality model evaluation/water quality trend

Hydraulic modeling of a water distribution system is an important tool for water quality management. In addition to basic hydraulic characteristics, modeling identifies water aging and predicts disinfectant decay and DBP formation. Incorporating new data from frequent THM analysis in combination with disinfectant level data will help plant operators build an improved hydraulic model for water quality trend analysis, providing critical information for more targeted and efficient water plant operation.

Flushing program

Water quality levels throughout the distribution system are maintained by systematic flushing programs designed to reduce stationary water in dead end lines and increase flow volume to minimize water age. The distance of water from the water plant, dead ends in the pipe, and low water usage may cause water quality deterioration. Lower residual disinfectant levels indicate the need to flush, which can cause a significant water loss. By measuring THM concentration in addition to disinfectant levels, operators can better decide on the location and length of flushing to minimize treated water loss.

Water age evaluation

Water age is emerging as an important issue due to increased THM formation in water distribution systems. Excessive contact time caused by dampened peak-hour demands, distribution piping configurations, areas of reduced water requirements, and fire protection storage can result in elevated THM concentration. Identifying and then reducing dead spaces and stagnation in water storage tanks and looping pipe configurations in water distribution systems will reduce water age. These actions can be triggered appropriately by monitoring THM levels in storage tanks and key locations in the distribution system.

The Parker THM analyzers

Parker’s On-Line THM Analyzer and benchtop THM Analyzer are easy to operate, integrated Purge-and-Trap Gas Chromatographs (GC) that measure THM concentration at ppb levels in less than 30 minutes right at your own facility without tedious sample preparation.
This integrated system is a powerful tool that can help operators optimize water treatment at the plant and evaluate water age in the distribution system for improved control over the formation of THMs.

Pic. 1. Parker's On-Line THM Analyzer.

Download Parker On-Line THM analyzer bulletin.

 

 

 

Pic. 2. Parker's benchtop THM Analyzer.

Download Parker benchtop THM analyzer product catalog.

 

 

 

Article contributed by Kazi Hassan - technology development manager (water) at Parker Hannifin, Instrumentation Products Division.

 

 

 

 

 

Related content on water quality:

How Parker's THM Analyzer Helps to Improve Safety of Drinking Water