Measurement and control technology for sea water

desalination
Rough exterior hides intelligent core
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 The most widely used method for sea water desalination is reverse osmosis
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In areas with little or only contaminated ground and surface water, the
desalination of sea water to obtain drinking water plays a major role. To
ensure quality and process safety, important parameters such as pressure
and conductivity must be recorded, monitored and controlled continuously.
The authors: Dr. Öznur Brandt Product Manager for Analytical Measurement
Technology, Jumo Sarah Weinmeister Product Manager Level and Pressure, Jumo
Water is the most important life-sustaining resource and needs to be available in
sufficient quantity and quality for every human being. Water is also an important
raw and aux-iliary material for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, where
process water is mostly required in drinking water quality or better. Especially in
regions where potable water is only available in limited quantities, it is important to
develop sea water as an impor-tant source of drinking water. Drinking and process
water can be obtained from sea water by reducing its salinity. Various thermal or
membrane processes are used for desalination: membrane distillation, reverse
osmosis, evaporation and electrodialysis. The most widely used method today is
reverse osmosis. Desalination is achieved using a special form of membrane
filtration. Sea water is forced through a semipermeable membrane under high
pressure. Salt is retained and only water is allowed to pass through. The result of
this process is fresh water. To prevent the sensitive membrane from being clogged
or destroyed by particles or layers of algae or bacteria, the sea water must be
pretreated prior to reverse osmosis. Ensuring quality in reverse osmosis plants calls
for a number of measures including continuous monitoring of the pressure and
conductivity parameters. Jumo offers a wide assortment of process sensors for
analysis and pressure measurement technology as well as compatible transmitters
and controllers.
Pressure measurement at high salinity

In the reverse osmosis process, the sea water being treated is forced through a
synthetic membrane at more than twice the osmotic pressure (in other words, at 60
to 80 bar) using a high-pressure pump. Apart from a few minor exceptions, only
water molecules are small enough to pass through the fine pores while particles,
microorganisms and assorted other contaminants are removed with a partial flow.
The sea water used for reverse osmosis contains salts in concentrations of up to 35
g/l. When the salinity is this high, conventional pressure transmitters are prone to
measurement errors or sensor failure due to deposits and corrosion. The Jumo
Midas C18 SW transmitter meets these specific demands on account of its case, the
pressure connection made of sturdy, corrosion-proof titanium and the chemically
impervious measuring cell without oil filling. The crucial element here is a
hysteresis-free, piezoresistive, ceramics based pressure sensor featuring thick-film
technology. In addition to excellent long-term stability, it provides overload
resistance three times the full scale value. The pressure transmitter can record
relative pressures from 1.6 to 100 bar and export them as standard signals with 4
to 20 mA (two wires) or 0 to 10 VDC (three wires). The high system availability
required for reverse osmosis and the resistance of the selected materials are
achieved with a 100 % final inspection of each individual transmitter using a fully
automated measuring and calibrating system.
Inductive conductivity measurement

The Jumo ecoLine Ci inductive conductivity sensor is ideal for conductivity

measurements of sea water. Compared to the conductive 2-pole or 4-pole
measuring method, this inductive sensor is virtually maintenance-free. Deposits,
grease or oil film on the surface of the sensor have practically no effect on its
measuring accuracy. The built-in Pt1000 temperature sensor records the process
temperature while ensuring fast and precise temperature compensation –
something that is particularly important for measuring conductivity. It can either be
free-standing in a stainless steel pocket (ultra-fast response) or horizontal and
completely enclosed inside the plastic body. Internal installation is advisable if the
stainless steel pocket is vulnerable to chemical corrosion from the process media
(e. g. sea water). The standard material used for the sensor body is polypropylene
(PP), which is especially suitable in sea water. All materials that come into contact
with the process medium are approved for food use, physiologically safe and FDA
listed.
User-friendly operation

The Aquis 500 Ci transmitter/controller was explicitly designed for inductive

conductivity sensors such as the ecoLine Ci. A membrane keypad with a plain text
graphic display (and selectable interface language) or a special PC software
program guarantees user-friendly operation. All parameters are shown in plain text
to simplify configuring, support programming and make operating the device as
intuitive and uncomplicated as possible. The unit is designed for on-site use with an
illuminated LC graphic display. The modular layout makes it easy to adapt to the
requirements of specific applications. Up to two analogue outputs are available.
The start and end values of the measurement range are freely adjustable for the
analogue actual value outputs. The response of these outputs to overrange or
underrange measurements, alarms and calibration is freely configurable. P, PI, PD
and PID structures can be freely programmed as control functions. A robust case
protects the electronics and the electrical connections against aggressive
environmental conditions (IP67). Panel mounting is also possible as an alternative.
cpp-net.com/0312425

Four tasks combined in a single device

Liquid analysis

Jumo developed a modular, multichannel measuring instrument for liquid analysis

which has been presented at Achema 2012. From pH and redox through electrolytic
conductivity, ultrapure water resistance, temperature, disinfecting parameters
(such as free chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone, hydrogen peroxide and peracetic
acid) to flow rates, the Aquis touch S provides a central platform for displaying and
processing the corresponding sensor signals. Up to four analysis parameters can be
connected directly while others can be linked up using standard signals. The device
can measure and manage up to ten parameters simultaneously. Frequency inputs
(counters) are available for flow rate measurements. The measured values can also
be converted into various measurement parameters that can be used for extensive
calculations as part of the integrated logic and math modules. The results of these
calculations can in turn be displayed or taken as a starting point for switching tasks.
A 5.7” colour screen with a touch screen function is used to show all parameters as
well as to operate and configure the device. In addition to razor-sharp
representation of measured values and device states, up to four independent
control circuits can be defined for each analysis parameter. The built-in paperless
recorder is another highlight. Four analogue and three binary signals can be
recorded simultaneously in two groups and output on the screen as a graph. Data
is stored internally and protected in the event of a power supply failure. An
integrated USB device interface enables a PC or laptop to be connected for
parameterisation or data interchange using a PC setup program. The device can be
integrated in a LAN via an Ethernet interface. Aquis touch S can also export alarms
and other messages as text messages or e-mails. A Profibus-DP interface or up to
two RS422/485 interfaces with the Modbus protocol are provided for incorporating
the device into more complex controllers and process systems.
19. September 2012